© July 31, 2020. All Rights Reserved.
7 in the morning, the fog wanders pass the lake 5 yards East from the tree tunnel on a Saturday. The temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. There’s the arch of a rainbow visible in the sky, which nearly reaches the clouds. Sitting on the right side of the road in criss-cross applesauce, behind the trees from a tree tunnel, a 16-year-old girl (with a milk-white fascinator hat with protruding floral designs at the top, black, short wavy, bob hairstyle, red eyeliner, hazel eyes, oval, peach-colored sunglasses with light brown freckles, a vermillion tint, lip gloss over red, matte lipstick, a silver medallion, a silk, vermillion batwing top, milk-white, laced evening gloves, peach-colored, denim capri pants, and milk-white spool heels) is sitting on her buttocks with both of her legs crossed. She has exfoliated skin. Her name is Florentina Monarch and she grabs a strawberry lollipop from a bowl on a wooden bench.
Punk rock music plays from a boom box. A ladybug crawls on Florentina’s right cheek and she swats it off. While she moves out of the direction of a bee, she sees several squirrels wandering around the grassy terrains simultaneously. The chirping sounds from the lovebirds make her content. Florentina looks at her friend, Ginger, who is sitting on the back of a red pick up truck beside a half empty bottle of liquor while igniting a purple lighter. 16-year-old Ginger (a brunette with a ponytail and a black, wool baseball cap that she wears backwards) is wearing a white wife beater shirt, bluish-green and black, plaid board shorts, white socks, and black tennis shoes.
Nailed to the bark of a weeping willow tree, there’s a yellow, red, and black dart board inside of a rustic pine wood cabinet. 20 feet away, there’s a rectangular, rustic pine wood box full of red and yellow darts inside. There’s a rectangular, wooden table with a large, brown ceramic bowl full of honey barbecue chicken wings, 4 types of pizzas (cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, sausage pizza, and homemade, margherita pizza), a large, brown, ceramic bowl full of cheese sticks, a large, brown ceramic bowl full of garlic bread, a large ceramic bowl full of salad (with boiled lettuce, boiled, diced onions, boiled olives, boiled tomatoes, boiled, diced apples, boiled broccoli, boiled, diced cucumbers, hard-boiled, diced eggs, boiled, diced avocados, croutons, shredded cheese, sunflower seeds, flax seed, and vinaigrette salad dressing), and a large, brown ceramic bowl full of sour cream potato chips, onion potato chips mixed with cheddar, and barbecue flavored potato chips. There’s a stack of paper plates, paper cups, and a transparent bag full of plastic, disposable cutlery on the right side of the table. Underneath the table is a cooler full of large 2 liter soda bottles of various flavors, 355 milliliter soda cans of various flavors, and 355 milliliter water bottles.
Ginger says, “You got a cigarette on you?”
Florentina says, “You know I don’t smoke. I left an extra pack under the candy.”
Ginger hops off the pick up truck, walks to the bowl of candy, and digs her right hand at the bottom, taking out a pack of cigarettes. She opens the pack.
“My partner in crime,” Ginger says.
Florentina says, “What if somebody catch us?”
Ginger says, “I caught you at many beauty pageants and I wasn’t worrying. I worried that I’d never get a chance to be up there. So you ditch home for a couple of hours to chill and be normal for a while. You only live once. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life trying to look perfect? Have some fun. Get your hands dirty. Eat some food.”
Florentina says, “You’re right, but my mom’s gonna kill me when I get home. What time’s Allie suppose to get here?”
Ginger says, “Just about now.”
Allie (17-years-old arrives with black crimson dreadlocks, green eyeliner, green lipstick, a silver, circular piercing on the right side of her bottom lip, a choker with studded spikes attached, a black, laced, neckline dress with long sleeved fishnet, 3 ruffled rows on her attached skirt, green stockings, and black, leather boots).
She has a red and white 15-month-old English Bulldog on a green leash and as the dog struggles to run toward Ginger’s direction, Allie says, “Ribs like you, Ginger.”
Florentina has a flashback of when she was 5-years-old, (wearing a purple winter coat, blue jeans, and brown cowgirl boots) running outside when the snow is 12 inches deep. The neighbor’s black English Bulldog chased her in the street and bit her right arm. She screamed in agony on the street with tears running down her cheeks. The dog bit her arm again in the same area and suffered from what appeared like rabies. Suddenly, a white convertible car sped down the road and ran over the dog’s back. The dog stopped biting her, making a loud yelp she’d never forget. The dog fell over as the neighbor (in his 40s with a bald head) looking out of his window in shock, dropped his newspaper. The neighbor exited his house, screaming and the driver (in his 20s with a black, low buzz cut hairstyle) exited his car in disbelief. Just inches closer and the car could’ve hit Florentina. She exits her traumatic flashback.
Ginger walks toward Ribs and pats him on his back, moaning with a smile.
Florentina’s black cell phone rings and she ignores it. Ginger and Allie eyes Florentina while Ribs stare in utter silence.
Gleefully, Allie says, “I smell momma bear worrying for daughter bear.”
Ginger says, “You’re an adult. It’s time they treat you like one.”
Florentina says with watery eyes, “They’re gonna to kill me. They’re gonna kill me.”
Ginger say, “Cherish the moment. You’ll never get this moment back. I know what’ll take you off of the edge. I brought Allie to Livia’s Dugout because I have a gift for you. You know the rules.”
After tying Rib’s leash to a nearby tree trunk where he can’t escape, Allie digs in her pocket to wipe her hands with a mini, transparent bottle of hand sanitizer. She positions the hand sanitizer on the left side of the table, grabs a slice of pepperoni pizza, bites it, and says, “Follow me.”
Ginger holds Florentina’s hand where their fingers interlock as they follow Allie into an abandoned dugout 12 yardsticks away from the table with junk food.
Ginger says, “Is that pizza good, Allie?”
Allie smirks, saying, “Fantastic. I brought the supplies with me. They’re sterilized.”
Florentina says, “Sterilized?”
Florentina walks beside Ginger, following Allie into the dugout.
Allie picks up a tattoo machine, then sits it beside Florentina.
Ginger says, “You can sit.”
Slowly, Florentina lowers her haunches, then Allie yells, “Sit!”
Florentina immediately positions her body into the seat and trembles.
Allie says, “Where do you want it?”
Florentina says, “The ink from the tattoo may seep deep into the pores of my skin and affect my immune system.”
Allie says, “How many chimney pots have you been smokin’? You’re worried like you had a baby with your mother’s babysitter for crying out loud! Where on your body? How about I do your face? It’ll keep the men from groping you in prison.”
Ginger chuckles as Florentina frowns, saying, “My right arm.”
Allie disinfects Florentina’s right arm, then grabs a stencil to press it against Florentina’s skin. Eventually, Florentina screams from the pain of the needle she sees against her skin.
