“Ah, came for a ball and ended up with a cheap façade, I see. I thought we were to hold this meeting in a Library- not a café….” I intoned…

My name is Serena DeWitt. I’m a little like your common adventure-bound school girl… chasing after dreams and reaching for the moon… hoping one day, either or both will fall into my greedy hands. I love my life… my friends… but that doesn’t mean I don’t want… more….

I’ve always been a power hungry fiend- most of what I’ve built for myself has been earned, but under the strangest circumstances. You can’t blame me for a tad bit of usurpation. I say if you’re working toward a goal, why not take the fastest route?

Now, being in Junior High, I don’t possess power close to that of the monarch- but I do have a reputation … my nails hang an entire centimeter in front of my fingertips, making the complete nail two centimeters long. Quite a distance when you stop to think that a normal person’s nails are only a single centimeter. Dark circles rim my eyes, darkening my irises. The deep creases under my eyes stand in noteworthy contrast to my pale skin. I’ve never taken to sun- so I chose to just continue without thinking of its presence. My long, black hair drapes across my face and shoulders. All in all, I’m a frightening person… though, I’m not complaining.

One would think that one such as I would not participate in the ‘reindeer games’ of modern society- but I highly disagree. In fact, I have taken to a hobby of completely docile nature. Writing.

It was this hobby that caught the eye of another dreamer. Her name? Lakeisha Taylor. With an astounding vocabulary and marvelous habits of always being prompt and clean, she has earned the title as leader of the Dreamer’s Clan.

On this day, there was a meeting for the Dreamer’s Clan. Lakeisha called it and told us to meet her in the library at Shore and Buena Vista. We all figured a new library must have opened up when we weren’t looking. When the Dreamer’s Clan arrived, however, we found a café.

Sheepishly- overdue books in hand- we slunk in to see Lakeisha perched in a high-backed chair at the head of a table, Café de Luche’s finest beverage in her right hand.

Her lips parted in a smile of greeting, showing her pearl-white teeth as we took our seats.

“Does it matter?” Lakeisha asked calmly, a smile still playing at her lips,

“A meeting is a meeting, no matter where it is held. Do not befuddle yourselves with such folly as to the importance of where we rendezvous! I am the leader- I called this meeting, and this,” she said, her smile growing wider, “will be the most unprofessional meeting ever held for the Dreamer’s Clan. It is a way of saying… at ease….”

Now this is quite a statement, seeing as the Dreamer’s Clan is constantly trying to worm their way into the heart of an editor. We wish to, one day, publish a series of books-, all of which will have the name ‘DREAMER’S CLAN’ embossed on the title page.

We have just recently suffered a vast loss. We mailed a manuscript of one of our stories that we all agreed would make the cut. We worked out all the problems in our plans, such as the manuscript not making it, et cetera, et cetera. Unbeknownst to us, Samuel Castellanos had just shredded our last tangible copy. We had deleted the original copy we had written on the library’s computer, so there was more room on the computer’s hard drive for other visitors. Unfortunately, this bit of information was unbeknownst to Samuel.

On the day we got the rejection letter from the editor, Lakeisha wanted to see the manuscript that was supposedly in Samuel’s possession. Samuel froze. Lakeisha asked again, and this time she got an answer. Samuel, pointing coolly to the computer, told Lakeisha that he had shredded the manuscript, and told her to re-print it off of the file stored in the library’s computer. We all looked at each other feverishly as Lakeisha’s almond skin tone paled, shade-by-shade. Lakeisha asked him why he would do such a thing. Samuel replied with a shrug and said he had nowhere to put it.

Now, had this been a sitcom or aired in the media some way, Lakeisha would’ve dove into the garbage chute, then tried to glue all the pieces together… but this is real life… nothing could glue together 396 pages of manuscript. We tried in vain to restore the file… needless to say, our efforts proved futile. For a punishment to ensure our folly never resurfaced in such a way, Lakeisha ordered us to write the story of our failure down, then give it to the school newspaper to spread. We never handled our literature lightly since then.

Right when we thought we’d never see the happy Lakeisha again, we were called to a café to see Lakeisha, smiling and telling us we were at ease.

