CHAPTER TWENTY TWO – THE SNOWCONE
They walked side by side. Hands shoved in pockets. Eyes trained on their feet. Lara in red shoes. Catcher in black boots.
He kept sneaking glances at her. And she'd glance back at him. But they'd never see each other.
Goldfish Park was warm and dry. Despite it being cold and dreary outside its paths. The holosphere kept out the wind. And the bad weather. Only creating a warm. Summery day. In the pith of November.
They walked silently down the path. A little white girl in a red dress ran by them. A red mother in a white dress followed.
Down by the ponds. Old men threw bread to the goldfish. While little boys threw rocks at the goldfish. Invisible, digital birds sang melodies from the treetops. Not in the park. Having migrated. The constant warmth having messed with their instincts otherwise.
"Let's go down here." Lara mentioned. Straying from the worn. Gray path. Catcher followed.
She led him down the slight hill. To a spot beside a cement pond. Goldfish swam about. Lacing through the silvery water.
"Is this alright?" She asked. Spreading out her arms. Catcher nodded. Hands shoved into his barrel pocket. On the front of the sweatshirt.
Lara smiled. And began spreading out the blanket. One she'd gotten from a rack. When they'd first walked into the park.
She laid it out. Then took off her shoes. And sat down upon it. Beckoning Catcher to do the same. In hesitance. He did. And sat. Looking at her. Still in his coat.
She unshouldered hers. And set it beside her.
Taking out the food. From the knapsack. She handed one to Catcher.
He watched her as she pulled the cover back. Watching her shoulders fall. And her face twist. "Shit."
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"My food's passed its expiration…"
"What does that mean?"
"It means it's spoiled. I can't eat it." She looked over at him. Reaching for his. "How's yours?" She opened it for him. It looked the same.
"Oh well," she said. Unfazed. "We'll have to get something from the cart." She got up. And when she saw that he wasn't following. Put out her hands.
He took them. And she pulled him up. Beginning to walk away.
"What about our stuff?" he asked. Looking at their shoes. And her coat.
"They're alright." She said. "We'll be back in a second."
He caught up with her. Walking side by side again.
"So what do you feel like?"
"Feel like?"
"Eating!" she emphasized. "You need sustenance young fool!" She smiled as they walked back towards the main path. Barefoot. Into the girth of cart food. They had everything at their disposal.
They went by large carts. Wafting large smells. With large men pushing them. Yelling with large voices.
"What do you feel like?" Catcher asked. Coming close when a cart got too near. Touching Lara's arm. Like a scared child. She noticed. But said nothing.
"I feel like…" she rubbed her stomach. Asking it like a crystal ball. What did it want? "…a big, huge hotdog. And a snowcone…" she licked her lips. Letting her eyes close. As she took in the smells.
"A hotdog?" Catcher asked. Looking at the people. So many people.
"Do you want one?" She asked. But he didn't say anything. They were already at the cart.
Lara ordered the hotdog. With relish. And ketchup. And mustard. Then she turned to Catcher.
"I'll have what you have." He surrendered. Watching. Waiting. And taking it when it was handed. Lara paid and they kept walking.
"You want a snowcone too?" She asked. Taking a bite out of her hotdog already. Loving it.
"Sure." Catcher said. The talking from the people around them had grown more noisy. The cart men's yelling making sound claustrophobic.
It was like a tiny city. Its main street being the noisiest.
They went to the snowcone cart. Lara ordering a lemon snowcone for Catcher. And a blueberry one for herself. The ice dyed. Dark. And blue.
"Here you go." She handed the lemon off to Catcher. As they made their way back to their spot. Their stuff still there. Untouched.
It was more quiet when they finally sat. Lara propped against the fountain side. Catcher sitting across from her.
He was looking at his hotdog.
"They're very good, you know." She said. "You don't have to be afraid of them."
"What is it made of?" He poked at the relish. Smearing his fingertip yellow. From the mustard.
"Real meat. Back in the 90's, you didn't know what they were made out of. But they're safe now." She took another big bite. Wiping the ketchup from the corners of her mouth. With a smile.
Catcher took a small bite. Tested it. Then chewed it up. Cringing slightly when he swallowed.
"Does it still hurt?"
"A little." He set his hotdog down. Beside his leg. And watched the people. Walking by.
She watched him. Eating while she did. Then looked away quickly when he turned back. She brushed at a hair that had fallen. Tucking it behind her ear.
She picked up her snowcone. And took a big bite. Liking the crunch. The blueberry flavoring. Tasted good. Swam around her teeth. And dyed her tongue.
Catcher was watching her. So she stuck her tongue out at him. Getting him to smile.
"Your tongue's blue." He said. Simple. Sweet.
