bucket list//dnf

chapter 7: caprisuns

"you look fine! the hat hides it." george assured nick. they were in line to get their pictures taken for their student ids. the boys were in 7th grade, but still weren't too keen on the idea of picture day. that became especially apparent when nick didn't wash his hair the day before, like it had been suggested. the last time he had showered was saturday. it was now thursday. on top of that, his bedhead was out of control today. he looked like a mess. nick had reported to george earlier that day his mother had called him a racoon.

"this sucks. thanks for the hat though, gogy," nick said. the student ahead of nick stepped forward, sat on the stiff wooden stool that had been provided, and followed the directions of the bald old man at the camera until a light flashed and a click sounded. their fake smile dropped immediately and they walked over to the id printers.

nick was next now.

"wish me luck, stupidhead," nick whispered as he stepped up. he waveded his small piece of paper underneath the small scanner on the plastic table and the cameraman nodded as nick's student profile was pulled up on his computer. he looked up. nick shriveld slightly under his gaze.

"can you please take off your hat?" the man asked. nick's hands immediately reached up to his head and clutched the blue hat.

"no." he said sharply. nick sucked in air through his teeth. "sorry, i didn't mean to say that. it's just my hair is a mess, and-"

the man cut him off. "it's fine, these things never turn out good. your hair won't make a difference."

nick slowly took off his hat and placed it next to where he had put his paper card before following the same steps as the student in front of him. turn your chin up more, smile wider, tilt your head to that side, and snap. his picture was done. nick snatched the hat and put it on his head before running over to the id printers.

after george had his picture taken, nick hurried over. "why does that weird old guy get to tell me what to do with my hair? he's bald. he clearly did something wrong."

george let out a bark of laughter. "what if he was born that way?"

"i sincerely hope he was bullied for it."

george opened his eyes. karl was speaking to him through the phone speaker, talking about the list. george had just worked up the courage to tell him. he'd expected him to call it stupid, as any rational person would, but karl was completely supportive and agreed to help him complete it.

"i don't think i have to complete the list in order, i just have to do it all. no matter what." george answered into the phone. "after all, i don't think you write bucket lists to do it in order. you have to let the events play out by themselves. no scheduling unless it's, like, the day before or something." he was gripping his magic rectangle like a lifeline, but he was actually quite mellow today. he wasn't sad. well, a little, but he was mainly excited. he had just asked karl if he wanted to go out for frozen yogurt again this week, and he agreed. but he asked george something: to invite clay along too. he did so without argument, and karl said that clay responded a little after with a simple "sure! :)".

"well, you've been getting it done with clay and i. and we can help get even more done. i'm sure nick will be very happy when you finish it." karl's happy voice rang out into george's room and made him smile.

"when we." george corrected. karl let a small giggle through his lips. george smiled wider.

"okay, i have to go now, but i'll see you at the froyo place. bye george!" he could hear the smile in karl's voice as he spoke. george carded a hand through his hair and let his finger hover over the "end call" button as he spoke.