Things I Wrote at One Time or Another

Magic Shop: A Psychodrama; "Book I, Episode II"

BOOK ONE, EPISODE TWO

"Fuck."

Aunt Daye hurried down the stairs, her hair still dripping wet and stringing from her scalp as she pulled on her sneakers. She struggled to find a hair tie as she barreled into the kitchen, almost knocking me over as I poured myself a glass of milk.

"Language!" Grandma said, she sat at the kitchen table, the nearest to the window with her book and tea. Sometimes I couldn't help but envy her, having retired years ago and finding so much time to enjoy the simplest things. She caught me squinting at her over my glass of milk, "What are you looking at? You'll be late too! Get out!"

And then I remember she suddenly had all this free time to boss us around, even if it is her house. I gulp down the remainder of my glass and dump it in the sink before grabbing my bag. Aunt Daye managed to find her hair tie and was grabbing her sweater as she scrambled towards the front door. Without even asking if I needed a ride, she slammed the door in my face, disappearing off towards her car.

I sighed, opening the door again and hurrying over to my bike. I watched her pull out of the driveway, still fuming with morning rage. I waited until she was gone before climbing on, I place my foot to the pedal and I'm about to speed off when something catches my eye.

Right in front of my wheel sat a grey cat, his emerald eyes staring up at me in disinterest. I shake my foot at it, trying to shoo it away, but it remains there, stubbornly. I contemplate either running it over with my bike or being late to school.

I eventually just reposition my bike and pedal off, not bothering to give the animal a second glance.

Today seems to be a calm and sunny day, the majority of my school hours consisted of smooth sailing between classes. The warm of the sunlight streaming in through the window this afternoon leaves me feeling a bit sleepy-headed, and for the second time this week, my mind differentiates.

At the center of the classroom, the sunlight manifests itself into a dancer. Her flimsy skirt made of the sun's rays, illuminating the edges of desks as she gracefully makes her way through the aisles. A song begins to play in my mind and her performance is complete, her figure bursting into a million particles until she's nothing but the sunlight again.

I sigh, leaning my head against my hand and closing my eyes for what feel like mere moments, only to open them again and find someone staring back at me.

Over in the corner of the classroom stands a figure, a young man in a school uniform, however, it's clear it's not ours. I sit up straight, blinking only once and having him disappear in an instance. I try to recall his face, but draw a blank. I start to worry that I'm going crazy and raise my hand to go to the bathroom.

The cold water seeps into my skin and I feel bit more awake, droplets curve along my skin as I take a deep breath.

"Crow," I turn around, waiting for him to appear, to walk out of one of the stalls. But I remain alone. Frustrated, I dry off my face and hands and return to the hallway. I try to remember on my way back to class, but find it even more difficult to remember what kind of uniform he was wearing.

I'm walking through a large hallway with windows on each side when something catches my eye. From where I was I could get a clear view of the front gates of the school, and something was wiggling its way through the bars.

I blink a few times and realize it's a grey cat. For a minute I wonder if it's the same one from this morning, and almost doubt it. Grandma says there's a million stray cats in Gwangjo, and we'd be lucky to spot the same one twice. 'Cats are mysterious like that,' she'd say. 'They only stick around when bad luck is coming.'

I must be going crazy, then, I thought. My mind immediately rushed to what Crow said to me and I grimace.

A/N: I'm so sad I never finished this-- Jungkook is the kid she sees.