Pre-context if you want.
Trees overhead, the break of the sun emerging through rabbit holes in the branches for spires of kissing light. Leaves and bristling winds, swept underneath into nature's corridors, whisking and turning like a slide, its howl peppering ears as audio mints, sweet in small doses, chilling your exposed shins and cueing a slow inhale, then a sigh. Everything is loose, becoming one with this wood. The face meshes deeper into the folded arm pillow, trekking marks, hair, an eye cover and blanket as one. Adrift in the clouds, tossing country to country without even knowing it. Years can pass, and things would still seem okay, with being locked in one position; no one holding you down.
Benches are truly risky sanctuaries of divine naps. Alone in the sea of whatevers, bush on either side. Mint-green, chestnut, rose and a smoky grey — covered in spotted leaves, appearing almost like a human rose bush with horns for thorns. A loud snore rumbled out wet lips, drooling on her forearm. Then, a shout.
"Angelina!" A kid's voice shouted.
"HUH?!" She woke, jerking up and attacked by a head-rush. A palm met her forehead, then she wiped the drool and her eyes. Her hair, slightly dishevelled, now blown with a puff to clear her visage. She looked at the kid.
"Hana? How the hell did ya find me?"
"I don't know! I guess I'm just lucky."
"Well, shit. Hi."
"Language. Mama says those who cuss don't get jolly ranchers." Hana stuck a finger up.
"Well, ya Mama ain't here so I can say- wait."
Angelina looked around, up and down the trail. There was a creek about fifteen feet from them, then a small bank and bush on the other side. The trail only ran two ways.
"Where are ya parents?" Angelina swung her legs over the edge, brushing off her dress. Hana looked left and right, shrugged then hopped up on the bench beside her.
"Dunno."
"Man, ya must be real fuckin' dumb." A foot folded back underneath the bench, the toes dipped against her skateboard's grip tape and pulled it out, stomping on the tail to bring the nose into her hand.
"Dunno. I'm in grade 1." The kid replied again.
"We should really go find them."
"We?"
"Yeah, we. Come on."
Angelina stood, brushing off her dress, then rubbing out her nape and stretching onto her tippy-toes, twisting her back then cracking her neck. Hana watched and pointed out, "You got old people's bones. Only old people stretch that much. My grandpa has to stretch just so he can walk around without an itchy back."
That forced a smug look,
"Old people bones huh? Can your grandpa do a backflip?"
"What's a backflip?" Hana replied.
Then Angelina leaped, arching back and tucking the knees to go over, landing crisp on one foot before easing back onto the second. Hana gasped, hands on her mouth. "Oh. My. Gos-"
"God, right?" Angelina interjected but Hana shook her head, giggling, "Noooo, gosh! It's gosh. We only use gosh. No more bad words, ok?"
"Okaaay." Angelina said with a forced eye-roll,
"No more bad words. Now get up, we need to go find ya parents. Up. Up-up-up."
Hana obliged and stood at her side, reaching for Angelina's hand - but instincts prompted Angelina to snap it away, with spiders on her nape. She then looked left and right,
"Uhhh. Which way ya come from?"
"That way. I went across a bridge and uhhh, I saw this big rock."
Angelina pondered. She came from the opposite direction, so this direction is all foreign territory. But a bridge and big rock were easy landmarks. And it was just a paved path, right? Should be easy. So, she nodded and began to walk.
"Ok, bridge and big rock. Got it. Let's go. Also if ya get both of us lost, I'm throwin' ya in the creek."
The kid nodded, following along. "Ok!"
The first five minutes were silent. Angelina's eyes were on the sparkling creek, with rock beds and small minnows racing by. The grass was tall on the opposite side, with green glades reaching the treeline. They came across a tree that fell over, its roots exposed on the slope, almost like it ripped from its socket, tipped over and slanting across the creek like a small makeshift bridge. Every instinct told her to climb on it, and the kid looked at it and pointed, "What happened there?"
"Tree is probably jus takin a nap. If I had ta stand all day, that would probably be me too."
"Good point." The kid replied and they kept walking.
"Hey, Angelina."
"Yes, kidarino?"
"Were you able to see your friend upstairs?"
