Antoine's Curious Collection of Arbitrary Short Stories

10 Bubbles

1. When i was a kid I always ask my father questions; about how the moon followed us whenever we go, like an eye who sees everything; about how my little and beautiful bird, a parakeet, decided to ran away when she has everything she needed. Questions like why I pissed my own pants while I was asleep, unknowing about my own body. Why my brother would pick a fight with my friend who obviously had no chance to him. And my father would answer with wits and knowledge.

And then one time I ask again my father, I was 12 that time I guess. He's in the living room, alone but he's laughing like he's still with Uncle Joe, his best friend who was buried that day. So I ask him why and he answered drunk and laughter muffled and eager to go out, "Alcohol makes everything humorous, son."

2. I hope you're not bored, you see even I had no idea how this will go. I'm just telling the things I remembered. So here we go. Back when I was 16, my Aunt Linda visited us and she made us pies. She loves making them. I can tell when I watch her do her thing. It's like she's in her own world; busy and oblivious in her surroundings. I would never forget the taste of the pie she makes. Probably because I don't like it. I don't like pies, okay.

But she made it with efforts and willingness. So eat it.

3. Being a teenager sucks, you get to have this smell; these pimples. Your mood changes and it's like everything sucks even when it isn't. It's dramatic.

4. I had a dog once too. I named him Paulo. He's a good dog. I treat him more like a brother than my own brother. I don't know what to say next. Paulo died too. Sad isn't it?

5. Do you like the smell after the rain? My friend and I are addicted to it. We watch the rain fall onto our windows, sat together. Talking mostly about things we were likely to experience. My brother says it's gay. What we're doing, for him is gay. What's wrong with having a good time by just watching a rain and talking about things you like?

I think my brother doesn't know that people have different perspective with things.

6. I hate dancing. But I love music. I prefer just listening to it while lying on my bed. I lied. I like it, dancing, but that was before I asked Emily to dance with me on our prom. She rejected it. Who wouldn't?

I look hideous, i have no personality that's interesting enough to compensate with my appearance. I had nothing to offer than a skill to swim. But what's good about that? Nothing right?

7. I miss her, my mom.

8. Where are we? These memories are dizzying.

Right! This Christmas my aunt Lori visited us. She's my Mom's sister. She gave me a gift, a sweater. I love it. She told me that she bought it 'cause she had the feeling that I'll need it.

9. Is it 10 yet? How long am I here?

10. 16, 17, 18... bubbles. I should go up. My trainer would be very mad if I didn't.

Paulo? What are you doing down here?