Mm Hmm.

A Story by Wisconsin

Two kids were in the computer laboratory within the library after school today. They sat at the opposite side of the table from me, bickering. "Give me gold!" one said, "You owe me gold!"

"Get your own gold!" the other said.

The bickering continued for ten minutes at least. They were playing one of those online adventure games, which aren't very adventurous at all, really.

The one asking for gold became so upset that he pursed his lips and started typing angry messages to his friend, who said "Oh, that's REAL mature," and then started typing back.

I leaned waaaaaaaay over the table and looked at their screens, to see what was up. Neither of them noticed me, somehow. I recognized the game they were playing. Recognized the city they were in within the game world. I used to play it when I was their age.

I logged into my old account, it still existed, and found the kids. Dropped piles of gold next to them, and logged out.

I had hoped it would end the bickering, but they just got excited and started arguing about who deserved more play money.

Went for a walk today as the sun set. The lights within the houses started to flicker on as I walked by. I peered into one of the houses and saw an old man--or possibly woman--with whispery white cobweb hair. Why are old people's lights always that dim shade of orange-yellow?

Walked by the woods. Could hear it breathing, labored. City developments were encroaching it from all sides, emerald ash borer beatles were killing the bigger trees, garlic mustard was choking out the saplings.

A bat flew overhead. Could see it's sillhouette against the dark blue of the sky. A Little Brown Bat. The name seemed so unofficial--the dink who named it had no sense of creativity.

I hearby officially rename the "Little Brown Bat" to be the "Owen's Bat," the "Big Brown Bat" to be the "Big Owen's Bat," and, while I'm at it, the "June Beetle" to be the "May Beetle," thanks to global warming.

© 2008 Wisconsin

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Reviews

Hedra Helix

better review, the reason this works so well to me is that you set up your gentle benevolence in the first part, sos we kinda have to love the narrator you, he's a wistful sweet guy and then so when you switch over to the walk were full immersed and then willing to see things your way, and then you back up the awesomeness and the wistfullness with humor and a good political head on your shoulders. Also you share small thoughts and 'Moment' which is always nice.

flucking better than 'i like this'. what can i say? it was like 330 in the morning;)

redeemed. oh yeah!