Field Trip

Looking out of the window from the backseat of a moving taxi and staring at the clear sky, I push a button by the side of the door and the window goes down, allowing me to enjoy the hot weather mixed with the breeze due to the speed of the car.

"Close the window, man! I'm trying to enjoy the AC here" One of my elder brothers turns around from the front passenger seat and snaps at me.

I ignore him, admiring all the beautiful people mostly putting on light clothes like T-shirts, shorts, tank tops, and all sorts of comfortable stuff. It's obvious, summer is here and I love it. We're leaving our town for a little field trip at Baton Rouge, both my brothers coincidentally have stuff to do there. Elvis, the athletic one has a football tryout for middle schoolers from different schools in the state while Eric, my genius brother, was invited by our Computer Studies teacher to attend a science fair at a high school over there. I just hope he doesn't get more ridiculous ideas and start building silly robots again, he just managed to get past that phase.

I hardly travel, not because I don't want to but because I've not really had the opportunity to. Born in Dona-Ville, grew up in Dona-Ville, thankfully I'm not gonna die in Dona-Ville. I'm just glad that in a few weeks I'd get to see another state that isn't Louisiana.

After an hour's drive, approximately, we arrive at a sport centre packed with lots of teenagers and important-looking people who I'm guessing are the sponsors and organizers of the event. So many students from different public schools and prep schools moving about in their school uniforms or school sport kits. Are these supposed to be middle schoolers? Oh my geez! Most of them look bigger than their ages. I'm pretty sure that dude over there is nineteen. Wait, why's he smiling at me like that? Get your eyes off my body and focus on your tryouts, perv! In no time, Elvis gets kitted up although he's not putting on DVJH football jersey but some random kit dad bought him a while back. Apparently, he's not here to represent our school but himself. I check myself countless times to make sure I look pretty just in case some cute boys notice me. What am I doing? If I wasn't looking pretty, that dude wouldn't have been staring at me like some hungry kid salivating over the sight of peanut butter and jelly. I quit checking myself and I rearrange my stance, standing tall and raising my head high like I were Beyoncé. I'm pretty and I know I'm pretty so I don't get why I keep doubting myself, I guess my self esteem could use a little work. I'm still looking out for the cute boys when Eric gets a call from our Computer Studies teacher telling him that the science fair is about to begin and sending him the location of the school. He leaves immediately the call ends, excitement plastered all over his face, he's walking fast and saying some stuff which I can hardly hear over the sound of all the yelling and whistles from the coaches and huffing and puffing from the jocks.

Not long after Eric leaves, Elvis ditches me too. I watch the passion on his face as he puts on his helmet and jogs down to where some coaches are standing so they can tell him when it would be his turn to jump in the game. Eric is wowed by books, computers, technology and brainy stuff while Elvis gets his energy turned on when football is involved. And I'm just here, existing. Which brings me to the question I always ask myself: what gets me hyped? What gets me pumped? What gets me psyched? What gets me charged up? I know these words all mean the same thing but you get my point, don't you? For real though, I really wanna know what gets me aroused. Did I just say aroused? What? No! I didn't mean it that way... alright, that's enough synonyms for the day. I'm standing all by myself, looking around, I lose sight of Elvis in the crowd so I try to use my eyes to find him but my eyes meet someone else instead. A mature lady likely to be in her early forties. I dunno what makes me wave at her but the moment I do so, she acts surprised, looking all around and then glancing back at me with a brow raised as if she's trying to confirm if she's actually the one I'm waving at or someone else behind her. I smile and wave again, this time she returns the smile excitedly. There's something off about that smile which I can't seem to point out. At a first glance, she appears to be happy and full of grace but looking at her again, I can sense an undertone of sadness or paleness on her face. She waves back at me, still smiling, probably wondering why I'm staring at her, then she turns around and walks away. Way to go, Elena! You just succeeded in making the lady uncomfortable. I go after her, combing my way through the maze of people out here. For a moment, it seems like I've lost her, but then I recognize a black and mustard floral patterned scarf waving to the breeze like it's about to loosen and slip off her neck. She's wearing a slightly short black skirt and a khaki colored trench coat that matches the scarf. She looks like a stylish female version of Sherlock Holmes, or should I say She-lock? See what I did there?

