Last Night

Collaboration with @TheWait

"When I'm gone- When I'm gone- You're gonna miss me when I'm gone~" Kaitlyn sang on the back of the pickup truck. She savored the sun's warm rays as it brushed her skin. She tasted the salty sea breeze and saw the beach waves nearing. Every summer, there was a carnival on the pier, and with her family, Kaitlyn would enjoy what summer has to offer.

The truck rumbled to a stop as did the radio. She slung her bag over her shoulder and jumped off. Kaitlyn roamed around, looking at the various stalls.

"How much is this candy apple?" she asked one of the vendors, but he didn't seem to mind her. He looked up at her with a salesman's smile and went on advertising about his variety of treats.

"So... I can just take them?" she asked. He then kept motioning towards the apples, speaking about its freshness and the delicious taste. He held the plate of them and then put it down next to her so he could advertise his other treats. "I'll take that as a yes!"

Kaitlyn smiled and took a candy apple from the plate and walked on. This always happened to her. Luck was simply on her side. She never had to pay for anything. People would just smile at her as she took whatever she wanted. And she never had to pay for transportation because it was so easy to hitch-hike.

 Life was good. Life was easy.

Though, her parents thought differently. They believed life was difficult and would complain at every chance they got together. Sometimes late in the night when they assumed she was asleep, an argument about their many debts they couldn't pay, fights they would have with other people, or worse, questions whether to abandon her.

Now that she was out there, she still couldn't understand why they constantly complained. How is life- how is living hard?

Everything came so easy to her. She would think "People are friendly. I get things for free. And life is lived to the max. If only they knew. If only they didn't leave me." The thoughts were a burden to her but she did her best to block them out with the pros of life. The carnival, for instance, is one of many examples of paradise.

Kaitlyn ran to the "Ring Toss." That was always her favorite game as a child. She had this massive collection of elephants that she won over the years. She never missed a chance for another family member.

She fished out a quarter from her pocket, set it on the table and took the five rings. She tried several times but not a single ring would go in. She huffed in frustration.

Pointing at the stuffed animal, Kaitlyn said, "Can I just have the elephant?"

The teenager attendant ignored her and continued to bob her head from the music playing in her headphones.

"Excuse me," Kaitlyn tried again, calling out louder. "Excuse me-"

"Hey, Kaitlyn! Found another family member for your plush family?" Jack cried across the booth with a bunch of her friends. "Take it and lets go!" He said turning around. The large group was leaving and Kaitlyn quickly turned toward the teenager and said, "Thanks!" She grabbed the stuffed plushy and the attendant sang, "And the two towers beside youuu" after her.

***

"Damn it! Jane someone took the elephant again!" A man yelled. The teenager attendant continued to bob her head. The man walked up to her and pulled off her headphones. He screamed into her ear, "Stop slacking off!"

"I'm not slacking off," Jane answered back. She grabbed her headphones from his hand and put them around her neck. "No one came yet, Sean!"

"Then why's the elephant gone? Explain to me! I mean, it wasn't for sale," Sean barked back with sarcasm.