The Day Off

By:

I think it was once in a past life I came from a big family. Somehow, I remember the feeling of other people close to me; so close I'd swear that they were just thoughts in my head. I'd had parents with aunts and uncles, sisters, brothers, cousins and relatives beyond name. So many figures swirl and dance in my head. Figures without faces. No true history or existence. People, I just want to see? I've been alone as far as I can remember. Trying to get by in this strange place. Being surrounded by people that just won't listen. I couldn't make friends with anyone. I was, different. Perhaps, I was too silent. Too upset. Too, stubborn. I could see out of my eyes, but lived in my head. I wanted to be alone. But why, why would I imagine, see, feel, this; want for connection? Maybe I've been thinking for too long. I need to get out. "Where are you going?" Spike said while seeming to be asleep. I ignored him. I walked over to "my" room and started digging through my loosely packed luggage. "Leaving?" asked a voice from behind. Jet was standing in the doorway pretending not to be paying too much attention. "I'm looking for a change of clothes. Don't tell me you don't change your clothes." I said in an irritated voice. Jet didn't answer and just walked off. I felt bad for being mean to him. It was almost like I was being mean to a parent or something. Come to think of it, Jet is Dad-Like isn't he. Letting me stay even though I'm trouble. Paying for some of my expenses. Always being so noisy. Although, I can't remember mine, I remember the feeling. Maybe, that's one of the reasons why I'm staying here. After a few more minutes of digging, I finally found it. The yellow dress I first wore at the hospital. I kept it as a momento, I was wearing it when I first met Whitney. After I met Whitney again, and found out he was still alive and had used me, I was going to throw it away, but, I couldn't. It was too special. I put the dress on after three years, took off my headband, and let my bangs down. I looked in the mirror and felt a slight fear. The feeling of having seen a ghost. I brushed my hair for a little bit and headed out to the for the hanger. As I walked by the makeshift living room towards the door, Spike, Jet, Ed, and that dog were all staring at me. I felt embarrassed. Spike and Jet were blushing. And Ed, is always blushing. I pretended not to notice and began to open the hatch. "Date?" Jet asked jokingly. "Maybe she's on an undercover bounty. Must be big for that disguise!" Spike added. "Faye Faye is chasing Big Bounty!" Ed had to say. I sighed and took a step out. "Hey tell us about this bounty!" Jet yelled. "I'm not going for a bounty." I answered. "All women lie." Spike said under his breath. "I do, lie." I said softly and walked out. I closed the door behind me without looking back and headed for my "Red". We were already on Mars. Doing nothing, waiting for local bounty heads. The very boring. I started her up and flew around the city. After twenty minutes, I saw a patch of green. I can't remember the last time I was at a park. I landed, jumped out, and inhaled. This feeling was familiar. I walked and wandered until I found myself at the lake. I found a bench by the lake side under a big Willow tree. I sat watching the ducks and geese. There were pigeons at my feet, looking up at me, waiting. "Would you like to feed the birds?" came an elderly woman's voice from my left. "Sure. How much for a bag?" "Ten Woolong." I gave her five thousand and thanked her kindly. If I didn't need any money, I would have probably given her all it. She and I are probably the same age come to think of it. She was a bit surprised and puzzled, but happy. I felt happy as well. I looked at the six brown paper bags of bird feed in my lap. Each bag was about the size of my hand. I scooted to the center of the bench, placed the bags to my left and started on a bag. I opened it up to find pieces of bread and bird seed. I sprinkled some on the ground and watched the pigeons peck away at the food. Just then I discovered the meaning, or at least my meaning of life: To feed and be fed. In this revelation, I wondered if they would eat from my hand. I grabbed some of the food and outstretched my hand. I thought most of the pigeons couldn't see the food, so I lowered my hand and held it