SPRINGBOUND SUMMER COUR

Telecaster Broadcaster

The baseball player had sat down on a flat rock and was taking a small break from running. He sat there, trying to catch his breath and take a deep inhale from his inhaler. Though he had run far from the weird sci-fi laboratory in the cliffside, he could still hear the loud, buzzing whistle that came from that weird contraption that they were messing with. He rubbed his eyes with his sleeve , watching the eye black under his eyes that lined the bottom of his eyelids to the bottoms of his upper cheeks smudge against his red undershirt.

He stayed for a moment, assessing his dilemmas and choices. On one hand, the most interesting day in Podunkian history was occurring that was not related to sports or his awful infamy. But on the other hand, he was still feeling that weird pit in his stomach that would not go away. At this point, he could absolutely identify that feeling as the concern that keeps welling up the longer he's out and about looking for Pippi.

Why oh why, was he thinking like this? His cheeks heated up in embarrassment as he continued to feel the concern consume his subconscious. His thoughts became a cloudy, cluttered mess as the worry and frustration overtook him.

He began to listen to the various thoughts in his mind, like listening to that of a radio.

Why aren't you looking for her? With what you saw, she must be in danger! , spoke the more childish voice, akin to how he sounded when he was younger.

He looked to the other side as he awaited the other voice.

Haha,whatever. To hell with her, we can have some fun for once., came the meaner voice that sounded like himself in modern times.

Looking side to side as if he was watching an argument occur.

But what if those weird beings took her and are, like, turning her as dumb as the adults? Or turning her into whatever they were doing to the dog? He hated how that voice always sounded like it was about to cry.

Then that's her problem. We're Kendrick Halloway, the number on Pinch Hitter, the living problem, the bad guy. Who's to say we need to be good and listen to the mayor like an obedient little wage-slave? Ninten hated listening to the grating tone that he had gained over the years of being a menace.

He grumbled, grabbing onto the sides of his hair before eventually exploding.

"Oh my god, cut that shit out already!" He yelled at himself as if his mind was a separate being.

He pushed his palm up to his cheek and pressed on it to relieve a bit of a headache that was starting to sting through his forehead, which was also damp with sweat from the summer heat beaming down on him.

"I would love to have one day without having a dilemma! At least one day! Yes I'm worried about her, and yes I do want to have fun, but damn you don't gotta scream at me!", he hollered.

He let the thoughts settle down with a quick inhale, and sat on the flat rock, crossing his legs and taking deep breaths over and over. It was something that his anger therapist told him to do whenever he felt an episode coming on.

"Just shut up, okay?"

Who are you?

A new voice. This time, it was a higher toned voice, not like the childish one that held his concerns and worry; he tried his best to keep that one a secret, but this voice, however, had more of a female tone. He pulled a face.

"Is my worry for Pippi ending up with my thoughts becoming stupid and girly too?", he spat.

I don't think so. I know that I'm not whoever you are, and I'm definitely not some girl named Pippi, the voice inquired.