XIV - Kryptonite
1415 Words
Theo
Tick tock. Tick tock.
Watching how my mother worked in her shop with a small crease in her forehead made me smile. I always loved watching her from outside her world, like an audience witnessing a woman be herself in the most simple way.
Rocky’s phrase was like a hard punch to my gut, his comment about my mother grated on my nerves. I didn’t usually show my weakness, a trait I had picked up from my absentee father, since weaknesses were meant to be exploited. But I couldn’t let that pass. My mother didn’t deserve such insult. Nobody did, for that matter.
And now, looking at her having a brand new life, burying the broken past behind her, I wished her all the happiness she deserved. God knew she deserved it. I just wished my father knew and truly understand what she needed.
****
“Mmm-hmmm, yes, like that.” I swung Shay’s arm as she held the sword, teaching her how to wield it to her opponent.
They had been practicing the sword fights today and Jellaine needed assistance for that part of the scene.
“Then you have to step back, with your left foot,” I said, motioning for her to follow my moves. “Lean backward to dodge, and swiftly charge again with your sword.”
She copied me, her hair swaying along and I caught scent of her strawberry shampoo. When she stopped, I heard her sighed heavily. “You know, Theo, I think the main character shouldn’t be a girl.”
“You’re doing great, just don’t overthink too much.”
She kept practicing with Kevin, and though at first she was struggling to remember the moves, she got the hang of it before the rehearsal ended.
She coped up very fast, I could tell. She even looked more relaxed on stage now compared to the first time she stood on it. Watching her interactions with the other members made me smile inside, as if witnessing something so mesmerizing. All seemed drawn to her happy mood, including Kevin, her partner on the act.
After the practice, we went to the parking lot as the others headed toward the exit gate.
“Are you going to meet some of your dealers again?” I heard Shay asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Her black jacket was draped over her arm, hugging it to her chest, leaving a black sleeveless on. The hem was a bit low, exposing some skin. I forced myself to look away, not wanting her to catch me checking her out.
“Not today,” I answered and unlocked the minivan. “You? Still don’t want to go home?”
She beamed like a kid, her eyes smiling together with her lips.
“How about you come with me to meet my dealers?” she asked.
I frowned. “What kind of dealers?” I said, mirroring her words.
She shrugged. She really loved shrugging her shoulder. “You’ll know.”
Her voice sounded tempting, making me curious. She mentioned before that her ex made her used drugs before and I wanted to know if that was what she was referring to. Thinking of it know, I should have punched that Rocky three times; One for insulting my mother, two for being a bad influence to Shay and three for just plainly existing.
“I’ll follow you,” I said to her.
She smiled at me as she put on her yellow helmet.
I tailed her motorcycle.
****
“Ice cream and waffle deals,” I read out the sign on the shop. There were drawings of ice creams and waffles on the glass window. “So, that’s it, huh?”
She c****d her head toward the front door, gesturing for me to follow. “Yes, this place deals with different flavors of ice cream than you can ever imagine.”
Seeing a wonder-like glimmer in her eyes, I bit my smile, noting another mood from her.
“Hi, Dennis,” Shay called over the counter. “I’ll have my usual, for two, please.”
The old man with a bulky bottom mocked-salute her, a wide grin on his face. She seemed a regular customer here. Looking around, there were only a few tables. Shay walked straight at the very back table, a sign says VIP was stamped on it.
“How often do you go to this place?” I asked, sitting opposite her.
“My dad and I used to go here at every last Friday of every month.” She scanned the place, a hint of smile on her lips. “That’s like a deal we had on one another.”
Today’s the last Friday of November.
She tapped her finger on the table. “You know, we talked about new beginnings and not getting stuck in the past but I realized that I’m not putting it into action. I saw on TV that one best way to forget the memories is to create new ones. Then on my way to school this morning, I remembered this. So… here we are.”
Dennis, the old man on the counter, put two huge banana split ice cream in front of us and two waffles.
Shay scooped right away, not wasting anytime. “It makes sense, right?”
I scooped the ice cream as well, getting a brain freeze. I wasn’t really a fan of this. “It did.”
“But I have to be home by seven.”
I stared at her. “Curfew?”
She scrunched up her nose, licking some ice cream on her lips. It’s distracting. “Kind of. Or maybe I just want a boring night.”
Forcing myself to look on the banana split, I scooped another one. “Don’t you have anything to do at home?”
“Aside from playing with my baby brother and Cheerio? Nope. There’s none.”
I cleared out my throat. “Who’s Cheerio?”
“My dog. He’s a Pitbull.”
My eyes narrowed instinctively. “Ooh… Isn’t he a bit scary?”
Shay suddenly composed herself, as if prepared to go on full defense. “They are misunderstood just because this country of us used them for dog fights! He’s as sweet as a rabbit. You should meet him.”
That made laughed. More on nervous laughter. She was really different compare to other girls. It was as if she welcomed danger.
“Should I tell you I’m scared of dogs?” I said.
“No way!” she said, eyes wide.
I nodded. “Mmm-Hmm. He sounds a good dog but I’d rather not meet him.”
Now, there was an amused smile playing on her lips. “I thought you’re fearless.”
“What? Am I some kind of robot?”
She just laughed, her husky voice infiltrating my head.
“You’re cute,” she muttered. “Big guy scared of dogs.”
“That’s a bit harsh. Besides, everyone has a weakness. A kryptonite.”
Her eyes narrowed as she chewed the waffle. “Oh, are we comparing you to Superman now?”
I considered it for a moment. “Yeah.”
We both laughed. She surely had a good mood today.
“And that’s your weakness— a dog?”
I thought for a moment, watching her awaiting my answer. “No, not really. I don’t think that’s my kryptonite.”
“What is?”
My mother’s face appeared in my head, and so those who were important to me. One by one they were vanishing, no trace left.
“Being left behind?” I uttered in a low tone. “I don’t know if that counts as a weakness but…” I paused, unable to find words to best describe what it was like being abandoned.
“Well, that’s…” Shay trailed off, looking at me.
“Sad?”
She shook her head. “No. That sucks.”
Again, we just laughed, not letting the fears affect us today.
- Writer
