How Does a Daffodil Survive in Winter?

xi | The Ice Cream Machine Never Works

Sunday morning, I woke up early to the sound of my alarm. Groggily, I rinsed my face with water and began to slither back into bed again when I realised that the reason I was up so early in the morning was because I actually had somewhere to be. It was the day of Theo's competition and it just had to start at 8 in the morning. That's why I'm glad that I was too short to make it into any sports teams; it's not worth the lost sleep.

I quickly got dressed into something warm and headed downstairs to eat.

"You're up early," Aunt Kathy said astounded, she was in the kitchen drinking coffee and getting ready for work.

"Yeah, well believe it or not, I have places to be and people to see."

"You do?"

"At least pretend you're not surprised," I mumbled.

I poured cereal in my bowl and then put milk in it. That is the right way to make cereal and I have a detailed 1000-word essay for anyone who says otherwise. I don't trust people who do it the other way. I mean, who knows what else they're capable of?

"Is this to do with the boy?" Aunt Kathy asked out of the blue.

I choked on my cereal. "What? No."

"Don't play dumb Marnie," she said, giving me an unimpressed look. "I heard something about you and this boy from Benny Cooper's mother."

I swore under my breath. Of course Benny couldn't keep his mouth shut. Thanks to him, I now had to deal with my aunt, who, because of what happened to my mother, is very strict when it comes to boys.

"O-okay..." I stuttered.

"Anyways, she said the boy's name was uh... Thomas?"

"Theo, his name is Theo," I corrected.

"Alright. So, you and this boy are pretty close now?"

"We're good friends. Just friends though, yeah."

"Whatever you say. But just so you know, remember th–"

I stood up abruptly. "This conversation is now over. Nice talking to you but I've gotta go so have a good life."

I ran out the door before my aunt had the chance to give me the talk. Julie was already outside waiting for me as I ran to her.

"Let's get outta here now."

I practically sprinted the whole way to where the competition was held.

Julie and I were wandering around the crowd when we spotted Benny's distinct sandy hair below the grandstand. We quickly rushed over to him. I tried looking for Theo amongst the runners warming up on the track but couldn't find him. Through it all I kept thinking: he doesn't want to be here.

That was when I noticed the group of runners from our school and their coach were all crowded around Theo with concerned expressions. I instinctively pushed through the crowd, with Julie and Benny closely behind.

Theo's eyes were tightly shut and a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead as he groaned in pain.

Something was seriously wrong.

I didn't know what I was supposed to do. It was like my mind stopped working and all I could do was stand and watch as more people flooded in and eventually pushed me out. I know I'm always talking and stuff but, I never seem to find the right thing to say. If it were a test, I would've failed every single time.

"He pulled a hamstring a month ago and it turns out that the injury's still there," Benny explained. I didn't notice him creeping up to me.

"Why the hell is he competing then?" I demanded.