talking to a ghost | flynnshots [86th]

”Imagine surviving two games, that’s a tough life!”

”Nah I don’t want to imagine that.” Flynn tells Tommy, they’ve just dropped Jodie off at her home after a day of watching Shy Aubergine give his victory tour speech in the town square and then an afternoon of daring each other to touch the electric fence. Nobody would touch it today. It is just Tommy and Flynn left out; they cycle the long route back home. Flynn nudges forward whenever Tommy’s wheel edges ahead of his, he won’t let the squirmy little kid take the lead.

”We gots to though, we’re twelve – we’ve got one, two, three, four, five, six more reapings with our names in it!”

”And we just beat the first one we’re in. There’s so many kids in Six, it won’t ever be one of us.”

”Six years and we will be full blown adults!”

”Yeah and I’ll be best surgeon around!”

”Are are you going to marry Jodie?”

Flynn’s brakes squeak and his sneakers shred across the gravel as he grinds himself to a halt. It takes Tommy a few seconds to react, the smaller boy looks back at his friend. ”Why would I want to marry Jodie? She’s like my sister.” Flynn drags his feet along the ground and moves level with Tommy. His face is screwed up all confused, everyone knows that Tommy has a crush on Jodie. Except probably Jodie as he is too much of a pussy to tell her. ”Don’t you want to spend the rest of your life with someone that’s like your sister?”

Seriously, Flynn’s friend is filled with too much anxiety. There’s no way he would try and steal Jodie from him. ”No! Married people sleep in the same bed, I would NEVER sleep in the same bed as my sisters! You’re crazy dude, I don’t want to marry her. Don’t worry.” Flynn pushes a fist against Tommy’s forearm, it is not a punch but it is enough to make the front wheel of his bike twist under his handlebars.

”Then who are you gonna marry?”

”Mom and dad met at college so maybe I will meet someone there but it doesn’t matter! You’ve got to speak to Jodie man, just don’t pull out the candy ring too early!”

The pair carry on cycling, Flynn is a few paces ahead and the exhausted Tommy tries his hardest to keep upsides with him. ”Why don’t you talk about your crushes Flynn, everyone else has one but you?”

”Because that’s what girls talk about and not me!”

”I dare you to tell me who your crush is.”

”Shut up Tommy!” Minus two words and Flynn would’ve answered his question.

They both brake at the junction, where their two streets meet. ”Do you want to sleep over at mine tonight?”

”No, not with your brother there! Why don’t you stay over at mine?”

”Okay, I’ll go ask!”

”I’ll meet you at mine, the door will be unlocked. My mom is working nights and my dad probably won’t notice you there.”

”And your sisters?”

”Yeah, they’ll notice you!”