Little Weirdos

Chapter Three: The Tines of a Fork

Out in the hallways, things were quiet. Oddly, today, more children seemed to be absent.

It was the students' break time, in which they could either be outside or go to the recreational classrooms or the library. Benny and Mason would usually be outside eating, but today, they were focused on finding Zoey.

Now, if there were ever a reason for Zoey not to be in the forest, casting spells for money, it would be to refill her big bucket in the bathroom taps.

"Are you crazy?" Benny looked up at the girls' bathroom door, the sign looming above his head. "We can't go in there, we're boys!"

"Maybe she's in the everyone-bathroom?" Mason was a bit skittish.

"We'll wait for her to come out. How's that?"

Benny and Mason sat in the corner, opening their lunchboxes. As promised, Benny brought out a container of dukboki, to split between him and Mason. The container was warm to the touch, somehow.

"Here." Benny passed a handful to Mason, once again with reckless abandon.

Mason grabbed it, squishing it in his fists and making a mess of his sleeves. "Thanks! I owe you one."

"Nah, you're fine." Benny shrugged, eating his own helping. "We're friends. Friends share food."

"I like hearing you say we're friends."

The door to the bathroom swung open, and as Zoey struggled to not let any water splash on the floor (she filled it up way too much), she squinted at Benny and Mason on the floor. "...Why are you eating so close to the bathrooms?"

Mason shot up, wiping sauce on his pants. "We were waiting for you."

Zoey rolled her eyes. "I only do spells outside in the forest."

"No, not for that." Benny stood up more carefully and neatly next to Mason. "We just wanted to talk to you."

"Well, make it quick! Bryson brought his cat today, and I want to get it over with before I start stinking." Zoey started to walk away. It's worth noting that today's dress was a dark green, nearly identical to the one from yesterday, and her scrunchies were the same color.

Their lunchboxes in tow, Benny and Mason chased after her. Mason tapped Zoey on the shoulder gently. "I like your dress."

"I don't." Zoey snapped, already annoyed. "I wanted to wear something I wouldn't ruin today."

"Why didn't you?"

"My mommy said I had to." Zoey struggled to carry the heavy bucket of water.

"I can carry that for you," Benny started, outstretching his hands towards the bucket.

"Ay!" Zoey pulled it back, splashing water on Mason incidentally. "I can carry it!" As she turned, she noticed she got Mason wet. "Oh, sorry."

"Eh." Mason smiled, shrugging. "So, how did you learn how to do spells?"

"A magician never tells her secrets."

"Well, is it technically a magician? I mean, magicians aren't real magic, and you are."

"I wouldn't know what else to call it."

"What about a witch?"

"Witches are bad!" Zoey squeaked, nearly offended.

"Witches aren't bad! They're cool!" Benny argued.