Time Drifters

“We’re not sent back to cause the problem, we’re here to fix it,” Calico said, seething.

We were standing outside the ground floor women’s bathroom. Calico had tried to go in and help, but Yuka was apparently dissolving in tears and her friends said they could handle it.

“Just take a walk, will you?” she told Thomas, pointing to the back door.

“But, I’m…”

“I know and we’ll work it out,” Calico assured him, even as she was scowling. “Just get some air! Get outta’ sight for bit, would’ya?”

Thomas was through the door when Sam returned from upstairs.

“It’s club soda,” he said to Calico. “Could you take it in to her, please?”

“Certainly,” Calico responded, trying not to look him in the eye. I rotated around and spied a water fountain down the hall. Figuring it was a good way to keep a low profile, I wandered over to it and took a long drink.

Sam was pacing, alone in the hallway, and then I saw Jennifer. I tried to look away but it was too late.

“Aren’t you coming back?” she asked, “I have no one else to dance with.”

Sam turned and walked back towards the stairs. Calico was still inside. I followed him and Jennifer followed me.

“I’m not sure where I’m going,” I said, reaching the corner of the foyer.

“I asked them to play something slower,” she said. “I thought you’d like that.”

“Slower?” I gulped.

“Well, ‘Perfidia,’” she said, blushing. She ducked her head, and her hair bobbed like a dozen mini accordions.

Sam was pushing coins into the pay phone.

“I’ll have to see if my aunt will let me,” I said. “I’m waiting for her.”

“Where? In the bathroom?” Jennifer said, already turning. “I’m very convincing.”

“No, that’s okay, really,” I said, looking for a way to get her to go upstairs without having to lie. I grabbed her hands and pulled her towards me. She looked surprised and, honestly, I was, too. We were face to face. She looked away and then her face screwed up, like she was eating something sour.

“Is that your brother?” she asked.

I looked outside and saw Thomas getting shoved by one of the college kids.

“Go get Calico, please!” I said. “Hurry!”

Jennifer took off and I ran outside. Thomas was riled up and letting loose.

“I am not some stupid plantation kid,” Thomas yelled, pushing his assailant backwards. There were four guys, all Asian kids. Japanese and Chinese faces. Two of them were smoking and leaning up against the building, amused. But the tallest amongst them was squared off with Thomas, sneering and in fighting stance, his fists clenched.

“Buzz off, bug,” the guy said, tossing a quick jab at Thomas. His hand must have hit the flask inside the jacket because he immediately flicked his fingers from the sting of the impact.

“Ow,” he yelped, muttering on in some other language in what sounded like swearing while his friend closest to him laughed.

“I know lots of things,” Thomas said, darting backwards as the tall kid made a run at him. “Like what’s gonna happen to you tomorrow.”

“Thomas! What’re you doing?” I asked. I ran out on the lawn towards him, darting between the friend who was following everything and the tall guy stalking Thomas.

“I already screwed up, Liam,” he said. “Maybe we had this all wrong.”

“Thomas! Liam!” Calico yelled, terror in her voice. She was running out towards us when she tripped on the front of her dress and stumbled to her knees on the lawn. The guys leaning up against the wall laughed. She picked herself up and grabbed a fist full of fabric, lurching menacingly in their direction. It made them jump but then dissolve into more laughter.

“Leave ‘im alone, damn you!” Calico commanded, marching towards Thomas. His brooding attacker was cornering Thomas into the barrier of bushes that framed the yard.

“Ee-haw,” crowed one of the students against the wall.

“You wanna go a round with me?” Calico said, wheeling on them. Their giggles turned to action when they realized she was heading back for them, and they scurried inside, passing me.

I saw Jennifer stepping out onto the cement sidewalk, dragging her mother, the Regent, in tow. And beyond her, inside the foyer, I saw Yuka shaking her head and Sam walking her away towards the corridor. Not upstairs.

“Gentlemen!” Jennifer’s mother said forcefully. “The games are inside this evening.”

“Thank you so much,” I said quietly to Jennifer, smiling and shaking her hand. She smiled back.

“I am very persuasive,” she said.

“Why don’t you all come here and tell me what seems to be the problem,” her mother added, her head perched high. It was clear that court was now in session.

I saw the tall student and his friend casually discussing something as they sauntered back. Calico reached Thomas and gave him a squeeze before herding him towards the building. This was going to take a few minutes. I couldn’t tell Calico where Sam was and I knew the real mission was in jeopardy. It wasn’t even ten o’clock yet.

“I’ll be back,” I whispered to Jennifer, behind her mother’s back. I held my finger to my lips, begging for her silence and slipped quietly through the doors.