Mamma Mia, Chapter 7

Mamma Mia: Chapter 7

  The rise. The whip. The fall.

  Arthur’s practiced tail whip lands just as well as the other ones. If he had a guess, he would say that he’s done this tail whip correctly at least one hundred times. It sounds like something Carlo would have been impressed by -if he wasn’t scrolling through chat rooms and informational rabbit holes on his communicator. “Why are you doing your ‘research’ out here again?” He asks Carlo after landing another tail whip.

  Carlo stops fumbling with a list of information links. “Because my parents are going nosy about what I’m looking at. I don’t want them to know what I’m doing.”

  Arthur comments to himself about his mother’s surveillance system as he retorts, “You know, the more you stay away from them while you’re doing that only increases the chances of them thinking your gaining stimulation from femoid pin posters from-”

  “They already think that. I mean, not the femoid pin posters part, but -yeah.”

  “Dude.” Arthur stops riding and approaches Carlo. “Are you serious?”

  Carlo doesn’t look up as he reads more group discussion on an information board. The silence is a concern for Arthur. It’s not like Carlo to ignore him and especially not for Carlo to neglect his passion for BMX. Arthur looks to Carlo’s bike; it’s in the same spot it was when they got to the skatepark. He looks back at Carlo as Carlo makes a small noise of excitement and marks a new group discussion to read. Carlo hasn’t realized Arthur’s stopped biking. Arthur feels his fists curl up. They were here to back, not study that lunatic’s claims. He begins to regret taking Carlo with him.

  Carlo looks up from his communicator to an empty skatepark. He glances around for Arthur but finds no one. “Arthur?” He calls out. Nothing. He looks behind him to see his bike untouched. Carlo grabs it and begins to buzz Arthur. All Carlo receives is silence. Where could Arthur have gone?

-

  Arthur sits at the kitchen counter. He ignores another buzz from Carlo. He enjoys the small amount of smugness he feels. He is only enforcing what his mother taught him: “Everyone must reap what they sow.” At a younger age, he would have just thrown a punch. Then he learned that social consequences prove more impactful. He ignores another attempt at communication from his friend. It felt good to repay the pain.

  Mia walk through the kitchen entrance with a small smile. She passes Arthur and touches his hand. “I thought young Kent was going to come over.” Arthur shrugs and grunts as he swigs back some celestial apple juice one of the AMS people gave them a while back. Its tart flavor pulls Arthur out of his sulk and brings his awareness to his mother. This is the only space where she actually interacts with him outside of her library. Mia grabs a glass of the same apple juice and refills Arthur’s glass. He gives her a smile and takes another drink. “He decided to spend his time in conspiracies instead of hanging out with me.”

  Mia leans against the kitchen island, across from Arthur. “Conspiracies? What conspiracies?”

  Arthur explains the full details of Alonzo’s conspiracies that Alonzo spouted to Carlo a month before. Then he finds himself rambling about Carlo’s obsession with the whole thing: the group boards, the pages of “information,” and the lack of time Carlo has been spending with Arthur.

  “I’m sorry, my child.” Mia touches his hand. “I wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.”

  Arthur perks up. “Actually, maybe there is. Can you help me with it?”