2 hours later, she’s looking at her reflection (with a tattoo of a realistic, blue diamond on her right arm in a handheld mirror) that Ginger holds. Like alabaster statues smiling, Florentina and Allie smiles. Allie reveals a realistic blue diamond tattoo she has on her right arm, then Ginger lowers her handheld mirror on a stone to reveal her realistic, blue diamond tattoo.
Ginger says, “You’re one of us now.”
Allie says, “Remember the rules.”
Florentina says, “You can bet your keister I’ll remember. No boys allowed. I don’t need a boy. Boys are…”
Florentina, Ginger, and Allie then say dramatically, “Gross.”
Allie says, “When do you want to meet up again? I’ll text you all.”
Ginger says, “Perfect. We’ll be here. Ain’t that right Florentina?”
Florentina says, “No biggie.”
Allie says, “I have a better idea. Help me grab the food. We’re off to the drive-in movie theatre. Remember when I said no boys allowed?”
Florentina says, “Yeah.”
“I lied,” Allie says, then takes a sip from a large, 2 liter lime-flavored soda bottle, saying, “Earlier, I replaced the license plate for one that I made up. I gave all of us identification cards, so we have the night to ourselves.”
Ginger says, “You’ve done it big time now and I love you more for it. Let’s hit the road.”
Florentina wears a shocked face and follows Ginger and Allie to the pick up truck. Allie digs into Ginger’s right pocket to pull out black car keys, opens the back car door on the left side. Then, Allie unties the leash to Ribs, picks him up, and positions him in the back seat.
Ginger says, “I could’ve just handed you the keys.”
Allie says, “Thank you for being so nice about it.”
Ginger steps inside of the back of the truck in a seated position with 4 pizza boxes on her lap with a ceramic bowl full of cheese sticks on top. Florentina grabs a ceramic bowl full of garlic bread and a ceramic bowl full of salad to position them near Ribs, Allie’s pet. She positions all of the items from the table in the back of the car, then fits the cooler in the trunk, closes the trunk, sits in the back seat, and shuts the door. Allie then drives the pick up truck.
Allie says, “Any stops you’d like to make before we get to the theatre? Ginger? Florentina?”
Florentina says, “Call me Florist.”
Allie says, “Florist. I like that.”
Ginger says, “Florist and Ginger.”
Allie says, “And…”
Ginger says, “Allie.”
While staring at Ribs with invisible fear, Florentina says to Allie, “I’m fine. I have enough snacks right here.”
Ginger says, “You can stop by the store so that I can grab some double A batteries. The remote at home stopped working when I tried to change the channel on my little brother watching a marathon of kid shows. That’s why I keep earphones on me.”
Allie drives the car on the vacant road, speeding at 32 miles per hour. She makes a right turn at an intersection. An ocean blue car behind them arrives. Allie looks in her rear-view mirror, puckering her lips into a kissing pose after reaching for her red lipstick from the glove compartment, removing the top, and applying it to her lips. She then puts the top back on the lipstick, positions it in the glove compartment, and closes the glove compartment.
Ginger says, “Who you tryin’ to look good for?”
Allie says, “I’m going to pick up my boyfriend. Enough about him. Words can’t describe how I feel about him, so I won’t try describing him. You got that? Next topic. I can use my own house key to open up other front doors. I can open up car doors with my house key because there’s only so many shapes on a key. Creepy thought, huh? I could duplicate your key, but if I don’t feel like it and want to possibly leave my DNA in the keyhole, I’ll use my own key. Brilliant.”
Florentina says, “That’s so creepy.”
12 Minutes Later
Allie parks the pick up truck in the parking lot. Ginger opens up the right side door from the back seat, then exits, returning 5 minutes later in the pick up truck with a 12 pack of double A batteries, a red toothbrush, a pack of toothpicks, and waxed dental floss in a plastic bag. She shuts the door, then Allie drives down the road, 2 minutes away to the drive-in movie theatre where there’s many cars surrounding the area. Allie looks for a place to park, but sees just one place in the 12th row on an upper section. She parks by where there’s a blond male in his 30s (with a short, combed undercut hairstyle, a polyester, amber v-neck) smoking marijuana on the left side and on the right side, there’s a brunette in her 20s (with shaggy hair a floral black and white bandana, and a silk peach-colored spaghetti strap shirt with an 18-year-old male in the passenger’s seat (wearing a bluish-green, polyester, button-down shirt).
The movie starts. Florentina, Ginger, and Allie eat their junk food to the point of having a stomachache, littering with paper plates, paper cups, disposable utensils, and pizza boxes outside of the truck. Florentina grasps a slice of pizza from her paper plate, then bites it. Ginger exits the back side door and makes her way into the passenger’s seat, shutting the door.
Ginger says, “Allie. You said no boy’s allowed, then you said the passenger’s seat is for your boyfriend. Where’s your boyfriend at?”
Ginger turns her head toward Florentina as Ribs rest on Ginger’s lap.
Florentina makes an embarrassed expression, blushing. She exits the back seat of the car to sit on the top of the car in cross-cross applesauce, staring at the big screen, which shows the motion picture. Approximately, 2 minute later, a male in his 20s (with black cornrows, a sleeveless, cotton, orange, chambray shirt, an orange belt with silver, spiky studs attached, blue jeans, and grey tennis shoes) walks toward the truck, near the passenger’s side of the door.
Allie says, “Ginger. Amador. Amador. Ginger.”
Ginger says, “I’ll be getting out now.”
Ginger opens the door, steps out of the car, then greets Amador, “What’s up Amador!”
Amador says, “We should be going. The Pagris are fighting with the cops at the entrance.”
A concerned Allie says, “Get in the car!”
There’s several gunshots firing from the entrance. Florentina hops off the car, opening the left, back, side door. Ginger makes her way into the right, back, side door. Amador rushes into the passenger’s seat. They shut the doors at the same time while Allie drives backwards. Many people start yelling while driving away in traffic.
Over ten members of the Pagris (wearing black and red bandanas either wrapped around their forehead, wrapped around their mouth, hanging from their pocket, wrapped around a wrist, or wrapped around a pants leg) and oversized red shirts) rush nearby, jumping on cars and shooting at innocent citizens. One gang member (Jamal) with a mid bald fade and a bandana wrapped around his forehead shoots the big screen when the main character in his 20s (with bloodshot, light brown eyes) in the movie says, “I’m turning on you like you turn me on, but I feel off.”
Jamal turns his head to Florentina, then says, “Whassup, girl! Lemme’ get cha number.”
Police officers chase after the gang members, then the gang members shoot at the police officers. Many citizens are swarming and screaming and one citizen yells, “Someone’s been shot. Stop shooting!” A cop hiding behind a car gets shot in the head after looking over the hood of a gray convertible car with his pistol aimed straight. A gang member running over a car gets shot in the first thoracic vertebrae, falls to the ground, then gets his left tibia ran over by a speeding vehicle. He screams in agony. A cop behind Florentina that’s chasing after another gang member gets ran over by a speeding car.
