Post by Bindy Trent on Dec 20, 2016 0:31:40 GMT -5
The white fluffy collar of a Christmas sweater was peaking out of the coat that was zipped over her slender form, the layers put on in a desperate attempt to keep out the bite of the winter weather. Bindy pressed her face into the fuzzy material, trying to warm it up. She was in the process of placing two rolling Samsonite luggage cases in the open trunk of her rental vehicle, in a rush to get out of town and back on the road. She was ducking back out under the hatchback of her vehicle, when a small voice squeaked up at her.
...
I saw you wrestle last night.
»BINDY«
Sweet Zetus lapetus!
Standing right behind her in the parking lot was a boy, probably 11 or 12. He’d startled her, and she almost banged her head but stopped herself from jumping out of her skin at the last moment. He was staring up at Bindy with a deadpan look, before lifting a hand to wipe his runny nose on his jacket sleeve. She seemed confused, looking around to see if perhaps the boy’s parents were lurking within her line of sight. No? Great, suddenly she was like an honest to goodness adult in this situation and had to act as much, for the most part. It wasn’t exactly her best area of expertise.
»BINDY«
You sure you saw me? Maybe you’re thinking of someone else.
▪BOY▪
No, it was you.
»BINDY«
Well, uh, thanks for watching little dude.
Unsure, and awkward, she gave him a playful punch to the shoulder and again looked around. Still no parents. Great.
▪BOY▪
You lost.
Oh, he was an astute one. Shoving her hands into her coat pockets she noted the boy seemed completely unaffected by the weather. That was kids for you. They could play outside in the snow until their ears fell off and she was here trying to keep her teeth from chattering.
»BINDY«
Yeah I did.
▪BOY▪
Are you sad?
That made her laugh, genuinely. Her shoulders shrugged up and she sat back, resting her butt on the bumper of the crossover vehicle.
»BINDY«
Nah, it is what it is man. It’s not the first time my shoulders went down for a three count and it won’t be the last. You know, there’s always disappointment man, but that’s life. Sometimes you gotta prioritize and save your disappointment and sadness for the stuff that really matters, like when you find out they’re canceling your favorite TV show or something.
▪BOY▪
But that man had his feet on the ropes! He was cheating to win!
The kid huffed, kicking a booted foot into the crunchy snow that covered the parking lot. It was cute to see at least someone cared about her match. Maybe this was the time for her to impart some of her worldly wisdom onto this young soul.
»BINDY«
Maybe, but you know I’ll tell you what an old coach of mine told me. The only people that ever remember stuff like that are the losers. And complaining about it won’t ever change it, so I guess the only thing left for me to do is to just let it go.
▪BOY▪
I guess. Will you beat him next time?
She leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees so that she was closer to the boy’s height.
»BINDY«
Yeah, I think so. But just in case I’m going to practice a lot before that. In fact, let me tell you something no one else knows. My next match, right after Christmas and New Years, I’m going to be taking on two people. I bet that will help me get ready, right?
▪BOY▪
Two isn’t a very big number though.
The hell, kid? She wanted to say, but refrained.
»BINDY«
Well, I’m taking on Candy Turner AND Brandon Collins. I think those guys are pretty good and I bet working with them will help me get a lot better. That’s what practice does.
▪BOY▪
I don’t know who they are.
Yeah, me either really. She also wanted to say, but again Bindy refrained. A glob of clear snot was rolling down his upper lip, which he did not wipe a this time, and she tried not to stare.
»BINDY«
Well, they’re cool people I’m sure.
▪BOY▪
I guess. That doesn’t mean you have to lose to them too, ya know. My mom said my dad was a loser, and now we have to go stay with my Aunt for Christmas. And I hate it, she has a bird that bites me.
»BINDY«
. . . . . .
Without realizing it, she had placed a hand over her mouth, trying to find the words to reply to whatever that nonsense was but not finding them. Instead it was her turn to be handing out the vacant, dumbfounded stares.
. . .
BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE! BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE! GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR, WE’RE LEAVING!
The kid showed some life, hearing his name being belted out by his mother from the open door of one of the motel rooms. Bindy breathed a sigh of relief knowing that this exchange was about to end.
▪BOY▪
Oh, I gotta go now Ana. Merry Holidays!
»BINDY«
Ana! Seriously?!