“Lakeisha, dare you… er… befuddle yourself with such a frivolous task as to be unprofessional?” I asked with a wry smile. I gambled that Lakeisha’s happy mood was omnipotent for the afternoon.

“Do not mock me, Serena.” Lakeisha remarked, savagely, smile fading as she did so.

Ah- I gambled and lost. Lakeisha’s mood was something no sane man (or sane woman) ever gambled on… eloquent by study, hostile by nature.

Another thing about Lakeisha- her fully functional mind has cut slurs, contractions, and slang out of her vocabulary. All of her statements are carefully chosen, never rushed, and brief and to the point… her mother is a lawyer… not hard to tell why her defendants always get away scot-free.

Undoubtedly, I ceased my wise cracks after Lakeisha’s ominous comment. I could but simply nod my head and mutter ‘Right, then.’ Lakeisha seemed to take my shy concern on the matter as an apology for my temerity. The cool glaze in her eyes blazed on, but she had changed the subject immediately,

“Who would like to order something- I will pay for it- no worries.” All the Dreamers looked questioningly at each other. None spoke for at least three minutes when, at last, Samuel broke the silence with a, ‘I’m game,’ and a smile. After Samuel’s brave move, others began to stir.

“I’m just a little peckish….” I said slowly. Kelsey looked at me, then at Samuel, then looked at Lakeisha and said,

“Well, I don’t know about you all, but I’m RAVENOUS! I could eat a cow! You can have the small dishes- I just might eat the table!” The Dreamers laughed, and even Lakeisha smiled.

“I’ll just have a blueberry muffin,” Said Melanie cutely. Lakeisha nodded her head.

“One game, one peck, one cow and a blueberry muffin….” Lakeisha noted, and the Dreamers laughed again.

“Noel… Damion… nothing for you?” She asked- a small drop of concern was wedged into her words. Both Noel and Damion shook their heads.

“We’re….” Noel began, but struggled, as if not finding the right words.

“Not hungry.” His twin finished for him. Lakeisha shrugged.

“Not thirsty either?” She asked. If the twins were flattered at the concern Lakeisha was feeling, they did not show it.

“Maybe if we force-fed them trinitrotoluene. I bet they’d appreciate that.” Said Kelsey, and then she flashed a smile at the two to show she was playing with them. Again, they showed no emotion as they spoke.

“Chemicals are not part of our….” Damion started at a leisurely pace.

“Acquired palette.” Noel finished, just as leisurely.

“Then what is,” Asked Kelsey. Although it was Kelsey that asked, all of us wanted to know. Imagine our surprise when Damion spoke up- voice dripping with sarcasm,

“Animal blood.” I watched the girl at the table next to ours get up and walk to the bathroom.

“Only being facetious….” Damion said, at the look of shock and fear on poor Melanie’s face.

“I quite like iced tea,” Said Noel quietly. Melanie’s face softened.

“What about you, Damion?” Lakeisha asked. Damion looked up from his lap.

“Iced tea is a personal favourite.” He replied.

“All right- Samuel, Serena, Kelsey- what would you like?”

“I’m fine with iced tea.” I said with a shrug. Noel looked over with the first smile I had seen him with for at least a year or two. Thus meaning, when I say ‘the Dreamers laughed,’ it was only Kelsey, Samuel, Melanie, Lakeisha and I. Damion smirked.

“Smart girl.” He muttered. I snorted, but inside I was flattered.

“Enough coquetry, Serena.” Lakeisha said with a sly smile. I scowled.

She was getting back at me for my temerity, all right.

“I’d like a cup of coffee… black, please,” Said Samuel impassively.

“And I would like a raspberry scone- I heard they’re getting blueberry, raspberry, and cream cheese for tonight, though,” Said Kelsey, offhandedly. Oh- I had forgotten! The big football game for Pinto Villa High School was tonight! That was why the café was bringing out the scones and why there was a firework show… that only high schoolers could go to.

“Right.” Said Lakeisha, and then summoned a waiter.

“Yes, ma’am?” He said politely. He was wearing a nametag that said ‘Jorge’ on it.

“We are ready to order.” Lakeisha told him. He nodded his head then withdrew a small notepad and a pen from a pocket in his apron, showing he was ready.