One cop bangs on the driver’s door to Allie’s pick up truck and yells, “Get out!”
Florentina opens up the side door where Ribs hops out of the truck to bite on the officer’s right thigh. He falls to the ground, then, after 5 seconds, Ribs returns in the truck, and Florentina shuts the door. Allie drives the car backwards, heading out the entrance after traffic passes. Then, she turns the car to the opposite side, makes a right turn, and speeds ahead.
Ginger’s yellow cell phone rings and she positions it to her right ear where she hears her mother’s worried voice, saying, “Where the hell are you? You just missed breakfast. You tell me where you are right now or I’m calling the cops and this time, they’ll lock you up for good.”
Ginger says, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be back before midnight.”
Ginger’s mom responds, “Ginger! You bring your…”
Ginger hangs up her cell phone, then says to everyone in the truck, “Change of plans. I can’t ever go back home.”
Softly, Florentina says, “What…”
Allie talks over Florentina, saying, “I hear crying already and we’ve just gotten this day started. My parents let me go outside all of the time ‘cuz they don’t care like that.”
Ginger says, “Thanks to my henchwoman driving us into the ground.”
Allie says, “Repeat that. I didn’t hear you.”
Amador’s eyes widen, then he gently grabs Allie’s right shoulder, saying, “She didn’t mean it.”
Allie says, “Repeat it!”
Ginger says, “I said thanks to my henchwoman driving us into the ground.”
Florentina says to Allie, “She’s not thinking straight. She doesn’t mean it.”
Allie drives the car to to 65 miles per hour, swerving pass cars and intersections, saying, “You want to see me drive you off the cliff, huh? Because I can give it to you. I can give you anything you want and that’s more than your impotent parents ever gave you.”
Ginger says, “Slow down!”
“Don’t raise your voice at me,” Allie yells, then pulls a handful of hair strands out of her hair while holding the steering wheel with her left hand.
Florentina says, “You need to slow down before you crash. Aren’t you supposed to be her boyfriend? Do something.”
Amador says, “I don’t know what to do! This bitch is crazy!”
Allie removes both of her hands from the steering wheel, then smacks Amador in the face like she’s swatting at an oversized crane fly. She then pummels him like she’s doing the windmill with her arms and Amador screams. When Allie looks in front of her, a truck is heading the opposite direction in front of her car. She steers the car to the right side as it rains.
Then Allie says, “Is everyone all right. Amador, are you okay? Ginger? Florist?”
Amador, Ginger, and Florentina remain silent for 5 seconds.
Allie says, “Answer me!”
Amador says, “We’re fine. I’m fine. Are you fine, Ginger? Florist?”
Ginger says, “Who? Me? I’m second to none. I’ve been dying for this trip my whole life.”
Florentina says, “I’m having fun.”
Allie says, “Amador. Your hands look like you rock climb with the gods, but you bite your fingernails. I see the entire package from the charming smile, chiseled body, bulky arms, then when I look at your fingernails, I just think that’s gross. Finger painting classes must’ve been a blast for you.”
Amador says, “So you want me to change?”
“Honey. Baby. I want you to get the,” Allie says, calmly, then screams, “Fuck out of my truck! This is my truck!”
Amador says, “Stop the car first.”
Allie says, “Rape! Rape!”
Ribs bark continuously.
Amador says, “I’m not raping you.”
Allie says, “Stop biting your fingernails, then maybe I’ll fuck you more often. I can’t forget about what you’re packin’. The reason you don’t have balls is because you have nut allergies.”
Amador says, “I’ll write that down. Thank you.”
Ribs then stops barking.
Allie says, “I should be thanking you for your penis size. When you tried to slip it in, I said that tickles, so I kept laughing and laughing and laughing. I know you like it when I smile, so you weren’t ashamed for your problem downstairs. That’s why we’re the perfect couple. We can have major differences and still be together.”
Amador says, “We’re…”
Allie positions her right hand up in his face and says, “Talk to the hand. When I stubbed my toe on a bed leg today, I thought of you.”
Amador says, “I’m talking to your face. You’re acting childish.”
Allie says, “La. La. La.”
Allie parks the truck near rocky mountains. Everyone steps out of the vehicle and gives an angry look at Allie. Florentina says, “I’m driving next time.”
Ginger yells with a groaning rage, “No. I’ll drive. I’ll drive as far away from home as I can, even if I have to go six feet deep!”
Allie says, “The climbing harnesses are beneath the driver’s seat. Under the passenger’s seat, you’ll find the belay devices, ropes, and helmets. If you want hiking footwear because you’re a little wimp, check the trunk. I, however, don’t need any equipment. I’ve been rock climbing for eight years in a row and won two national competitions, from the age of eight to ten, but came in second place the last time I competed. That’s when I never performed again, but I’m here to teach you wimps how to be strong like me.”
5 Minutes Later
Everyone walk on the rocky terrains. Everyone except for Allie is wearing a black helmet, an orange climbing harness, black hiking shoes, while holding a 10.2 millimeter rope and belay device. In front of them is a 1,200 foot mountain. They put their equipment together, then climb while Allie begins climbing effortlessly up a rocky mountain without equipment. Ginger already has a bad grip on the crevices, then looks down, 12 feet below. Florentina is staring at Allie climb 5 feet ahead of her, then she climbs upward and rests after 3 minutes. Amador is exhausted staring at his girlfriend, but Amador climbs near Florentina.
While gasping for air, Amador says, “Florist. I’m breaking a sweat over here. Maybe you can ease the moment. How long have you known Allie?”
Ginger says, “Florist has to catch her breath.”
Florentina says, “You better catch up, Ginger,” then says, “For about two years now. You?”
Amador says, “Six months.”
Florentina says, “Why do you put up with her? We’re not going to just look pass how she treated you in the truck.”
Amador says, “Huh?”
Florentina says, “You know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout.”
Amador says, “I love her. Allie and I go rock climbing three times a week and I’m still not as skilled as her.”
A nosy Ginger says, “For someone to love her so much, she sure doesn’t talk about you. Allie tells me everything.”
Amador wears a depressed face 102 feet up the mountain beside Florentina. He wants to climb down, but doesn’t want to look down.
Amador says, “I want to go down.”
Florentina says, “I’ll let your girlfriend know you’re going down.”
Amador stares down the mountain in fear and looks at the wall in a still position.
Then, Florentina says, “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of heights.”
Amador says, “Just a bit.”
Florentina says, “Just watch me. We can climb together. We won’t be up here too long. We can get over your fear together.”
10 Minutes Later
Amador laughs at a joke Florentina says and he slips, losing grip of his left arm. Ginger screams, forgetting that he’s wearing a harness.
