March Promts: Day 9 Open
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“You know if you smiled more people might wanna spend some time with you, Kid.”
He said nothing, his eyes were firmly fixed on the window.
They had only been driving two minutes, didn't even make it out the neighbor and then the man started on him.
“You can't go on like that,” He fiddled with the radio, turning it back off eventually. “You gotta open yourself up to people. You might even be happier.”
‘I don't have to do anything.’ The Kid kept his eyes glued to the powers lines. Imaging them breaking, if he concentrated hard enough.
“You know, we’ve done nothing but be nice to you.”
‘Shut up.’
“We didn't have to open our home to you,” He said, “Or give you all those new clothes or-,” The Man licked his lips, taking a moment to breath. And to find the rest of his lecture.
“Or make you donuts. Right? See, Mrs. Lateton made some homemade donuts just for you, and you don't even appreciate it. When's the last time someone's been that nice to you?”
The Kid didn't answer still. He was concentrating on the slabs of sidewalk now. He could see them, imagine them floating up, and whipping themselves at the car. At all the cars on the road. Anything to make this conversation over and done with.
It suddenly hit him there had been mainly nothing but Robert and Flora Latetons. People who gave him the same talk, when he wasn't acting like the other kids.
Which meant, The Kid knew, really meant he wasn't being as happy as they thought he should be.
There was a long line of people he realized, behind him who he let down or were disappointed, for that very reason.
And it was all just...bullshi-
“Okay.” Robert parked the car, shaking him from his thoughts. Almost as though he could read his mind and sense the curse word about to finish.
“So, when we get back to the house, you are going to straighten up.” He said, getting out, “And guess what? Lucky for you I'm gonna get you a treat from inside. Okie doke?”
The Kid nodded, not looking at him. He watched Robert go in, and disappear inside the store. He looked back out at the street.
When Richard came back to the car, he found it empty. And the passenger side door was wide open.