Angelina lifted a brow,
"My friend, oh, OH… Ya, I did. Thanks to ya."
"Good………… How old are you?"
"I'm twenty. Barely."
"How tall are you?"
"Uhhhh… Five three on a good day?"
"You're short."
"YOU'RE short."
"Yep. Now, how much do you weigh?"
"More than you, that's for sure."
"I don't know how much I weigh. I have a Doctor's appointment tomorrow and Mama said one of the things they do is check your weight and height."
"Yes. They also whack ya knee with a small hammer and try to get at your heart with this device attached to the Doctor's ears. Oh! They also squeeze ya arm until it pops, might even poke ya with a needle to steal ya blood."
"Ouch…"
"But they give ya a sucker by the end of it."
"Oh, okay. That's good."
"Why were ya out so far anyway?"
"That's a secret."
"Secret, huh? Well, ya folks are goin' to be real worried."
"Yeah, I know. I didn't mean to go out this far. I just thought there was another bridge to take me back."
"Na, it takes ya to the streets. Then ya would really be in trouble."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologise to me. Let's just get ya back safe. See, there. The bridge is right there."
Angelina started a sprint,
"Race ya across, dorkstick!"
"Heeeeeeeyyy!" And now both were running.
Angelina slowed to let her get closer. The bridge was fairly short with an arch. She sprinted towards its zenith, then jumped to turn around, stomping her feet and gripping the kid by her shoulders, who was dizzied by the sudden stop, "Oof."
"Nooope! Ya cannot pass. Not unless ya answer one of MY questions now."
"Ok-Ok!"
"Favourite ice cream or popsicle flavour? There is only one right answah."
"Chocolate." The kid replied sharply.
"Tsk, tsk. We can't have chocolate-lovas like ya runnin' these streets. I'm afraid I'll have to… Put ya down before ya spread chocolate lovin' culture everywhere!" Angelina declared, scooping the child up by her arm-pits and lifting her overhead with fully extended arms.
"Angelina nooooo!" Hana laughed, kicking her feet that struck her in the chest and face. She got a mouthful of the kid's heel and spat at the ground,
"Ooooohhhh that does it." And Angelina walked towards the guard rail, "Last chance for the right answah'!"
"Uuuuum. Blue-berry!"
"Blueberry?! Were ya raised by savages?! That's it, say sayonara. Ya swimmin' with the fishies."
They got to the guard rail, and the kid's feet stomped on the surface, suddenly standing upright. For a second, Angelina's nape spiked up with talons, and she gripped the kid's hand,
"Kid. Be frickin' careful."
"Youuuuuu were going to throw me!"
"Noooooo. I'd nevah."
"Well, ok then! Is the answer cherry?!"
"Always cherry. Now come down."
"I, uh, I don't know how."
"Just lean back and I'll catch ya."
"That's kinda scary."
"No it's not. I'm right here, kidarino. Just close ya eyes. Count to three and lean back. Ready? One… Two…"
"T-Thr- AAAH!" The kid squealed but fell into Angelina's arms, who set her feet back down. She covered her eyes but soon let them fall, looking around, "Nice." Hana said, looking left to right, "I'm gonna win now!"
And off Hana went to the other side, being first to touch the path on the other side. Angelina threw her arms up in surrender,
"Ya got me." Then calmly walked off the bridge after picking up her board. Hana already wandered towards the creek just by the bridge, picking up rocks and giving a giant one a toss, stumbling forward. Both her and Angelina recoiled as the splash sprinkled up, and Angelina gripped the kid's shirt collar before she could fall in, pulling her back.
"Shoot! It didn't skip."
"Ya need a smooth rock, kidarino." Angelina let go and began searching through the rock pile surrounding the bridge's concrete foundation. It was piled like a hill, with plenty to choose from. She collected a dozen in one forearm scoop, handing one to the kid, then one for herself.
"See that? Smooth, kinda flat on the bottom and top? It's like a typical nightclub owner."
"What's a nightclub owner?" Hana asked, inspecting her disc-like rock.
