Ugh, here we go. April first.
I mean, how overpyed can it get? “Guess I got April Fooled!” Why does this phrase carry such temptation for so many? It’s bad enough that my parents gave me a freaking girl's name, which invites teasing any day, but giving me one that actually gets me pranked more than everyone else on April Fools Day? Gee thanks mom, that must’ve taken some work!
I rolled over and smmed the top of my arm as hard as I possibly could. Contrary to what I’d just done, I really liked my arm. It was a bck square with red digits illuminating the screen that covered the front side and a big snooze button which took up most of the top. It bred that one cssic sitcom arm sound effect only psychopaths actually used. Maybe I’ve gone a bit crazy but I always get a kick out of doing the arm clock bit on mornings like this. Mornings I’d rather stay in bed and never wake up.
I woke up in a funk because the same thing happens every year: I’m going to be the target of an above average amount of practical jokes at school. Everybody knows that April Fools Day pranks are that much funnier when you pull them on the kid named April May! I thought gloomily as I descended the stairs still wearing the old Nintendo t-shirt and pajama pants I slept in st night. Rounding the corner into the kitchen and I found myself face to face with my mother.
“Hey kiddo! You remember what day it is today?”
“Of course.” I grumbled. “How could I forget?”
“Great! Can you take this out with the bag from the main kitchen garage?” she asked, handing me the little waste basket from under the sink. “And be sure to bring all the other bags from the garage to the curb too.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“It’s garbage day” Mom smirked. “Or had you forgotten?”
Her warm smile was infectious. “No, I hadn’t forgotten.” I smiled back. “Just messing with you.”
“Right, of course,” she ughed. “I have an appointment downtown in about an hour. If you like, I can give you a ride to school on my way there.”
“Sure” I replied, taking the little white bag out of the waste basket and tying the top. “Thanks Mom.”
I repced the bag and returned the waste bin to its home beneath the sink as I made my way across the kitchen. We kept the main kitchen garbage next to the door leading out into the garage. With my hands now full, I entered the garage.
I could see there were only a couple other bags there. With it being just mom and I at the house, we didn’t produce much waste. Shouldn’t take me more than two trips. I thought to myself as I punched the button on the wall next to me to open the garage door. As it slowly raised, I threw the bags I had in hand into the nearest garbage can and began my first trip down to the curb.
Upon reaching the end of the driveway, I could see someone walking up the street with their head down. Despite the warm spring weather, they wore a long coat with a hat which further hid their face from view.
I didn’t think twice as the peculiar pedestrian passed behind me on my way back to the garage. One down, one to go. I thought hauling the second can down to join the first. It wasn’t until I almost stepped on it that I noticed something shiny on the sidewalk before me.
Bending down, I could see it was a small golden ring.
“Hey excuse me!” I called out while bent over to retrieve it. “I think you dropped your ring.”
Yet once I had it in my grasp, the mysterious stranger was nowhere to be found! Where could they have disappeared so quickly? I wondered.
With a mildly confused shrug, I started making my way up the driveway once again. Before reentering the garage, I examined the ring for any distinguishing features like an engraving of some kind. It did not appear to have anything of the sort. Perfectly smooth and completely unextraordinary.
As the garage door lowered behind me, I slipped the ring onto my finger.
