Lessons from a Rude Boy

Best Day Ever - Continued

"Is this what you usually do when you skip school?" I leaned forward on the bench crossing my legs as I did so.

"Of course," I turned my skeptical look on his smile, "not. I usually just hang out with Gary all day."

"Then why are we here?" my eyes went back to the pond in front of us.

"I thought it would be fun," he shrugged still smiling.

"What exactly about this is supposed to be fun?" I teased, though to be honest just being in the warm sunlight was delightful.

"Have you ever people watched?" his eyes bore into the side of my face.

"People watched?" my brow creased as I turned back to him.

"Yea," he smiled brightly and then turned back to the pond. "Subject one," he nodded his head across the pond where a young woman was walking briskly.

"Why are we watching her?" my eyes followed her hurried pace as she impatiently checked her watch.

"Tell me what you think she is doing," he said instead of answering my question.

"Obviously she is late for something," it seemed obvious to me.

"Okay," he drawled the world out, "now tell me what she is late for."

"How am I supposed to know that?" again I turned to him confused.

"That's the fun Addison," he rolled his eyes at me playfully. "You can make up something," again he gestured to her with his head. "Now tell me what she is hurrying off to."

I knew he was watching me intently as I focused on the woman across the way. She was dressed sharply as though going to work, but it was the middle of the day. Who in the world didn't start working until the middle of the day?

"She's going to a job interview," I turned back to him for approval, but he was shaking his head.

"That is a safe answer," he chuckled softly.

"Then, what pray tell, is she doing, oh master stalker?" I huffed.

It was his turn to lean forward, his eyes trained on her, "She is headed to a parent teacher conference," I opened my mouth to tell him that there were no schools in the area, but he continued. "Her ten year old son punched another boy on the playground for saying his mother was a stripper," he turned his grin on me. "Which is why there is no brief case in her hand," I raised an eyebrow at him, inviting him to continue, "she actually is a stripper," laughter burst from me, "fresh off the pole."

"Do ten year olds even know what strippers are?" I laughed, shoulders shaking merrily.

"Of course they do," he laughed too, his shoulders resting back against the bench.

"Do they pull you guys a side in kinder and tell you about them?" I let my body settle against the bench as well.

"Yea," he nodded, "the same day they pull you girls a side to play house," I nudged him with my shoulder.

"I must have missed that day," my eyes rolled. "Is it my turn again?"

"Yes,' he leaned forward to find a new subject, "tell me what that man there is doing," one long finger pointed off to my left.

A middle aged man sat on the edge of a bench just as we were, his eyes looking out at the pond.

"He is waiting," I reached, trying to find something in the way he was sitting, "for his drug dealer," Mason turned sharply to me. "See the way his leg is bouncing," I pointed out, "it's been a few days since he's had a hit and the big case load at work has got him stressed to the point that he is sitting in the park waiting to get his score."