"Next time I'm going to put some war paint on Riley's face."

[allhart]

Maya Penelope Hart

Comments

[allhart]

*Maya glances over at Riley trying to narrow down which thing her friend is bouncing over. It happens to be a long list. She picks one.*

I'm sure it will be.

*Then Maya thinks about it, and realizes she picked wrong.*

Wait, aren't cheerleading tryouts next month?

[ofbelief]

[ The list never ends. It only gets longer and longer and longer. But at the affirmation she kind of lets out a soft 'YAY' of delight and tugs on Maya's arm more. Impossibly more. ]

I cleared off part of my picture wall. There's a space for a team photo right in the middle. There's going to be one in there, Maya.

[allhart]

...Shouldn't you wait to try out? And get on the team? And for the Coach to stop hating you?

*Maya knows that Riley won't, but she has to make the attempt.*

[ofbelief]

Why do I need to do that? I already know I'm going to make it this year. Coach just hasn't given me my pompoms yet.

[allhart]

Because if she cuts you like she did last year. And the year before. And the year before. And the year before. Then you'll need some purple paint to put a cat piece in that space you put on your wall.

Also I stole the pompoms last time she cut you, I can bring them over for you if you want.

[ofbelief]

I won't need a purple cat to fill it because I'm definitely going to make it this year. I feel it in the air. But, you know, if you want to paint me a purple cat I'd definitely put it there.

No, I want her to hand me my pompoms herself and welcome to her team. I know she's been waiting all this time.

[allhart]

...Can I paint the purple cat at Godzilla scale?

*Maya clearly knows what's what.*

I'm pretty she said the opposite of that about you last year. It was why I stole the pompoms. And thought about stealing her wallet.

[ofbelief]

Oooh. I'd have to clear an entire wall for that.

[But that was definitely not a no, at least.]

She said no last year because there were people that were better. But I'm great this year and she's been waiting for me since third grade. Also, you can't go around stealing people's wallets, Maya, it's wrong.

[allhart]

None of the girls on the squad moved away, fell off a bus, or donated a limb to science.

Just because you've gotten better doesn't mean they haven't gotten better too.

[ofbelief]

[ Huffs and folds her arms. ]

Why are you doing this to me?

[allhart]

What? You do this every year, and I love you for trying every year.

And it kills me when you fail. Because every year its a surprise.

I just... Want you to see what you're up against.

[ofbelief]

I know what I'm up against, Maya. I always know what I'm against but I'm going to make it. I will make it because I can be just as good as any of them if I put my mind to it.

[allhart]

Okay sweetie, as long as you know.

I'm sure it will go better than last year.

*Well, Riley is less of a superklutz... So the chances are higher. That's something, right?*

[ofbelief]

It will. I've been practicing.

[And she sounds so absolutely delighted and sure, but she's still a superklutz.]

[allhart]

...When was the last time you fell off a sofa or chair for no reason?

*The goal isn't to break Riley, more to just give her a little bit of reality to prepare her for the huge wall of reality that is the cheerleading coach.*

[ofbelief]

[...squeaks.]

I don't have to answer that unless it's in a court of law.

[allhart]

It was yesterday. It was yesterday and I was there.

It was yesterday, right?

[ofbelief]

...Yeah. Yeah. Let's go with that one. I didn't fall out of my bed this morning at all. Nope.

[allhart]

That was the sound before I got to your window. I thought it was coming from another room.

[ofbelief]

It might have been Auggie. You still don't know, there isn't any proof.

[...yes there is, riley. you admitted it already]

[allhart]

Of course sweetie.

Because Auggie falls out of your bed so often.

[ofbelief]

Well, he is usually hiding in it eating spaghetti. Apparently!

[allhart]

Yeah, its weird.

What do your parents have against cold sketti?

*Since that is clearly the thing wrong here.*

[ofbelief]

I don't know. If I knew a lot of questions about life would be answered.

[allhart]

Yes, I am sure that is the secret to figuring out your Dad's weird lessons.

Oh yeah, and your brother would never fall out of bed like you.