Minna

Chapter 7

~ In which Patricia and Minna spend too much time together in a train

After Patch got over her initial shock and exhilaration she was furious.

     "What's wrong with you, Minna?! Taking off like that?! We could have - no - could be getting into a lot of trouble!" Patch yelled as loudly as she dared as she hit the older boy repeatedly with her fists.

     "Wait, let me turn so you hit my back. It feels like I'm getting massage - Ouch!" Minna yelped, trying to to reach the spot on his back where Patch had slapped him really hard. "Kid, you're so violent! It hurt! What was that for?!"

     "You deserved it Minna!" Patch fell back, exaspherated and mentally exhausted. It was only four o'clock. If she had to go through this much longer...

     "Damn, you love my name." Minna laughed. Patch only glared at him, unable to say anything else.

     Something was wrong. Patch could feel it deep in her gizzard. Hm... She tried to put her tongue on it but she just couldn't. Her mouth tasted sour. She was grumpy, touchy, and had a headache.

     Patch suddenly heard a loud rumbling noise coming from beneath her.

     It was her tummy.

     Minna laughed. Then he laughed again. And again, and again, and again. Soon he was rolling over on the floor while clutching his sides. Patch watched him, amusement coming to her eyes but quickly vanishing. This wasn't funny.

     "I haven't eaten for almost a day." Patch pointed out. "I have extremely strong digestive impulses. The last time I didn't eat for more than fifteen hours I fainted and fell into a comatose state for two days." Minna stopped laughing. His face turned grim while a mix of confusion and worry spread across his eyes like a shadow.

     "What?" He asked.

     "Do I have to repeat myself? I-"

     "No, it's okay. I get it. But are you serious? Patch?"

     "I wouldn't be lying about this." Patch looked away from Minna's skeptical stare. "Not for a joke."

     Minna turned his gaze to his hands. "I'm sorry... This is my fault." Patch looked back at him carefully.

     "Dont' say that," she said. "It's my fault for not eating. And don't make it sound like I'm hurt. I just need to eat something." Patch took off her ever present backpack and started removing things out onto the floor. First, she took out her two extra outfits while trying to leave the underwear inside (so that Minna wouldn't see them).

     With the clothes not filling the backpack she was able to take out some of the rest of the stuff she had yesterday. Thankfully, she still had her peanut-butter and banana sandwich (though the bananas were all soggy and brown), her water bottle, and also the pita chips. Sadly, the "food" was all considerably squashed from being in the backpack for so long.

     "You didn't take your backpack - or your hat - off since I first saw you." Minna noticed. "Not even when you slept. Is it all okay? Do you have food?" Patch nodded as she put her clothes back in the bag. Without the water bottle in there it was a lot lighter.

     "You didn't eat yet either. Do you want some?" Patch asked the older boy. He said yes, so she handed him the chip bag while she tried to split the sandwich in half.

     "Here." She gave him his share and started to eat hers. On impact with her tongue she started salvating really fast, hurting her jaw. Her mouth turned sour, but the second bite she took countered it with sweetness. Already, she was starting to feel better.