Three down,
Presumably dead with dresses sprawled out around them,
Eight to go.
With skirts flapping wildly out around them.
We had casualties too.
Four down,
All of their weapons, thrown dramatically away from them,
Though our doctor was quickly gathering them up and whispering the magic words,
“Get up! I healed you!”
Four up,
Using the advantage of their flexible breeches and dodging like acrobats,
Five if you count me, in my turquoise frock.
“Which side are you on? You better choose quick or I’ll shoot you through the heart!”
I looked towards the boy next to me,
His gun was pointed towards my stomach,
But that didn’t make the threat any less real.
I must not have let the message get to my mind,
Because I had to repeat it to myself.
Eternal shame by my peers?
Or death by Nerf gun?
I chose shame, of course, what choice did he leave me?
I told him that and he handed me a gun,
I took it greedily, wanting to be one of the lucky ones to shoot down two.
I took aim, fired and hit my mark.
I moved on to the next target, calling myself “Sniper.”
I had used my credit card, and gone over the limit.
My imaginary life was spared.
But it was my turn now, to make him bow down.
Finally, I got the chance,
It happened when it was 20-19
This free throw would win the game for me.
The gym was quiet, the invisible crowed silent in the suspense.
I looked at him,
He knew I would make it, but he was ready for the rebound,
Arms out, knees bent, on his toes.
I thought for a moment, then threw the ball,
I didn’t bother disguising my on-purpose-miss,
I sent it far right.
He grabbed the rebound, shot and won the game.
When I congratulated him, he scowled,
Muttering I should have taken the shot.
I just smiled, knowing I had shoved him to the corner of debt.
Since time wouldn’t stop, we grew up.
Reality forcing our situations to turn serious.
At least, trying to.
After school I was ready for the ball game,
School spirit shirt on, my hair filled with our team colors,
But I forgot to ask my parents about the entry fee.
My hair colors would just have to wait.
Unless… No, I couldn’t. But…
Yeah, he had five dollars, and no, he didn’t want the change.
Of course.
I took the money and cheered numbly for my friends,
My thoughts fixed on paying him back, to even the score.
But he had thrust the turn into my hands,
Giving me a challenge to the death,
And I accepted.
But that was needless,
We had come to that agreement when he spared my imaginary life.
He got a girlfriend, I got a boy friend.
I’m sure his girlfriend was jealous.
I’m sure my boyfriend almost gave up on me.
This is the part where humanity couldn’t force us to mature.
On the top step I looked down the pipe at my target,
A marshmallow to the neck would end it.
Instead I hit his arm,
He grabbed it with a yelp, turning to see the offender.
When he saw me he took quick aim and blew,
I dodged, the marshmallow grazing my braid.
I ran, shooting at him again on my way out.
I barely got away,
But not before replenishing his empty stock of marshmallows.
We continued like this,
Taking turns giving each other “the turn.”
“Humbling” ourselves far enough to give the other an “advantage.”
It became awkward,
People insisted we would be a good couple,
Us halfheartedly agreeing, but still disagreeing enough to refuse.
When he asked, I was shocked.
I thought he had understood that this wasn’t going to happen.
I asked him why, to which he replied “Why not?”
I didn’t know.
Until he followed it up with,
“Wait no, we must discuss this in the Fort of Towering Blankets,
At the triangular table with lady Marshmallow and sir Hoop.”
Then I decided it must be a yes,
Because, as it was evident,
No one else understood the necessity of bringing our problems before lord and lady Nerf.
None of this actually happened to me, it would be cool, but it is non-existent beyond this page and my imagination. If this has happened to you, that’s awesome. Enjoy!
malin.brooke 