The Wheel

80. Kate

Has my life changed? Maybe a little. I've always known each of us is hiding something. But it's fine. That's life! Oh, yeah, I also got three hundred thousand dollars.

Once I was walking down on a rainy day and saw a guy scaring a girl with a cookie. Yes, an ordinary chocolate chip cookie! She was screaming so loudly and people were just passing by without paying any attention. The anger boiled inside of me and I hit the offender in the face.

"Listen, you bastard," I said, "you have no idea where this fear of cookies is coming from, am I right?"

"You bitch!" he shouted. "It's stupid! She's afraid of a cookie! It's ridiculous!"

"What are you afraid of?! What turns you on? Hm? Maybe you have some quirks, problems that you hide from everyone? Come on, tell me. Tell everyone! What if your family will know about that? Oh, they'll be happy to know who you were tormenting this poor girl. Will it still be funny for you?"

"I just...I just..."

"What you just?!" I yelled. "Get out of here and never stick your nose into someone else's life! Got it?"

"Yes," he said, stuttering.

"Get out!" I said.

The guy rushed away from me, and I gave the girl an opportunity to get up.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Thank you!" said that poor thing in a trembling voice, hugging me. "Nobody has ever defended me."

"There, there, it's okay now. I'm Kate."

"Margaret," she said quietly.

"Margaret, what do you think about having a cup of ginger tea in the café around the corner?" I asked.

"Well...um..." she faltered.

"I know it's sudden, but I'm always like this. Listen, I've had a crappy day, and as I can see, I'm not the only one. So I want it to end on a good note. So what about that cup of hot tea?"

My new acquaintance looked at me wistfully for a few seconds and smiled.

"Fine," she agreed.

"Well, tell me about yourself," I asked, smiling.