Thirty
“I kind of feel like we should have stayed,” Demi said, as Seattle shrunk in their rear window.
“I get the sentiment,” Mikaela said, “but I need a shower. And a change of underpants. And outerpants, for that matter.”
“I reverse them,” Iago said, “Then it’s like I’m wearing a whole new pair.”
“He better not be back there with his underpants on the outside,” Tucker said, “or I’m burning the upholstery.”
“There are other ways to agitate for change,” Drake said. “Marching in Seattle isn’t the only one.”
“Maybe not. But you can’t tell me that wasn’t… something,” Demi said, her voice light.
“Oh, it definitely was,” Tucker said, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. “But you can’t get caught up chasing that feeling, either. Sometimes change is marching through the streets of your podunk little college town, protesting police some nonlethal discrimination on a Tuesday. It’s the little, seemingly insignificant shit along with the big, important shit.”
“That’s profound shit,” Mikaela said.
“Oh, bite my brother’s inside-out underpants.”
“Not even with your teeth.”
“Ew.”
“I think I’m going to go back,” Mayumi said. “You’re right, that change is cumulative, and what happens in smaller towns impacts the bigger picture, too- but this is different. Because Seattle is the biggest city close to the school, itself he biggest collection of Breed- it’s a flashpoint. I think the cops and the city know it, too- I think that’s part of why their response was so aggressive so quickly. It got there in basically every city, but it added fuel. I need to be here, right now.”
“I think I’m going to come, too,” Demi said.
“I can’t,” Mikaela said. “The Breed Rox liberated from Cuba are already in the air, on their way to Bellingham. I promised I’d watch over them.”
“That’s okay,” Mayumi said. “I don’t think this is an either or thing. I think both are important, and necessary. Just because I feel like I need to go back, doesn’t mean anyone else should feel compelled to. Plus, I, too, need a change of underpants, too.”