Signal to Noise(33)

“Come oooon.”

“Fine!”

He opened the door unexpectedly, making Meche stumble back. He glared at both girls, crossing his arms over his chest. Sebastian—he of the minimalist, all-black attires—looked like he had stepped out of an episode of Miami Vice and was going to give Don Johnson a run for his money. He was wearing a bubblegum-pink t-shirt, a white jacket with wide lapels and loafers sans socks.

Meche couldn’t help it. She just laughed. This caused Sebastian to immediately retreat into the changing room.

“I’m sorry,” Meche said, following inside and laughing. “I’m sorry.”

“I knew I shouldn’t follow Daniela’s stupid advice,” Sebastian muttered, taking off the jacket and putting it back on the hanger.

“It’s not bad.”

“Yeah. Your reaction proved it.”

“Daniela, come here,” Meche said.

“What?” Daniela asked, poking her head in.

“Do you like it?” Meche asked, her thumb pointing at Sebastian.

“I think he looks nice.”

“See? You look nice.”

“I’ll change into something else. The trousers are too damn tight,” he muttered.

“I can ask for a bigger size,” Daniela said, happily scampering off in her pink and purple tutu-like dress.

Meche looked at the shirts and jackets Sebastian had piled on a chair, raising a skeptical eyebrow at a pastel-coloured tie.

“That skirt is short,” Sebastian said.

“It seems to be the purpose of mini-skirts,” Meche replied.

“Yeah, but you hate skirts.”

“I know.”

“I can see your ass.”

Meche resisted the impulse to pull the hem down, but she did give Sebastian a pronounced, irritated look.

“The point of this whole thing is to look cool,” she said. “You know, unlike we regularly do.”

“I think you shouldn’t confuse ‘cool’ with ‘mildly obscene.’”

“Thanks, Grandpa Smurf.”

“No... I mean, it’s... disturbing,” he concluded.

Meche didn’t even know what to say to that. She opted for nothing and went back to her own changing room. She picked a pair of neon green leggings and sighed.





THE GIRLS WANTED to get haircuts. That’s when Sebastian pulled the brakes. He was willing to go shopping for new clothes, he was even willing to show them the clothes he picked, but he was not going to the hairdresser with them.

Daniela looked crestfallen. She had brought numerous cut-outs from magazines showing various hairstyles she thought would look good on him. Sebastian’s longish hair, however, was going to remain exactly as it was.

As the girls wandered towards the hair stylist, Sebastian quietly made his way to a jewelry shop. He stopped before the displays, peering down at the sparkling diamonds and the flash of gold until he spotted a gold heart on a chain. He took out the wallet and counted the remaining bills.





“UGH... I DON’T feel very well,” Daniela said.

“That’s because you drank the milkshake too fast,” Meche said. “Brain freeze. When are you going to learn?”

“I suppose...”

Meche saw Sebastian’s spidery hand reach towards her plate, plucking a fry, dipping it in ketchup and throwing it in his mouth. She retaliated by reaching for his burger and giving it a big bite, then opening her mouth and showing him the food.

“Gross,” he said.

“Gwa,” Meche said, turning to Daniela and also showing her the food.

Daniela did not react. She blinked in confusion. Meche shrugged, closed her mouth and chewed.

“I want to go see a movie,” Meche said. “We should buy a big bucket of popcorn.”

“No more food,” Daniela muttered.

“A shocking development,” Meche said, pointing a fry at Daniela. “Do you want to watch a movie?”

“I want to go home,” Daniela said.

“Don’t be a spoilsport. Sebos, what do you want to do?”

“Finish my food.”

“After you finish your food?”

“Why don’t we go to the arcade?”

“How much money do we have left?”

Sebastian pulled out a bill and placed it on the table. Meche nodded thoughtfully. They’d get more bang out of their buck if they went to play at the machine in the pharmacy near home because it was cheaper, but that meant Meche might bump into her mom. Plus, there were only two machines and the little kids around the block tended to get on them pretty early in the afternoon. The arcade wouldn’t have these issues but it was more expensive.

“I think the arcade’s a good idea. Dani, you want to come?” Meche asked.

“No. I think I want to have a nap.”

“Alright,” Meche said. “Suit yourself.”





AFTER THEY FINISHED their hamburgers, Sebastian and Meche saw Daniela home. They dumped their purchases at Meche’s house before rushing off to Arcadeland, the arcade closest to their home. It had over twenty machines and two bored, young attendants who sold tokens and exchanged tickets for tiny plastic bracelets and other assorted crap. In a corner of the joint, there was a stand selling stale pizza and pop.