“We would like three iced teas,” She paused, and waited for him to finish scribbling down the first portion of the order.

“One raspberry scone,” Pause.

“One blueberry muffin,” Pause.

“And a cup of café, noir.” Lakeisha said, and there was one last pause. Jorge finished after writing a small ‘4’ on the top corner of the page, then looked up at Lakeisha and ripped the small piece of paper off. It took a while for me to realize that the paper beneath it had collected the information from the top page. He smiled and handed the top page to Lakeisha.

“A waitress will be with you soon, ma’am.” He said then hobbled off. I watched him hand the bottom page to a woman, then dart off to another table. Sure enough, minutes later, a woman appeared with a tray with four drinks and two pastries. The woman eyed the paper on the table then placed doilies neatly down next to each of us.

“Iced tea?” She asked. I raised my hand slightly; showing I had been one of the three to order iced tea. Noel and Damion feebly raised their hands as well. The woman placed the tea on the coaster in front of all three of us.

“Coffee?” She asked. She pronounced coffee ‘kahfee.’ Samuel raised his hand.

“Here.” He said. The woman placed the cup on the coaster in front of Samuel.

“Muffin?”

“Right here,” Said Melanie delicately.

“Scone?”

“Over ‘ere.” Kelsey said heartily. The woman placed the small white china dish in front of Kelsey.

“Haf a nice meal.” She said with a powerful accent, and walked away. Kelsey took a bite of her scone.

“Okay, no more games, Lakeisha, why are we here?” asked Kelsey timidly.

Kelsey- our big, bad soccer team compatriot. She has a heart of gold, but a tongue of rust. It is her compassion for finishing a book that drew Lakeisha to her. For all else, Lakeisha was more suitable by threefold. Kelsey, Lakeisha, and I are very important members, but there are four more.

Noel and Damion Giuliano- they’re both fairly dark-minded and conform to each other’s ideas. They are obsessed with fire and Ra, the Egyptian Sun God. The rest of the Dreamer’s Clan relies on them only for research… for everything else… well; we’d rather find it without the help of the two dark-haired, pale-faced males.

Samuel Castellanos is on the football team and the coolest kid in school. Never without his denim jacket, loose white shirt, and dark, black Levis, all the girls swooned at the sight of his puppy-dog-brown eyes and combed back brown hair. The only girls that didn’t swoon, were those in the Dreamer’s Clan… those who knew his I.Q. We look to him for the ideas and passionate thoughts he gains along with his perseverance during the football season.

Melanie Renoir- a beautiful blonde-haired demoiselle who is calm, well mannered, and sweet. Her ideas and lovable aspect on the world are only two qualities that spur Lakeisha’s interest. Her World of Dreams draws Lakeisha in like moth to flame.

The Dreamer’s Clan always has a way to unite one another in each other’s interests. Now for Kelsey Billing- her Father’s a banker and her Mother’s a number cruncher… but it would seem she didn’t get the number-crunching side of the gene pool. She’s not all too bright. That’s what made the following conversation so amusing.

Lakeisha’s gaze softened and the Dreamer’s gave a sigh of relief.

“Simple,” Lakeisha replied to Kelsey’s earlier question, regaining her cheerful outlook, “What is today?” Kelsey studied Lakeisha curiously, as if wondering what she was playing at.

“Tuesday…?” she asked carefully- not wanting Lakeisha to explode and call her an idiot-, as she must have done at least a thousand times. Lakeisha raised a brow, but smiled and said,

“That too… but what day?”

“The fourth….” Kelsey said slowly. Lakeisha’s eye seemed to twitch, but before I was able to look again, it had stopped and she had continued.

“The fourth of what?” Lakeisha asked. Kelsey stopped and seemed to be thinking hard- harder than usual at least- with her face screwed up in concentration. Finally, her rictus of focus slipped away and she answered triumphantly,

“Of July! It’s the Fourth of July!” Now… you may be thinking ‘What idiot forgets it’s the Fourth of July?’ Kelsey would be that idiot.

