Walk With Me

8

"Do you ever wonder what it'd be like to jump into a body of water from way high up?" I asked during breakfast. Mom gave me an strange look and Ollie shrugged. "Do you think it'd hurt? If you fell on your back it might break, I heard, but what if you fell feet first? Would it break your feet?"

Mom rubbed her temple. "I don't know, Harlow."

"But what do you think?"

"I don't know what I think. I'm saving my thinking for work."

"Well it's not work yet," I said. "And you're technically thinking right now, aren't you? What're you thinking about?"

I've always wondered what people were thinking in any given moment or time. Like for example, they could be thinking about killing someone. I could literally walk past a serial killer on the street. For all I know, Calla could be a killer. Is that why she's so scary? I heard that the average person has walked past a ton of murderers without knowing it. I wondered what would happen if I caught a murderer in the act. Would I call the police? Would I freeze in place? Would I try to save the victim if they weren't already dead?

"I'm thinking about how I have to leave soon," Mom replied.

"What would you do if you saw a murder happen, or a murder attempt in the process?" I asked.

Mom gave a tired sigh. "Already changed the topic, I see."

"Call the police," said Ollie.

"I would probably just stand there terrified," I said truthfully. "Because I can't fight and I'd most likely be wondering if they were gonna kill me too, y'know? But I think I'm pretty likeable, considering."

"Considering what?" My brother asked, stuffing another spoonful of cereal into his mouth.

"Considering other people. Compared to them I'm a god." I blinked. "Wait, no. That's a lie. I'll be a god whether people suck or not."

Ollie snorted whilst Mom stood. "I'm leaving," she said. "I won't be back till later today. You know where the keys are."

I nodded as Ollie said, "bye, love you!"

"Bye, love you!" I mocked in an overly exaggerated way. "I genuinely hope you get hit by a bus! Or maybe a motorcycle! It depends on which will kill you faster. Just kidding."

Mom stared at me with a look of sheer incredulity before turning around and trudging out the door. Once I heard the door lock click, I burst out laughing, and Ollie too stared at me as if I were some weird exotic creature. Exotic creature like a flying ant. I used to think those were exotic and rare when they aren't. Did we have ants in the house? I was sure I found a few on the ground by the door...my phone buzzed against the counter top, and I picked it up, squinting at it.

"I'm getting the box of Twinkies," Ollie called.

"Okay."

"I need help getting them."

"That's nice."

"Are you listening?"

"Sure."

He was silent for a moment. "I'm going to throw out the designer jewelry that's in the bathroom," he said finally.

"Okay."

"I'm going to toss them in the dumpster."

"Okay."

"I'm going to take all your money and go skating with Riley and Ben."

My head snapped up, and I glared. "Don't you dare."