Lead Sails & a Paper Anchor

Despite the scorching temperature, the humid air, and the insane heat of the near midday sun, I sat on the curb of the street, clad in dark blue skin tight jeans, a checkered black and pink jacket zipped up to my throat with a black and white shirt hidden underneath. My hood was up over my head, only I wasn't sweating or uncomfortable at all. I'd assume I looked strange, unfamiliar, or possibly insane to the other people outside. Who could blame them, seeing a child bundled up for winter lounging on the side of the street in 90∘ weather? I grinned at an elderly couple passing by, and the man abruptly put his arm around his wife's shoulders curling her into him and leading her away at the quickest hobble he could manage. I full out laughed as I watched them leave. Old people were kinda cute.
What followed them however, was not so cute. A handful of the neighborhood mafia, or so they liked to call themselves, was barreling down the street on a mix of skateboards, bikes and scooters. Some were on foot. There was 8 of them today, and compared to the usual 13 or 14 that repeatedly circled the streets of Highwood Estates, this was a blessing.Of course, none of them would have been out today were it not for their self-appointed "leader", Riley. He was in my class at school, and we only associated if the teacher had a brain-fart and paired us up for classwork. Other than that, I didn't know what he did with his time, nor did I care.
As they neared closer, I couldn't help but notice they were drifting closer to me than necessary to turn a corner. For the first time that day, I regretted being outside. Associating with a bunch of skater punks was not my favorite hobby. I vaguely remembered seeing some of the other boys before, maybe they went to my school too?
They stopped a couple yards away, their snickering quieting down too fast for any comfortable silence to be gained.
Riley stepped forward, and I could smell him. He was absolutely pungent with the stench of sweat, his somewhat shaggy hair matted to his forehead and the back of his neck, and small water stains on his light blue polo. He was barefoot, holding his skateboard in one hand, and his long grey shorts nearly touched the ground. To top all that off, he was attempting to pull off a sinister grin, which only made him look like an idiot. "Well, well! What brings you into the sun today, Ash?" I didn't blink and I didn't respond. "If this is about getting a tan, then you might wanna wear a little less, so the sun could actually reach you." I still didn't blink. Just stared and spoke, my tone even. "The only reason I would let the sun touch me was if I knew it would prevent you from doing it."
A tiny chuckle sounded through his army, but he whipped his head around to glare at them, and they stifled their laughter immediately. Riley turned back. "You must have thought about it then. Often enough to have decided already." I could see him resisting a smirk. It wasn't even that clever. I don't know why he gets ahead of himself like that. "Only once, last week, when you purposely spilled a glass of chemicals on me, then started wiping my shirt with your bare hands. It was disgusting, why do you think I was sick at home for the rest of the week?" His smirk disappeared, and his eyes tightened. So sensitive. Must be the heat. " Alright, Asher, you'd better be inside when we come around again." I grinned at that. "Worried about my health? I didn't know you had this pussy side of you, Riley. Hmm, this changes things...I might just have to touch you." He abruptly turned away and made sure I heard his noise of disgust.
The little pack behind him parted like the sea as he stormed away, grumbling about how drunk and high he'd have to be to allow that to happen. Well, he had the easy part. I'd have to amputate my hands and boil my arms up to my shoulders.
They left one by one and two by two, some lingering long enough to scuff some dirt on the cement at me. As they scampered off, I noticed two unfamiliar little boys. They were probably around 10 years old. I smiled maniacally to myself. I'd have to tell Riquette about this. Surely a 15 year old cradle-crusader could scare off a few of the little shits in my neighborhood.
I pulled my hood down and shook out my choppy hair. The shortness of it was probably the only thing that kept me cool even with all the layers on. I slowly stretched my legs out and stood up to stretch. I teetered backwards for a moment, and my vision blurred into black. My hands instinctively gripped my head and my eyes shut tight as I steadied myself.
When the world stopped tilting over, I opened my eyes. Gross. The sun was still there.
I sighed and mentally kicked myself. "I really should have eaten something this morning..." I muttered to myself and started dragging my feet in the direction of Riquette's house.
"Asher!" My head snapped up at the gruff call of my name. I knew that voice much too well. Without turning around, I steeled myself for the wrath of an angry, hairy man, and answered with the most innocence I could muster. "Hey, dad...Everything...ok?"
The low, poorly concealed growl that rumbled before his response was enough to set my nerves on edge. "Where do you think you're going? I know for a fact you haven't eaten anything today, and-- Kid, what the hell! You're going to have a heat stroke with all that on! You need to get inside and change your clothes, then have something to eat, alright? "
I raised my hands in defense. "Alright, I'll eat, ok? I was just heading to Riquette's and I wanted to eat some of those Mini Mama pizzas they have." His tone immediately softened. "Oh, ok. Well, then be back before 6 then." He said with a smile in his voice.
It was amazing, how simple it was to persuade my dad. All I even had to say was that I had plans to do what he wanted, and he was fully content to let me be on my way.
I turned my head to him briefly with my own smile. "Kay, later dad."

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Half an hour later, I was standing in Riquette's front yard, watching every step her enormous great dane made towards or around me. It was growling so menacingly, I'm sure it would have been terrifying...well, maybe to a rabbit, but even then, only the skittish ones in the wild.
He suddenly launched himself off his back paws and bounded over to me, barking happily. I giggled and when he came close enough, I tried to tackle him into a hug. Riquette came outside in time to see me bowled over by a furry wrecking ball. "Holy Christ, Lumpkins, keep it in your pants!" I heard her shriek.
I rolled to the side and sprang to my feet, then broke into a run towards Riquette. She instantly realized what was about to happen. I could see her body tense. I leapt into the air, and just before I crashed into her, I heard the piercing scream of my victim.