12:42pm
Contents |
12:42 p.m.
When she was sure the riders were past the east gate, Ellie[1] lifted her head and looked toward the house. The short fat one[1] they left at the front door was digging around in his pockets. The tall one[1] in the barn was still out of view.
She watched the former continue his search, and though she couldn’t see his face from her branch in the oak, she could see he was upset. His hands moved from pocket to pocket, in and out. He was panicking.
She heard him curse, and he stepped from the porch, hands still plunging and patting. “The hell are my cards…”
He was angry.
He turned toward the barn, and she looked to the front door of the house. It was open just a few inches, and Michael[1] was peeking through the opening. She could tell it was him by his 5-year-old silhouette against the setting sun coming through the kitchen windows behind him. And she could see the bar of light coming through the open door getting wider as he slowly opened it more.
No.
Oh no.
She rolled over the branch and fell to the ground into the grass. And shrieked on the way down.
The short fat one stopped and turned to look.
“Who’s that?” He was startled.
Ellie lay still, clearly exposed in the short grass.
“A girl…” His gun was out now. He was coming to her. He was excited.
Ellie closed her eyes.
“Well hello there, young lady.” He was nearly to her. “Hey. Little girl.” He was panting.
Ellie held her breath, and closed her eyes tighter.
“Well that’s just cute. A little possum. I like that. But ain’t nobody ever died then kept breathing and crunching up their eyes like that, sweetheart. And you don’t see me don’t mean I don’t see you. What do you say you stand up and let me have a look at you?” He smelled like sweat.
Ellie opened her eyes.
The short fat one smiled with teeth that looked like river rocks that hadn’t been wet long enough to be smooth. “Yes sir. That’s what I figured. A little possum. What’s your name, little possum? And I said stand up.” He was staring.
Ellie stood, looking at the ground that made up the three steps between her and the short fat one. “El— Eleanor. Sir. Eleanor. I’m sorry. I’m thirteen. I’m Eleanor.”
“As you said. You ain’t too bright, are you, El— Eleanor?” He smelled like fire.
Eleanor shook her head. Eleanor looked at the ground.
“Well that’s just fine. Pretty ones don’t need to be smart ones. Ain’t that right?” He was anxious.
Eleanor nodded. Eleanor looked at the ground.
“Yes sir.” He holstered his gun and reached for his handkerchief.
He was stupid.
“Now how about you look at me.” His shadow was wiping the sweat from its face vigorously.
Eleanor raised her head toward the house.
Ellie saw Michael on the porch.
Elizabeth looked at the short fat man, and took the first of those three steps. And the second.
“Well now—OOF!”
The third step landed in the short fat one’s crotch. Her hand went to his gun as he fell, and she swung her hip around away from him, which lead her chest, which lead her arm, which lead her hand, which lead his gun in a wide arc to the back of his head.
“HNNNnn…”
He was out, and Elizabeth was running toward the porch, looking at the barn.
A voice came from nowhere. From everywhere. “Where’s your friend?”
The barn and house and Michael were gone. Now there was a mailbox. A group of teenagers. Parked cars. A pane of glass.
He[1] turned from the window.
“I’m sorry?” He looked up at Tina[1].
“Oh no, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I’ll call ahead next time and let you know I’m coming to your table.” She smiled.
He smiled back. “I was somewhere else.”
“Welcome back.”
“Thank you.”
“Where is your friend[1]? Is what I was asking.”
He looked out the window again. Then at the empty seat across from him in the booth. “It looks as though he’s not coming.” He sounded tired. But looked relieved.
“Sorry. Do you want to… keep waiting?”
“…I don’t think I should.”
She looked at him, and wondered. “Well then, any time you want to drop in and order nothing would be just fine by me. Just leave the appropriate tip.” She smiled and turned to the counter.
He stood.
“I’ll see you next time, then?” She was walking to the back, half-shouting over her shoulder.
She talks to people she can’t see.
He smiled. “Yes. You will.”
People
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6
- Ellie/Eleanor/Elizabeth - 13 year old girl, hiding in a tree watching the riders
- Short fat one - one of two horse-riding burglars? Carries a gun
- Tall one - one of two horse-riding burglars?
- Michael - 5 year old boy inside the house
- Elizabeth - defends against the riders and runs towards the house
- Receiver - daydreaming the story about Ellie. Also in 11:56am.
- Waitress - waitress, talks to people she can't see. Also appears at 11:56am
- Giver - the man's friend who doesn't show up
Objects
Locations
Themes
- cards
- man smelling like fire
- short, fat man wiping sweat from his forehead
Notes
- This segment was revealed on Jan 15, 2013 via tumblr.