"
A nightclub owner are dumb rocks. Flat on every side and smooth in the brain. Ya just gotta finesse them a little bit and they'll do a dance. See, watch." Angelina whipped her rock with a wrist-flick and got six skips down the creek before sinking. The kid stuck her tongue out the corner of her mouth, did some practice motions and said, "FIN…CHESS!" the rock went flying and pelted Angelina in the arm, who flinched the dropped the other ten. "Ow." Angelina said, delayed, and the kid gasped, "Ah! Are you okay?!"
"Yep." She squatted and handed the kid another rock, who shook her head.
"Nah… I don't want to try again. It'll just sink."
Angelina reached for the kid's wrist and opened her palm, placing the rock.
"Whoooo cares. The risk is always worth the rush. Ya gotta suck now so ya can be great when it counts. Try just ONE more time."
The kid squeezed the rock, turning towards the creek with a deep breath. "Alright!" She nodded and set up in form. It must've been a full thirty seconds locked in one position. "Fin…….. Chess!" And she whipped it, straight into the creek with an unceremonious final pity splash.
"Told you." Her spirit looked crumbled, and she bore her loss with a pout. It wasn't that deep of a wound but a letdown.
"That's tough." Angelina said dryly, following and entering a jog to catch up. There was quiet for a few more minutes, and Hana latched onto Angelina's wrist, turning her stiff. The continued calm suffocated Angelina's oxygen space, leaving only a short breath and this feeling of sweat on her forehead.
"Hey, look. The big rock, it's actually a small clifface."
"Yeah." The kid said deadpan.
"I bet we can climb it."
"But my parents are that way."
"I promised you horns and hair-dye, didn't I?"
The kid smiled again, "You did!"
Angelina pointed towards the cliff face, and they both jogged there, with Angelina hopping up, throwing her board over, slotting her feet and hands against the ledges before going over the top lip, laying on her side and reaching her hand down.
"Ok, now, you need to just catch my hand. Then. Put your feet on the ledges. One step at a time."
"I can climb, you know." The kid slapped her hand away and climbed up like a true monkey, throwing herself over Angelina's back, kneeing her side and scraping her spine as she went over and rolled on the grass patch to Angelina's flank.
"Oof."
They laid there, turning on their sides to stare at each other. It was a small downward slope, something they could both roll down if they wished. But the kid asked, "Soooo how am I getting horns? Are you going to call the horn fairy? Are you going to rip them off unicorns?"
"Sassy, and kickbutt. but no." Angelina combed a hand into her dress pocket, pulled out a red smartphone, turned on the camera, and handed it over,
"Here, hold this." The child took it, and Angelina stood,
"I'll be right back. This might take a bit, so just play games or something. Look at YouTube. Oh, find me a Caribbean themed restaurant."
The kid tuned out and only half-understood but nodded slowly as she sat up, inching towards the cliff to swing her legs over. Angelina scurried off, disappearing for a while out of view. Hana became engrossed in the phone, typing things in, fishing around and feeling accomplished that she could load up so many tabs and apps in the background; the power drain was like a gas leak that didn't catch just yet. It must've been twenty minutes or so until Angelina peeked from behind a tree.
"Ok, close ya eyes, Dorkstick!"
The kid looked back, "Why?!"
"Because I said! Turn the camera on too and just close ya eyes."
Hana obliged, looking forward. Angelina was swift to scurry, so silent Hana was spooked to feel something on her head. Something soft was hooking her ears; another thing poked her scalp. Angelina swatted down the attempt to feel, then laid on her belly, reaching to snatch the phone and pointing the camera at them. They were face level at this point, with Angelina saying,
"Ok. You can open them."
Hana gasped at first sight and beamed until her face hurt with a hand over her mouth. "Ohhh. My. Gosh!" Angelina had fixed horns out of two carefully selected sticks and grass fibres, twined and spliced with two hooks for the ears. It wore like a headband. There was even a rose, its short stem wedged into the makeshift rope. "How did you do that?! I love it!"
"Magic."
Angelina pressed record on her camera,
"Now say hello to the camera, show them ya devil-horns."
The kid looked at the camera, waved, "Hello."
"Now say. I am here with A.T."
"I am… here… with A.T."
"Vibin on a hill."