"Ith ip?" She asked. Keeping her tongue out. Trying to look at it.
This made him laugh. A little laugh.
She smiled. Then just looked at him.
"What?" he asked. After a while. Taking little bites of his own. Snowcone.
"You may not know the answer to this." She comforted. "But do you know what's wrong with your heart?"
He looked at her. Then down to his chest. Flat palming. Where his heart would be. "No." He said. "It just hurts."
"All the time?" She asked. Brushing back the unruly hair. Again. Leaning forward. Biting her lip.
"Not when I'm with Agatha." He said. Looking up. Flicking back at how close she was. Then repositioning himself. So that their faces were close again. He liked feeling her breath. On his mouth. Warm. And swirling. Whenever she spoke. "Or with you."
She reached out. Tentatively. And touched where his heart was. Where his hand was. Gently. Smiling slightly at him.
They looked at each other for a moment. Before Lara cleared her throat. And sat back. Drawing back her arm.
Catcher caught it. In mid air. And wrapped it up with his hand. "It doesn't hurt when you touch me..." he said. Softly.
She blinked. Before she leaned forward again. And kissed him. On the lips. Tasting him. For the first time. Then she sat back. Realizing what she'd just done. And liking it.
He never let go of her hand. As his eyes came open. And he looked at her. Silently.
"You taste like lemons." She smiled. Whispering.
The breeze washed through his hair. Making it shiver. The blanket made designs in his eyes. Red. And White. Squares.
She broke away from his stare. Breaking her heart. And reached for her snowcone. Taking a bite.
"Heads up!" Came a call.
Lara immediately ducked.
But Catcher...
WHACK! A Frisbee hit him square in the face. It popped his head back.
Lara's hands went to her mouth. Covering a smile. Untimely yes. But Catcher's shocked face. It was too much.
"I'm so sorry!" A woman came by. Panicked. "Are you alright sir?"
A dog followed her. Panting. Drooling. Climbed into his lap. And began licking Catcher's face.
He pushed the dog away. Clutching his nose.
"Are you alright Catcher?" Lara couldn't help the smile. But her words were sincere.
Catcher rubbed at his nose. "It hurts." He said.
"I'm so, SO sorry." The Frisbee woman said. Taking her dog by the collar. Keeping it off Catcher. Who it was trying to get back on.
Lara put up a hand. "He's alright." She said. Making sure he was.
Catcher picked up the Frisbee. Which had fallen off to the side of his lap. And gave it to the woman.
"Again. I'm sorry." She said. "Goodbye."
As the woman left. Lara couldn't help but let out a laugh. It bent her into Catcher's lap.
"What are you laughing at?" He asked. Holding his aching nose.
"I don't know." Lara finished laughing. And sat back up. "Is it broken?"
She moved his hands. And gently pushed on his nose. He flinched and she frowned. While it still tried to twist into a smile. "You poor thing. You should be alright."
She sat back. Letting him have his nose again. As she reached over. And grabbed the last of her hotdog. Eating it down.
She watched him for a while. Noticing his eyes watering. And wiped at them with her thumb. Wiping the tears on her pants.
"Are you sure you're alright?" She asked. Frown smiling. Rubbing his shoulder.
He squeezed his eyes shut. And lifted up his head. Trying to make the pain go away.
"We should probably be heading home." Lara said. Beginning to gather up the trash.
She stood up. Bringing the trash with her. Then turned back to Catcher. "Are you going to finish your hotdog?"
He shook his head no. And she took it up in her armload.
"You have to at least eat your snowcone." She stated. Looking down on him. He reached for his snowcone. And held it at his chest. Still holding his nose.
A surprised look came over her face. And he looked down. Seeing a spot in his snowcone. Yellow. Change colors. Orange.
He looked up at Lara. Perplexed. Slightly scared.
"It's alright." She said. Smiling. At the scared little child he was. "It's just a nose bleed. That Frisbee really got you."
He touched his nose. Feeling the wetness. And brought it down. Tasting it. Then he licked his lip. Caught in the tangy. Coppery taste of it.
"Here." She pushed his hovering hands down. And pushed a wad of napkins to his nose.
He let her hold them there. As she stuck out her other hand. Juggling the trash. And helped him to his feet.
"Can you get my coat and the blanket?" She asked. Breaking hands. He grabbed them up. And they went to walking. Back down the path. Back towards the house.
They stopped at a trashcan nearby. And threw what they didn't want away. A chance of a glimpse in. Brought sight to a picture. Hidden beneath a wrapper. But enough to be recognized.
Lara's eyes widened. As she reached in. And snatched up the paper.
She crumpled it into her hand. And shoved it into her pocket.
Then she took her place next to Catcher. As they walked.
