Knocking on thirty, single, and plus-sized, Nina finds herself stuck in-between a rock and a hard computer desk chair. Wanting to add some fun in her life, Nina decides to take a co-worker's offer to attend a pool party. What starts to be a small...
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I found myself sitting on a bench outside a neighborhood mom and pop store. The walk through the neighborhood left me parched. My heavy cover up adhered to my body making me sweat in places that needed to be aired out. If I wasn't so conscience of how my body looks, I would have slipped the cover off blocks ago.
I am sipping on a watermelon freeze. My favorite. The cold ice resting in my mouth before it melts, disappearing down my throat. Even though the sun is setting, it still burns bright. I feel every piece of its rays on the back of neck. I scoot to the far end of the bench until I find the cool shadows of the gas store roof cover. I can finally just chill.
Bang!
A loud sound came from the alley way on the side of the store. I ignored it, continuing sipping on my cold watermelon slushy. Then I heard a scream which quickly got muffled. I look around to see if anyone else is hearing it too, but I am the only one sitting outside the small store. I hear the cry again, this time louder. Every bone in my body is like,
Girl. This ain't none of your business. This slushy tho, that's your business.
Despite my better judgment, I got up from bench taking baby steps towards the alley. The must from the dumpster made the sweet watermelon taste go stale in my mouth. My bag of goodies are rattling in the plastic bag I am holding. I'm trying hard to be stealthy. In the back of my mind, I am hoping whatever it is, is long gone by the time I catch up to it.
It isn't.
In front of me are teenage kids. A couple of boys and a few girls. They're huddling around a kid in the middle who is crouched on the ground. One of the girls standing over her, reached down pulling out the sitting girls pony tail. The group laughs. One of the boys in black saggy pants kicks dust in the sitting kids face, causing her to choke.
My anger explodes.
Some kid is being bullied. I caught a glimpse of her, her shirt is ripped, her face is dusty, and her hair is thrown about. The look on her face is too much to bare. I quickly march over to the kids.
"Hey!" The kids pausing momentarily.
"Get away from her! You should know better. This is not okay. To bully someone is not okay!" I said, the words rapid firing before I could think. The kids thought for a moment. A familiar look dotting across their faces. A look I know all too well.
The oldest kid, maybe 16 spoke.
"Who are you?" he holds out a stick towards me.
"Don't worry about who I am! I'm an adult and I told you to leave her alone." I rushed over to grab the young girl in the middle. The group of kids parting to let me through. I moved the young girl away from the group. She is trembling. I tucked the young girl behind my back.
The older kid broke the stick in his hand.
"Hey fatty!" He yells addressing the young girl behind me.
