TEN- EMOTIONS

He went straight for the paints - or rather my paints. Which according to Tessy, he said were 'for everyone ---i guess.'

In a few minutes, I was there, in front of him, talking to Tessy in hushed tones, and she giggling and looking like she lived on 'every word that comes out of his mouth'. Gosh, girls can be....well

On seeing me, they both quickly adjusted-or only Tessy did cos Augustine did not as much as twitch a muscle - and he walked out, without much of a hi, or acknowledging me.

"So he attacked the spray paints?" I asked, making sure he was within earshot, so he'd hear my apparent displeasure. He paused, and for a moment, I thought he was going to turn around and apologize, or say something. But NO!!! He continued walking on, like nothing had been said.

"Sorry." Tessy said, in a way that you'd think that she was wincing. I don't know how a person is supposed to feel at this point, but I felt.... I don't know, numb. Like I didn't, wasn't, and shouldn't do anything about it.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" She asked after a moment of silence.

"What's there to say? That I'm angry?" I said in a resigned manner.i sighed, and walked away. Well, I might have to purchase my own spray paints tomorrow.

"Really? Why don't you have any emotions?" She asked in frustration.

"Because I'm not human." I said and closed the door behind me, signalling the end of the conversation.

†*********************†

I sat on the bleachers, overlooking the empty basketball court, alone and at least a good twenty seven feet away from the nearest piece of humanity. I breathed in the wind that carried itself around the empty pitch, then;

"About last time...." Tessy said sitting next to me.

"Don't say it. It's in the past now." I said, and sighed.

"I don't still get why you refuse to show any ounce of emotion." She said and slumped her shoulders.

"I was trained that humans who show too much emotion, are better of classified as animals." I joked. But she clearly took the piss.

"But even a little anger will do you some good. Try it." She said, and put what was supposed to be a comforting hand on my shoulder, but ended up making me feel uncomfortable.

"Anger doesn't really suit me well. Like any other emotion. Do you think I'm an alien?" I asked, and chuckled.

"No. You just shut everything up inside you. You really should learn to react sometimes." She said and smiled.

"Well. Enough of me. Any new information on the job?" I asked and sat straight.

"Well we know he pisses you off." She said unable to trigger a smile from me.

"No he doesn't. Well, if he does, would you still like him?" I asked and watched as her cheeks reddend instantly.

"Hell yeah. I like guys who don't give a damn." She said, and I thought....but not me.

And besides, who would like an EMOTIONLESS guy who DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN? And is a really good example of a plain Cain? Stuff doesn't work that way in the world.

"You not going to say anything?" She asked staring intently into my soul.

"I don't know what to say." I said with a shrug.

"So when are you going to chat him up?" She asked in her usual pitchy manner.

"Tomorrow, at the warehouse." I said simply, staring as the clouds rolled in their amoeba-like shapes.

"And there he is." She said pointing to the other end of the bleachers, studying... alone.

"Why not you go on and say hi?" I asked.

"Cos I can't, and you know it." She said assuming a rather stiff manner.

I sighed in exasperation, and shook my head.

"What would you do when you get to college?" I asked managing to smile at the expected answer.

"Become a lesbian maybe." She said and chuckled.

"God save you then." I said and saw him get up, headed in our direction." I have to go now. See ya."

........