//------------------------------// // Bonus: The Gummy Worms // Story: Off The Market // by Summer Dancer //------------------------------// Ditzy could hardly keep still. Her eyes eagerly watched the end of the street. Ditzy’s father kept hold of her legs as she sat on top of his shoulders. She clutched at his head and he looked up. “You ready for school, Ditzy?” “Yep!” she chirped. “You gonna learn a lotta things?” “Yep!” “You gonna make a lotta friends?” “Yep yep!” “Yeah? What’s gonna be your favorite subject, do you know?” “Uhhhmmm…” Ditzy thought. “Math.” “Math?” Gizmo gave an amused chuckle. “Naaaah, nobody likes Math. What’re you gonna be, an Accountant?” She smiled widely. “Yeah!” “Do you know what an Accountant is?” Ditzy paused, then shook her head, giggling. “Ah, see? That’s why you’re going to school. Learn up, so you can be an Accountant, eh? You can be anything you wanna be. You could be a Scientist if you wanted.” Just then, something big and yellow came from around the corner. Ditzy gasped. “Ohh, look at that,” Gizmo pointed. “What’s that?” “The Bus!” Ditzy shouted, practically bouncing. “Yeaaah, it’s here for you!” He lifted Ditzy from his shoulders and placed her on the sidewalk. “Got your lunch box?” Ditzy bent down and picked up her shiny blue lunch box with a smiling kitten on the front. “Got it!” she declared, holding it up high. “Alright, now don’t lose it, okay? Gimme a kiss.” He bent down to her height, and she gave him a smooch on the cheek. “Mwah!” Smiling, Gizmo stood back up, and the Bus pulled up, rumbling and squeaking as it came to a slow stop. Ditzy’s heart pounded with excitement when she saw the faces of other children staring down at her. She dashed in front of the large double doors, careful not to trip over her own feet. There was another squealing sound, then the doors swung open with a whoosh, blowing back her feathery blonde pigtails. The smell of burnt rubber filled her nose. “Morning!” The driver shouted over the loud roar of the engine, lifting a hand. “Hi!” Ditzy replied, quickly mounting the steps. “Bye bye, Ditzy!” “Bye Daddy!” The doors pulled shut behind her. “Go ahead and find a seat,” the Driver told her. Ditzy stood in the aisle and searched. Immediately, as if they were seated on butter, the kids slid over to the edge of their seats. A chorus of taken’s filled the air as she walked past. “Taken.” “Taken.” “Taken!” The Bus started again, and Ditzy had to grab onto one of the leather seats to keep herself balanced. She saw an opening next to her and began to sit down, but the girl seated at the window gasped and pushed her off. “No, it’s taken!” she said indignantly, practically lying across the seat. “I’m serious. My friend’s sitting here.” Ditzy backed off. “Okay.” She held onto the top of another seat, frowning. There were only two more rows left; the left side of the bus wasn’t an option. A girl with rainbow-colored hair seemed to be arguing with two mean-looking boys behind her. “Leave her alone!” she yelled, trying to shield the frightened girl next to her as they leaned over top and grabbed at her long, pink ponytail. “Make us!” one of the boys laughed. Nope, she didn’t want any of that. Ditzy considered standing in the aisle until they arrived when a voice spoke up from her right. “You can sit here.” Ditzy blinked. A boy her age was looking up at her. He needed a haircut—his long, shaggy blue hair fell around his face like a mop, almost completely covering his eyes. “If you want,” he added, scooting over. Ditzy nodded and slid next to him, grateful for the offer. The rainbow-haired girl stood up onto her seat, and turned around to face the two boys. “I said, cut it out!” “Hey!” The Driver barked, glancing at the rear-view mirror. “Sit down!” “What’s wrong with your eyes?” the boy asked curiously. Ditzy frowned. She looked down at her lap, clutching at her lunch box. “Nothing’s wrong with them.” “Then why are they like that? Does