She and Ana Hayden had absolutely no resemblance. Watching the kid run off, she wondered if all the kids in Lowell were made like that or if this one she encountered was just a ‘special’ case. No judgment though, as she would be quick to clarify, even if it was just internally to ease her own guilt. With the rugrat gone she was free to close the hatch of her vehicle, and shuffled over to the driver’s side. The inside was nice and toasty, with some CCR playing on the radio. In a couple hours and a couple hundred miles she’d be home and the bad memories of Lowell would be just that, memories.
...
I saw you wrestle last night.
»BINDY«
Sweet Zetus lapetus!
Standing right behind her in the parking lot was a boy, probably 11 or 12. He’d startled her, and she almost banged her head but stopped herself from jumping out of her skin at the last moment. He was staring up at Bindy with a deadpan look, before lifting a hand to wipe his runny nose on his jacket sleeve. She seemed confused, looking around to see if perhaps the boy’s parents were lurking within her line of sight. No? Great, suddenly she was like an honest to goodness adult in this situation and had to act as much, for the most part. It wasn’t exactly her best area of expertise.
»BINDY«
You sure you saw me? Maybe you’re thinking of someone else.
▪BOY▪
No, it was you.
»BINDY«
Well, uh, thanks for watching little dude.
Unsure, and awkward, she gave him a playful punch to the shoulder and again looked around. Still no parents. Great.
▪BOY▪
You lost.
Oh, he was an astute one. Shoving her hands into her coat pockets she noted the boy seemed completely unaffected by the weather. That was kids for you. They could play outside in the snow until their ears fell off and she was here trying to keep her teeth from chattering.
»BINDY«
Yeah I did.
▪BOY▪
Are you sad?
That made her laugh, genuinely. Her shoulders shrugged up and she sat back, resting her butt on the bumper of the crossover vehicle.
»BINDY«
Nah, it is what it is man. It’s not the first time my shoulders went down for a three count and it won’t be the last. You know, there’s always disappointment man, but that’s life. Sometimes you gotta prioritize and save your disappointment and sadness for the stuff that really matters, like when you find out they’re canceling your favorite TV show or something.
▪BOY▪
But that man had his feet on the ropes! He was cheating to win!
The kid huffed, kicking a booted foot into the crunchy snow that covered the parking lot. It was cute to see at least someone cared about her match. Maybe this was the time for her to impart some of her worldly wisdom onto this young soul.
»BINDY«
Maybe, but you know I’ll tell you what an old coach of mine told me. The only people that ever remember stuff like that are the losers. And complaining about it won’t ever change it, so I guess the only thing left for me to do is to just let it go.
▪BOY▪
I guess. Will you beat him next time?
She leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees so that she was closer to the boy’s height.
»BINDY«
Yeah, I think so. But just in case I’m going to practice a lot before that. In fact, let me tell you something no one else knows. My next match, right after Christmas and New Years, I’m going to be taking on two people. I bet that will help me get ready, right?
▪BOY▪
Two isn’t a very big number though.
The hell, kid? She wanted to say, but refrained.
»BINDY«
Well, I’m taking on Candy Turner AND Brandon Collins. I think those guys are pretty good and I bet working with them will help me get a lot better. That’s what practice does.
▪BOY▪
I don’t know who they are.
Yeah, me either really. She also wanted to say, but again Bindy refrained. A glob of clear snot was rolling down his upper lip, which he did not wipe a this time, and she tried not to stare.
»BINDY«
Well, they’re cool people I’m sure.
▪BOY▪
I guess. That doesn’t mean you have to lose to them too, ya know. My mom said my dad was a loser, and now we have to go stay with my Aunt for Christmas. And I hate it, she has a bird that bites me.
»BINDY«
. . . . . .
Without realizing it, she had placed a hand over her mouth, trying to find the words to reply to whatever that nonsense was but not finding them. Instead it was her turn to be handing out the vacant, dumbfounded stares.
. . .
BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE! BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE! GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR, WE’RE LEAVING!
The kid showed some life, hearing his name being belted out by his mother from the open door of one of the motel rooms. Bindy breathed a sigh of relief knowing that this exchange was about to end.
▪BOY▪
Oh, I gotta go now Ana. Merry Holidays!
»BINDY«
Ana! Seriously?!
She and Ana Hayden had absolutely no resemblance. Watching the kid run off, she wondered if all the kids in Lowell were made like that or if this one she encountered was just a ‘special’ case. No judgment though, as she would be quick to clarify, even if it was just internally to ease her own guilt. With the rugrat gone she was free to close the hatch of her vehicle, and shuffled over to the driver’s side. The inside was nice and toasty, with some CCR playing on the radio. In a couple hours and a couple hundred miles she’d be home and the bad memories of Lowell would be just that, memories.