“What’s wrong?” Patti asked, and she turnedtoward me after we gave our tickets to the guy at the gate.
“Nothing.”
Patti sighed. “Are you going to tell me oram I going to have to play the guessing game?”
“I just don’t like this place,” I admitted.Patti frowned.
“How can you not like the Fun Fair?” She wascompletely aghast.
“I don’t know, I just don’t.”
“Have you ever been here?” she asked,clearly not understanding how someone could hate the place. Intruth, it wasn’t that great, and there was always a feint smell ofurine in the air. I sniffed, and cringed.
“Yes, I’ve been here, and I don’t know, it’sjust not that great.”
Patti smiled. “Well, you’re going to love itafter today. You know, new memories and all.”
“Sure.”
At that moment, I looked over and saw one ofthe infamous mascots playing with some kids. I couldn’t help it, Ilaughed, and then Patti heard me. She turned fast and had acrazy-looking grin on her face.
“I knew you’d have fun!” she cried. “Let’sgo get a picture!”
That was the last thing I wanted to do. Ishook my head. “Those mascots are here for the children. I’m notgoing to get in their way—”
“Nonsense!” Patti interrupted. “The kids aregone. Look, that stupid-looking parakeet over there doesn’t haveanyone with him. Let’s go.”
I rolled my eyes as Patti dragged me acrossthe pavement toward the pathetic looking bird. When we got there,the parakeet did this weird thing with its arms.
“Well hey there, Mr. Parakeet, can we getour picture taken with you?” Patti asked.
The parakeet shook its head and started tomove away from Patti. Clearly, I wasn’t the only person annoyedtoday. I snorted.
“What do you mean, no?” Patti asked, andthen grabbed for the parakeet again. “We paid good money to comehere!”
I wanted to slap Patti in the mouth. She wasjust that kind of person. “Patti, it’s fine, let’s…”
“Noooooo, I’ll get my picky taken with thisbuccaneer,” the voice said, and it was awfully familiar. I did adouble take. If I didn’t know better, that parakeet was Keri.
I stared at the bird. “Picky?”
“Ohhhhh yes, sirreeee,” the bird said, andpretended to peck me on the cheek.
Patti made a face. “What was that?”
“Ohhhhh just a kiss for your swashbuckler,matey,” the parakeet said.
I snorted. It was definitely Keri. I thoughtback to when we were kids and nearly guffawed. Keri peed on one ofthe mascots here at the Fun Fair. It was probably one of the bestdays of my life. I don’t think I’d ever laughed so hard. Ismiled.
Patti thought it was for her. She grabbed myarm and leaned in toward me. I looked at Keri.
I couldn’t tell if she was looking at me, orif she was staring at the ground.
“So, parakeet, do you want to be in trouble,or what?” Patti asked. “You’re hitting on my boyfriend.”
“Heeeeee was mine first, wench,” came thevoice.
My eyes widened as Patti started to freakout again. Really, the woman had massive problems. “Patti, what areyou?”
“I’m telling her manager!”
“Patti, I don’t think that’s…”
“Go ahead,” said the bird as she put out onefeathered ‘wing’ and proceeded to put up her middle talon.
I laughed and pulled Patti back. Patti’sface was now a bright red. “I’m going to get that bird bitchfired.”
Later that night, after the fair, andafter taking Patti home, I pulled out my cell phone and put inKeri’s number. I knew that I shouldn’t be doing this, but Icouldn’t help it.
*Argggg, Matey, how’d your job go?*
I waited with a grin on my face, hopingshe’d answer.
Ha! How’d you know it was me?
I laughed, thinking of that damned costumeand her middle finger sticking up in Patti’s face. I laughed.
*I think I knew as soon as you saidpicky*
Snort. I wondered if that’s when you figuredit out.
*So you knew?*
Yeah, I knew.
*Then why didn’t you say anything?*
I didn’t want to mess up your life.
She didn’t want to mess with myrelationship. I sighed. My relationship…
*I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.*
I waited for a few moments; I didn’t knowwhat I was doing. I shouldn’t have been texting her, and I knewit.
Do you love her?
*No*
Can I see you?
I looked at the message until I thought I’dgo blind. Could she see me? I shook my head.
*I don’t think that’s a good idea* I typedback five minutes later.
Do you hate me?
I thought about that. Really thought…*No*
I’m so sorry for everything. Iwill make it up to you.
*I don’t think you could do anything more,Keri.*
You’ll see.
I put my phone on my dresser and walked intothe bathroom. I needed a shower, and then I was going to go to bed.And tomorrow, after I read and reread the messages a thousandtimes, I’d erase all evidence of her from my phone.
Again.
Keri
“Oh my God!” I cried, and shook Alexis’sbody. She was in a deep sleep.
Alexis’s eyes opened. “What the hell?”
“Payton texted me!” I squealed.
Alexis sat up, clearly awake now.“What?!”
“Yeah, he texted me! He knew it was me inthat stupid costume!”
“The parakeet?”
“Yeah!”
“What did he say?”
“He just asked me about work, and then Itold him that I knew he knew it was me, and well, I thought he did…I guess I wasn’t one-hundred percent sure,” I said, rambling.“Anyway, I asked him if he loved Patti, and he said no.”
“That’s great!” Alexis said, and she leanedin toward me for a hug.
“Yeah, it is, but,” I said, frowning, “hesaid he doesn’t think it’s a good idea to see me.”
“Yet,” Alexis said, and I grinned ather.
“Yet,” I repeated.
“Until then,” Alexis said, smiling, “let’sget some sleep.”
I laughed. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
Chapter Six
* Home Depot…*
The Home Depot waspacked, and I had absolutely no idea what the hell we were lookingfor. It had been two weeks since I’d gotten the text from Payton,and since I started working at the Fun Fair. I got my first checklast night, and today, Alexis, Todd, and I were spending our hardearned money.
“What the hell is a footer?” I asked, andAlexis snorted. She was the brains of this operation, and I wasreally just there to
