The Magic

The Magic

A Story by saumenschisacutiex
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Jimmy is a dreamy young boy who is stuck in the car. Is this drive going to be like the same ones he's always experienced or will he leave with special magic that will change his life?

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Jimmy peered out the car window and glared at the children who huddled at the corner of the carpark. He leaped from his chair and caught glimpses of the youthful activities he yearned to be apart off. A figurine �" Captain Lotti, balanced on the edge of an eldest child’s hand and towered above the other shorter children, like a dictator at a podium preaching to loyal peasants. Enchanted eyes gazed at the model and cast it’s spell upon them. Jimmy too fell under it’s magic.


“Auntie you can’t be doing that, you know what the doctor said. Please take care of yourself and take your medication. Okay?” A pause lingered in the stale air-conditioned car, the phone spoke back. “Love you bye.” Jimmy’s mother calmly rested her phone in her purse and eyed the front car mirror.


‘Jimmy love. Have you finished the shopping list?” Lipstick was now in her hand, cap undone. “Please add some bread for the homeless man I see at the mall. What a terrible sight to see him there!” Her muffled voice reached Jimmy’s ears, it somehow able to navigate past the rachet smell of all the old food on the floor.


They turned out of the carpark swiftly, Jimmy adjusted his earphones and scorned a short reply. “Yes mum.” Convincingly, though coincidental, he nodded his head to the beat of the music and hummed to the lyrics that filled his heart. Glen campbell’s song spoke over Jimmy’s mum.


Don't walk around the down and out

Lend a helping hand instead of doubt.


Jimmy lowered the music and captured the rest of his mother’s sentence. Glen’s last words almost too soft to hear.


And the kindness that you show every day

Will help someone along their way


“What did you say about Angus mum?” Jimmy whispered.


She flashed at him and Jimmy removed his earphones. Anxiously he curled it in his hands. “Isn’t he a bit quiet that boy? He never said a word all the way to his house.”


“That just how he is mum.” Jimmy replied reluctantly. He replayed the scene in his mind. Only a few moments before he had made a pact with Angus. Don’t say a word and you’ll survive unscathed. The words resounded in his ears. You’ll survive unscathed. His thoughts were interrupted by a grumbling belly. He shot a look at his mum’s chair.


“Jimmy are you hungry? I’m driving past Macca’s now is there anything you want?” She asked him excitedly. Although Jimmy was 12, he was sure of the origin of the noise that expressed hunger came from his mother. Jimmy sighed and grabbed the earpieces again. He ignored her as she pleaded again for conversation.


“How many friends have said they’d come Jimmy? Why don’t you invite that Sara girl? She’s so beautiful, though I do mix her up with the Jessica one. And oh what a good influence she is on you. She’s smart too.” Jimmy’s eyes lowered and he turned up the music to dangerous levels. Restlessly, he beamed out the window once more, ghastly silhouettes flashed past him and street lights danced on his face.


“It’s too late I’m turning in now.” The car swerved unstably into the decrepit drive-thru. In the mirror, Jimmy watched her tongue lick her lips and almost smile sickly. He’d seen it all before.


“Mum she can’t come because she’s working. Only Angus and one more friend is coming.” Jimmy replied, his eyes now focussed on his brightly lit phone. He knew the real reason no one wished to come. Gossip about him had spread at school. Who knows what she had heard by now. Jimmy watched the glowing neon advertisements through the window blankly and spoke.


“She’s only popular because of her action figure collection mum.” Jimmy scathed.


Little to his mum’s knowledge Jimmy had tried tirelessly to get closer to her but with no collection to match his enthusiasm, little friendship had been nurtured despite all his attempts. He couldn’t even approach her, let alone speak. As he reminisced, drops of rain on the window emulated tears and blurred the walls of text before him. Meals upon meals were being sold at prices that suited his mother. Many of them Jimmy could match their containers to those on the car floor �" still rotting one week later. Gallantly, one large picture stood in the centre of it all. Though the colours and face were obscured almost beyond recognition, the pose was undeniable with his arms at the waist and chest bursting proudly out. Jimmy’s earphone fell out. His mum rolled down the window.


“Captain Lotti �" King of the sea and treasure of all secrets. Get the happy meal now and unlock the magic of friendship. My god doesn’t he sound queer Mandy?” Laughed Gatsby who sat proudly next to Jimmy’s mum. Gatsby was the new boyfriend. Jimmy’s mum had reassured him this one would last. Smoothly, he smirked and winked at Jimmy’s mother.


