Slice Of Life: A Daily Story

Day Seven

Thursday, June 28th
based on a Magic 2013 iPad game that I kept continually losing!

I Think I Can’t

“I can’t do this!!” Katelyn threw the cards across the table. Robert, Kip, and Cindy stared at her, jaws dropped. Katelyn stood, hands balled into fists, jaw clenched, tears forming and just beginning to roll down her cheeks. The three risked fearful glances at each other and stood at their seats. Katelyn turned toward the wall, keenly aware of how her outburst made her appear and of course she felt quite a bit of embarrassment tossed in with a tad of humiliation. “I’m sorry” she mumbled. She turned back to her friends, “I just don’t get this stupid, dumb, idiotic game!” Katelyn was whining but right at the moment she didn’t care. She had lost every hand since they began playing two hours earlier. “You said this was an easy game” she continued on. “But it’s not!” Robert and Kip looked at Cindy dumbfounded, a look Cindy knew all too well. It was the ‘YOU do something with her!’ look. Cindy shrugged slightly and walked towards Katelyn. “Ya do know that you’re overreactin’, don’ja?” Katelyn stared at her, eyes unblinking, tears still streaming down her face. She didn’t want to admit it but she did know that Cindy was right. “You just aint gettin’ the luck of the draw” Cindy crooned, wrapping an arm around Katelyn’s shoulders. “Com’n back ta the table and we’ll have a nother go at it.” Cindy led Katelyn back to the table and sat her in the chair. Robert and Kip mumbled something about drinks and snacks and darted off to the kitchen. Cindy shook her head as she watched them depart to the dining room. “Men,” she said. Katelyn kind of chuckled at that. “Ya wanna tissue, Katelyn,” Cindy asked. Katelyn nodded her head and watched as Cindy left toward the bathroom to retrieve the box of Kleenex. ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid’, Katelyn scolded herself. ‘Why do you always have to behave like such a baby?’ Robert and Kip returned with a bowl of Mexi-chips and salsa. “Here ya go, Katelyn,” said Kip. “Dive in,” Robert finished. Cindy returned with the box of Kleenex and Katelyn took one and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She grabbed a chip and dipped it deep into the bowl of salsa. “Okeh” she said, stuffing the chip into her mouth. “Let’sh try thish again.” The three looked at her and said almost in unison, “Huh?” Katelyn laughed and repeated, “Let’s try this again. Robert, shuffle those darn cards.” Robert, Kip, and Cindy took their seats and an easy chatter began once again among the four friends. “Ok” Robert said as he dealt the cards. “Let’s try this again and this time Cindy will help you each step of the way.” “Better yet” Kip cajoled, “all cards face up fer the next two games.” Katelyn smiled big, glad for her friends who understood her so well.