Acting as if nothing had happened.
They walked side by side. Hands shoved in pockets. Eyes trained on their feet. Lara in red shoes. Catcher in black boots.
He kept sneaking glances at her. And she'd glance back at him. But they'd never see each other.
Goldfish Park was warm and dry. Despite it being cold and dreary outside its paths. The holosphere kept out the wind. And the bad weather. Only creating a warm. Summery day. In the pith of November.
They walked silently down the path. A little white girl in a red dress ran by them. A red mother in a white dress followed.
Down by the ponds. Old men threw bread to the goldfish. While little boys threw rocks at the goldfish. Invisible, digital birds sang melodies from the treetops. Not in the park. Having migrated. The constant warmth having messed with their instincts otherwise.
"Let's go down here." Lara mentioned. Straying from the worn. Gray path. Catcher followed.
She led him down the slight hill. To a spot beside a cement pond. Goldfish swam about. Lacing through the silvery water.
"Is this alright?" She asked. Spreading out her arms. Catcher nodded. Hands shoved into his barrel pocket. On the front of the sweatshirt.
Lara smiled. And began spreading out the blanket. One she'd gotten from a rack. When they'd first walked into the park.
She laid it out. Then took off her shoes. And sat down upon it. Beckoning Catcher to do the same. In hesitance. He did. And sat. Looking at her. Still in his coat.
She unshouldered hers. And set it beside her.
Taking out the food. From the knapsack. She handed one to Catcher.
He watched her as she pulled the cover back. Watching her shoulders fall. And her face twist. "Shit."
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"My food's passed its expiration…"
"What does that mean?"
"It means it's spoiled. I can't eat it." She looked over at him. Reaching for his. "How's yours?" She opened it for him. It looked the same.
"Oh well," she said. Unfazed. "We'll have to get something from the cart." She got up. And when she saw that he wasn't following. Put out her hands.
He took them. And she pulled him up. Beginning to walk away.
"What about our stuff?" he asked. Looking at their shoes. And her coat.
"They're alright." She said. "We'll be back in a second."
He caught up with her. Walking side by side again.
"So what do you feel like?"
"Feel like?"
"Eating!" she emphasized. "You need sustenance young fool!" She smiled as they walked back towards the main path. Barefoot. Into the girth of cart food. They had everything at their disposal.
They went by large carts. Wafting large smells. With large men pushing them. Yelling with large voices.
"What do you feel like?" Catcher asked. Coming close when a cart got too near. Touching Lara's arm. Like a scared child. She noticed. But said nothing.
"I feel like…" she rubbed her stomach. Asking it like a crystal ball. What did it want? "…a big, huge hotdog. And a snowcone…" she licked her lips. Letting her eyes close. As she took in the smells.
"A hotdog?" Catcher asked. Looking at the people. So many people.
"Do you want one?" She asked. But he didn't say anything. They were already at the cart.
Lara ordered the hotdog. With relish. And ketchup. And mustard. Then she turned to Catcher.
"I'll have what you have." He surrendered. Watching. Waiting. And taking it when it was handed. Lara paid and they kept walking.
"You want a snowcone too?" She asked. Taking a bite out of her hotdog already. Loving it.
"Sure." Catcher said. The talking from the people around them had grown more noisy. The cart men's yelling making sound claustrophobic.
It was like a tiny city. Its main street being the noisiest.
They went to the snowcone cart. Lara ordering a lemon snowcone for Catcher. And a blueberry one for herself. The ice dyed. Dark. And blue.
"Here you go." She handed the lemon off to Catcher. As they made their way back to their spot. Their stuff still there. Untouched.
It was more quiet when they finally sat. Lara propped against the fountain side. Catcher sitting across from her.
He was looking at his hotdog.
"They're very good, you know." She said. "You don't have to be afraid of them."
"What is it made of?" He poked at the relish. Smearing his fingertip yellow. From the mustard.
"Real meat. Back in the 90's, you didn't know what they were made out of. But they're safe now." She took another big bite. Wiping the ketchup from the corners of her mouth. With a smile.
Catcher took a small bite. Tested it. Then chewed it up. Cringing slightly when he swallowed.
"Does it still hurt?"
"A little." He set his hotdog down. Beside his leg. And watched the people. Walking by.
She watched him. Eating while she did. Then looked away quickly when he turned back. She brushed at a hair that had fallen. Tucking it behind her ear.
She picked up her snowcone. And took a big bite. Liking the crunch. The blueberry flavoring. Tasted good. Swam around her teeth. And dyed her tongue.
Catcher was watching her. So she stuck her tongue out at him. Getting him to smile.
"Your tongue's blue." He said. Simple. Sweet.