“Right!” Said Lakeisha, adapting the tone of a patient schoolteacher with a struggling pupil, “Now… remember what happened last Fourth of July?” Although Kelsey’s face was the only one looking into the distance with a countenance of pure horror, I was sure everyone else was thinking about that fateful Fourth of July….

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“Well… this is fun….” Kelsey said nonchalantly, petting her gerbil, Mouse. I watched everyone glance around the empty gym with distaste. The gym had been decorated in festive colors of red, white, and blue, and even had golden eagles stenciled on the barbells.

Streamers adorned the walls that were coated in ‘Exercise Patients’ posters that had been donated by the elementary school. All the adolescents believed the elementary scholars were trying to get a message out, but the adults just told them they were being paranoid…

The stenciled-on eagles looked old already, being colored a rusty brown and painted on by the strange elementary-goers. Florescent lights that blazed white and filled the gym with an unearthly feeling lit the whole room. The gym smelled horrible after the Pinto Villa High School’s wrestling team came in to work out before the big Fourth of July tournament.

“Where are the fireworks?” Samuel asked dimly. Mouse squeaked in agreement. We heard the fireworks outside, but Lakeisha was keeping us in the gym.

“Well…” Lakeisha began, tapping her foot on a barbell, “I thought being physically fit meant something to you.” We could all tell she was hiding a lecture, and decided to keep quiet. It was Kelsey that persisted,

“Oh, yes, Lakeisha, I love to stare at tri-colored barbells….” She paused as Mouse began to nibble at her front pocket. She reached within it, and drew out a gerbil treat. Mouse took it hastily, not caring whether he bit his master’s fingers or not- fortunately for Kelsey, she was used to Mouse’s carelessness and drew her finger back in time. She looked back up at Lakeisha.

“What’s the real reason why we’re here?” Kelsey inquired. I groaned under my breath- here came the lecture…

“Hmm… maybe if someone participated in the vote for ‘What to Do for the Fourth of July,’ maybe we would not be in this mess! Do you know why they call the Fourth of July Independence Day? I will tell you- because on that day… or… not that day, but… anyway- after the Revolution, the Americans had won independence!

“The Articles of Confederation, the Constitution- they all mattered, being new forms of government- but the Declaration of Independence has to have been the most famous! On June 7, 1776- it was declared that the colonies were to be free, independent states, Kelsey!

“On July 2nd, Congress studied the famous document, but on July 4th, 1776, the Declaration was embraced and issued and seen as it is today, Kelsey!” Lakeisha paused, out of breath.

“We were given the right to vote in the Amendments to the Constitution- number 19 to be exact! You do wrong to your Founding Fathers by not voting on the very commemoration for their long fights for freedom!” Lakeisha finished. I stood, blinking. She had most likely memorized the History textbook, for sometimes, she would even out-lecture the History teacher, Mr. Shome. Kelsey simply batted her eyes, held Mouse closer to her, and said calmly,

“What if politics don’t appeal to me?” Kelsey’s eyes widened as she watched Lakeisha turn a bright shade of red. Lakeisha exploded, making Mouse frightened, and sending him clawing his way up Kelsey’s neck.

“It was not matrimony, Kelsey, there was no commitment you had to make- all you had to do was raise your hand!” Lakeisha began to hyperventilate as Kelsey contemplated a reasonable rebuttal.

“As you said… I’m an independent individual… I don’t put my opinions in a jar, then let someone high and mighty pull them out again.” Kelsey said, and began, again, to stroke Mouse.

“All you had to do was raise your hand!” Lakeisha boomed. Lakeisha’s loudness had only startled Mouse, but the large ‘BOOM!’ of a firework coming close to the building scared him half to death.

Mouse scrambled out of Kelsey’s arms, scraping her and biting her if she tried to hold him back.

“No! Mouse, come back!” Kelsey screamed hysterically. She dove for the gerbil right as he scrambled under a barbell. She banged into the barbell, causing it to topple… right on top of Mouse….

ﭖﭘﭙﭺﭻﭼﭽﮎﮏﮐﮑﮒﮓﮔﮕﯼﯽ

Kelsey wiped away a tear that had been trickling down her cheek.

