Palentine's Day
Here at the Brenton apartment, while my parents might observe Valentine's Day, I celebrate Palentine's Day.
What's Palentine's Day?
"You'll love it," I tell Gumball.
Palentine's Day is February's big Paw Days event for us adventurers. To celebrate, all things candy become a delicacy, half-off in markets, double usual happiness and satiation when given to our bleeping cuties. However, it creates this scarcity, or what the coolest community in the world dubs "The Great Sweet-pression" (or, so history tells me).
I didn't choose the name. I only joined last April.
"The Great Sweet-pression" kicked off on the 1st, and it's lived up to its disturbing name. I've been victimized. I've failed to snag a crumb, not even late at night on the weekend when a good chunk of the base is asleep, and I have free roam. It doesn't help that I have a machine that's slower than peanut butter in winter, though.
Oh well.
Try, try again?
According to the newsletter, the event ends on the 16th. If I want to get in on the fun and avoid being one of the unlucky ones, this weekend is my one chance, my only hope, my—
"Chase?" Mom calls me. "Are you ready?"
"Uh, y-yeah. Hold on!"
After school!
***
The Next Few Hours
Not to sound like a Phoebe wannabe, but at my old school, we used to celebrate Valentine's Day as a class. We'd have a special period at the end of the day for friends or crushes to exchange tweets and...
Tweets?
Sure.
...To exchange treats and cards, Chase!
Anyway, it's supposed to be a cheap thrill, and it makes sense to me logically, but I'm not a fan. I'm not into it. I never gave anything out, and I never received much of anything aside from obligatory suckers. There's always that one kid who passes something out just because, or because the teacher wanted to be nice, inclusive.
The dollar store the day or so after Valentine's Day?
Now that's where it's at!
Convincing Mom to take me isn't impossible. You have to be patient. I don't like starting that conversation. I've learned to let the moment come to me. For example, using the radio to break the ice when Katie brings up the sales for a cheap joke.
"I can't believe they won't let you wear red," Mom remarks.
Error. Does not compute.
"Think of all the candy you'll get."
On your dime, please?
"It's Friday. Relax," she says as we wait in the drop-off line.
"I'm fine," I say.
"Ooh. That attitude."
All I said was...never mind.
Time to put on my smile!
"Morning, Chase."
"Morning."
"You're welcome."
Ms. Tudor decides to surprise us with candy early. On each desk is a goody bag that we could dive into during our free time, or right then and there like Max already has. I see him in the back, sucker hanging out of the corner of his mouth like a Wild West villain.
YOU ARE READING
Castling: A Novel (NaNoWriMo21)
Teen FictionIt's a slice-of-life centered around "Chase the Ace," who finds himself changing schools against his will mid-year to help make the most of that brain of his. It'll be good for him, they say. He won't be so bored. He'll get to be with an old friend...
