Hayloft Kids
5: Lamely Pathetic
Johnny sighed and slumped, standing against the closed (And locked) kitchen door.
I was standing in front of him, my arms crossed, my eyebrows seesawing, my right foot tapping.
"So," I said.
That was all it took.
Trey and Zak were sitting on the table, Trey chewing an oatmeal cookie. They were trying not to act curios.
Johnny took a deep breath.
"Cricket," was all he said.
"Yeah, she's hot, Man," Zak piped in. I glared.
"A few years back, yeah, I'd have agreed with you," Johnny said.
I stared fixedly at him. He gave up, raised his arms. "Okay, one year ago."
"So is she your…" Trey said.
"Ex? Yeah."
"Wow." It was Zak. He had a tone of appreciation in his voice.
"She hit on me. We went to middle school together. Dragged me behind a cart one day and just stuck into my throat," Johnny said.
"And you thought she was nice!?" I said.
He looked a bit guilty.
"A year ago, we were all saying swears and stuff. Lots of kids were mopping each other's teeth."
"Yeah?" that was me.
"We thought it was cool. We were like, hey, we're bad kids. Some even – did it." Johnny was looking out the window.
"Yeah?!" I said again.
He nodded.
"D'you know what?" I said. Trey and Zak were quiet, watching us with interest.
"Well, do you know?" I repeated.
"No." Johnny was studying my face. But even if he was blindfolded, I was pretty sure he'd have been able to gauge the fury in my voice.
"That," I spit, "Is one of the lamest, pathetic excuses I've ever heard." I walked up to Johnny, stepped on his shoe, and then yanked the door open and stomped out as I banged it shut.