thrashin', mid90s.

hair dye - fourth grade

despite how late it was getting, we finished shopping for hair dye.

fourth grade pushed the shopping cart out of walmart as i sat in the larger basket, my legs hung over the cart's top edge. the smaller basket in front of fourth grade held his camcorder. resting between my legs was the newly purchased box of hair dye; purple, to be exact.

"so, baby," i started as i examined the box in my hands, "we goin' to my place or yours?"

"uhh," fourth grade thought for a moment, ". . . yours?" he questioned hopefully as he stopped the cart for a moment.

i knew fourth grade wasn't rich - he was extremely poor, yet it didn't matter to me at all - so he was embarrassed to take me to his house.

"yeah, sure," i turned my head to smile at him, "ya know, you don't needa be ashamed of your place."

"yeah, i know, babe," he sighed. a part of me knew he felt bad: i was always buying something he needed but i was glad to help my boyfriend out. i did have a job, so i didn't mind.

the walk to my house was silent between us, other than the chirp of crickets and the occasional sound of car engines as they passed by. fourth grade pushed the cart slowly.

"you tired? want me to push you instead?" i questioned. fourth grade shook his head,

"nah. but now that you mention it - " he didn't finish his sentence but he smirked as he fastened his pace.

i had to hold onto the cart's sides to keep myself from falling back. fourth grade ran faster, the smile never leaving his face. i closed my eyes to enjoy the cold sensation of the wind hitting my face.

"okay, okay! it's your turn now," i laughed, shifting my body in the metal cart so i could face fourth grade.

"if you say so," fourth grade stopped the cart. he reached a hand out and helped me out of the basket.

i held the cart's handles firmly so he wouldn't fall as he climbed in the cart.

i gladly pushed the cart once he was situated in.

-

"your family's not home, right?" fourth grade asked as we stopped in the yard of my house.

"i don't think so but don't worry if they are, they like you." i assured him as i helped him step out the cart, just like what he had done for me.

my boyfriend thanked me and we both headed to the door. i felt for my keys in my jacket pocket, then pulled it out once i found it and unlocked the door.

the living room was pitch-black, all the lights were shut off. i turned on the main living room light as i shrugged off my jacket to toss it onto the couch.

fourth grade mirrored my actions, and threw his next to mine. my eyes widened in surprise when he arched his back to take off his shirt.

"what're you doing?" i asked with a quiet voice.

"taking off my shirt, what does it look like i'm doing?" he asked, playfully mocking my question, "i don't wanna fuck it up with the hair dye."

"oh, yeah. so are we gonna chill first, or do you wanna dye your hair now?"

"dye my hair, please," fourth grade replied excitedly.

"okay, babe." i nodded, grabbed the hair dye, and led the way to the bathroom.

-

"look how cute my baby is, guys." i grinned, holding up fourth grade's camcorder as he tried to hide his face.

his hair was finally dyed a light purple but the tub was now a mess. fourth grade smiled bashfully as i continued to hype him up.

"y'all see how hot he is? damn, i can't believe that's all mine," my heart fluttered with admiration.

"i love you, (name)."

"i love you too, baby."