Short story: August

                          It was like nothing he had ever seen before. His attention was grabbed like a mouse to cheese, and he wouldn’t let go like the mouse trap. With her long brown hair, wait was that red? His colorblindness caused her to be a blur as she jumped into the back seat of the taxi she has spent a solid 3 minutes getting the attention of. He spent that whole 3 minutes studying her flawlessness. From her perfectly plump pink lips, to her abnormally tiny feet she had protected by floral flats that, if he remembers correctly, is the same pattern on his grandmothers couch. First she was there, in her tight black dress, wait was that blue? Holding her bag, that she might as well be stealing a baby with the size of it. Then she was gone, into the piss color taxi that had the most unoriginal driver of all time, wearing a tope turban and had a mole the size of a quarter on his chin. What he would give to be the driver of that dirty old taxi, to spend time with this woman, to talk to her, to hear her voice. That’s it, he had to meet her. Know her name, know her story. If this was to happen, he knew what had to be done. SNAP. Back to reality, he was out of this love struck daze and now on a mission. He rushed to the street, pushing over some strangers who ever so kindly called him the names 12 year olds call their ex-boyfriends. Waving like a mental patient, he got the attention of a taxi, that unlike the women’s, had an American looking driver. Blond hair, blue eyes, could beat the shit out of him. He jumped in the back and learns the man’s name is Simon, and is has arms as big as the mans head. He was going to order the driver to follow the women’s taxi, but considering the man could use his face as a punching bag, he asked kindly if he could please follow that taxi with the dirt brown tint about a block ahead of them. And once the idea of double the pay was put on the table, the blond blue eyed man went well over the speed limit to catch up to it. Once caught up, it was a waiting game. Waiting for her to exit her taxi, and for him to met her. He could hardly contain his excitement for that moment. Then, suddenly, red and blue lights flashing, the cab slowing down. Simon is calling the police things 20 year old call their ex boyfriends. He couldn’t believe it. This is the worst timing in the history of timing. “I’m charging triple the pay now buddy. ‘Speed up to catch them’ my ass.” Moans the buff taxi driver from the front seat. How is he worried about money at a time like this? This man was about to lose the love of his life, and Simon’s groaning on about triple the pay. That’s it. The man pulls out a handful of singles and throws them in Simons lap. “Hope that’s enough. Wish me luck” he says as he whips out of the taxi, and continues his journey on foot. Now sprinting down the busy street, keeping an eye on her taxi thats now a good 2 blocks ahead. His long lanky legs could get him places fast, but competing with that taxi was a lose lose situation. After a few minutes of this train wreck idea, he can see that he is going to lose sight of the taxi, so he quickly regrouped in his mind. No available taxi’s in sight. “shit”. Doing a quick 360 he spots his next option. This idea is a straight shot to hell, but well worth the risk. Stepping 5 steps to his right, he nonchalantly grabs the bike resting on a fire hydrant. The bike was pink, with purple streamer on the handles, and the word ‘Barbie’ in sparkles. He gets on the pink death trap and try’s to adjust his overly long legs to the short pedals. As he’s just getting the hang of this awkward movement he hears the worst word he’s been called today coming from the mother of the 10 year old girl who’s a bigger fan of Barbie than he is obviously. He starts making good time on the bike, getting closer and closer to the taxi. When his phone rings. For some reason he answers it, regretting it instantly when he hears the voice of his mother screaming “FINLY OAKS!” She always started out sentences using his full name, and also still thought that yelling was the only way he could hear her over the phone. “I HAVE CALLED YOU 3 TIMES TODAY AND YOU IGNORED THEM ALL. DO YOU NOT LOVE ME ANYMORE FINNY?” She pretty much just made his right ear permanently damaged. “mom, I do love you, but I’m busy at the moment, let me call you back later.” Words are hard for him to get out at the moment considering he’s been pedaling like a maniac for 3 blocks. “FINLY IM WORRIED ABOUT YOU LOVE BUG. HOW ABOUT YOU COME OVER FOR DINNER TONIGHT? IM MAKING PASTA!” He was mid thought about joining his mother for pasta tonight because he’s had take out the past 3, when he spots the piss yellow dirt stained taxi at a stop, and he girl getting out. This is his chance, she’s only a block away, he could catch up to her for sure. “Mom, I really have to go now. Talk to you later”. “OH NO FINLY, DON’T IGNORE ME AGAIN!” of course she picks now to throw a fit, he had not time for this, he was about to meet the girl of his dreams. “MOM I HAVE TO GO, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH BUT IF I DON’T HANG UP ON YOU RIGHT NOW YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A CHANCE OF HAVING GRAND KIDS.” Not the ideal way to end a phone call with your mother, but it had to be done. Now at the point where she had exited the taxi, he notices her about half a block ahead, turning the corner. The streets are getting busier, so he finds it a better idea to ditch the Barbie mobile, and take off on foot again. He reaches the corner and takes a sharp right, only to be face to face with a taco stand, and at the speed he was going, there was no time to slow down. Down he goes, and he takes the tacos with him. Just as he stands up, prepared to go in a full out sprint again, there she was. Standing right in front of him, eating a taco, giving him a confused look. He stands up, looks into her deep brown eyes, and can’t help but smile. Probably the biggest smile he has ever had. Noticing the smile, she can’t help but giggle like she used to when she was little. He sticks out his hand and introduces himself, “Hello, I’m Fin.” He says, “Hello, I’m August.” She replies.