The first thing I do when Spirit Scribe wraps for the day is head to the community pool. I don’t plan on swimming so I’m not wearing my bathing suit (just my regular t shirt and shorts). There’s just something I have to see.
I sigh when I see the long line that stretches around the accompanying block.
Well, what did I expect?
It is the middle of summer during a heat wave. I’m not sure if you’re from New York but the city gets extremely hot during this time of year. It gets a lot hotter than other places in the Northeast. I don’t know why that is. Anyway, now I’m waiting in line and withstanding the scorching heat for something I’m not even going to do.
The mass of people surrounding me, each waiting to be allowed in makes me nauseous. All bunched together and with the sweat and body odor penetrating my nostrils. It’s really…gross.
The wait is excruciating and I close my eyes in an attempt at imagining myself somewhere else. Well, my acting skills aren’t that great since my reality is still anchored to this unforgiving cesspool.
Finally, the line moves closer to the entrance and I’m close enough now that I can see through the chain link fence. I look right at the people getting frisked by the staff.
I have to see if they still work here and if Meylin was right about those two staff members not facing any consequences for searching her without cause.
And that’s when I see them.
They’re searching someone’s bag. I can’t believe it. I thought for sure they would be fired or suspended.
I know my Dad called the manager and talked to him. He wouldn’t lie about that. It’s just…I don’t understand why nothing happened to these guys.
“You going in or not, Lexi? Come on, you’re holding up the line.” An irate man tells me, while obnoxiously calling me by my character on TV.
“Everything okay, Autumn?” One of the staff members asks me as he approaches. His very presence makes me sick to my stomach.
“Autumn…”
“No, it’s not. You harassed my friend last week for no reason. I had the bag, she didn’t. And you checked her anyway. That’s wrong.”
“Listen, as we told your father, we have security protocols that must be adhered to. She was not targeted because of her race or ethnic background. This company has a zero tolerance policy…”
“Then why wasn’t I checked when I had the bag? Don’t you think that’s a bigger security risk? What weapon was she going to carry in her bathing suit anyway? Huh?”
That’s when I notice people with their phones filming me. “Good. I want you to film me. Also, make sure you get the faces of these two guys. And don’t forget to get a good shot of their name tags.”
That’s the last thing I say before I turn around and make my way back through a raucous crowd.
I’m sitting at my desk and working on stuff for “Special Friends” when Meylin enters my room. I didn’t even know she was coming over today. I don’t remember getting a text from her.
“I liked your speech from earlier.” Meylin says as she goes over and sits on the edge of my bed.
“You saw it, huh?”
“Well, I guess we’ll have to take the train to the other community pool. Probably take us twenty minutes to get there.”
“Meylin…”
“I guess what I’m trying to say is…thanks.” Meylin says as her voice cracks a little.
“It was nothing.”
“So, have you thought about what you’re going to do with Todd’s one question interview?” She asks.
“That’s the thing. I can’t even post the small portion we were able to film. No one will be able to understand him.”
“Like I said before, he’s useless. Just cut your losses and move onto the next person.”
“Actually, I thought about giving him another chance.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s a tremendous opportunity, Meylin. Look, after you left, Todd told me he passed his thesis with distinction. You know what that means?”
“Um. No.”
“It’s kind of like passing with honors or getting an A+ in school.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t mean anything. I bet the only reason they passed him is because they pitied him. He obviously didn’t deserve it. You saw him.”
“No. They wouldn’t do that, Meylin. Trust me. There’s a lot that goes into grading a thesis defense. Well, it’s not a letter grade like you’re thinking but never mind that for now.”
“Uh huh.”
“Listen, there’s only three possible outcomes for a thesis defense. That’s fail, pass, or pass with distinction. A thesis defense is basically like a research paper but you have to defend it in front of your professors (two professors that you pick to evaluate your work).”
“How do you defend it, exactly? Is it like a court room?” Meylin asks.
“Well, kind of. You have to remember that during the whole process, your professors are reading your work and suggesting changes along the way. A student can spend months working on a thesis, or even longer, to perfect it.”
“It is rigged then. I told you. The professors spend months helping you get it ready and then they pass you.”
“That’s the thing, though. Even though, they’re more than familiar with the topic you’re presenting, you still have to deliver a credible defense of it. Basically, you have to bring something new or unique to the table. And, not only that, you have to give a memorable presentation, which means you have to talk.”
“Wow. How do you know all this stuff?”
“My parents literally bring their work home with them all the time.”
Meylin then moves over to the nightstand and grabs my red ball (in a very nonchalant way).
“Be careful with that.” I tell her.