“Mouse….” She whispered. Lakeisha shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“Er… right, I am sorry about that…anyway, I am here to justify that this Independence Day is not as much of a disaster.” Lakeisha said guiltily. True- it wasn’t her fault that Kelsey had been asinine enough to bring her gerbil to the Independence Day party in the gym, but when we held the funeral for dear Mouse, no one could help but feel bad as Kelsey cried and re-counted how much she had loved Mouse. However -as much as I hate to say it- I found it quite funny… I couldn’t understand why people didn’t get it- this world was so boring- we’re crying over a gerbil named Mouse, for God’s sake… I needed adventure in my life.

Then, over the clinking forks and meshed voices in Café de Luche, I heard a voice- a hushed whisper that seemed to make time freeze…

Kira…. I bolted upright in my chair from my usual slouch. Lakeisha looked at me strangely. I looked around the café.

“I guess someone ordered a ‘Kira,’ eh?” I rationalized, still trying to shake that voice out of my head. It was probably Jorge, taking someone’s order. Lakeisha raised her brow.

“As I was saying,” she began, still looking at me curiously, “We need to make a plan for this Fourth of July….” I slunk back down into my chair- I had probably dozed off while remembering last year’s Fourth of July… Or possibly… I thought with grim amusement, the ghost of old Mouse gave me a visit… but then… who was this ‘Kira.’ The worst thing about it was that it was oddly familiar. Where had I heard it before? Moreover, if I had heard it before, why did I hear it again just now? Kira… the way the word… the name… the way it sloshed through my mind- seeming more real to me than ‘Serena’- made me shudder. What was going on? Maybe… I was just dreaming… that’s it; I had fallen asleep in my chair.

“Just what do you propose we do?” I asked- just to show I was still in the conversation.

“I think we should all think of one idea, prepare for it, and put it into action tonight.” Lakeisha said as she steepled her fingers, then added, “Unless you all would like to have Independence Day in the gym again.” I shivered.

“Uh….” Samuel made a remote noise of protest. Lakeisha looked at him then raised her brow.

“What is it, Samuel?”

“The game… the Pinto Villa High Football game.” Lakeisha groaned.

“I forgot about that… what time is it… when does it end?” Lakeisha asked. Samuel guiltily shuffled his feet.

“It starts at six, ends at eight thirty, and the firework show with the party in here starts at nine… but I could play first and second quarter- then get the guy on the bench to play for me….” Lakeisha began to calculate.

“So… you’ll be at the rendezvous point around seven thirty?” She asked. Samuel nodded his head.

“Right, then- whatever we think of, can start at seven- any objections?” Lakeisha asked.

“Sounds good enough… any ideas on what to do?” I asked idly. I knew Lakeisha wouldn’t send us to the gym- the Pinto Villa High School’s football team was bench pressing, pumping up for the football game ‘of the season.’ The reason Samuel was going to arrive so late.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Noel and Damion, staring intently at the flame at the end of the candle on the café’s table. Their drinks remained untouched. I raised a brow. They could do it for hours; staring incessantly at something you or I would think would be a waste of time… but not to them. They sat, thin, pale fingers pressed against the frame of the wood table. Their emaciated frames sat delicately against the cushioned chairs and both boys became utterly hypnotized by dancing flame.

“I say… we light something on fire….” Said Damion, careful not to break his gaze from the flame. His twin, Noel, nodded and watched the flame through narrowed eyes,

“Or maybe- perform a ritual….” Noel began, “A ritual for….”

“For our mighty Sun God- Ra.” Damion finished. The air between the two was enchanted- sparkling myriadly with such appeal and grace as is not found in this world. A world so homely and frugal as our own. That was why I admired the twins, rather than feared them. Their enrapturing charisma and dark enigmatic stories made them the flame and I the moth.

Every Dreamer in the Clan- beside myself, of course- turned to look uneasily at the two. Samuel found it necessary to change the subject,

“Hmm… well that’s an idea, but I say we go TRASH that one party that Tina’s holdin’! That’ll be fun!” Samuel guffawed. Lakeisha tossed an inexplicable look, silencing Samuel immediately. She turned back to the Dreamers.

“Civilized plans, please.” She muttered. In her tone of voice, I could tell she knew that everyone’s plans were no good. Melanie raised her hand cutely, her hazel-eyed innocence blazing with pure, white light.