slightly above my knee. Suddenly, one of the pigeons flew up and landed on my hand. And a memory. "Faye, aren't these birds gentle." "Yes they are." "Don't you feel like Snow White or Sleeping Beauty?" "Someday, I might grow up to be one of them." "Don't be silly!" "Dreams come true!" I was trying to catch my breath. It was so strange, having a memory like that. Did I wish for something like that? Dream? It was no dream. My prince was the evil witch at the same time. I began to notice the pigeon was pecking at my bare hand. With my left hand, I poured uncaringly, overflowing and spilling onto the ground. More pigeons gathered until I was surrounded. It felt funny and wonderful being surrounded by these birds. In handfuls, I threw the feed all around me making sure all of the pigeons got to eat. The bag was quickly empty. I couldn't open a new bag with one hand, so shook my right hand so the pigeon would fly off. I looked at my red palm and decided that I'll take a break from feeding them from my hand. "You like, birds?" Hearing that the voice was familiar, I didn't turn to see who it was. "Yes, I love birds." I said with a big smile. He sat down next to me. Side by side. Still in the glow of having a memory, I opened another bag. "Would you like to feed them?" I asked unassumingly to the person to my right. Vicious. Maybe it was the dress, but I felt more embarrassed than frighten. In truth, I felt as if I could hit him over the head with something and he would forgive me. Gren was right when he said that Vicious was, different. Seeing my embarrassment, he quietly took some and began to feed the birds. I started to blush even more with that gesture. I remember when I first met him. "I can tell what kind of person you are: a headstrong, greedy, selfish pitiful woman. No wonder Spike would chose to hang around you." "You got the wrong idea! I'm not into that skinny-Brat of a man!" "So you do know him." He was so scary. But why do I feel so close to him right now? Maybe I'm just getting lonely. "Are you waiting for a bounty?" Vicious asked calmly. "No. I'm just an old lady doing old lady things." I said with a smile and a sadness to my voice. "Have you retired?" "I'm on my day off." Ding-Ding. It was my communicator. It could of been Spike or Jet. Either would have been upset to see Vicious. I turned and faced Vicious so he wouldn't be in the background. Click! "Hey Faye!" It was Jet. "What is it?" "I think I guessed the bounty you're after." "I told you, I'm not after any bounties today." "She lying." Spike's voice in the background. "Tell Spike I'm on a date with Vicious." I grinned. "As if!!!" from the background. "Sure, because you two are such good friends. And the 12 million bounty head who preys on cute vulnerable women is not on your mind?" I didn't answer. Spike peered into the viewer. "Date with Vicious. If I know one thing he doesn't chase after untouchable devil-women with attitudes." Vicious leaned forwards towards me and I lean back. He wanted to show himself and prove Spike wrong. "Vicious! Sit Back!" I shouted. "This is getting sadder by the second. Pretending to talk to him and GIVING him an order." Spike hung up. "He hung up." I meekly stated. "That's like him." Vicious leaned in closer. Ding-Ding. Vicious picked it up. Luckily, it was Jet. "Where's Spike?" asked Vicious. "Huh? Who are you?" "I'm Vicious." "Riiiight. Can I speak to Faye?" "You didn't answer my question." "He took off already." "Hello? Jet?" "Faye! I need you to be a decoy." "Not interested. Be your own decoy." "Wha-?" It was my turn to hang up. I opened up the rest of the bird feed and dumped it all on the ground. "You're going for the bounty after all?" "I can't help it," I sighed, "chasing bounties saved my life." I left with nothing more to say. I suppose I just can't keep company with anyone for very long. I walked back to my ship not looking back and made my way to the BeBop. I entered the living room with a casual smirk and said, "So, let's hear more about that bounty." "Too late." Jet briefly said. "What! Did someone already catch him?" "Spike got him." "So he's dead?" I asked plainly. "Yup." "Some things never change." I shook my head. "So how was your date?" A memory of my time with Whitney flashed in my head. "...Different." I finally answered and quickly went back to my room to change.