Mute
After April 20th I become a social butterfly. I hang out with Super Six after school and I talk as much as I want. To teachers, to Super Six and to other kids in school who seem nice. I never realized how much I’ve had to say until I started talking. John even said he might help me find a girlfriend but I’m not sure I’m that social yet. One day, I feel like we should celebrate our accomplishment. I declare a Le Café meeting. We all sit around a bright yellow table. “Okay guys, who wants to celebrate our victory?” I ask them. “What do you mean?” Hunter asks. “Well I remember that party Rose threw right before April 20th and I think we should have another in honor of our victory.” I explain “That sounds cool.” John agrees. “Will there be red bull?” Jenny asks eagerly. “If you want.” I reply. “Where and when?” Rose asks. “Maybe this Friday?” I ask casually. “Sure. We can have it at my place.” Joe offers randomly. “Sounds good.” I agree. I flash them a big smile. My biggest, most natural smile yet.
Joe gives us all his address and we all go to his house. He has a pretty big house. When we get there, we find a note on the door saying to go to the back. Nick and Matt haven’t come yet. We all wonder around his house until we find Joe’s backyard. When we get there, we see a huge trampoline. “Holy sugar! That looks like so much fun!” Jenny cries. “I wanna bounce in that!” Krys agrees. Hunter pushes past them and crawls under the netting surrounding the trampoline. He bounces up and down a few times. “What are you doing? You have to ask Joe of you wanna go on there!” Rose cries. “Who cares?” Jenny cheers following Hunter. Krys runs in after her. “Join us guys!” Krys cheers bouncing up and down. “It’s bouncy!” Jenny yells bouncing super high. I notice the nozzle of a hose wedged in the netting of the trampoline. I study it for a few moments. My eyes follow this hose. The end of the hose is out of my view.
Out of nowhere, a ton of water gushes out of the hose into the trampoline. Hunter, Krys and Jenny shriek. “What the hell!” Hunter cries. “It’s freezing!” Jenny yelps. Nick, Joe and Matt walk out the back door. When they see the water drenching Hunter, Krys and Jenny they high five. “Good idea.” Nick says looking down at Joe. He grins pridefully. “So this was your idea?” John asks. Joe nods. “It’s hot. And it’s fun to combine the trampoline with the hose.” he explains knowingly. I notice he, Nick and Matt are wearing swim trunks. Joe yanks off his shirt and runs over the trampoline. “C’mon guys.” He calls out as he enters the trampoline. Nick and Matt take off their shirts and follow him into the trampoline. I look at Rose and John. “Why not?” John asks taking off his shirt. He struggles through the netting into the trampoline. Rose shrugs and crawls into the trampoline in her bra and shorts. I stand there for a moment and watch them.
Through the misty, white water I watch them. Krys and Matt playfully splash each other. I see them lean in for a kiss and divert my attention to Nick who’s giving Joe a piggyback ride. They’re laughing and slipping around. I look at Hunter who’s trying to drink the hose water but getting it in his eyes. I look at Jenny who’s bouncing in circles around a very dizzy looking Rose. I grin and yank off my shirt. I watch them for another moment. My first true friends. My teammates I saved the world with. Super Six. I sprint across the grass and eagerly run to join them.
