Cherry Slush
Alex goes to the state fair alone. Her roommate bailed. Sister didn't answer.
She's twenty-nine. Works in insurance. Columbus.
Buys a cherry slush. Too sweet. Walks around drinking it.
Three teenagers pass wearing cherry-red skirts. On their phones. They separate at the ring toss.
Alex chews bubble gum. Blows a bubble. It pops.
Gets in line for the Ferris wheel. Person behind her texting. Person in front on a call.
The wheel is slow. She gets off. Walks to the livestock barns.
People taking photos of cows.
Her sister texts: "How's the fair?"
Alex: "Fine."
Sister: "You alone?"
Alex: "Yeah."
Buys funnel cake. Sits at a picnic table. Three other people there. All on phones.
Her roommate texts: "Sorry I bailed."
Alex: "It's fine."
Tries ring toss. Fails. The worker takes her money.
Gets another cherry slush. Sits on a bench.
A couple sits down. Not talking. Both scrolling.
Alex's phone: 6% battery.
Walks around. Gets cotton candy. Takes fifteen minutes.
Takes a photo of it. Posts it.
Phone dies.
Sits near the exit. Watches people leave.
A kid walks past blowing bubbles.
Alex gets up. Drives home. Roommate is watching TV.
"How was it?"
"Fine."
Roommate goes back to TV. Alex goes to her room. Plugs in phone.
Phone turns on. Three texts from sister.
Notification: 2 likes.
Looks at the cotton candy photo. Deletes it.
Her roommate knocks. "You want dinner? Ordering pizza."
"Not hungry."
Roommate leaves.
Lies there. Phone buzzes. Sister: "Hello?"
Alex: "Yeah. Tired."
Sister: "Ok."
Gets up. Goes to living room. Roommate eating pizza.
"Changed your mind?"
"Yeah."
They eat pizza. Watch TV.
Roommate laughs at something. Alex missed it.
Finishes pizza. Roommate says: "This show is stupid."
"Yeah."
They keep watching.
Alex thinks about going to bed. Doesn't go yet.
Roommate gets up. "I'm going to bed."
"Okay."
Roommate leaves. Alex sits there. TV on.
Gets up. Brushes teeth. Goes to bed.
Her dad used to take her to get ice cream on Thursdays. Or was it Tuesdays? Can't remember. He'd get vanilla. She'd get chocolate. They'd sit in the car. He'd tell her about work. She didn't understand what he did.
Phone buzzes. Work reminder about Monday meeting.
Puts phone on silent.
Closes her eyes.
