Ten to Life

I first noticed the small child standing listlessly outside the corner store. People were walking by looking at him oddly. Talking to his fur covered canine companion. Vividly, he was describing the latest imaginary adventures about space cowoys and Jedi indians. The mutt looked back at him intently while wagging, not missing a word of the tale.1

Chuckling, I wondered which side George "dubua" Bush had taken. Oh, if only I had that innocence again. I reminisced to my own childhood cowboy and indian days of imagined huge battles in kitchen cupboards when my mom wasn't looking.2

My parental figures were a bit absent minded at times, wrapped up in their worries which I wish I never knew about, but parents are allowed their slip-ups. I was granted generous amounts of free space to let my imagination go wild as this child should be allowed to have without being looked at oddly. Wait a second....3

"Little'un, why are you tied to the bike rack?"
"Idunno. Mommy was acting all funny after she came back from her congically visits with Daddy." He stuck his hands in his pockets with a shurg. "Honestly, she should see him more often. Mommy says she can barely get enough of Daddy time."
"You should tell Mommy not to tie you up outside the store." I decided to let the prison romance slide over his head for a few more years. "Some stranger could give you candy." Let 'mom' think about that one for a moment when it came from the mouth of a babe.
"Billy. Whare you doing talking to strangers? Hey man, why you talking to my son?"4

I turned to look at this 5'5, stunning redhead in a scandeously cut blue kimono. Latte in one hand and cellphone, which was stuck to her head, in the other hand. One knee high, brown felt boot tapping impatiently. Fiery trouble spelled with a capital BCI. Not Baggage Carrying Infant. More as in time to run from Bear Cub Instinct kicking in.5

From flustered, she suddenly melted, blushing, "Billy, why are you tied up to the bike rack?"
"I was wondering as well, is this quality time with man's best friend and replacement was planned." I said with a sigh.
"What's that supposed to mean? I haven't had my morning picker up." The sweetie tittered wearing down my mental armour. I hoped it wasn't the social worker on the end of the phone for her sake and mine. I didn't want to be an unwittingly, unwilling witness.6

"Who asked you to judge me?" She put the latte'd hand on hip and crushed it; six dollar foam started dripping down the side of her black leather jacket.
Pretty when mad; don't screw up and say it. I made a mental note to find out if indeed she was actually a blonde. "Billy, how long is daddy serving time?"
"Ten to life," came the cheerful oblivious chirp.
"Sounds safe enough," I tried charm in the face of all odds of common sense.
"Billy! Hush! And YOU, who do you think you...."
"I'm sorry to hear that, I was only joking" I smiled disarmingly and handed her a crumpled up napkin.
"What? Oh... my jacket!" She was having trouble keeping it together. Mondays really do suck.7

"Thought you might want to clean it up a bit." I reached down to untie Billy.
"Thanks, you're kinda sweet." She managed to sop up the latte which may or may not have helped her state of awareness.
"Well, grocery store romance is the oddest, but what time's Billy's bedtime."
"NEVER!! YAY!!!" said the hopeful tike definately. "Is that your black BMW over there?" He looked past us at the small parking lot.
"Billy! Stop. But is it?" She looked a bit guiltily hopeful.8

"Errrr..." I toyed with disaster of thinking of whether locked in keys and spares were at home excuse would fly. Would her knowledge of keyless entry and ignition outweigh the odds of the actually owner coming out and ruining.... Little of column A and lot of column B with my luck. She sensed my hesitation.9

"Doesn't matter anyways, I'm joking and no gold-digger." RELIEF! "A picker up latte externally served and a bad pick up line to boot."
"Touche. My car is German and it is black. But it's the VW Bug next to the BMW." I cringed knowing the most uncomfortable backseat.
"Wow! I was conceived in one of those. I always find that amazing. Can I catch a ride?"
This girl is pricelessly cute. My roomate will never believe it. Nor have warning bells gone off yet loud enough. Ten minutes to life-time?10