Desire and Death

“Mandy Yo!” It was the familiar siren, warning her that danger was near. Mandy ran to her fence, but not before Irwin had spotted her. “Yeah whatever.” She muttered as she ignored him.

“Hey Mandy, Billy told me about your, uh, growth Spurt. But hey, that’s nothing. Check out these Pimples!”

Irwin shoved his acne-scarred face into Mandy’s and she winched. “That’s more disgusting than what Billy finds in his ears.” She told him.

Irwin held his hands in front of him and shyly asked, “So how was your day? Do you like High School?” Mandy shrugged as she saw Grim walking down the sidewalk.

“It’s no more different than Middle School or Grade School.” But Mandy knew that was a lie. She brushed past Irwin to Grim and ordered him, “Get inside and make me a sandwich, and did you buy me a TV Guide today?”

Irwin happily fished out of his pocket a TV Guide. “No Mandy, I didn’t know you wanted one.” Grim sighed.

Irwin waved his magazine in her face, “Here, Mandy, Mandy, Here Here.” Mandy ignored him and pulled at Grim’s hand, “Come on Death, we’re going to Wal-Mart.” “

As Mandy and Grim walked down the street Mandy felt a strange sense of calm. Most of the day she had been tense and angry over her developing body, and dealing with a new school; but with Grim she suddenly calmed down.

The calming also made her angry, because she had never realized how much she actually enjoyed Grim’s presence until now.

They’d been friends since that fateful day so many years ago, 8 years in fact, but she had never really given thought to what Grim’s friendship meant to her. Mandy kicked a pebble angrily, thinking thoughts she didn’t even know she was capable of.

“Bad day eh?” Grim mused. Mandy nodded. She knew Grim could tell her innermost feelings when no one else seemed to. It was strange how well he knew her. “Oh Shut Up Brain!” Mandy screamed at herself.

“Ey, Now, don’t take your anger out on me! I haven’t done any ting.” Grim let go of Mandy’s hand, noticing that rather than dragging him behind her as she usually did, they had been walking side by side.

He knew Mandy was going through a tough time. She was growing up, and with that came new experiences, new thoughts and emotions. He knew Mandy hated to let her feelings show, choosing rather to hide behind her anger; but there had been times before when she had talked to him, and let him know her deepest emotions.

Although he resented his position as Billy and Mandy’s buddy, he did feel an obligation to take care of them. Billy hadn’t so far shown any signs of puberty, but then girls went through those things earlier.

Grim remembered only three years before when Mandy had first started her monthly cycle. If anyone thought her attitude now was bad, they hadn’t experienced the power of her PMS.

But through all the fighting and ordering and demanding, Grim felt a special bond with the girl.

After they reached Wal-Mart Mandy checked out the clothes aisle. She bought a few new outfits and a pair of shoes, then told Grim to go buy her some drinks.

When they left Grim carried the bags while Mandy trudged along. “Mandy, is der any ting on your mind?” Grim asked. “No.” She replied flatly.

Grim shrugged and told her, “Well, you know, if der is, you can always trust me.” Mandy sighed and looked at the ground. “There’s too many things going on Grim. I’m used to feeling just one emotion at a time, usually cynicism, but now it’s like I’m angry and sad at the same time; or I’ll be happy one moment and angry the next.”

Grim nodded. “It’s all part of growing up. You got to work out dese feelings and learn to adjust. Things are changing Mandy, and your going to grow up.” Mandy kicked her feet and grumbled. “Maybe I don’t want to grow up. Maybe I want to stay this way, or go back to the way things were before.”

Grim carried the bags into the house as Mandy’s mom called out, “Honey, Did you want dinner? It’s cold now, but I’ll warm it up.” Mandy called back, “Grim bought me dinner.”

he plopped down on the couch and opened her sandwich as Grim passed some chips. “Do you want me stay here tonight or sleep over at Billy’s?” He asked her. Mandy told him, “Stay here.” She opened her TV Guide and looked at the listings as Grim munched on the chips.

“Put it on channel 45” she told him. Grim obeyed and they watched some TV until it was time for Mandy to do her homework.

Grim ended up doing most of the problems in Math, but was surprised that Mandy actually did some herself. Usually she ordered Grim to do every single subject while she soaked in a hot bath, but tonight Grim sensed that she was feeling different.

Indeed, she was a bit nicer as they climbed into bed together. “Thanks for your help tonight Grim” She told him as she turned of the light. “WhAt!?” Grim asked, stupefied.

“You heard me idiot, now go to sleep.”