JOBLO

             josie watches as her classmates dance, lounge   &   talk with glee.  it was nice to have a night where everyone seemed happy   &   weren’t focused on the usual petty drama. when fitz starts speaking she puts all of her attention on him.        “      hey, those aren’t pigs !      ”       her joke was delivered with a grin even though it was far from funny.       “      i’d love to dance !      ”      it’s a loud squeal, bouncing on her toes as she has been ever since taking a couple sips of the funky punch. in her best english accent she reaches a hand out and bends at the waist.        “      may i have this dance with you, kind sir ?      ”

            “      that’s a lie.  it’s cheating even if you don’t get caught.   if you never get caught in a lie, it’s still a lie.      ”     sure, the subject changed but josie is still on it.         “      if you never get caught eating an apple, you still ate it.      ”   she stops for a moment letting herself think.   “      if you never get caught going to the doctors, you still went.  i’m just saying !      ”

she began to laugh before getting the actual joke out.  “      what if they meant the opposite of left and forgot to right it down?      ”    it was funnier to her, looking at the paper. still shaking her head she lets her hand rest on her forehead.    “      it could be a late april fool’s joke.      ”

              “      no, it wouldn’t !    everyone died in carrie.      ”    she reminds him as if the popular stephen king story was easily forgettable.       “      not yet but that’s okay. it’s good.      ”     it was a genuine reply, she was more focused on the fun aspect than the date aspect of the dance which probably made her stand out from the rest of the students. frankly, having a date would be everything but  fun.       “       if i had a date then i wouldn’t be able to dance with everyone   &   they would ask me if i want punch   &   i would have to say yes but i’m not supposed to drink red dye because it makes me super jumpy   &   it makes me talk a lot.      ”         which says a lot since she’s the same way without red dye.      “      so i’m happy no one asked me.      ”    josie finally concludes, playing with a strand of her brown hair.     “      i bet you’re going with your girlfriend.      ”   the final word is dragged on, letting a finger poke at his shoulder teasingly.     “      anissa’s lovely.      ”

        “      no.      ”     it was a stern answer but the giggles that released with it made it sound a little more pleasant.       “      you have to go !   i  don’t know how to dance   &   i’m going   &   if you’re talking to me then you do know how to interact with other people. we can dance together, wouldn’t that be fun ?      ”

   “      really?   that’s so exciting !       ”     as far as josie is concerned, anything involving animals was a good thing.     “      when you die can i have the cats ? please ?      ”

     “      good, thank you so much for asking me !      ”     a lot of the time people ask how are you, they’re looking for a standard reply.  josie never had a standard reply.            “      life is super cray right now because of the holidays  BUT  the dance is coming up   &   i’m so excited about it !      ”     bouncing in her seat, her feet still swinging,  despising the requirement to STAY seated.  an excited josie is usually a lot more animated than a seated one.        “      i don’t know how twenty year olds dress but i’m going shopping with my bubbe   &   she’s been twenty before so i think she’ll know.      ”    it’s safe to say she’s not one hundred percent sure what ROARING TWENTIES was.           “      are you excited for the dance ?  it won’t be like carrie, it’ll be so much fun !     ” 

            she’s swinging her feet underneath the table, a pencil standing upright in her hand as she finds herself thoroughly indulged in his words.  the indulgence was interrupted when she laughs at his gesture, focusing her attention back on her paper.       “      okay, smarty pants.      ”      there were numbers that counted down to the problems but josie still found it reasonable to count to number five herself.  out loud.   and then with her fingers tipping an imaginary hat, she says in a british accent.      “      thank you, ma good sir.      ”     

 the warm greeting repeated from imogen made lips that were already smiling open wider.   even though it may be bizarre for certain people to hear, the prinz’s were a home away from home for josie. they’re also one of the very few people her bubbe didn’t consistently complain about.    it wasn’t easy to find jewish people in northlake who follow the teachings.       “       a lot of them think it’s my birthday.      ”        she admits, a fact that was both funny and upsetting to her maily because it’s her favorite day, a teensy part of her believes everyone should know it.   she pushes the tray against her stomach, lacing her arm around it in order to sustain the position well enough for her now free hand to grab herself a cookie.        “      which isn’t true but i wish it were. wouldn’t it be cool to have your birthday on the jewish new year   &   yom kippur ?      ”

          “      shalom !       ”        cheered almost immediately after him, excited to hear him being one of the first to announce the greeting.   she hadn’t realized just how tiny the jewish community in northlake was until today.        “      no, silly, it’s for  Rosh Hashanah.      ”     answered as if he should have already known, she pushes the platter towards him, urging him to take another cookie.    “      it’s the jewish new year !       ”     her moment of reflecting on the holiday was soon interrupted by just how heavy the plate seemed to be.       “      it’s my favorite holiday because my mumue flies in from san diego and she always brings me these little glass cups as souvenirs and i have like twenty of them already.  it’s a real collection, i think.       ”

                     “      they’re not cowering !      ”        they were but josie’s certain it’s not out of fear. maybe it’s a game they play.. with everyone in the school.   strawberry liquid is smeared all over her lips, only to be topped on by MORE liquid as she takes another bite.       “      they can be scary, sure, but they can also be really nice sometimes.      ”     unknowingly, all this is sad with her mouth half full.       “      i wish they’d be nicer but they’re probably just sad.      ”