“Yes, Melanie?” Lakeisha said happily. Something about Melanie made everyone cheer up.

“We could pool our money and buy fireworks. Then we’ll set them off in the empty lot six miles from the freeway.” Melanie smiled, but when no one commented, the smile soon faded. Melanie probably was getting to thinking about how she had let her group down- being the drama queen- when Lakeisha spoke up, startling us all.

“That is a wonderful idea, Melanie.” Lakeisha said enthusiastically. Samuel grunted, apparently liking his idea of crashing Tina’s party better.

“KISS UP.” Samuel grumbled, hoping not to be heard, but to be heard at the same time. Lakeisha narrowed her eyes and fixed her deadly gaze upon Samuel, causing him to- almost immediately- sit upright and at attention

“I heard that… and for your sake, Samuel, you had better hope I don’t hear it again.” Lakeisha said threateningly. Then she turned back to fully face each and every Dreamer, and her face took on a ‘on a lighter note’ expression.

“Alright… now the predicament of the money….” Lakeisha began. Melanie fell silent. She didn’t have any money- she always would use it on dental gum and fresh, white tennis shoes. The rest was neatly stored in an account at the bank.

Samuel, too, looked as if he didn’t wish to talk. His money had been spent on rugby T-shirt, new black jeans and a new pair of sunglasses. The rest… well… if there was any left, it’d be in his wallet and he’d have shared it… for the sake of fireworks and possible hot chocolate- not for the chocolate, mind you, but for the girl waiting at the front counter.

Lakeisha bit her bottom lip. She had paid for our refreshments this afternoon and was saving up her money for future costs in the Dreamer’s Clan. She didn’t want to waste it- for she was sure it’d come in handy. No one could blame her for it.

I shifted uncomfortably. I had just recently spent my money on a new pair of black stockings and a frog cookie jar from my best friend’s fundraiser. I did have some fireworks, but not enough for all of the Dreamers… I decided it best to stay quiet about it.

Kelsey had, obviously, spent her money on a new gerbil named Mousse… figures…one that she (thankfully) neglected to bring to this Fourth of July meeting.

The only ones who weren’t shifting uncomfortably, or biting their lip, or not wishing to talk or even falling silent were the twins. They seemed to be contemplating. When Noel spoke, the Dreamer’s Clan jumped in surprise,

“Will there be fire?” Noel said calmly, turning his dark eyes to Lakeisha, and I could’ve sworn I saw Lakeisha shiver. Lakeisha gulped loudly- perhaps a little too loudly.

“Yes….” She answered uneasily. The two twins exchanged glances, and when the two pairs of dark eyes now settled upon Lakeisha, they were filled with a malicious joy.

“We will pay for these works of fire….” Noel began, and then let his brother finish, “As long as we receive the majority.” Damion and Noel looked questioningly at Lakeisha. Her answer was hurried, most likely a sign of her wanting them to stop staring.

“Er… very well… no one minds that plan, right?” Samuel shook his head and began to idly twiddle his thumbs. Melanie politely shook her cute, blonde pigtails in the fuzzy, pink ponytail holders. Kelsey replied with a shrug and a ‘Nah,’ and I just said ‘let’s get this over with.’

“Okay, perfect. Noel, Damion- you know where the stand is, correct?” Lakeisha asked. The twins nodded eagerly.

“Fine, then go run and get the fire-… ‘Works of fire’ and meet us at our rendezvous point at seven…” Lakeisha said languidly.

“Meeting adjourned.” She finished as she always did. The Dreamers all stood up. I looked around for Noel and Damion, but it seemed as though they had already drifted out the door without any of the Dreamers noticing- once full drinks now mysteriously emptied. Kelsey clapped me on the back, taking me by surprise.

“See ya’ at seven, René,” Said Kelsey, jokingly.

“Not if I see you first, Caitlin.” I said with a smile. Kelsey beamed proudly.

“Right on.” She said, then laughed and walked out of the café. Samuel was walking out of the door, when he turned around and waved.

