Understanding

Flash Fiction

Understanding

“I spilled my drink. I could feel it trickling down my leg. Fortunately, I was sitting alone on a bench near a door. Wooden so it wouldn’t be ruined by soda. The party was roaring!

Barbara begged me to come with her because it was Tommy’s best friend’s house. I didn’t want to go, but she’d had a crush on Tommy forever, and was my best friend! I couldn’t say no? There I sat, soaking wet, trying to figure out what to do.

Tugging at my earring, pretending I was trying to fix something so nobody would come over, suddenly it popped off and rolled onto the floor. I almost yelled, but caught myself just in time. I could see it on the floor; I tried to reach it with a pillow. I was ready to cry.

Closing my eyes, trying to breathe, suddenly a voice came from near me. “I have your earring. I know you’re wet from your spill; I can help you.

I opened my eyes. There, holding my earring was David. Red headed, freckled face David that a lot of kids called “Red.” And not to be nice…

David helped me out, and walked me home so I could change. Barbara never even knew I’d left. It was eighth grade.

David and I stayed friends. And then when we were in our twenties, we got married, and then you and Cindy came along.”

“So” said Jeff, “did Barbara marry that Tommy person?”

“No, Barbara married your Uncle Fred!”

“You’re kidding! Aunt Barbara was that Barbara?!”

“Why do you say that?”

“Half the time she doesn’t even remember my name!”

“Yes, she hasn’t changed much since eighth grade…”

“Why are you still friends?”

“Why are you friends with that idiot Randy?”

“Oh,” said Jeff, “now I understand…”