"GRADY KILGORE, YOU NO GOOD DIRTY ROTTEN CHEAT!"
Nine-year-old Idgie Threadgoode set off running, a wooden gun in each hand and a spark in her eyes. Her husky friend took one glance at the blonde ball of fury rushing at him before he came to senses and ran for his life, his prior victory forgotten.
"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Idgie leveled her weapon at the back of Grady's head and fired three shots.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
He knew her tricks too well, and had already veered left and out of the line of fire. He could practically feel the fumes radiating from her scrawny little body.
"THAT AIN'T FAIR! GET BACK HERE!" Idgie pumped her legs, her tongue peeking between her teeth in concentration. But Grady was a big kid, almost thirteen, and though he was big, his legs were about twice the length of hers.
Grady turned around, as quick as a whip, his pistol aimed straight and Idgie's chest. The disappointed and pouty Idgie had no choice but to die, although she sure wasn't going to make a big show about it. She picked herself up just about as soon as she hit the ground, and crossed her arms and sniffed for a bit, letting her scraggly hair hang around her face like a mop.
"Aw, c'mon Idgie, you cain't take it personal…"
Another little sniff.
"Idgie…please…I didn't mean nothin' by it."
By this time the big ox that was Grady Kilgore had shoved his hands in his pocket and hung his head like any old schoolboy.
"Gotcha!" Quick as a flash, Idgie whipped out her wooden weapon and had Grady trapped.
"Bang!"
With that, Grady clutched his chest and crumpled to the ground as Buddy Threadgoode stood laughing at his kid sister's cleverness, still confused about how he could've possibly been beaten by a girl.
"Grady Kilgore, you cheatin' bastard." Twenty-two-year-old Idgie smiled incredulously over her cards. Grady leaned back, the chair creaked.
"I cain't believe it…" Her smile began to tremble as Grady laid his hand on the table. He had won the pot, and he began to collect his winnings, a grin on his face.
Idgie sat there, awestruck, and then she crossed her arms stubbornly and looked at her lap, stewing over the loss of her money.
"Aw, c'mon, Idgie…" Grady got up and sat beside Idgie, only to be met with the stubborn shake of her head. "Ain't you gonna talk to me?"
He was again greeted by the sight of the back of her head.
"Idgie, please?"
She turned back to face him, that familiar Threadgoode spark in her eyes. He didn't even notice her hand sneaking into his pocket and pulling out the five of spades he had tucked in there during the game. She waved it sneakily in front of his face, and impish grin on hers.
"Gotcha!" She gathered up the pot he had forgotten and sauntered out the door while everyone else burst into laughter. As Grady heard Julian's old Model T rev up and head back to the café, he tried to unravel the mystery that was Imogene Louise Threadgoode and realized that he never even begin.