Working

The ice was not sticking. It was a frustrating powder that clung to my arms, and melted in the hot afternoon sun, but did not hold the syrup. I watched as the delicate shaved ice collapsed in on itself. The dismayed look of the customer. The ever growing line. I darted to the side of the cart, where I filled a plastic cup with hot water.


"Sometimes, when the ice is really cold, it does does that" I said, dumping the water into the ice machine, listening to it trickle through, sloshing like a full belly.


The ice stuck better. Well enough to be sold. But not right yet. Still difficult. The man left the money on the counter and I snatched it up before it became soggy on the wet counter-top. I worked through customers, one by one, panicking a little, as the line got longer and longer, despite my frantic efforts. My sister came to help me, fetching the hot water and shaping sno-cones. I heard water dripping near my feet. Leaks. I'd forgotten. The line slowly, painfully diminished. I dismissed my sister, who went running through the park, wood chips splashing up where she stepped.


I ducked under the counter top, checking on the pipes underneath, examining the leaks and my makeshift plugs, which were made of paper towels and latex gloves. Small puddles were forming, but they could wait for the moment. They weren't harming anything after all.

I straightened up and then fell on the chair, people-watching briefly. Two men, in short succession, holding out butcher-paper wrapped bouquets, each wearing laughably determined expressions. A woman with a three-week old baby, its face hidden under pink fabric. A child wailing as their balloon floated up towards the clouds.

A customer walked up, toting a flat of raspberries. I grabbed a cup and started shaving ice into it.
" Where did you get your berries?" I asked. The woman gestured towards the back of the park, naming a vendor that I vaguely remembered.
"I love raspberries. I'd forgotten they were in season"
"I do too" I asked what flavors the woman wanted and lifted them off the circular trolley, splattering them onto the blankness of the ice. As I looked up, to give her the total, she slid a napkin with nine raspberries on it, towards me. I thanked her, not quite knowing what to say. She didn't say anything, just smiled and went on her way, bent slightly to one hip as she balanced the box precariously.


I had a small rush of business after that. I watched a man, who looked rough, with his wifebeater shirt and tattoos, affix a flower in his tiny daughter's hair, and kiss the top of her head. I watched a magenta clad granddaughter convince her grandmother that a treat was in order. A boyfriend buy a blue and purple ice to share with his girlfriend. I watched as the market began to close and people walked more slowly. I listened as the clock chimed at quarter two. My ice was all gone, my plugs were rendered useless and I was sweaty and tired and sun burnt.

I picked up a raspberry and smiled.

That Dance Thing

Last night was my ninth grade dance. It totally exceeded my expectations, which were low, to say the least.

I was expecting bad music and even worse dancing. I envisioned sweaty freshmen trying to mingle. Deflating balloons. Gratuitous snogging. I thought my dress (Oh My God. My dress. I love it. So very much.) was going to untie or someone would trip on it and I'd be that girl who flashed everyone on prom night.

But it was none of that. Well, okay. I did have to cinch up my dress a couple times. And there was some noticeably bad dancing. But the music was really good. Not in my taste really. But the slow songs weren't too slow and the fast songs were truly good dancing songs.

I was so proud of my friends. They all looked so wonderful. And sophisticated. They opted for simple dresses (Or vests in Tyler's case) and they looked utterly beautiful. It was intimidating actually. To be seen with them.

Emma and Demi and I had a really lovely time beforehand too. We stayed at my house, instead of going out to eat. Mum and I (Well, mostly Mum) decorated her art room to look like an old fashioned dressing room. We had candles, and a screen and a mirror and mosquito netting over the couch. Mum put together little overnight kits for each of us, with tiny soap and deodorant and hair ties and travel toothbrushes.

While they were here, Emma did Demi's hair, and we listened to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and ate really, really good chocolate. Mum made pasta for dinner and it was delicious. It was very relaxed. We didn't really have any deadlines to meet. We took pictures out in my yard, and the weather was just perfect. We all had a lot of fun. It was my favorite part of the night.

After the dance, we all rode up to Tyler's house and stayed the night there. Tyler's mum is so adorable. Seriously. She was so excited for us. Some of the group tried to stay up all night, as is the tradition, but only one of us survived. I'm proud to say that I conked out at about one.
Because I am a wuss when it comes to sleep.

It was a really fun time. And it was even better because I didn't expect it to be. I hope all dances in high school are like this. I wonder...

The End of Much

Saturday was my last performance of Night of Musical Theatre 2.0 at my school. We had a really great closing night, but as always, our success was tinged with melancholy. I'm going to miss NoMT. There's a class a SoTA (School of the Arts) that's all about musical theatre, but I don't really think I'll be able to take it, what with all the music and writing classes I'll hopefully be taking. It makes me sad to leave that aspect of my life behind. It's been really great. And unfortunately, I was just getting the hang of the dancing.

There's only two more weeks to go until I am out of school. I honestly cannot wait. I know there are a lot of people who are sad to be leaving Junior High. I'm not really one of those people. Not that I haven't enjoyed Junior High, I just prefer summer. I miss having the time to read books and make things. I miss having enough time in the day to play a little bit of World of Warcraft (especially because my new server is full of really benevolent people. I was getting tired of being told I was going to die alone.). And then there's also the possibility that next year will be an improvement on this year. I'm so excited. And even if SoTA isn't all I expect of it, at least it will be new.

I'm getting a little frightened. The ninth grade dance is only a week away and I still haven't gotten my dress or made plans with my friends. I don't know what parties are going on. I don't know when I'm getting my hair done (Achgh, I know. I'm one those girls. But not really. I needed to get my hair cut and thinned anyway. It was just a coincidence. I promise!) or when I'm eating dinner. I'm all over the place because Show Week and my Romeo and Juliet Project are coinciding and that is super stressful.

Hopefully, I'll finish up my diorama tonight and have enough time to take some pictures so that I can post 'em on here. My project is getting to the point where I'm actually excited about the way it looks. And I like my Romeo and Juliet dolls that I made. I'm really proud of them. Ridiculously so. This project, though stressful, has been one of my favorite assignments this year.

My cello recital is coming up. After that, I stop lessons with Nicole for the summer. That scares me a little. I have Youth Symphony auditions in August, and I'm worried that I'll forget how to play my piece by some mental disaster. What's cool though is that I'll be starting my Faure piece. I'll be working on it by myself, which will be a new thing for me. I'm actually quite excited about that.

I really need to get to a thrift store. I have no clothing for the summer (Okay, weird sentence. Didn't mean to do that). When I do find a dress that's cool enough, it makes me look like a go-go dancer. Not exactly the look I'm going for. Maybe when school gets out Mum will take us to the Value Village in the city. That would be really nice.

I realize that this is sort of a random post. But, I've been gone so long that I thought it would just write an all around update. My next post will hopefully be more cohesive.