sweet like cinnamon

“Okay, I need adventure.”

“where would you like to go?”

“so you gonna follow me around for the next ten years acting like a bitch until i get you a new bike? because that’s ninety-nine percent of what misty did. i just want to get started on catching eevees and magikarp. no problem, now start singing it while we search.”

“probably. so i suggest getting me a bike now so you can save yourself of ten years of pure bitchiness. i still liked misty and her togepi. i want all of them. just all the pokemon. sing with me!”

“right? things were looking up, then trump comes in and ruins everything. i want to say older people shouldn’t be allowed to vote but i guess things affect them too, not as much but a little–it’s not their future but they’re still alive. in england we have a seat-ran parliament, so members of various parties with different views are present, i think they should do something like that with age groups. if it’s regarding education, only students can vote–maternity leave: mothers, pensions: pensioners, and so on.”

“he does, and it’s terrifying how for him this country is. i agree with that, but you’re right. they’re still here, they still get a say. but things are changing, times and culture is changing. older people need to realize that what they once had may not work anymore. that sounds like it’d make the country run more smoothly, it doesn’t seem like a bad idea. but knowing america, we’d make the mistake of electing crooks and all.”

“i think that’s a lot of people’s opinion, to be honest. sucks, indeed. who thought our parents would fuck us up this much?”

“it should be. i mean, we are slowly making good enough change in this country only to throw it away with that cheeto dust toupee? no thanks. i know, right? they aren’t the ones who have to deal with it for the next thirty or even sixty so years. they get to punch out while we live and suffer.”

“Hello, beautiful. Had you been looking for me? You could have called, I’m sorry. If you ever can’t find me, that’s most likely where I’ll be. How have you been?”

“hi handsome. yes, i had been actually. reception sucks here, but it’s okay. the libraries? i’ll keep that noted! i’ve been pretty good, how about you?”

Cards were an activity that Amos enjoyed. He usually carried a deck with him just because you never know when you’ll need something to do. Him and his coworkers would play on their breaks at the diner. I only promise if you do too. He winked. Pick your poison.

Daphne wasn’t too bad at playing cards, but she also wasn’t the best. Smiling at the wink that was sent her way, she hummed a bit. She thought for a moment before typing into the phone, How does Texas Hold ‘Em sound?

“well that’s because i’m just simply better at it than you. Zeus is probably just being a dick and catching them all for themselves. and surprisingly this is the first time today i’ve heard that. so congrats on being the first.”

“listen here, pal, you’re not better than me at this game. i’m literally misty, come on. zeus probably is. he probably tells everyone that they’re in one place when really they’re in another. what a jerk. yeah? thank you, i’m proud of myself.”

“When you see Theresa May is the new prime minister and you think ‘oh shit, we’re screwed’ but then remember you’re a British lad in America and so it doesn’t apply to you…only Trump applies to me so we’re still screwed.”

“hillary is much better than trump, in my opinion, but we are definitely screwed either way. it kind of sucks watching the country turn crappy, doesn’t it?”

So, I caught a Pikachu over by the Zeus cabin. Go figure right? I’m sure there’ll be plenty of Squirtle by Poseidon, Charmander over by Hephaestus, and Bulbasaur near Hades. I’m going huntin’. Join me?

“no way! i was looking by Zeus’ cabin but i couldn’t find anything. sure, let’s go be the very best like no one ever was...okay, how many times have you heard that today?”

“In the past week  I have read every book I own with me here on camp about three or four times and every book that our sad excuse for a library has as well. I really think we need to make strides for a better library space so we can get more books.”

“so is that where you went off to? hiding off in the library? i knew i should’ve checked there.”

“I might take your eye out if I participate.” 

Amos frowned, bored as he sat out near the volleyball area. He turned to the person beside him, trying to determine how to strike up a conversation.

Daphne was enjoying watching other campers play volleyball. She wasn’t very into the sport herself, but being on the sidelines was always fun. She felt the presence besides her and turn to the boy with a little smile. A little confused, she took the cards before reading his phone. Daphne took the phone into her hands to type back, “Of course! Don’t be mad if I beat you.”

“It’s a talent, really.  Not everyone can pull off a hat like this unless they have the correct bone structure.  Thankfully, I didn’t inherit my dad’s, otherwise you might have picked the lame option.”

“oh, is it? right, right...the bone structure. that makes sense. oh, does your dad not have those hashtag jaw goals? i think i might’ve picked lame either way, but i’m feeling really nice today.”

“as far as i remember, i liked it. the only books i really got into were harry potter ones and even then i wasn’t a book kid. oh gods, please don’t name your kid sodapop, i think they’d resent you for life. i know right? but rob lowe is so old now. i was in a state of shock, i couldn’t even force out tears. hey, we’re both alive, that’s what matters. it was my school counselor, i was like what the hell? exactly. wish me luck in hell.”

“i’m a major book kid and i have never read harry potter. nor have i seen the movies. literally everyone judges me because of this and i’m tired of it. i don’t think sodapop thornton sounds good anyways...that is if we last that long. if i name my kid sodapop, it’s only if i marry a man with the last name curtis. shush, they’d be ecstatic. so old, but he still looks good. me too! i couldn’t believe that something like that was real, you know? yes, we’re alive and sort of well. really? it was my boss and i was like, no wonder you always were so bitchy to me. i wish you so much luck.”

     “Little to none is an understatement.” Although NYU campus was something he enjoyed, but between Chiron and his lack of training they’d figured he’d should do online school for the time being. “I mean I like my classes but just wish it wasn’t in the Athena cabin all the time…” shrugging, “Oh yeah. Thank the gods. If there were more I might have requested to move…” 

“they’re trying their best.” it wasn’t a lie, she enjoyed the college life immensely, but her high school life was close to sad. the school really tried hard to appeal to teenagers, but it was a sad attempt. “i get that, but i doubt chiron and mr. d wanna build up a little school house type for campers who still attend school.” daphne smiled a bit, “more siblings isn’t bad, orion.”

“the outsiders, gods, i haven’t read that book in a while. but they seriously had some weird names. i can’t remember if i liked it or not? besides the fact that i watched the movie in school and everyone was like ‘that’s so gay,’ so it ruined my day. yeah, even after. it was a lot to absorb and i had had enough for the day. how was your first encounter with a monster? mine was so out of the blue. i hope i do, even though he won’t be my teacher in particular anymore. one more year, then i have monsters and college to worry about. oh trust me, i already am.”

“i know, i adored that book though. they did, but you don’t know how long i’ve thought of naming one of my children sodapop or johnny cade. gods, teenagers suck. i remember every girl like fangirling over rob lowe, which i still do because he’s absolutely perfect. i feel you. it was terrifying and i cried through some of it, but i’m still here! mine too, i was at a barnes n noble. yikes, you get the best of both terrors. good.”

“Well if you don’t think you did the wrong thing… who cares what anyone else has to say about it?” He sighs, “Because it’s true, that’s why.”

“i guess you’re right...i dunno, i don’t wanna see my mom during the holidays and have her question me all about derrick and then the embarrassing question of if we’re sexually active, you know?” daphne blinked at the boy for a moment, “and what is ‘it’ exactly?”