Suburban Island

Pumped Up Kicks (Kathy)

-Kathy-

I lay on my bed with me VR glasses on. I could see swirls of bright colors around me. I reached up to touch a little dragonfly flying by. It broke into little pieces, giving me twenty-five points. A little smile came across my face. I never get tired of this game. Every day, I try to beat my score. I used to be the top of this game.

But there is a new king in town. Or queen, I am not sure.

I have been on the hunt to uncover them. So far, I've had no luck. I get close and they log off. The account is marked private too. I spotted a golden dragonfly flowed across the screen. Gah! I have to grab it! Come back here, you! You won't get away this time! Grrr! Almost there! The slow-moving insect mocked me. I have never been able to catch him. I took in a deep breath. Almost got it...

The golden dragonfly disappeared into little pieces. Darn it! They got it again. I cursed myself. I am starting to get annoyed by this Mannish Boy user. Who are they and where did they come from? I am tired of being second place to them. I will do everything I can to take them down and reclaim my title.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

I about fell off the bed with the ringing sound in my ear. What the hell?! Oh, that's the phone online. It's Don again. I sat up and turned off my VR glasses. I changed my normal glasses and walked over to my laptop.

"Yeah?" I asked over the Skype line. A black man appeared on the other line.

"It's about time," he said. "I had been calling you for ten minutes."

"Ten minutes? It's really been that long?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, sorry about that. What is it?"

"How have you been?"

"Good, good. And you?"

Don's teeth look so white as he grinned. "I'm fine."

"And Charlie?"

"He's good too."

Don and Charlie were my guardians. Why am I down on Gold Leaf? There was a little bit of a problem with the government housing. They ended up putting me on the ground. I don't think they really know what to do with me after mama died. Don, Charlie, and I don't talk about me going back to the government housing.

"Any more on that guy they found?" I asked.

"No," Don said. "I am not allowed to say anymore." I frowned.

"Seriously?" I asked. He shrugged and shook his head.

"Sorry," he said. "It's part of the job." I puffed up my cheeks.

"Fine," I grumbled.

"Hey Kathy," Don said.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"When do you want to come back?" he asked. I froze.

"Oh..." I muttered. I haven't thought about that in quite a while. I don't hate the government housing. It's just...

"I mean, no pressure," Don said. "It would just be nice to have you home again. Charlie's birthday is coming up."

"I see," I said. I usually don't know how to end these types of calls. Why does he do this to me? It's not that I hate him or the government. It's just...

I shook my head. "I've got to go."

"Do you need to study again?" Don asked.

"Yeah," I said. We both know it's a lie, but it works somehow.