The Backpacker's Dream

2. Preparation on Point

It was in the air that something did change.

I could feel it. The change was running in my veins, it was pumping my blood, it was making me sweat, it was making me believe that yes, finally and with triumph, I would be able to reach my toe.

'GO Scarlett. Do it. Breathe in, breathe out'

Just little bit more stretch and there you touch, TOUCH, TOUCH...

'Humph!'

Why couldn't I touch my toe? Why this stretching was such agonizing pain? Am I the only one to feel that my big round toe was making fun of me?

'It's okay; it's just the third day of your stretching exercise. Don't put yourself down.'

'Or maybe, you can bring your ass over here and start doing little packing that is left to be done. You do realize its two in the afternoon'. My best friend Nancy stated in her bored voice.

'Hippo, can't you see, I am doing something extremely important and moreover, you told me that you will help me in packing and stuff. So, now don't complain.'

'I am sitting silently and watching you doing your circus acrobatics for the past 30 minutes. You tell me, is my patience running thin?'

'Heyyy, it's not my fault that my body is so flexible. You just don't be jealous.'

She humphed 'Yeah, your toe tells an entirely different story and I am super jealous.'

I don't have the perfect name for the relationship that Nancy and I share. You could call it best friend, loyal friend, trusted friend, screaming like banshee's friend, ogling at boys and then giggling non-stop friend, 3:00 am call friend. You are at a loss of word for this relationship because no matter how much you fight, you will go back to each other. You know this person has your back and you have enjoyed all your good and bad days together. It's just sometimes you feel like punching "this person" when they would fight with their boyfriend and would eat your head and you unknowingly get tangled into their fights. You don't even realize how much you have deeply engrossed yourself into their stupid fights that now they wait for your golden advice. I think everyone is blessed with one such idiotic friend.

I walked towards my bed and suddenly without her notice gave her a big hug. Would you call it life if you didn't irritate your friend?

'Yeah, get off me. Scarlett, you are sweating, get off right now.' You know that freak who is like a total freak, yeah, she is like that. She is a hygiene freak.

'Okay then, don't blame me for this' and then with her manicured nails and giant like arms, she started tickling me. My thighs and waist are very sensitive areas. Someone dares to touch this area and I will offer my most unladylike laugh.

'Fine, fine. I will get off. You take your arms away from me'

'Yeah, don't mess with this hippo'.

'Fine, now patiently wait for more 20 minutes. I will take a shower and come back.'

I took a long refreshed shower, freshened up and stepped in my room to see the horror unfold right in front of my eyes.

I hurried towards my bookshelf in Cheetah speed and froze.

'What did you do Hippo? Why did you do it?'

Nancy was giving me the most bewildered look but she didn't understand how much her action hurt.

'What? I just a little bit folded the paper of the novel. I couldn't find a bookmark.'

What???? Folded precious paper of my novel. Who does that?