Ginger says, “Sorry. I thought you were Allie for a moment. Don’t scare me like that.”
Allie looks down and yells, “If you want to handle a girl like me, you have to climb the mountains.”
Florentina says, “You can do better than that,” while grabbing his left arm to position him back on the mountain.
He says, “How long you’ve been working out?”
Florentina responds while swatting an ant off of her right wrist, “I don’t work out. This is my first time rock climbing.”
Finally, Ginger climbs beside Florentina and says, “What do you do when you see a bee up here?”
A worried Florentina says, “There’s a bee?”
Ginger says, “Not that I know of.”
Florentina say, “Ask the expert that’s practically flying above us.”
Ginger asks Allie, “Allie! What do you do if you see a bee while rock climbing?”
Allie responds, “Play dead!”
Ginger says, “Is that how you won your last competition?”
Allie says, “Ginger! I will stone you off this mountain if you don’t shut your gums.”
Ginger says, “Remember when you said if I sued you, then you’d give me twice the amount?”
Amador says, “Keep it down.”
Florentina says, “You’re lucky she didn’t hear you or we’d all be stoned.”
Ginger says, “Allie was born with the lifetime achievement award for food gods sake and she acts like she’s better than everyone.”
Florentina says, “I believe she is sometimes.”
It’s already been a riveting day. After 45 minutes, the group climbs up the mountain.
Allie watches everyone else remove their harnesses and says, “Look at what we have here. Could it be my lost skateboard from last week?”
She heads toward her violet skateboard and actually skates on the mountain effortlessly.
Ginger says, “How the fuck did you get a skateboard up here?”
Florentina says, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Allie jumps up on the skateboard, performing a trick, speeds forward, then stops in front of them.
While pointing her finger at a large mud pool on top of the mountain they’re on, Allie says, “If you want to get dirty Florist, there’s a mud pool waiting for you.”
Florentina walks away from the edge of the mountain and so does Amador.
When Ginger walks away from the edge of the mountain after looking down from it, she says, “I wonder who’ll catch us up here.”
“We can’t just stay away. What about school, getting a job,” Florentina says.
Ginger interrupts, “The same school that push lies down our throats? I was taught that the Great Wall of China’s was visible from space, ‘I’ before ‘E,’ except after ‘C,’ that Einstein flunked math and had a learning disability…”
Allie says, “Lies. Lies. Lies. There’s lies everywhere! I have an idea. Each of you are going to shout out your problems from this mountain. Nobody can hear you, but the ones closest to you. Who’s first?”
Ginger says, “Do we have to do this?”
Allie sighs and says, “There’s no secrets between us. Since you seem talkative today, you can go first. Tell us all what’s bothering you. Look off the mountain and spit it out.”
Ginger walks to the edge of the mountain, cherishing the wind, which caresses her smooth skin. She’s hesitant to speak and looks downward.
Allie stands behind her and says, “Do you trust me? Tell us what you’re thinking.”
Ginger screams, “I’m a bad daughter! I colored on a hundred thousand dollar painting when I was ten and my parents used my college fund to pay for it! I’ve been locked up twice for driving under the influence and my parents think I’m nuts! They called the cops on me and they’re searching for me now to take me to prison!”
Amador says, “What in…”
Florentina says, “One hundred thousand dollars? Now, you’re going to need some bail money. I’ll visit you in prison.”
Allie says, “Florist. With your luck, you wouldn’t have to visit Ginger. You’d share a cell. You know your parents don’t want you out here, so you all have to stay as far away from the world as possible. You could say that I kidnapped you, but who’d believe that? Next up. Florist. Look away.”
Florentina stands on the edge of the mountain and yells, “I get…”
Allie says, “Louder! I can’t hear you.”
Florentina says, “By the age of four, every day, I was forced into child labor in India. I had no other choice, but to collect mica powder from the mines and sell it for food! I’ve seen kids die from mining where they developed respiratory problems and sometimes, the mica would fall on them while they were mining. The mica they used is what you see in beauty products! We traveled here when I turned seven! I’d get beaten on by my father! I watch him beat my mother and she’s dying slowly from the crack she obtains from her drug dealer! I watch her get raped and sometimes, I’m raped! I want to escape! My mother wants me to be a beauty queen like she always wanted! I entered several beauty pageants and was fortunate enough to win many, but every time I apply makeup on, I think about the kids and their families that are trapped in harsh environments! I try not to take any of this for granted, but I feel like a failure!”
A crying Florentina turns around and Allie hugs her.
Amador says, “Step back before you both fall.”
Ginger says, “Your turn, Amador.”
Amador stands on the edge and Allie says, “Tell the truth, babe.”
Amador says, “I don’t know where to start.”
Allie fidgets her hair with her right index finger and says, “Anywhere.”
Amador says, “I’ve failed the driver’s exam test, twice! I live in a bad neighborhood and am told to get straight ‘A’s’ in college or I’ll be grounded like the good for nothing grandson that I am because my parents died in a house fire when I was nine! I later found out that they were murder! I don’t even want to be a cognitive behavioral therapist, but I’m making my grandpa happy because it’s my dad’s dream!”
Allie says, “We have a therapist on the mountain. Tell me what do you think about Florist?”
Florentina eyes Amador in the eyes.
Amador turns around and says, “She’s a nice person.”
Allie says, “Turn around and yell it.”
Amador says, “I’m done. What’s your point?”
Allie says, “Are you in love with Florist?”
Amador walks away from the edge of the mountain, saying, “No. I barely know her. Why are you doing this to me?”
Allie pushes her boyfriend into the pool of sticky, thick mud. He falls backwards and mud splatters on the outside surface. Utter shock is etched on his face as he wipes the mud from his eyes just to open them. He rises up to see Florentina and Ginger stares at him like a circus. He then grabs Allie by the waste, picks her up, and throws her in the pool of mud.
Allie stands up with laughter and wipes the section of mud from her closed eyes with her right arm, then opens them. She then forcefully kisses Amador on the lips. The clouds turn from white to grey. It drizzles from the sky.
Amador says, “Tastes like guacamole.”
Florentina says, “There could be sharp objects in that mud.”
Ginger says, “I don’t think they care. They’d have to get hurt in order to find out.”
Florentina says, “You’re probably right. It’s going to rain. I felt a raindrop.”
Ginger says, “You wanna stay up here while it rains?”
Florentina says, “Sure. Ginger. The cops can just track your IP address. What we could do is throw out all of our electronics, then at our next destination, we can’t be tracked.”
It rains.
Allie throws her cell phone toward Ginger’s direction and says, “Get rid of my cell phone while you’re at it. It’s already wet.”
Like a football player, Amador throws his cell phone off the mountain while standing in the pool of mud. Ginger picks up Allie’s cell phone and drops it down the mountain. The long fall to the bottom is an eye opener if they fall down like a freak accident. Ginger throws her cell phone down the mountain, then grabs Florentina’s cell phone from her right hand to throw it far away, off the mountain.