“TTFN, Serene-Bean.” Samuel said in his ‘mock-jock’ voice. I, too, mocked his cool, ‘pretend-you’re-everything’ tone, ran a hand through my hair and said,

“Later Sam-Bam.” Samuel smiled that one-of-a-kind smile of his, and finished walking out the door. Samuel and I call each other ‘Serene-Bean’ and ‘Sam-Bam’ because they both spell ‘S-B’ when abbreviated, and to Samuel, S-B means ‘So Bad,’ in which case ‘bad’ means ‘cool.’ I hope one day I get the hang of slang in its highest form.

“Do you have a ride home, Serena?” Lakeisha’s voice asked from behind me.

“That is still your name, right?” Lakeisha said skeptically. I laughed and turned around to face her. She had a caramel skin tone that glistened with body cream and shimmered in the rays of the sun that danced through the beautiful café curtains. She had dark brown hair that had been recently permed and now hung in tight ringlets around her face. She was putting money back in her small, black purse, suggesting she had just paid the bill.

“Sure is, Laki.” I said happily, but realized all to late how much ‘Laki’ sounded like ‘lackey.’ To my relief, she laughed.

“Do you have a ride home?” She repeated. She had a sort of motherly concern and leader-paranoia that made her THE Lakeisha, instead of just a Lakeisha.

“No- I’m going to walk… it clears my mind. Besides, it’s only….” I paused to look at the café clock, “three-o’clock. I’ll be home in time to sleep! I only live four miles from the rendezvous point, unlike everyone else, who lives on the opposite side of the freeway. I’ll make it home in time.” This café is a mile off the freeway- thus meaning I have one mile to go. Then when I’m home, I’ll be four miles from the rendezvous point of choice. It takes me thirty minutes to walk one mile- thirteen if I decide I want to speed up- nine if I ran into the legendary White Akita that runs wild around town. As if on cue, Lakeisha said,

“That is not what I am worried about- I do not want you running into that nasty Akita that runs around here.” The White Akita- the reason parents don’t let their children run around, the reason there are so many maulings, the reason even the dogcatchers are in the obituaries. I didn’t care.

“I can outrun that mangy cur with my hands tied.” I bluffed. I probably- most likely- couldn’t, but it made me feel better to say so. I was the fastest runner in my Physical Education classes… though possibly because no one else tried… except for Elise- to her, PE meant, Pay Ettention… not ‘Attention,’ Ettention. Phys. Ed. was all about how much work you put into it. She could run just as fast as me- even faster on occasion- and that was when she put her mind to it. When she became lazy and walked with the other girls, what kind of Ettention was that?

Lakeisha rolled her eyes.

“I am willing to bet you could- on flat terrain. What would happen if you were to trip and fall? The dog would catch up… it would not sit and wait for you to stand up again. It would mangle you beyond recognition- like with the other cases! That dog is not to be meddled with- even for you Serena.” Lakeisha said. I fell silent. I knew she was right- the dog would murder me whenever it got the chance… I keep forgetting how overrated the media is. A dog wasn’t going to sit and watch as I cried over a broken ankle. It wouldn’t- by some strange circumstance- not be able to catch up once I fell- like in the movies. It would do whatever the hell it wanted. Lakeisha coughed discreetly and uniformly into the nook of her elbow.

“Now- it would be different if my cousin were to drive you there… I could walk home with you now, and tonight we will pick you up. Sound like a deal?” She said kindly. I paused. I liked her cousin, Rya… she was as nice as Lakeisha was- if nicer. I hated being coddled. I could walk if I wanted to- and if I ran into the mutt, I’d call for help… but having her accompany me home didn’t sound like a bad idea… I needed to tell her something, anyway.

“Listen, Lakeisha- I’ll just walk to the rendezvous point- my chances of meeting the dog are slim, at any rate. However… if you could walk home with me now, that’d be nice… I need to tell you something….” The serious note in my voice triggered an alarm in her brain.

“Alright- but only if you consider my choice I am giving you… if you do happen to run into that dog- walking will be the last thought in your mind… I know you will try to outrun it… you will get hurt that way…but I will not force you to decide.” She said calmly and picked her sweater off the back of the chair she had been sitting in. She smiled, started walking out the door and said briskly,

“Off we go, then.”