Ooh Shiny

Whisky Tango Foxtrot

Margot Robbie photographed for Oyster #108, May 2016.

CJ had been at the school for nearly an entire day, not once having left her suite since her parents had dropped her off. Despite hating to be alone, the fear of a new place and dealing with so many new people kept her hidden away until her hunger finally drove her to venture out. After studying the map numerous times and being sure she knew how to get to the cafeteria, CJ finally stepped into the empty corridor of the dorm building, pulling her brother’s oversized hoodie tight around her body. She’s only taken one of the two right turns she knew it would take to get outside before a stranger waved at her and already she felt panic setting in. Limbs beginning to tremble, she took a step back, eyes locked on the person in front of her.

Lulah jumped and clapped her hands at his agreement, “Yay! We’re have fun.” She said with a pleased, dramatic nod of her head. She rubbed his shoulders back and forth a second before spinning away and heading off to the door. The room was boring her now, and there was a dark section in the corner that she had to keep her eyes off, lest something bad jumped out at her from it’s hiding spot.

“What? What bunch? Bananas?” She asked, endlessly confused and looking around for a banana tree. Back home she and her sister would try nibble at them from the bunch, but they’d have to try snap it off and smush it out of the skin to get any. “Yeah! Of course, everyone’s back there and I’m here but my mum thought it would be good for me.” She waved her hand, like it was a silly idea. “I don’t know why.”

“Oh…” Lulah cocked her head to the left, letting her mind wander. “I could be a distraction!” She offered, inching back to him again with a pleased giggle. “And we could have a tea party! Win win. I don’t like tea much, but I like ginger ale. Have you ever had it? This girl gave it to me!” She explained, again getting too overexcited.

“Do for you?” Lulah repeated, entirely lost already. “Do for you?” She said again, pressing her lips together. She just shrugged, she’d never needed to demonstrate her worth before, and her poor little lost mind couldn’t articulate her worth very well anyway. “Why don’t we hate a tea party instead? I can get some honeysuckles! Have you ever had them? They’re so sweet!”

Talulah grinned, not understanding his sarcasm, nor did she understand that he was serious in his insults. Insults were funnier than they used to be, even when they were hurled in her direction. “Lots of stuff, probably. Do you need some qualifications? I don’t have anything proper...” Talulah explained with a grin, she wasn’t even sure if she was serious. “What else were you going to do today?”