“Oh it’s just a kid’s thing don’t be so harsh darling.” She looked into the mirror and saw the smile vanish off Jimmy’s face. A softly spoken, heavenly voice spoke through the ordering machine.


“Good afternoon Ma’am. What could I get for you today?” Her sweet voice faintly letting itself into the car like a well-known guest. Jimmy stirred at the voice. It reminded him of angels �" the variety that were splendidly erotic, radiant and mighty. However, he knew it was best to keep the music loud and eyes down or he’d catch more appalling courting of his mum.


“Doesn’t she sound like a lovely little squirt?” Giggled Gatsby. Jimmy’s mum shot a look at him as her jaw opened slightly.


“She sounds young enough to be your daughter watch your mouth! If you like her so much why don’t you ask her on a date? Mhmph!” Mandy flicked her hair and returned to the menu, her head through the window to accommodate her poor vision. The water had dripped enough for Jimmy to read about his favourite superhero. “1 in 1000 chance for a golden figurine. Test your luck today!” Abruptly, the romantic jazz that blasted his ears ended and broke his distraction. Birds chirping and other winter fragments replaced it. Jimmy stared down. His phone was dead.


“I was only joking love.” Gatsby retorted brutishly. Jimmy’s mother refused to acknowledge his response. Her fickle resistance was cut short by a question. “Is the family pack enough? Should we get 2?”


“Why? There’s only 3 people here.” Gatsby objected, thoroughly pleased with his small victory.


“Well you can eat it for dinner too of course.” She replied cheerfully.


Gatsby’s face contorted slightly but hid itself quickly under his sly reply. “Not really. I had something else on my mind to eat.” He winked at her.


“Well I’m not in the mood to cook I’m busy today. You’ll have it for lunch tomorrow.” She replied �" her response almost overshadowed by a muffled burp. Jimmy noticed his mother’s large nostrils and deep breathing. He wriggled in his chair and sighed. He had hoped he didn’t have to hear their conversation. A crushing feeling overcame him at the sight of 5 cars ahead of them.


“What about you Jimmy?” She asked in a raised voice. “Hey take those things out. Listen to me when I speak.” Jimmy complied but didn’t respond. “Fine. Good afternoon darling. I’ve love 2 family packs thanks �" the young one eats so much!” A forced smile matched her lies.


“Well now don’t we all ahahha!” The cashier giggled. “In that case should I add a happy meal, fries included?”

Jimmy’s heart skipped a beat as he dreamily gazed into the speakers. Almost emotional, he wanted to thank the lovely lady for the offer. Jimmy’s mum was rustling in her purse and accidently rolled down his window. Hastily, Jimmy’s head leaped out. With caution he glanced at his mum’s mirror and attempted to speak up for himself.


“Mu �" Mu �" Mu May I get it p �" p �" pplease?” His boyish voice flared proudly to the speaker.  


“Hahaha is that the first time you’ve talked to a girl?” Gatsby erupted, laughing hysterically. Jimmy flushed and retreated to the depths of his chair. His heart ached at being the point of humour, despite his manly attempts. Jimmy’s mum poked her head out and corrected Jimmy.


“Oh no sorry. That was my son �" we’ve not got the money for that.” Conveniently, Gatsby’s remark had escaped her ears but Jimmy’s had not. “Jimmy don’t be rude like that and let me handle the ordering please. Thank you. What are you laughing at Gatsby?”


“Nothing nothing.” Gatsby returned breathlessly, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. He wiped them slowly away. Jimmy whispered unspeakable words under his broken voice. Sounds of squeaky tires filled the rest of the silence. Tears were forming in Jimmy’s eyes and he begged for this car trip to end. Only then would he be able to eat his feelings out and shower. Angrily, he thrust his earphones in and repeated Glen’s words as best as he could remember.


Don't walk around the down and out

Lend a helping hand instead of doubt.


As though someone was listening to him Jimmy’s mum asked for help. “Darling please hand me the purse now.” It had slipped to the backseat.


“Can you please close the window please? I don’t want to feel the cold.” Jimmy replied as he reached under the seat. His hand touched something wet and made him flinch.


“Don’t backchat please. Just hand it over, the lady is here now.” The car came to stop.


Jimmy’s hand explored the depths of the bottom of the car. His head rushed with blood and his heart raced uncontrollably. The vessels in his eyes engorged and worsened the reddening of his eyes. The cold crept on him and ached his back. Droplets of rain soaked through his jumper and reached his skin. Cold made him shiver wistfully.


