Old Red
"Sonic! Please wait up!"
"Stop following me, Amy! I don't have time for this!"
"Then, why are you running slow enough for me to catch you?"
Sonic skidded to a halt, stopping on a dime. The ten year old looked back over his shoulder at the pink hedgehog following him closely. Her messy quills, though short, blew in the wind without restraint, covering her face. She couldn't see where she was going and tripped, only to fall. Sonic jogged over to her and helped her up, turning towards the sea on the main side. Its noise made him queasy and sick. "Are you okay?" He asked detachedly.
Amy spit the sand out of her mouth and stood up against him. "Fine, fine. What's wrong with you, Sonic?"
The blue male swallowed the bile rising in his throat. "Water."
"Oh," Amy nodded understandingly, huffing impatiently as the wind blew her quills against her face. "Want to head up to the boardwalk?"
Sonic was trembling slightly, and he jumped as the waves crashed closer to his feet. "Um…" he debated, brushing the sand off his arms. "You go back with the others. I'll meet you at the pier."
"Okay, Sonic!" Amy retraced her steps, going back towards the others, who were all enjoying a day at the beach. "See you soon!"
Sonic shook his head and turned from the heartless ocean, running as fast as he could over the dry, sandy dunes.
OOOOOOOOO
With a deep brown coin purse slung over his shoulder, Sonic navigated through the arcade, hearing everywhere the violent sounds of the shooting games, and an annoying buzzing as from a giant insect, from another game he didn't know. It was anything but quiet in the tiny arcade. As he set to playing another game, taking in one hand the joystick and resting his fingers over the shooting button, he realized that he was quite hungry.
Before, the fear of the ocean had driven away his hunger, but now it was back. He sighed, really in the mood for a sweet, cool treat. A swirled ice cream cone would hit the spot right now. He licked his lips just thinking about it.
As he finished the game and walked out of the arcade, another thought crossed his mind. Amy's quills were always in the way, and she couldn't see where she was going. Today, he'd been there to help her out, but the one day he wasn't around, she could be seriously hurt because of that. Sonic shivered. He couldn't allow that to happen.
Standing watch on the outside of the arcade was a lone skill crane, filled with ladies' hairbands. What luck! Sonic deposited his quarter and took the joystick in hand. "Now," he murmured, biting his tongue with the concentration. "Let's see how lucky I am."
OOOOOOOOOO
"Where's Sonic?" wondered Amy. "He should've been here by now."
"Don't worry," Knuckles reassured her as she bounced the young Tails in her arms. "He'll be along in a minute."
"Hey, guys!" Sonic indeed was running full speed at them, weaving his way through the crowded boardwalk.
"Sonic!" Amy and Tails cried at the same time, both pairs of arms reaching out for him.
The blue male accepted the two hugs gratefully, producing a small stuffed toy for Tails to hold and giving something to Amy in a bag. "Well, guys, shall we ride some rides?"
Knuckles looked around him. "I'm good with that." And he grinned. "Hey, Sonic, race ya to that roller coaster!"
"You're on!" And away went Sonic in the direction of one of the many roller coasters. Amy followed, with Tails now walking on the ground behind her, holding on to her dress for security.
"Hmmm," Amy peered into the bag. "Wonder what Sonic got for me." Curiously, she reached into the bag…and pulled out a red hairband! Giggling, she tucked her quills behind it and placed it on her head.
And, there it has been ever since.
END
