"Ten Toes" (StoryADay Challenge/Day 18)
THE PROMPT: (BY SIMON RICH, WHO IS AN AMERICAN HUMORIST, NOVELIST, AND SCREENWRITER. HE HAS PUBLISHED TWO NOVELS AND THREE COLLECTIONS OF HUMOR PIECES, SEVERAL OF WHICH APPEARED IN THE NEW YORKER. HIS MESSAGE TO THE STORYADAY COMMUNITY: “GOD SPEED EVERYONE. LET’S KEEP WRITING IF WE CAN.”)
A character who knows less than the reader tries their best to deal with a problem they don’t fully understand.
*
“Ten Toes”
The phone rang once before she picked up. “Zoey?”
“Hazel, I’m at work, can’t really talk, is everything okay?”
Hazel stood quiet with the phone to her ear. “What time do you get off?”
“In a couple hours,” Zoey said.
“Can you drop by on your way home? You don’t even have to get out the car, I’ll come to you. I’ll keep it brief, I promise.”
Zoe hesitated. “Yeah, sure thing.”
“Thank you,” Hazel said, ending the call.
The gymnasium smelled like sweat and bengay. A five-on-five full-court match was in progress. Sneakers squeaking on the freshly polished hardwood.
“Eli!” Vincent shouted, across the gym. “Over here!”
Eli spotted him and walked over. He put his duffle bag on the floor and hugged Vincent. “Good to see you man, when’s the last time we shot some hoops?”
“It’s definitely been a while bro,” Vincent said, tearing open a pack of gum. “Hazel don't let you out of the house anymore.”
“I guess you’re a comedian now,” Eli said, taking his sneakers out of his duffle. “Because that’s really funny.”
“I’m just messing with you. I haven’t seen either of you in a while. I was expecting both of you at Brandon’s fourth birthday party.”
“Sorry again about that,” Eli said. “I still have his gifts in the house. Did he enjoy it?”
“Of course he did,” Vincent said, pulling up photos on his phone. “Look at him. His mom had fun decorating the backyard, and the theme was Wakanda. All the kids enjoyed themselves. I’ve never seen so many Black Panthers.”
“That’s all that matters, that Brandon had a great time. Man he’s growing up fast.”
“Yeah man,” Vincent said. “I’m shocked by how fast four years flew by. It feels like we brought him home from the hospital yesterday. Hey let’s stretch.”
Vincent reached both hands to his toes and held them for a moment. “Oh yeah, and never hire a balloon-animal artist whenever you become a father.”
“What? Why not?”
“Well the guy I paid for, showed up late and only knew how to make a hot dog, which actually means nothing. Luckily, all the kids were mostly in the bouncy house or at the cotton candy machine.”
Eli sat on the gym floor, spread his legs and reached both hands to his right toes and held. “I think Hazel’s cheating on me.”
Vincent stood up and stared at Eli.
Zoey honked her Jeep Wrangler’s horn twice. Hazel ran outside in sweatpants and a hoodie, her dreadlocks in a ponytail. She jumped in the passenger seat.
“What’s up babe,” Zoey said, touching her dreadlocks. “This looks amazing.”
“Thank you, did it yesterday,” Hazel whispered.
“What’s the matter? Did Eli do something again?”
“No,” Hazel said. “I just have a headache.”
“What did you call me over here for?” Zoey said.
“Remember last week when we went to the mall?”
“Yeah.”
“And you were hungry, so I told you I’d meet you at the food court, because I wanted to run into Target?”
“Please do me a favor, sweetie,” Zoey said. “And get to the point. I still have a forty-five minute drive home from here.”
“Ok, sorry,” Hazel said. “While I was in the store, I bought a first response.”
“And?”
“I took three tests because I wanted to be certain,” Hazel said. “I’m pregnant.”
Zoey put her head on the steering wheel, then leaned over and hugged Hazel. “Congratulations sweetheart. This is what you wanted right?”
“Yes it is,” Hazel said, using her hoodie to dry her eyes. “Thank you for always being a great best friend.” Hazel let herself out of the car and closed the door. “Get home safe.”
“Thanks,” Zoey said, smiling at her.
“You two got next?” The captain of the winning team said.
“No,” Vincent said. “We got the next game.”
“Bet.”
Vincent turned to Eli. “Why do you think she’s cheating on you?”
“I can feel the energy shift between us. Something feels off.”
“What if you’re wrong?”
“I know I’m not,” Eli said.
Hazel heard the front door open and she got out of bed and left the room. “You’re home late.”
“Yeah babe, sorry about that. Was playing ball with Vince down at Napoleon High. We were on a three-game winning streak, full-court. I just know I’m going to be sore tomorrow.”
Hazel giggled. “You getting old on me?”
“Is everyone a comedian today?” Eli said, laughing along.
“I can’t have you getting old on me,” Hazel said walking towards Eli. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I miss you,” she whispered.
“I missed you too,” Eli said.
“I have something to tell you,” Hazel said, breaking the hug. “Maybe you want to sit down.”
“I rather stand,” Eli said, tensing up. “Just say what you need to say.”
“I don’t really know how to.”
“You do. Just say it.”
“To be honest I’m a little nervous to tell you.”
“Hazel, don’t be nervous,” Eli said. “Just say it! Because I already know!
“Why are you screaming?”
Eli picked up a picture frame off the living room table. It was both of them holding bowling balls. “Remember this first date? How could you?”
“How could I? It’s both of us together!”
“Us?” Eli said, pointing a finger in Hazel’s face. “It wasn’t us. You cheated. You lied. You betrayed me.”
Hazel put both hands over her face and exhaled.
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Eli said. “After all that I’ve done for you!”
Hazel looked at him with moist eyes. “I would never cheat on you. I’m ten toes down for you. I love you with every atom of my being. You inspire me to be better. You challenge me. You trigger me. You piss me off. But it’s still you I want to hold hands with to walk through this dark world. And it's with you I want to raise this child with. Sweetie you’re going to be a father.”
The End.
**This is a work of fiction. Names. characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.