Ginger says, “How will we get money?”
Florentina says, “Hey, Allie. How will we make money to live on our journey?”
Allie says, “Party pooper, I’m trying to get dirty with my boyfriend. We’ll take any money we can. We show men the goods, then get something in return. They’d be too stupid. Amador is here to protect us.”
Amador looks confused. Amador wipes a section of mud from the right side of Allie’s neck with his right hand, then as the rain washes the mud from her face to upper body, he kisses her passionately on the neck for approximately 5 minutes. Afterwards, she gets a hickey.
Allie steps out of the pool of mud and stares at Ginger. Ginger removes a bar of soap from her right pocket and deodorant from her left pocket.
Ginger says to Allie and Amador, “The two of y’all look like y’all spent the night at the world’s dirtiest cleaners.”
Allie grabs the soap and deodorant from Ginger, rests the deodorant on a stone, then opens the wrapper to the bar of soap. As the rain pours down, she washes up.
Sunday, (the following day) at 6:00 A.M., Florentina wakes up on the mountain alone. She remembers that yesterday Amador, Allie, and Ginger were on top of the mountain with her. She doesn’t remember them heading down. She looks down the mountain all across the edges, on the surface, and far in the air.
Florentina says, “Allie! Ginger! Amador!”
Startling her, “Allie, Ginger, and Amador, rise up standing from the pool of mud. Florentina screams. Allie, Ginger, and Amador laugh. It rains again.
“What the hell,” Florentina says.
2 hours later, Florentina, Ginger, Allie, and Amador make their way down the mountain with all of their equipment, walk to he truck, then get inside. This time, Ginger is in the driver’s seat while Florentina is in the passenger’s seat. Allie is beside Amador with a barking Ribs in the back seat.
Ribs is chewing on a mouthful of ice cubes from the cooler in the trunk, but is in the back of the truck. The cooler is still in the trunk.
Ginger drives on the road and says, “Any stores you wanna stop by? How about we go to the theme park? That’s where fear is airborne.”
Florentina says, “I hate roller coasters.”
Allie says, “Last one to the theme park is a rotten egg.”
Amador says, “That’s in about two hours after everyone gets out the truck.”
2 Hour Later
Allie slowly pours water into Ribs mouth for him to drink from a bottle. She then steps out of the truck where Amador, Ginger, and Florentina are. Allie spits on the ground, then says, “On three, two…”
Before Allie could say one, Ginger, Florentina, and Amador runs ahead. Allie chases after them yelling, “Hey! Get back here!” Florentina laughs when she should be saving her laughter. Allie passes up Florentina, then Ginger. Amador nearly loses his balance from the crooked sidewalk and dodges a pointy tree branch on the left side after running pass several vehicles. Allie passes Amador. Eventually, Florentina, Ginger, Amador, and Allie meet up at the same spot.
Allie notices a missing poster taped on a tree with her face among with Florentina, Ginger, and Amador.
“We got trouble,” Allie says as she stares at the poster.
Florentina looks at it and panics, “Oh, no. My mom’s going to kill me.”
Allie says, “If I was your mom, I’d think you’re already dead. There’s no way you’d survive being kidnapped for real.”
Florentina positions both of her hands on her hips, saying, “I so could.”
Amador and Ginger look at the poster.
Amador says, “Oh. I need to get back.”
Allie looks at Amador and says, “Are your parents going to kill you too? What about you Ginger? If you all don’t keep it together, I’ll kill all of y’all.”
Amador says, “What if a real killer comes around.”
Squinting her eyes, Allie yells, “A real killer? I’ll show you a real killer,” then strikes against Amador body as he moves backwards, then she strikes his back when he turns around.
Florentina sighs.
Ginger and Florentina removes Allie from her boyfriend, then Ginger says, “Let’s just enjoy the time we have.”
Allie says, “I was gone. I told you all I wouldn’t take it easy on y’all. I didn’t either.”
Ginger laughs and says, “How will we meet up if we get lost?”
“We’ll just have to stick together,” Allie says as she walks toward a crowded line. After the line gets shorter and they pass metal detectors after showing their identification cards, they walk toward a line. They get on approximately 9 roller coasters after 10-20 minute line waits. In one line they wait in, Ginger says, “These lines used to be forty-five to an hour long, but they’re short because everyone is waiting on that new one.”
In front of Allie in the line is a shocker. She’s an 18-year-old brunette with an Afro combing her hair (wearing a green, nerdy, anime shirt, blue jeans, and grey shoes) and turns around. The brunette is holding a muscular 18-year-old male’s hand by the name of Datu (wearing a white shirt of a superhero, yellow, shorts made out of jeans, and black tennis shoes).
Allie attempts to turn her head to hide her face. She refuses to be seen by who is in her presence. Allie then turns her entire body around and says, “I think we should get on another ride.”
Ginger says, “We’re almost there.”
Lada forms an overly excited expression, jumps up and down, then screams.
Lada says, “I know that voice from anywhere! Allie! I can’t believe you’re at the same place! I’ve known her for years. We used to do rock climbing together years ago. Allie was my mentor and won the national contest two years in a row until I finally beat her the third time around. Ever since my win, I’ve went on to getting two jobs…”
Lada continues talking and it’s like an alien language to Allie (to the point that Allie’s eyes look like she’s a couch potato sleeping with a loaded water gun), but Florentina, Ginger, and Amador are fascinated. Allie is ready to fall over from the scintillating sun relentlessly pressing heat against her skin.
Allie says, “You know what. I’m feeling kind of sick from all of that food I ate earlier. I think I’ll wait until you all get off the ride out of the line.”
Lada says, “We can keep you company. That’s what friends are for.”
Allie says, “No. No. No. I wouldn’t want to ruin the fun you all get to experience together.”
Datu says, “Are you chicken?”
Allie says, “No way. I’m feeling better now. I’m up for the ride.”
Eventually, they get on the roller coaster and everyone except for Florentina screams when it starts. There’s two seats on each side and twelve rows on the roller coaster. Allie is sitting in the front row with Amador. Florentina is sitting in the second row with Ginger. Lada is sitting in the third row with Datu.
When the one-of-a-kind roller coaster heads up slowly approximately 90 feet high at a 45 degree angle, then makes a breathtaking drop, they scream. Louder, they scream, when the roller coaster speeds into two loops underground, in a spiral slightly above a lake. Everyone’s heart is racing. The wind blows hard against their faces. After the roller coaster, Florentina rises out of her seat to exit the area. Florentina rushes to the water fountain and drinks water, then Ginger rushes by to drink from it afterwards.
Lada points at a rock climbing wall nearby, then says, “Allie, what do you say we do this like old times.”
Allie says, “It’s been a long day and I’ve just got done climbing down a mountain.”
