30::

[wichita_kansas]

I considered joining this morning's asshole brigade a la Judas Iscariot, but I opted for something a little more fitting of my new, rugged look. How fun is it not to be the target of constant vitriol from men and women who think misogyny is cool

Comments

[wichita_kansas]

I couldn't. I'm woefully short and pretty slight, normally. I guess if I worked out more those canned goods wouldn't be such a damned problem all the time. Can't do much about the height, though.

[notarrowette]

I'll admit there are times I have problems with the canned goods too. But then, archery builds upper body strength, and I did a lot of gymnastics as a kid so jumping over things was just fun. I get what you're saying, and you're right. This body's just built differently. It's throwing me off, honestly. I think I'm clumsier like this because it's not what I'm used to.

Maybe there's not much you can do about the height, but there are ways you can make that be an advantage too.

[wichita_kansas]

I tried gymnastics and broke my ankle. I'm not a really clumsy person, but that sort of negative reinforcement at such an early age really did me in for sports. I've been sparring with Max a little here and there, though, and she's been showing me how to use some advantages. Still pretty early in the learning stages. Do you know Max?

I've been clumsy as hell, too. I keep misjudging if I can clear objects and bumping in to shit.

[notarrowette]

Ugh, yeah. Broken bones suck. There are a lot of things I would have liked to quit as a kid, but my mother always said "King women don't quit, Cissie." Shows what she knew. Have you learned how to fall yet? I think that's my favorite trick. I haven't met Max yet, no.

Yeah, me too. I can't wait to be myself again.

[wichita_kansas]

Was she a pageant mom, or something?

I haven't learned to fall yet. Maybe we can get together once this whole thing blows over.

[notarrowette]

...You could say that. DHS went so far as to say she was crazy and unfit. She's better now.

Sure! Waiting's a good call, but anytime.

[wichita_kansas]

I didn't really mean to bring up a sensitive topic -- sorry. Who's DHS, though?

[notarrowette]

No, it's fine. I kind of brought it up myself, and it was a few years ago. We actually get along about a million times better now that we don't live together anyway. DHS is Department of Human Services. They're the ones who look into stuff like that. In our case, a friend called and reported my mom for child endangerment, they investigated, stuck Mom in therapy and put me in state care.

...I was going to say it's not as traumatizing as it sounds, but I guess at the time it was. It's been about four years; funny, but it was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me.

[Private]

[wichita_kansas]

Oh, right. Department of Human Services. They're kind of shit for efficiency, not gonna lie. Since we're being honest, my little sister never had the benefit of their interference even though she really needed it.

Sorry to hear about your mom. It's good that the relationship isn't totally lost, though. That sort of thing is still important, even when they fuck up.

[Private]

[notarrowette]

Yeah, they really are. No one actually thought anything would come of it, but they underestimated the depths of my mom's particular brand of crazy. I'm sorry about your sister.

It is, yeah. It took me a long time to stop being angry with her, but I think we're both better off this way.

[Private]

[wichita_kansas]

Do you ever get the chance to have heart-to-hearts with her, or are you not quite there yet?

[Private]

[notarrowette]

We've had a few--usually when the world was coming to an end, or there was some other crisis, or if one of us is feeling particularly stubborn. We tend to fight and yell and then apologize and cry, and then get along okay until we fight again.