it hurt?” Ditzy glanced back up and gave him a cautious once-over. Her parents had prepared her for things like this. She didn’t really understand why her eyes were such a big deal—but it seemed like one to everyone else. But this boy wasn’t trying to be mean, Ditzy realized. In fact, he actually looked a bit…concerned. “No,” she finally replied. “It doesn’t hurt. I can see just fine.” She faced the front and swung her feet over the edge of her seat. “My Mom used to say that when I was born, I was so excited to see the world around me, I tried to look everywhere at once; And that my eyes were stuck like that ever since.” The boy’s jaw dropped. “Did that really happen?” “Mmm, I don’t think so. My Mom lies a lot.” “Well, it’d be cool if it did.” “Oww!” wailed the pink-haired girl as one of the boys gave her ponytail a hard yank. The rainbow-haired girl tugged at the boy’s hand in attempt to set her friend free. “I’m gonna bite if you don’t stop it!” “I will stop this Bus if you kids don’t quit it! Don’t think I won’t!” “I’m Flash,” the boy said, offering his hand. Ditzy grabbed it and gave it a shake. “Ditzy Doo.” “Do you like sour things?” She nodded. Flash dug into his backpack and took out a half-opened packet. “You like gummy worms? Here, hold out your hand.” Ditzy complied. Thick, sugary gummy worms filled her hand. “Thanks!” She munched on them one by one, sucking in her cheeks at the sourness of each worm. When she came down to the last worm, she tapped him on the shoulder. “Watch this!” She took her fingers and stretched it out under her nose, making the worm into a long mustache. Flash laughed. “I’m gonna count to ten!” The Driver warned as the bickering escalated. “One…Two…” “I think your eyes are cool,” Flash said, almost admiringly. “I’ve never seen eyes like yours before.” Ditzy lowered the gummy worm, her eyes wide. “Really?” “Yeah. I wish mine could do that.” Ditzy stared ahead. “Huh.” “What?” “Nothing. It’s just that you’re the only person who’s ever said that to me. I guess that’s why nobody wanted to sit with me. They might think I’m weird.” “Well, that’s not nice.” Ditzy shrugged. “That’s okay. My Daddy said some people might be mean to me. But that’s because he says they’re poop-heads.” Flash frowned. “I won’t let ‘em be mean to you. You’re my friend.” He grabbed onto her hand. “Let’s sit together in class. We’ll tell the teacher that you’re my sister, so we won’t be separated. That way, no one will mess with you.” Ditzy popped the last gummy worm into her mouth with her free hand. “Sounds good to me!” “Nine…!” “Ow! Hey, Mister, she just bit me!” The Bus jerked to a halt, and the Driver stood up from his seat, his hand still on the wheel. Everyone fell silent. “If you kids,” he seethed, “Don’t sit down and shut up, I’ll have the cops come and get ya. Huh?” Everyone gaped at him. “Yeah! How do you like that! Think they won’t arrest elementary schoolers? Ha! Think again!” One of the bullies held up his arm, which had faint teeth marks on it. “But—She—” The Driver gave him a look murderous enough to make him and his buddy sit back down. The rainbow-haired girl also sat back down, quickly folding her hands in her lap. “Good. Now, I’m gonna start the Bus again. If any of you make one more sound…” He growled, pointing a finger at them. “I’ll have the cops arrest you on your first day of school. And I’ll call your parents. That what you want?” The three kids shook their heads rapidly—including the pink-haired girl, who didn’t really do anything. “Fantastic.” He sat down and put the vehicle back in gear. “Welcome to the real world!” he called back. It wasn’t long before they were bouncing along once again. With the Driver’s back turned, most of the students began smiling, even stifling giggles—especially the rainbow-haired girl. Being threatened was amusing, apparently. Flash shook his head. “Man,” he grinned, showcasing his missing two front teeth. “First grade’s gonna be crazy.”