“You’re worried about this little thing? What’s so special about it?” Meylin laughs while juggling with it.
“Just don’t lose it, okay?”
“Yeah. I won’t lose something that you can probably afford to buy a million of.”
“That’s not the point. Just be careful, okay.” I repeat with more urgency this time.
“Okay. Jeez.” Meylin then mutters something else under her breath but I don’t hear it.
As I’ve said before, Meylin knows about my stimming. However, that doesn’t mean I like to advertise that fact in front of her. And it especially doesn’t mean that I told her about my ball.
“The thing is, I want to give Todd another chance but it can’t be like last time. We have to get him to talk like a normal person. We have to get him to open up somehow.”
“Any ideas?” I ask.
“No.”
“Come on, Meylin, think.”
“Think about what? You want to waste your time with this Winaq? Fine but I really don’t care.”
“This is our project. We’re a team.”
“No, we’re not. This is your project. It’s always been your project. I’m just along for the ride. I’m supposedly the director but I don’t even think you need me.”
“What’re you saying? That you don’t care about any of this?”
“What I’m saying is…that I miss my life before all this started. I miss hanging out with my other friends.”
“You want to quit?”
“I…I…”
“Spit it out.”
“I was here for you when you needed me but I think you’re good now.”
I don’t believe what I’m hearing. Sure, I knew Meylin wasn’t as enthusiastic about “Special Friends” like I was but still…I don’t know what to think.
More importantly, I need her with me to interview Todd again. My parents will never agree to let me interview an adult alone.
“I understand what you’re saying. I do. Just hear me out a second. I can’t interview Todd without you…”
“Then don’t interview Todd.”
“Wait. Hold up. Let me finish. I can’t interview Todd without you. I literally can’t. Just help me interview him one last time and that’ll be it.”
“Please…Meylin.”
Meylin looks away from me and at the ground. She then takes my red ball and tosses it toward the opposite wall where my bed is.
“V’a but then I’m done.”
“This is great! Thank you.” I scream in excitement as I give her a big hug.
“I’ll text you later about Todd.” I tell her.
“Yeah.”
I watch her leave my bedroom before collapsing on my bed.
I’m going to have to completely reorganize how I do things after Todd’s interview. For instance, with Meylin gone, I need someone to take her place. Maybe I’ll just put everything on hold until Hassan gets back from Mogadishu. Yeah, that’ll work.
Then something else occurs to me that I didn’t notice before. When Meylin left, she didn’t ask me if I wanted to play basketball (I know that’s where she’s going). I don’t know how I feel about that.
Whatever.
I reach for the nightstand where my ball should be but it’s not there.
Where’d it go?
That’s right. Meylin was playing with it before. I told her to be careful. She just doesn’t listen.
A few seconds later, I’m on my knees and searching on the floor for any sign of it. I reach under my bed but can’t find it.
I get off the floor and start searching my entire room. It has to be here somewhere. I saw her throw it so she didn’t take it out of the apartment. Come on. It has to be here.
How am I going to get my work done without it?
I scream in frustration as I fall back to my knees to check under the dresser.
I don’t know what I’m going to do if I can’t find it. It’s almost impossible to focus or think without moving it around in my hands. How am I going to calm myself down? I won’t be able to function.
That’s when my hand touches the plastic red ball. I’m already crying when I retrieve it from under the dresser. This red ball is the most important object that I own. It’s the only thing that can placate my restless mind.
Related Articles:
Being Special, Chapter 1: https://baltimoreraven87.medium.com/being-special-chapter-1-b5e175dc0d00
Being Special, Chapter 2: https://baltimoreraven87.medium.com/being-special-chapter-2-4c622095b4e9
Being Special, Chapter 3: https://baltimoreraven87.medium.com/being-special-chapter-3-9515c777c14
Being Special, Chapter 4: https://baltimoreraven87.medium.com/being-special-chapter-4-d9f850a08edd
Being Special, Chapter 5: https://baltimoreraven87.medium.com/being-special-chapter-5-d7160ad484ca
Being Special, Chapter 6: https://baltimoreraven87.medium.com/being-special-chapter-6-f7045cc44661
Being Special, Chapter 7: https://baltimoreraven87.medium.com/being-special-chapter-7-fb4e7af04c7b
Being Special, Chapter 8: https://baltimoreraven87.medium.com/being-special-chapter-8-d490a7b0bcae
Being Special, Chapter 9: https://baltimoreraven87.medium.com/being-special-chapter-9-415c313d1d11
Being Special, Chapter 10: https://baltimoreraven87.medium.com/being-special-chapter-10-9c085c4d9267
