*July 4th, 2010*
"
The fireworks are about to start soon honey, come on."
I took Rose's hand in mine and the two of us walked out the front door of her aunt's house. The two of us sat together on a swing, as the patio was filled with charcoal smoke and extended family in folding chairs, circled around to gaze at the smoking flares. Rose's feet not quite reaching the ground, but her hand was grasped in mine. We waited as candles of a Roman ilk were unloaded from a nearby Chevy truck. It was mostly grown ups, but there were a couple of brats. Rose and I rarely fought, but when we did it was over her wanting kids versus my desire to remain one for as long as possible.
Her baby cousin Ruby kept crawling too close to the edge of the patio, so her mother scooped her into the house and strapped her in her booster seat and rolled her in front of the storm door. For now she would have to yearn for the lunacy that was the upcoming fireworks. Soon the show started and Rose clutched my hand harder, the loud bangs startled her, so she slid as close to me as possible.
During the show, a phone rang. Rose's aunt answered. Distracted by the phone and shower of sparks, no one noticed Ruby wriggle free of her seat and push her tiny hands to the plexiglass. Past the pyrotechnics, she crawled into the sour patch of the yard, undetected and invisible as she crawled toward the kidney shaped swimming pool. She crawled and fell into yawning blue, the splash was mum compared to the rocket ships in the sky.
Ruby's lungs were filling by the time we were cognizant. Many of us sprang and sprinted, but our arrival was belated. I dove in, despite not being a strong swimmer. Those still on the patio parted so the elders could see. I came up and laid the tiny body at her fathers feet. He dropped to a knee and she choked the water through her blue lips as he helped the air reconvene. He toweled off his shaking Ruby and minutes later the EMT confirmed the save.
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"
Come on Luigi, we have to save Mario from this haunted mansion."
I guided the timid plumber through his newly won mansion as I awaited Matt's arrival. It had been a while since I dusted off the GameCube and played Luigi's Mansion, but this would be good prep for my match with Ty. Just as I was finishing off the giant baby ghost, I recalled that story. Then I heard a knock so I went to the door to answer it.
"
Sup?"
Matt stepped into my apartment and I couldn't help but laugh.
"
What is so funny?"
I pointed at Matt's outfit as I laughed.
"
That outfit is completely unbecoming. No one has gotten a handjob in shorts since Vietnam."
"
Says the man who isn't even ready yet. How many times am I going to come over to find you in your underwear playing video games?"
I jumped over the back of the couch and picked my game back up.
"
I'll have you know this is research."
Matt took a seat next to me, but he made sure to keep a reasonable distance from me and my boxer clad self.
"
Research?"
"
Yeah, I was talking to Serafina last night and she mentioned Ty used to worship a Luigi board. So I figured I would brush up on Luigi games and get the jump on him."
Matt threw his hands in the air.
"
You idiot, it isn't a Luigi board, its an Ouija Board. People use it to talk to spirits. And he didn't worship an Ouija Board, he would consult the Ouija Scroll. Don't you remember his feud with Chris K.O.? Chris ended up with Serafina and the Scroll. Serafina gets around bro."
I shook my head.
"
That was a long time ago, she has changed. And you would know what an Ouija Board is. Don't your people worship the dead? Día de Muertos or some shit?"
"
I'm not Mexican, we covered this already. That shit doesn't even matter. Look,I just don't trust Serafina. I just have this feeling man."
"
I've never even seen you with a girl, what do you know about bitches?"
"
I know better than to refer to women as bitches, Ricky."
"
Fair point."
I took a minute to stand and turn off my game so I could get ready for our upcoming date.
"
Just don't bring up Ricky Runn. Becky hasn't forgiven me for getting him fired. She hates me. Why do so many people hate us?"
With that I was off to my room to get dressed.
"
People hate success. My advice to them, maybe they should hustle as hard as they hate."
I stopped and came back into the living room, naked, holding my phone. Matt tried to avert his eyes.
"
That's a pizza cat meme."
I was scrolling on my phone as I walked toward Matt, all the while Matt was trying to back away.
"
Dude put some clothes on first."
I showed him my phone.
"
I told you."
"
Dude, great, but please put some fucking clothes on."
As I walked back to my room I spoke louder so Matt could hear me.
"
Sorry man, I'm just nervous. This is my first real date in a long time. I think Serafina may be special."
"
You know I don't trust her."
"
I know you don't, but you don't know her like I do."
"
You have known her for all of three months! It wasn't but a month ago that she walked out on Ty, and you expect her to be over him."
"
I don't expect her to be over him. You never really get over someone you love. Believe me. You know Rose used to tell me all the time 'You swear too much.' She said a lot of things. You know I'd swear every other word if I could, but to get her back I'd make an attempt. I'm never going to be over her. One day it was her clothes on my floor, the next it was empty bottles. You know I'm not saying she's my last, I'm just saying that she could have been."
There were a few minutes of silence as i finished getting ready.
"
I'm tired of these hood rats, and Serafina is different. She gets me. She likes me for me, not who I could be, or who she could make me into."
Matt looked at me, it was a look I had seen before on others, but never on Matt.
"
I'm sorry. Maybe you're right about her, I just don't see why she would leave Goliath to be with David. No offense."
I shook my head.
"
None taken man. I know Ty's star outshines mine, but this world needs Goliaths. Without Goliath, David was just a punk kid throwing rocks."
Matt and I walked outside to my car. The crisp night air of fall was starting to set in, and Matt zipped his jacket just a little tighter.
"
I'm happy for you man, I don't understand it and I hope you watch your back, but I hope this works."
"
I hope it works too man. She let me slime her so hard, she should have been on Nickelodeon. Now come on, we need to get you some new clothes."
Matt just shook his head as climbed into the passenger seat.