She was playing at the top of the play structure rolling her car back and forth in a monotonous motion. I had promised myself I would not go to her no matter how pitiful she looked, so instead I sat and watched the clouds but still took a few seconds to glimpse in her direction to make sure she was not getting into any mischief. .
A boy I had never seen before arrived at the structure. I assumed he had either recently moved into the neighborhood or he was visiting a family member. His skin was sallow like the unwanted inner ring of a toilet bowl. He wore tattered jeans and a faded maroon shirt that had Vanz printed on the front. He looked older than me in the face, but we were just about the same height. Without asking, he pulled his body up between the monkey bars just as I had and started making himself comfortable. I was close to telling him to buzz off but I was bored and playing with Teia was not an option so he would fit the bill. He turned to me and started spitting orders,.
Hey you. He said pointing with his chubby index finger towards me, We are going to play a game I like to call copycat.
I have never played that before, how does it work? I answered, trying to refrain from looking at his dirt encrusted fingernails.
Well its not rocket science, dummy. Just copy what I do and then I will copy what you do.
What if I dont want to do what you do? I asked.
Then you lose and I get to pinch your arm. He replied with a smirk.
I thought about it tentatively then responded, Alright Im in.
He started by jumping off the monkey bars and rolling in the bark, I copied him without hesitation. That was easy, I thought to myself. He took a few steps back then did two crooked cartwheels. I knew that my cartwheels were going to be better because Teia and I did them all the time always aiming to keep our legs straight as they moved quickly creating good momentum to leave us balanced by the end of our circular motion.