"Vibin on a hill."
"And I'm about to learn how to ride a skateboard."
"And… I'm about to learn - wait really?"
"Yes, really. Ya think I didn't see ya eyeing it up since we started walkin'? Come on. Say bye motha' truckas'."
"Byeeee. Moth-aye truckaz'"
Angelina cracked up and rolled down the hill, pocketing the phone, executing a kip-up to her feet as the kid was now far behind, holding the board.
"Hold onto it. Luckily, the path is smooth."
They got down to the path, and Angelina stood on the side, with the kid at centre stage.
"Ok, put it down."
The kid let the nose go, and it slapped the concrete wheels-first.
"Now. Take the foot you're most comfortable putting forward, and put it by those little bolts. Ya see em? It's the front ones, the circles. Right on top." Hana did just that.
"Ok, good. Now, take your other foot. Push yourself forward and put it on the board. It's just like walking."
It took a few tries, but Hana eventually worked up the courage to push and step on the board. Her feet knotted together like a skier's stance, and she wobbled, first back then forward. Angelina grabbed her shoulder and stopped the board from shooting out with her foot, resetting Hana back on it.
"Ok, let's try something different. Stand, facing me. Your feet on the front and back bolts, pointed at me. And give me your hand."
Hana took a deep breath as she got into position, still unsteady and putting her palms to Angelina's own, "It moves a lot."
"Yes. That's what wheels do."
For once, the tension wasn't there anymore. And she began to walk, making Hana roll on the board, who looked down.
"Just take a deep breath. Look at me. Not your feet." They met eyes, "We're moving." Hana commented. "Yep." Angelina replied,
"Bend ya knees a bit and take another deep breath. Be loose."
About another ten feet of guided cruising, and Angelina let go.
"Angelina! I can't. Hey, I am doing it!"
While wobbly at best and newborn lamb at worst, Hana managed to stay on, sticking her arms out and cruising. She rode it more like a surfboard than anything, but it was enough to get her spirits up into cloud nine. Angelina jogged beside her, and Hana looked on ahead, then at her, "Can I see how you ride, now?"
"Put ya arms up."
The kid just that as Angelina ran to her backside, picking her up and setting her on her shoulders,
"Now hold on." The board continued to roll, so Angelina hopped off one foot, landing sound on the bolts, then giving it three delayed pushes, then it was smooth sailing. Hana gripped her horns for extra measure and Angelina's arms slipped to her side. "This is so cool!"
"Lean forward a bit." Angelina said and Hana obliged, with Angelina leaning back in tandem to carve left,
"Now lean back!" And then counter-carved to begin snaking.
"Back! Forward! Back!" It continued for some time, developing a system of lean and counter lean.
"Stick ya tongue out!" Angelina shouted, just as two old folks were walking. They passed them, tongues out, a childish gambit for sure that gained nothing but an eye roll in response. Not like they were around to soak in it. It wasn't a long ride, rolling over leaves, the soft growl of the wheels, dodging any stick or crack. The path opened up to a playground, green fields to their flanks and more people lurking about.
Angelina stopped, lifting the kid down to the ground.
"Thank you so much! This is it!" Hana said
"Ya…—"
Suddenly, another voice emerged, "Haaaannaa! What are you doing with that devil-woman?!" They both looked to see a hurriedly pacing middle-aged woman approaching. "Mom!" Hana said, "This is my friend, Angelina!" But when the mother neared, she grabbed the child's arm and ushered her back. "Well, get away from her. She's a total stranger and one who's clearly got a few screws loose to bring devil worship to a park full of kids."
Angelina's brow raised, and Hana peeked from behind her mother. "Angelina! You want to play grounders?"
The mother snapped, "No. No! No. This girl was just leaving. Get lost before I call the police to tell them how you took my child! Also what is that on your head, Hana?"
"Horns."
"Horns." Both Angelina and Hana replied in tandem.
"Huh…"
"Anyways, I'll catch ya later kidarino. Grounders next time." Angelina turned around, ran and jumped on her board, beginning to cruise away.
"Byeeeee Angelina!"
"Have a nice life, kidarino!"
They shared a wave before leaving each other's view.
