"You don't have to kiss," Randy said as if it was important for Carmen to know. Of course, she was in the middle of getting the dishes out of the dishwasher when he said it.
"What? What did you just say?" She winced with a smile. Did she hear him correctly? "What are you talking about?"
"You know, you don't have to kiss," he nodded.
"Oh."
After his announcement on the subject, he went to his room with his library books which were all juvenial graphic novels.
Carmen wasn't sure what to say. And Randy didn't wait for an answer.
Justin was in his room at his laptop. His door was open but she tapped on the door anyway. He seemed to be in deep thought. She hated to bother him.
"Did you hear what Randy said?" Carmen sighed as she hugged herself leaning in his doorway.
"I guess, I didn't."
Justin was still studying his screen. "What is it?" He turned to look at her.
"Randy? What's he going on about?' She looked at him ever so seriously.
"About what?"
"You haven't heard him? Haven't you been listening?" Carmen knew he spent more time with him than she did.
"Um," Justin shrugged as if he didn't really have time to guess.
"You know, It's OK not to Kiss?"
"And..and that's a bad thing?" He was straight-lipped.
"Well, you know," she'd never really thought about it. It wasn't something anyone talked about when she was growing up. "It just sounds kind of weird." She shrugged back as if she guessed she was making something out of nothing.
"Is it?" He kept staring at her as if he didn't want to talk about it. "Look, he has to know to give people their space. And ...well.."
Carmen nodded. She knew he was right. It was just a phrase she'd never heard of. Was it a trend she needed to know more about?
There are sentences that we are simply not ready to hear... That's what I think after reading the chapter.
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued by "graphic novels", because it's not about comics, is it? I have to look for it. Hugs, have a good time!
graphic novels are so popular at our library. Even in the juvenial section. True..they can be graphic..especially the adult ones..which we don't have anymore. Marvel comics and stories are the winners in our YA section.
DeleteAbout, It's OK NOT TO KISS was told to me by a six year old, recently. I found it to be an interesting concept that I wished my parents would have approached when I was that age. Of course, some one in my family while in preschool kissed everyone. He was so passionate back then, now you would never know it.
It is a strange topic...but Randy had a point...you don't have to if you don't want to.
ReplyDeleteRandy might not look to be 'special needs', but he does need mantras to live by. And he might be smarter than he even knows.
DeleteCool love story
ReplyDeleteInteresting -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeletehola
ReplyDeleteestupendo capítulo, me has dejado con ganas de mas
Besotessssssssssss
Everyone is allowed to be who they are. I think that's good.
ReplyDeleteNobody is like other one, and we need to accept us and the others
ReplyDeleteI love this chapter
Thanks for sharing!
Have a nice day ♥
I think Randy makes for a fair point.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to do it if you don't want to.
Even more, you shouldn't do it if you don't want to.
I mean people might not feel like going to work or something, but they might need to---and least for a while. Kids need to go to school even if they don't feel like studying.
But kissing...it's something you really shouldn't do if you don't want to.
strange, but very good story.....
ReplyDelete