Lada says, “Please don’t tell me you’re wussing out in front of all of your friends.”
Ginger says, “And her boyfriend.”
Lada says, “Oh. Your boyfriend. I’m forever grateful to meet your boyfriend,” Lada gives a smile at Amador, then says, “Meet me there.”
Florentina says, “She’ll be there.”
Lada and her boyfriend walks away after passionately kissing each other on the lips, but as they kissed, Allie made a face of disgust.
Ginger faces Allie and says, “My ass is sore from climbing down that mountain. Are you sure you want to compete again?”
“If I lose, then I’m not Allie,” Allie says.
Florentina says, “That’s not fair. I didn’t see whatever her name is climbing down a mountain earlier.”
Allie says, “It’s nothing. Game on.”
Datu watches Lada make her way near the rock climbing wall. A crowd surrounds her as many people get excited, recording her with their cell phones. A host with a megaphone says, “Is that who I think it is? Lada Pamplona, the only Sunner’s National Rock Climbing Champion to defeat Allie!”
Lada makes an unethical comment, “I challenge anyone to put their money where their mouth is!”
Allie jolts her way through the crowd, facing Lada. The crowd cheers. More cell phones rise in the air. Florentina, Ginger, Amador, and Datu stare at the event from a distance. All attention would be on Allie and Lada even if there’s a tornado watch after 5 consecutive tornados in the same area.
The host speaks on the megaphone, saying, “We have ourselves an unexpected flashback! Make some noise!”
Allie puts on a harness and let’s someone set up the equipment while she glances at the crowd, seeing Florentina, Ginger, and Amador cheering. Datu is giving her a glare. Across from Allie, Lada puts a harness on and let’s someone set up the equipment for her. It’s a 50 foot rock climbing wall and Allie (on the right side) and Lada (on the left side) look at the top of the wall on their destination at the same time.
The host says, “Someone, give me my extra spare of glasses because we’re about to witness a show tonight. Here’s the rules. When you hear a whistle, you climb on your side to the top. The winner gets five hundred dollars.”
The host blows the whistle and Allie and Lada rush to the wall. The crowd gets louder. Allie has a sore neck, but still climbs up the mountain with ease. She’s using a lot of energy, but notices Lada isn’t breathing as hard and is already 9 feet up the wall. Allie finds the energy to continue.
The host says, “This is going to be close!”
Ginger yells, “Come on, Allie!”
At one point, Lada climbs higher than Allie, then Allie climbs higher than Lada. Eventually, Allie makes her way to the top first. She nearly cries while looking at the crowd, raises her right hand up screaming, then makes her way down the rock climbing wall. When Lada makes her way down the wall, she approaches Allie.
Ginger says, “You did it!”
When the host hands Allie the money, she smiles, slowly taking it from his hand. The moment the money is away from his grip, she moves it swiftly towards her as if though she snatched it.
Florentina, Ginger, and Amador rush to hug Allie in a celebratory fashion. Datu pats Lada on the back, then Lada walks up to Allie to extend her right hand out of good sportsmanship. While the crowd continues recording the event, Allie says, “I beat you fair and square and there’s nothing you can do about it! When I injured my hip on my third go, I still competed and you only won because you cheated by taking a shortcut! My fiasco is no more! I follow directions on the rock climber’s map! You can’t bug me about about it anymore! When I look at myself in the mirror, I’ll remember myself finally taking back my title as the best! Earlier, I climbed down an entire mountain and you dared to compete with me!”
Lada looks at the crowd in embarrassment as Datu says, “What’s your problem?”
Lada holds her stomach and water falls from her stomach down to the concrete ground. Datu looks surprised.
The host says, “Somebody get help!”
Lada says, “My water broke!”
Allie immediately leaves the scene. Amador, Ginger, and Florentina follows her.
Allie says, “Some of the bitch! Even when I win, I still don’t win. She’s always taking attention away from me.”
Florentina says, “I know what’ll make you feel better.”
Allie says, “Shut up. Not now, Florist.”
Monday
It’s 5:00 A.M. Florentina is in a tent in criss-cross applesauce with a silver compass around her neck. She’s wearing a denim princess vest with black and orange cub spots on it over a black, laced bra, white jeans, and black sandals. Next to Florentina is Ginger (wearing a bluish-green, polyester t-shirt, yellow, denim shorts, and black tennis shoes). Outside of the tent is Allie (wearing a silk, beige camisole, red bell-bottom jeans, and black tennis shoes) smoking a cigarette with Amador (wearing a red sweatshirt, blue, denim pants, and black tennis shoes).
Florentina says to Ginger, “I can’t believe we just left that woman fighting for her life.”
Ginger bites her upper lip as Allie says, “There’s hundreds of people that could help her. I’m not a doctor? Are you? I decided not to help, decreasing the population and let the experts handle it. That left more air for her to breathe without four people hogging it.”
Florentina says, “You could’ve called a doctor.”
Allie says, “If you wanted to do something so much, why didn’t you?”
Ginger says, “Good question.”
Amador says, “Because we broke are phones.”
Allie says, “That’s right.”
Ribs bumps his head against Amador’s left leg, then rushes in the tent to lick Florentina. Ginger laughs and steps out of the tent, walking toward a campfire she picks up a twig, places a marshmallow on the end, places it in the fire until there’s burn marks, then eats the marshmallow. Then Ginger drops the twig. Florentina exits the tent and walks pass several trees.
Ginger says, “What time is it?”
Florentina shrugs her shoulders. Ginger follows her.
Allie says, “Where you goin’?”
Amador follows Allie (who follows Florentina). To her surprise, Florentina spots a trailer nearby, then extends her index finger. Ginger, Allie, and Amador notices the trailer. She looks around in the bushes and sees Ribs humping her again. When she screams, a male in his 40s (a red baseball cap, white wife beater shirt with beer stains, blue jeans, and black hiking boots) exit the trailer with a loaded shotgun. A 10-month-old, fawn, female English Bulldog exits the trailer, then Ribs rush out the woods and mates the female dog.
Allie yells while heading out the bushes, “Ribs, get back over here!”
The worried male in his 40s aims his shotgun at her, then says, “Lil’ girl. What in the flippin’ cock fuck are you doin’ out here? I suggest you get your beast off my princess or there’ll be a problem.”
Allie says, “Lower your gun or there’ll be a problem.”
The male lowers his gun, then says, “I think I know you from somewhere.”
Allie says, “Rehab. I remember singing for alcoholics on career day, but you wanted to sing the second verse and you broke the microphone with your vocal cords.”
She grabs Ribs, then the man says, “Where are your parents, lil’ girl? It can get dangerous ‘round here.”
Allie says, “They’re minding their own fuckin’ business like you should old man!”
The man picks up a beer bottle and drinks from it, laughing. Some beer spills on his shirt. He spits on the ground, then tosses the empty bottle over the trailer. Afterwards, he grabs his crotch gently.
