by: Essy Jane

I was waiting in line for my usual breakfast. A bagel with cream cheese and of course my hot chocolate. It was a pretty long lineup. “Man, what I would give for a home cooked meal,” I mumbled to myself.

“Me too,” A familiar voice said. I jumped. There was Judd standing there in his sweats. I gave him a friendly slap.

“Don’t do that!” I shook my head and turned around, looking towards the front of the lineup.

“How long have you been coming here?” I stood silently and wondered what he would say next. “Oh come on, you said we were friends now.”

“We are friends, Mister Kane.”

“Okay if we’re friends, why are you still calling me that?” I chuckled to myself.

“I thought you would regret being friends with me after your shiner become visible.” Now it was his turn to laugh softly at me. He tapped my shoulder. I turned around yet again, staring at him. “You’re so annoying.”

“Not all the time, this is just the official ‘Pick on Dumb Animals’ week.” I shook my head. He winked at me. “Essy the elephant strikes Judd the Jackal.”

“Judd the Jackal is asking for his life to be spared after calling Essy an elephant.” My shoulder’s drooped as I leaned in to get a better look at his eye. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“You said it yourself, Essy-Jane Anne Tizdale.”

“Where did you learn my last name?”

“I asked a dog on the way over—Luke told me.” I laughed again.

“Ah finding out government secrets huh?” The line moved up again. Judd was grinning like a chessy cat. “Well, what else did Luke tell you about me?”

“That you have a car named Uncle Sam. That you, Essy-Jane, drive better than I do. That’s pretty weird, I am a good driver. Luke says I am nothing compared to you on the road.”

“Well Luke over exaggerates.” Now I was at the front of the line. I looked right into the lady’s face. “My usual please, thank you kindly.” The girl nodded her head. Without hesitation, she got my breakfast ready. “So you do most of your spying by talking to others?”

“Well as a professional spy…”

“Professional?” I laughed. “You a professional spy, now Mister Kane that’s something I just can’t picture.” The lady behind the counter handed me my hot chocolate and I walked out slow enough so Judd would be able to see me when he came out.

“Essy, wait up!” He called. Judd ran to me. “Can I walk you to class?” I began to giggle softly. “What?”

“You want to take time out of your busy Killer Kane schedule to walk me to class? Now what’s the catch Mister Kane?”

“I was wondering…”

“Ah, there’s your problem.”

“Huh?”

“Wondering requires thought now are you really good at that?” He shook his head.

“You really are tiring.”

“I am not.”

“You just don’t think we can be real friends do you?” Now I was tongue tied. I didn’t know what to say to him at that moment. He challenged me again.

“I hate when guys do that.”

“Do what?”

“What did you just do, Mister Kane?”

“Why are you answering my question with a question?”

“Why are you asking why I am answering your question with a question?” I growled and he was laughing.

“You’re great, you know that, Essy?”

“Stop that! You’re still questioning me.”

“It’s hard not to. You’re such a big question. The real question is, what is your favorite meal?”

“Shepard’s pie.”

“Great answer, now I know something else about you.”

“Hey, what were you getting at back there? You were wondering something.” Judd opened my hand and put a small white envelope in it. I opened it.

“I was wondering if you wanted to come to my game. There’s a backstage pass in there and…”

“When?”

“Tomorrow, I want some tips from the girl who beat me with one punch.”

“I don’t know…”

“Come on, can’t you make your own decisions?” Now he was just testing my patience. “The amazing Essy-Jane, runs away at the mouth but can’t make true decisions.”

“Well, I have to think about it.”

“You better think fast. There’s two tickets in there and two backstage passes. I want you to bring someone special.” Okay, who could I possibly bring who would actually enjoy a match?

“I will think fast, since I’m good at it. Thanks for the offer.” I walked into the big spacious building. Looking at the hallways as the people wandered to where they were supposed to be. Judd didn’t follow me this time. I knew he was trying to build some sort of climax.

I did make a decision to go to a game of his but as I saw a little boy and his father, I changed my mind. I handed them the tickets and the backstage passes. The look on that child’s face was priceless. He was about to meet his hero Killer Kane. That was better than me going to any game.

Later on that week, I was running at night again. Trying to clear my head before the big exams. I had studied so much that I knew I was going to do alright but still I wondered

I wasn’t paying attention and I knocked someone down. “Oh I am sorry Mister…” I began. A head popped up. It was Judd. I slapped him playfully. “What are you doing over here again?” I stood up and this time offered him a hand. He tried to get up but instead he pulled me down. I laughed hard. Judd tried to push himself up but kept getting tangled in my legs.

“Well isn’t this embarrassing,” Judd mumbled.

“What that Killer Kane isn’t perfect?”

“No, that this time you would bump into me. Shall I give you a speech about watching where you’re going?” I shook my head no. He smiled. “Now what did we learn from all of this?” I rolled my eyes and pulled myself up. “No come on, I want to hear it from the great Essy-Jane.”

“Accidents happen?”

“You get better and better at this every time.” I finally got a hold of his two hands and pulled him up. He looked deep into my eyes. “You didn’t show up at the game.”

“So?”

“A father and son told me how wonderful it was to be sitting front row center to see the fight. Your tickets I gave you.”

“And your point is…?”

“You are not heartless.”

“Okay…can you run that by me with an explanation?”

“When I first met you I thought you didn’t care. Now I find out you don’t have any friends up here. Is this true?” My eyes widened.

“Where are you getting your information from?”

“Daisy Duke.”

“Judd, don’t ask my friends for information about me.”

“Hey, you know everything about me yet you won’t tell me very much about you.”

“That’s because I haven’t made up my mind about you yet. This makes the third time you have bumped into me.”

“No, no, you bumped into me.” I turned away, trying to hide my smile. He pulled my face towards him and looked at me. “Don’t do that, Essy. A smile is something to show off not keep covered.” I leaned in, almost like I was going to kiss him but I immediately pulled away.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.” I walked away slowly.

“Hey, you still owe me something for the black eye!”

“I did, I helped you up.” I looked back and waved to him. He smiled and waved back. I still didn’t know what Judd wanted but I did know that I was starting to trust him.