Chapter 250: The Field House
Thursday, January 26th, Morning
The Isle of Misfit Toys collected on a set of bleachers in the field house. Dexter "Dex" Matthews lay down on the bench with his head in the lap of his girlfriend, Wendy Kilpatrick. Gareth "Gar" Reuter leaned back on several of the benches. Lydia "LK" Scott sat on the bottom bench looking out to nowhere. Sawyer Scott and Kendall "Keni" Stafford sat next to Gareth and were playing with some cards.
"You know we're not supposed to be playing card," Gareth said.
"Why?" Keni asked.
"They considered it gambling," Gareth said.
"Even if they're tarot cards, Gar?" Sawyer asked.
"I think especially if they are tarot," Gareth said.
"Why would you say that, Gar?" Dex asked.
"Around here, some people see you playing tarot they say you're possessed and try to burn you at the stake," Gareth said.
"Gar, that's not nice to say," Sawyer said.
"What isn't?" Gareth asked.
"Considering the Salem Witch Trails were nothing but revenge and a land grab," Keni said.
"Burning witches at the stake," Sawyer said.
"Isn't that what they do?" Gareth asked.
"Have you been rereading the Malleus Maleficarum, Gar?" Keni asked.
"No," Gareth said.
"Good," Keni said, "We'd have an issue if you read that again."
"No, we don't burn witches at the stake; in North America, they hang them," Sawyer said.
Dex chuckled, "Either way, it sounds like something my brother and sister's grandma would try to do," he said.
"My sister's friend is a minister," Keni said.
"Dex, honey," Wendy said.
"Yes," Dex said and looked up at Wendy.
"Why did you refer to her as your brother and sister's grandma? Wouldn't she be your grandma too?" Wendy asked.
"They're my half-siblings; we have different moms," Dex said.
"Why haven't I met them yet?" Wendy asked.
Dex looked uncomfortable and kind of muttered. It's clear he's avoiding answering Wendy's question. Sawyer looked over to Keni, who shrugged, and they both looked to Gareth, who didn't help as he just shrugged.
"Their grandma doesn't want me around; that's why I live with my uncle," Dex said.
Wendy shook her head, "That doesn't seem right, keeping sibling apart," Wendy said.
"It happens more than you think," Alesha Gregg said and joined them on the bleachers, sitting next to LK. Lk recoiled and slid down the bleacher. "What's with her?"
"Just LK," Keni said.
"What do you want, Alesha?" Wendy asked.
"Sawyer asked me to join y'all," Alesha said.
"Is that true, Sawyer?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah, I did," Sawyer said.
"You didn't tell us?" Wendy asked.
"No, I didn't think we needed to; we're not the plastics," Sawyer said.
"If it's going to cause trouble, I'll just leave," Alesha said.
"No, stay, Wendy is well, just being, Wendy," Sawyer said.
"Okay," Alesha said, "What are you doing?"
"Playing with a tarot deck," Keni said.
"Tarot?" Alesha asked.
"Tarot cards are playing cards first seen in Europe in the 14th Century, used for playing games and divination. The desk is divided into the minor arcana of fifty-six cards in four suits of fourteen cards. The other division is the major arcana of twenty-two cards without suits," LK said.
"I did not know that," Alesha said.
"LK," Sawyer said.
"Am I doing it again, Sassy?" LK asked.
"Yes, you are," Sawyer said.
LK nodded and went back to what she's doing.
"What was that all about?" Alesha asked.
"LK being LK," Gareth said.
"Do y'all say that about everyone?" Alesha asked.
"Yeah, pretty much, you are who you are, no judgments," Dex said.
"We just take your firstborn as the fee for admittance," Keni said.
"Whose been reading the Malleus Maleficarum now?" Gareth asked.
"Not me," Keni said.
"No, we don't," Sawyer said, "Keni has a unique sense of humor."
"Well, that's good," Alesha said.
"As far as you know," Sawyer said and laughed.
"Malleus Maleficarum Sawyer?" Gareth asked.
"No," Sawyer said.
Alesha laughed nervously, "What's with the Sassy thing?" she asked.
"It's an old childhood nickname that only LK can call me," Sawyer said.
Alesha tilted her head, "Why's that?" she asked.
"Because, LK is allowed," Sawyer said.
Alesha nodded; Wendy turned to look at Alesha. "So, how are you separated from your siblings?" Wendy asked.
"Well, I don't get to see Coy because he's away doing whatever meathead things he does," Alesha said.
"Isn't your brother a professional football player?" Dex asked.
"Yeah, I believe he plays in Minnesota," Alesha said.
"But why do you call him a meathead?" Dex asked.
"Coy is, well, the bench you're lying on is smarter," Alesha said, "He didn't even come home to our dad's funeral."
"That sucks," Gareth said.
Alesha shrugged, "And for Brenna, the easy answer is she's a bitch. My sister never got along with my mom, and well never gave me the time of day," she said.
"That sucks," Wendy said.
"I'd agree, but I wouldn't know; I have no siblings," Gareth said.
Sawyer kind of moved her head; Alesha looked up at Sawyer. "What are you thinking about, Sawyer?" Alesha asked.
"Well, my sisters are scattered to the four winds, and my brother has been away," Sawyer said.
Keni shrugged, "I'm lucky, I see two of my sister regularly, and my brother and other sisters fairly often," she said.
"You know my story," Dex said.
Wendy took a deep breath, "I live with my sisters," she said.
Alesha nodded, "It seems we all have fucked up families," she said.
"Mostly, I guess," Sawyer said.
"Welcome to the Isle of Misfit Toys," Keni said, and everyone just nodded.