Allie says, “I should get going now.”
Ginger exits the bushes and says, “You leave her alone! I just called the backup and they should be over here right now!”
The man smiles and says, “The cops ain’t been ‘round here in ages.”
He loses his balance and nearly crashes into the trailer, but Florentina snatches the weapon from behind him. He turns around shocked.
He says, “Do you even know how to use a gun?”
Florentina shoots the man’s pet, then runs toward Allie, and passes it to her. Allie aims it at the man’s crotch. Then Amador rushes out of the bushes to tackle the old man to the ground. Amador strikes the man in the face 7 times where he’s left unconscious. The pervert has a bloody right nostril.
Allie says, “It’s about time.”
When Amador rises and moves away from the pervert, Allie shoots the pervert in the crotch with the shotgun. Blood splatters across the pervert’s pants and on the dirt as he wakes up screaming like he swallowed a burning syringe. Ginger takes the weapon from Allie in case she wanted to shoot the pervert again. Allie snatches the weapon back, then rushes toward the pervert to aim the gun at his forehead.
The pervert says after choking, “Please.”
Amador says, “Please, shoot him.”
Ginger says, “Let’s Just get out of here before we get caught.”
Amador says, “He’ll try to kill us if we don’t kill him. We have to kill this pervert.”
Florentina says, “Let’s just keep the gun and drive away. Come on.”
Allie says, “What do you take me for,” then shoots the pervert in the head.
Blood splatters across the dirt. Florentina covers her eyes and turns around, then vomits. Her vomit appear to look like blended soda, potato chips, and sausages. Ginger then takes the gun from her friend and Amador grabs Allie by her waist.
Allie snaps her finger, saying, “Grab his wallet.”
Finally, Amador turns the body over where the dead body is in a prone position, then grabs a black wallet from the right, back pocket. He looks at the wallet and on the identification card, his name is Grey Waffers. “Mister Waffers,” Amador says, then takes three hundred and twenty one dollars in cash. He passes the identification card to Allie, then after Allie looks, Allie passes it to Florentina, then Florentina extend it to Ginger. Ginger stands with trauma, saying, “Waffers is my last name. I never met my real dad before.” Amador turns around with shock and Allie (wearing a puzzled expression) thinks it’s the end of her friendship.
Ginger can’t seem to stop shaking and it’s not cold outside. It’s 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Florentina says, “I’m so sorry.” Amador says, “Let’s go look inside the trailer.” Allie smacks Amador in the back of the head, then says, “How do you know if that’s your real father. There’s many people with Waffers as their last name.”
Ginger says, “Like who?”
Amador says, “Point taken. I love you all. It’s been quite the adventure, but I think it’s time for me to head home.”
Allie says, “And just where the hell are you going without the keys?”
Ginger grabs the identification card and says, “Mom always described him as broke with a hooker living in a trailer.”
Amador says, “He don’t look broke to me.”
Ginger says, “I think he found a job.”
“What job does he have now,” Amador says with sarcasm.
Ginger says, “My friends killed my father.”
Florentina says, “Wait. I never pulled the trigger. I took the firearm away from the man who was about to rape Allie.”
Ginger frowns at Florentina with tears running down her cheeks and strikes her across the right cheek. Florentina falls backwards, then rises up in shock.
“You gave her the gun,” Ginger says, then looks at Allie, saying, “And you!”
Amador blocks Ginger from getting near Allie. Allie says, “Calm down. I’m sure there’s a better way we can find out if the rapist I shot was your father!”
Amador says, “Volume. Let’s just head in the trailer. Ginger, if you see anything that proves he’s your father, we’ll call the cops.”
Allie says, “I’m not going to prison for a rapist. Are you fucking nuts?”
Amador says, “Me and Florentina will keep an eye out while you and Ginger head inside. I’ll drag the body in the trailer instead.”
“Your fingerprints will be on it,” Allie says.
“I’ll burn the trailer,” Amador says.
Allie heads in the trailer and Ginger follows her.
Amador remains outside with Florentina.
Amador says to Florentina, “You okay?”
Florentina responds, “My face is fine. Thank you.”
Allie and Ginger look around. The driver’s seat is empty. The place is cluttered with clothes, beer bottles, newspapers, and construction papers on a mattress. Allie opens up the top drawer to the mahogany dresser and sees folded underwear. There’s an opened condom wrapper left on the far right corner of the mattress.
Allie says, “It smells in here.”
Allie turns on a vintage black television and the news is on. The anchorman reports information about a gang initiation shooting that occurred in traffic and says the names of the deceased victims. Both of the victims turn out to be Ginger’s mom and dad (Gelsomina and Franko) back at home. Ginger stares at the television screen in horror. Allie’s jaw drops like never before.
Matters worsen when Ginger sees a small 4” X 6” picture in a silver picture frame (with Grey Waffers in a black dress suit and black dress pants with his right arm around the neck of Gelsomina, with a short, straight, blue hair, a silk, purple, backless dress, and black, high heels). She grabs the picture and moves it closer to her eyes while nervously shaking her hand. Allie watches her best friend cry in the trailer home. Unknowing what to do, Allie hugs Ginger.
The door opens and it’s Amador dragging the deadweight of Grey. He somehow picks part of the body up (and positions the dead body in the driver’s seat with his chest touching his knees where his head is below the steering wheel). Florentina continuously grabs leaves to cover up the blood of Grey outside, then picks up the dead pet to place inside the trailer and walk outside to cover up the pet’s blood.
Amador says, “Me and Ginger are going to walk back to the car. You all can decide on if you’ll burn the place down or not.”
When Florentina looks at Ribs, Ribs wears an unusual face of depression.
1 Hour Later
Florentina is in the back seat of the truck on the left side with Ginger and Ribs. Amador is in the driver’s seat and Allie is in the passenger’s seat.
Florentina says, “I can’t believe you killed him.”
Allie turns around, saying, “Shut up! Shut it! I saved our asses from being stuck in a trailer like how you were made! Why’d you pass me the fucking gun if you knew I’d shoot him?”
Ginger says, “We have to go back. It’s hard to make a shotgun shooting look like a suicide, especially if Allie shot the man from a distance. We’re going to get caught.”
Florentina says, “We should say something. Somebody should take the blame.”
Allie says, “If we go back, then somebody will spot us. Just calm down. I already burned down the trailer while you left, so we don’t have to go back.”
Ginger yells, “What! No!”
25 Minutes Later
Allie knocks on the passenger’s window to the truck. Amador lowers the window.
Allie says, “Ginger is just sitting down staring at the trailer crying. I keep telling her to get up, but she won’t. We told locals that there’s a burning trailer, then they called the fire department, so everything should be settled. She was sitting down for like ten minutes. She has to get up and go before she looks suspicious.”