"Ma'am!" I call out, walking behind her, trying to keep up with her pace. She's moving like she's on a treadmill, what else can those legs do? Oh my geez!

Hearing my voice, she turns around and smiles the moment she recognizes my face. "Hey" Maintaining her smile, she takes out her right hand which was initially tucked into her side pocket and stretches it out to me for a handshake.

"Hi" I reach for her hand. Red nail polish? Okay... bold, fashionable, dramatic, daring? I'm sure she loves the spotlight. I may be wrong but it's fun trying to read people.

"Do you usually stare at people this way?" She breaks the silence that lasted almost fifteen seconds after I said hi.

"What?... uhm, oh my geez, no. I don't usually do that, I'm sorry." I let go off her hand awkwardly, realizing that I made the handshake linger.

"You don't have to apologize for being the kinda person who enjoys living in the moment"

"And what makes you think so? I mean, how do you know that I enjoy living in the moment?" I ask.

"Staring could be interpreted differently judging by the size of the eyes when doing so, dilation of the pupils and eyebrow movements... oh, and sometimes, body movements"

"Huh?" That's all I'm able to say because that's not an answer and I'm waiting for her to arrive at her point.

"All I'm saying is..." She continues walking while she talks, making me follow her. "...your stare was that of interest and amazement. Your eye contact, your tiny smirk, your firm handshake... obviously not too firm like that of a building construction worker, but firm enough not to let go of my hand, you know what I'm saying? And then your posture, you're relaxed but not slouching. Like you're at ease, paying attention to the details you're staring at while holding my gaze like you're trying to understand me without me having to say a word".

"What the h—" I'm still trying to digest all she has said and it seems like she has more to say.

"You stared at my face earlier, probably trying to understand my emotion from my smile. At the same time you admired my outfit well enough for you to spot me out by my scarf in a crowd. I'm not the only person putting on this exact color of trench coat but you still recognized me... from behind... it had to be the scarf. And now to answer your question..." She stops walking, observing a brief silence as she smiles and looks directly into my eyes. "...you're the kinda person who enjoys living in the moment because when you see something that catches your interest, your first instinct is observative understanding, you prefer to stare and smile first to your satisfaction rather than whipping out a phone to take pictures for social media. Basically, you'd rather pick eye lenses before camera lenses, and that's what I call living in the moment".

"Oh...my...geez! Are you a shrink?" My mouth is hung open.

"I didn't go through the trouble of attaining a masters degree and doctoral degree to be called a shrink" She continues walking.

"I'll take that as a yes then. Hey! I'm sorry!" Running after her. God! How does she move so fast? Does she control her legs or do they control her? "Hey... I didn't mean to insult you or your profession..."

She stops again and smiles. "Relax, mate. I'm just messing with you. If I didn't want you to know I'm a 'shrink'..." She makes air quotes with her fingers. "...I'd have just pretended I didn't hear you or laughed it off and said no".

"I was just wowed by how well you read me and interpreted my actions. And it's funny because I was trying to do the same thing to you". I smile. "Looking at your nails which are beautiful by the way..."

"Cheers!"

"...I tried to figure out the kinda person you are and determine your character, but you beat me to it" I chuckle till it turns into a contagious laugh which forces her to join me.

"Well, you still have a chance to take your shot. Let's see what you think of me, innit".

"Really?" I smile.

"Yeah. I've always wanted to do some tarot card reading. I guess the time has come for me to check it off my bucket list".

"You're funny... I like you. Oh, and I love your scarf!" I chuckle.

"Then you should have it" She reaches for her neck, unties the scarf and hands it to me.

"Uhm... I can't... take that" I resist at first, out of mere courtesy but hoping she'll insist.

"Come on, you don't wanna hurt my feelings, do you?" Her hand still stretched out, the scarf in her palm.

"I'd never do that". I reply. "But... it looks expensive..."

"Please, it only costs a few quids" She smiles "And I think it suits you better. It'll look lush on you"

"Thank you" I collect the scarf from her, excitedly. "You know, we should be friends"

"I thought we already were, mate"

We share a laugh and go on talking at length, losing track of time.