"Ith ip?" She asked. Keeping her tongue out. Trying to look at it.
This made him laugh. A little laugh.
She smiled. Then just looked at him.
"What?" he asked. After a while. Taking little bites of his own. Snowcone.
"You may not know the answer to this." She comforted. "But do you know what's wrong with your heart?"
He looked at her. Then down to his chest. Flat palming. Where his heart would be. "No." He said. "It just hurts."
"All the time?" She asked. Brushing back the unruly hair. Again. Leaning forward. Biting her lip.
"Not when I'm with Agatha." He said. Looking up. Flicking back at how close she was. Then repositioning himself. So that their faces were close again. He liked feeling her breath. On his mouth. Warm. And swirling. Whenever she spoke. "Or with you."
She reached out. Tentatively. And touched where his heart was. Where his hand was. Gently. Smiling slightly at him.
They looked at each other for a moment. Before Lara cleared her throat. And sat back. Drawing back her arm.
Catcher caught it. In mid air. And wrapped it up with his hand. "It doesn't hurt when you touch me..." he said. Softly.
She blinked. Before she leaned forward again. And kissed him. On the lips. Tasting him. For the first time. Then she sat back. Realizing what she'd just done. And liking it.
He never let go of her hand. As his eyes came open. And he looked at her. Silently.
"You taste like lemons." She smiled. Whispering.
The breeze washed through his hair. Making it shiver. The blanket made designs in his eyes. Red. And White. Squares.
She broke away from his stare. Breaking her heart. And reached for her snowcone. Taking a bite.
"Heads up!" Came a call.
Lara immediately ducked.
But Catcher...
WHACK! A Frisbee hit him square in the face. It popped his head back.
Lara's hands went to her mouth. Covering a smile. Untimely yes. But Catcher's shocked face. It was too much.
"I'm so sorry!" A woman came by. Panicked. "Are you alright sir?"
A dog followed her. Panting. Drooling. Climbed into his lap. And began licking Catcher's face.
He pushed the dog away. Clutching his nose.
"Are you alright Catcher?" Lara couldn't help the smile. But her words were sincere.
Catcher rubbed at his nose. "It hurts." He said.
"I'm so, SO sorry." The Frisbee woman said. Taking her dog by the collar. Keeping it off Catcher. Who it was trying to get back on.
Lara put up a hand. "He's alright." She said. Making sure he was.
Catcher picked up the Frisbee. Which had fallen off to the side of his lap. And gave it to the woman.
"Again. I'm sorry." She said. "Goodbye."
As the woman left. Lara couldn't help but let out a laugh. It bent her into Catcher's lap.
"What are you laughing at?" He asked. Holding his aching nose.
"I don't know." Lara finished laughing. And sat back up. "Is it broken?"
She moved his hands. And gently pushed on his nose. He flinched and she frowned. While it still tried to twist into a smile. "You poor thing. You should be alright."
She sat back. Letting him have his nose again. As she reached over. And grabbed the last of her hotdog. Eating it down.
She watched him for a while. Noticing his eyes watering. And wiped at them with her thumb. Wiping the tears on her pants.
"Are you sure you're alright?" She asked. Frown smiling. Rubbing his shoulder.
He squeezed his eyes shut. And lifted up his head. Trying to make the pain go away.
"We should probably be heading home." Lara said. Beginning to gather up the trash.
She stood up. Bringing the trash with her. Then turned back to Catcher. "Are you going to finish your hotdog?"
He shook his head no. And she took it up in her armload.
"You have to at least eat your snowcone." She stated. Looking down on him. He reached for his snowcone. And held it at his chest. Still holding his nose.
A surprised look came over her face. And he looked down. Seeing a spot in his snowcone. Yellow. Change colors. Orange.
He looked up at Lara. Perplexed. Slightly scared.
"It's alright." She said. Smiling. At the scared little child he was. "It's just a nose bleed. That Frisbee really got you."
He touched his nose. Feeling the wetness. And brought it down. Tasting it. Then he licked his lip. Caught in the tangy. Coppery taste of it.
"Here." She pushed his hovering hands down. And pushed a wad of napkins to his nose.
He let her hold them there. As she stuck out her other hand. Juggling the trash. And helped him to his feet.
"Can you get my coat and the blanket?" She asked. Breaking hands. He grabbed them up. And they went to walking. Back down the path. Back towards the house.
They stopped at a trashcan nearby. And threw what they didn't want away. A chance of a glimpse in. Brought sight to a picture. Hidden beneath a wrapper. But enough to be recognized.
Lara's eyes widened. As she reached in. And snatched up the paper.
She crumpled it into her hand. And shoved it into her pocket.
Then she took her place next to Catcher. As they walked.
Acting as if nothing had happened.