#partyhatted

    “i’ve got a peer counseling appointment this afternoon.” his hands are full with two cups of frozen yogurt so he uses his foot to drag the other roller chair behind the desk at the daycare. across the way, sunnydrop prances along, gasping when he encounters a set of upturned blocks. “it’s taking place right now.” michael pushes one of the froyos over toward carlton, taking his seat. he gives a quick check to make sure there aren’t any stray parents roaming nearby or above before hooking his knee over top of carlton’s thigh, swinging his foot lightly as he rests his leg. “ -- and it’s for you. how are things? are we still on for friday?”

    “funny story, actually --” it’s really not that funny. the long and short of it is that he stepped in for michael on birthday party duty and this particular group of eight year olds had some great arms on them, definitely a couple future baseball players in that bunch. sammy tries to pinch some of the peanut butter and pull it from his hair. it leaves a single spike of hair pointed out, looking somehow worse than before. “carlton told me he’d let me use his new hair gel but i think he got it and the travel tube of peanut butter he always carries with him mixed up. weird, huh?” there’s no way in hell she’s buying that. / @partyhatted

     “dude, shut up.” this isn’t as bad as the entire ocean breeze shampoo discourse, but john is still a little surprised carlton hasn’t learned to zip it. as if on cue, the other boy’s stomach begins to growl and john wonders, just for a moment, if he’d go to hell for asphyxiating carlton right there. “if we get out of here alive — ” he leaves it there, lips tight. he’s sure carlton’s imagination can come up with something much worse than he can think of at the moment. // @partyhatted