Happy as a clam, Fester clapped like a seal. “Hi everyone, we’ve come together to celebrate Ayihcah’s discharge from the hospital. That’s why I thought we could have a cracker party.” A table set with crackers, chips, salad, dressings of all kinds, and an assortment of bizarre deserts. The group began munching, not giving an ear to Fester’s jazzy talk. “Hey!”

  “We’ve had a cracker party every week,” Horst said.

  Eurig munched on a very salty saltine before speaking up. “Oti was discharged two months ago, wasn’t he?”

  “I love melon and crackers,” Otie said like a lost duck.

  “Oh fine then, put the crackers on the spread for all I care! Enjoy your weird meal!” Fester said.

  “Oh, a cracker party! That’s what I call luxurious,” Akli Graham said as he walked into the stripped room. “Hello everyone. You’re fine with my company?”

  “Hoah, it’s the mayor,” Eurig grinned.

  “Mayor…?” Cherry asked.

  “Akli Graham, thirty-four, single, district mayor of Ontiganel,” Horst educated.

  “Pfft,” Otie accidentally spat cracker bits. “Ya, disturbing our mealtime; so what do you want?” Otie said casually.

  “I’ve come here to challenge you, Otie.”

  “Whaa…? How come?”

  With a serious nod, Akli crossed his arms as a single tear rolled down the side of his face. “Cause you insulted me the other day! I couldn’t sleep… Every night I thought of what you had said. So I came to settle stuff.”

  “What did you say?” Cherry asked, her rosy perfume making Otie sneeze.

  “Ah, it was nothing,” Otie replied, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.

  “…” Horst stared. Fester was still being hysterical over the crackers being somewhat ignored over the spread of snacks. Akli stood, nervously, wondering as to what to do.

  “Enough! You said: ‘Fuck off, old fart! Your time is long over anyway!’” Akli shouted in agitation.

  “Bullshit! I just said you weren’t up to skating no more!” Otie snapped.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Skating…? Hah, of course I still know how to skate,” Akli gave a thumbs up.

  He really believed that? “Oh, then let’s have a contest, right now,” Otie slouched back.

  “Uh…” Akli began to sweat. “No, I will set the rules.”

  Clearing the table, both Akli and Otie sat opposite of each other. Otie with the light of the window blinding Akli’s vision of the lad. Taiga and Urjohar were on cleaning duty, tossing bags away as Horst, Fester, and Cherry stood around. Akli had several bottle caps laid out in front of him, his grin giddier than a toddler’s.

  “And?” Otie questioned.

  “A game we played when I was young. We’ll do hand-claps, and whoever flips more bottle caps with the air’s movement is the winner. Each player decides how the caps are positioned, but you can only clap once, and that’s it! Let’s go!!” Akli smacking his water bottle off the table whipped his arm around into a vacuum that brought two hands together; sending five caps toppling over in a line similar to a shore wave. Unfortunately…

  “One cap didn’t flip over,” Horst announced.

  “Ayee, I’m next,” Otie stretched his arms. Closing his eyes, letting the blinds that sat still whisper behind his back. As if to pray his posture straightened, his hands came together and then opened.

  “Hmm, what’s he doing?” Akli scratched his chin.

  “He’s collecting the wind…” Cherry said with a solemn smile.

  Gentle bubbles of the mind, sunken in a sea born of clouds. Otie opened his eyes, a most tender breeze brushed the blinds; turning to hands that turned each and every cap over onto its other side. Akli frowned with a disgruntled noise.

  “I’ve won,” Otie said.

  “For today…indeed,” Akli said. “But there are always three rounds to a fight! The decisive rounds aren’t done yet.”

  Crossing her legs, Cherry emitted an imposing aura. “Sorry, but don’t you think that’s unfair?”

  “Hmph-hmph, yeah,” Fester chimed along.

  “Heh, whoever said it would be one round? Not I. However, I’ll compromise, and announce a trophy. As you know, this school will close once you all graduate next year. But do you know what will replace these school grounds?”

  “Beats me…” Eurig said.

  “Nope!” Fester added.

  “The area is owned by the district government, we plan to either build a government building, or a municipal hall. If you’re the winner, Otie…I promise to stop those plans.”

  Taking a sip of pop, Otie rolled his eyes. “Why should we care what happens to this place after our graduation?” The rest agreed with him, though Cherry made no comment.

  “Really think so? What about making this place a skate park?” Akli suggested.

  “Yo, Oti,” Eurig winked.

  “Hah, you can decide it just like that?” Otie asked.

  “Actually I’m the only one who can decide! So, gonna accept the challenge?”

  “Haha,” Otie leaned forward, a grin as wide as a jackal’s and as bright as the sun, his piercing gaze narrowing onto Akli’s. “Of course; I’ll decide the rules for the next two rounds though!”