Ginger rises up after looking at the trailer being burnt down, still hiding behind bushes. Her tears block her vision. She struggles pretending that the death of her biological father is just a horrible nightmare, but the wisps of smoke traveling into her nostrils tell her otherwise. It’s all too real for her, but she slowly walks back to the pick up truck.
Amador says, “We have to leave her.”
Allie says, “I can’t just leave my best friend.”
Ginger walks behind Allie, then says, “I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here for the night if that’s fine.”
Allie says, “Sure. Florist, are you okay with staying in a tent with my boyfriend tonight?”
Florentina remains silent and nods her head up and down.
6:00 P.M.
The sky is dark. With her knees slightly bent in a 45 degree angle, Allie is sitting upward in a green tent with a loaded shotgun on the right side of her. Ginger also has her knees slightly bent in a 45 degree angle while she’s sitting upward. Ginger grabs a flashlight and aims it into Allie’s eyes. Allie moves her face out of the way while covering her eyes.
Allie says, “That flashlight is so bright!”
Ginger giggles.
Allie says, “It is. I guess I deserve that. You’ve been aiming the light at me all day and my eyes hurt. Just stop before you run out of batteries.“
Like she ate a paper cut, Ginger says, “I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Allie says, “I know it’s tough and I can be mean, but I didn’t mean to…”
Ginger says, “It wasn’t your fault. I think I should apologize to Florentina.”
Allie says, “That’ll be your second time today. You’ve already apologized.”
Ginger says, “I know. I just can’t live with myself if I go back home, get stuck in the slammer, and not think about what I could’ve done to make things better in my life.”
“Start off by not aiming that damn flashlight in my eyes,” Allie says out of frustration.
Meanwhile, Florentina is talking with a shirtless Amador in the tent. There’s a silver, bright lamp in front of them.
Florentina says, “I’m not gonna be able to sleep.”
Amador says, “You ain’t wrong… and you ain’t right. As far as I’m around, this day never happened.”
Ginger talks to Florentina from outside of the tent, “Allie, I just wanted to say I’m sorry for how I treated you earlier. We’re still girls, right?”
Florentina extends her head out the tent, then says, “You’re fine, girl. Get some rest.”
Florentina puts her head back in the tent when Ginger walks away and says, “Nighty night.”
Florentina says, “Night. Wait. Are you sure Allie wants me to sleep in the same tent with Amador?”
Ginger turns around and says, “Allie is knocked out. She drank five beers, then the next thing I know, she fell asleep. I think you’re fine for tonight.”
Florentina says, “Just checkin’.”
Amador whispers, “It’s been a long day. We should get some rest.”
Florentina whispers to Amador, “I can’t believe we’re sleepin’ together.”
Amador can’t help but look at Florentina’s natural beauty.
He whispers, “It’s a sleepover. I’ll get the light.”
Florentina whispers, “I got it,” turning off the lamp, then resting near him, saying, “Do you like her more than me?”
Amador’s eyes widen and he whispers, “Huh? What makes you say that?”
After removing her black sandals and compass, Florentina removes her white jeans, and princess vest.
She whispers, “Do you like me or Allie?”
Amador pauses and whispers, “You know I love Allie. I’ve been seeing her for a while now and things are getting serious between us.”
She responds, whispering, “Show me,” then grabs his right hand and moves it toward her right bosom after she loosens her black, laced bra. Amador slowly removes his hand and moves his head backwards in awe.
“It’s okay,” she whispers.
Her body stimulates him. She positions both of his hands on her bosoms.
He gropes on her bosoms, positions her legs around his waist, then kisses him in the dark.
She whispers, “This night never happened.”
5 Minutes Later
Both, Florentina and Amador are naked. Florentina is mounting Amador and she moves up and down in utter exhilaration, only to see a large shadow occur outside of the tent.
She whispers, “I think I saw something outside.”
He whispers, “Finish first.”
There’s bear’s roar coming from outside of the tent. Florentina turns on the lamp and sees the giant bear outside of the tent. She screams. Ginger and Allie wake up and see the bear from outside their tent. Allie grabs the shotgun, rushes outside the tent, then aims it at the bear, shooting it four times.
Florentina is busy putting on her bra and pantyhose while Amador panics, slipping on his blue, denim pants, red sweatshirt, and black tennis shoes.
Allie says, “Babe, are you okay? There’s a bear around here.”
As Amador’s heart races, he says, “I’m better that you saved my life. That bear would’ve killed me in my sleep if Allie didn’t scream so loud.”
Allie says, “She’s a screamer.”
Amador whispers, “Talk about it.”
Florentina nudge Amador on the left shoulder.
“She even cries during tearjerker films,” Allie says, “It looks like we have breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
Amador exits the tent, then looks at the dead bear on the ground. “Where’d you learn to shoot like that,” he says. Allie notices a bulge in his pants. He rushes toward her, then she glances down at his crotch. He stops his movement, then Allie says, “Gross. Are you hard?”
He says, “I woke up hard.”
Ginger exits the tent rubbing her eyes, then removing her hands.
Ginger says, “Are you all done talking to the bear because I’m ready for some sleep.”
Allie aims the gun at Amador and says, “Were you fucking Florist?”
Florentina says, “What’s gotten into you, Allie? I’m your friend!”
Amador says, “What? No way. Why would you accuse me of something like that? Florist was just telling me about Livia’s Dugout earlier, I said how interesting it’d be to get a tattoo, but there’s no boy’s allowed. We went asleep, then heard a noise. That’s when you came to the rescue and shot the bear.”
Allie weeps and hugs Amador, saying, “I’m so sorry. I’m just not sure if I deserve you at times.”
As Amador looks in front of him while hugging his girlfriend, he sees Ginger giving him an unforgiving look of knowledge. Amador then looks guilty when he sees Ginger’s face, but he changes his face after he stops hugging Allie.
Allie says, “We have to get out of here. The firefighters could’ve reported Ginger to the feds if they were paying attention.”
Ginger says, “When my father died, the news never reported it. I didn’t see any camera crew around. There were no helicopters.”
Allie says, “True, but…”
Florentina says, “But they did report the parents that raised you.”
Ginger says, “They didn’t say they had a sweet daughter.”
Florentina sees several police cars and a fire truck speed down the road. There’s several vans from different news stations speeding around.
Allie says, “You wanna check it out?”
Ginger says, “Why not?”
Ginger, Allie, Florentina, and Amador head back toward the trailer, then hide in the bushes. A camera crew from various stations step out of vans. Armed police officers guard the area, then several firefighters set the trailer on fire after pouring gasoline over it.
The female reporter talks, “A thirty-nine-year-old male (Grey Waffers) two miles west on Dugout Road was killed by one simple mistake of leaving his stove turn on.”
Ginger whispers, “Let’s go.”
Title: Conurbation of Adoration
Title: Cari Gentlewoman
Title: Chord War Pool
Title: Before the Morningless
Isaiah Lawrence 