“Oh J �" J �" Jessica! How lovely to see you!” He heard his speak to the lady in the distance.


“You stutter just like Jimmy. No wonder he has no friends!” Prodded Gatsby �" his humour selfishly entertaining himself. Jimmy’s mum blushed as she fired back a deathly stare. Jimmy’s hand found the purse just as his mother’s teeth grinded so aggressively a chipped tooth echoed in the car. Click


“Jimmy come say hello to your friend Jessica.” She added. Suddenly Jimmy’s colour drained from his face. His heart rattled within his chest as he hid his eyes down shyly.


“Mum that’s Sara, not Jessica.” He tossed the purse at her as Gatsby exploded into a cachinnation of crackles. Painfully, one hand gripped Gatsby’s belly and another held the door frame. Jimmy felt his heart collapse under its own weight as Sara chortled and hurried with the card. BEEP


She stuttered, “Ma’am the card is denied. It says insufficient funds.” Sara spoke kindly.


A vein bulged in Jimmy’s mum’s head �" her breathing now course and voice alarmingly sharp. “Gatsby what did you spend our money on. I told you to stop going out and eating at those restaurants.” Haphazardly, she yelled at him.


Gatsby collected the little dignity he could muster shouted back. “God d****t woman you know I haven’t gone out in ages. You spend all the money on clothes not me! So shut the f**k up and get the cash.” He snickered and pealed out to face the window.


Sadness tugged at the corners of Jimmy’s lips as if invisible witches were playing tug-of-war with the last of his feelings. If the anticipation of tears didn’t torment him enough the tender look of Sara’s empathetic face left a horrible dull ache of misery that continued to ache long after he had buried his face into his hands.


Jimmy’s mum gave the cash as Gatsby snorted another remark. “You dumb child stop crying.”


Sara paused. Jimmy’s mum turned and slapped Gatsby. Clap The echo silencing the car.


“You’ve done enough.” She gnashed her teeth jarringly.


Jimmy bent forward where he sat and pressing his palms hard, he began to cry. Once that first tear broke free, the rest followed in an unbroken stream. Shouting consumed the car as Jimmy whispered small words of support. ‘The tears don't hurt me like that ache did’, he told himself. The sobs were stifled at first as he attempted to hide his grief. His lips trembled and his shoulders heaved with emotion, unwilling to surrender. Then overcome by the tsunami of his emotions he broke down entirely, all his defences washed away in those salty tears. He had hoped to cry himself to sleep �" he was unfamiliar with having an audience. When he at last turned his face to Sara he was a ruined picture of grief, loss, devastation. It was the kind Sara had seen before. It was the face of one who had suffered before and didn't know if he could do it again.


When the car continued to roll forward, the corner of Sara’s eye glittered in the booth. While they waited Jimmy cried his heart out with an anguish that shocked even himself. His hands clenched into shaking fists in a desperate battle against the pain. His attempts to compose himself only delved him deeper into sadness. Eventually, he settled to a lone tear traced down his cheek, but it was not long before the floodgates re-opened. He wept and wept, loud, heaving sobs raging from his dry over-used throat. And still he did not look up. What would Sara tell everyone at school?


A young lady passed the food and Gatsby threw it into the back. It crashed into the floor of the backseat and welcomed itself to the family of rotten siblings. Tears fell directly down now, Jimmy’s head digging deep into the chair in front of him. What else could Jimmy do? Is it better to rack your body with piercing sobs and let the world know of your pain, or to slowly release your emotion within yourself with more painful, silent tears?


Only one thing helped Jimmy. The glint of a plastic wrapper �" hidden among the greasy food. In that moment, if one listened intently and watched closely, one could hear the mending of a broken heart. It was a small sniff and two infinitesimal drops of water issued from the nearly closed and wrinkled eyes that signalled its start. Jimmy rubbed his crimson eyes. Fumbling, his hands unclasped the package with eager hands. A golden Captain Lotti glared in his wet lap. Warmly, he gazed out the window into the distant booth while he clasped the small note on the wrapper and thought of Sara. ‘A little Magic can take you a long way’ it told him. A final tear rolled down his cheek. He repeated to himself Glem’s lyrics.


And the kindness that you show every day

Will help someone along their way

© 2020 saumenschisacutiex


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Added on April 19, 2020
Last Updated on April 19, 2020
Tags: Hope, Family, Teen, Fiction, Love, Romance

Author

saumenschisacutiex
saumenschisacutiex

About
I'm a 20 year old boy with a passion for writing. more..