If there was any good reason for this then it pointed to the fact that today was the third anniversary ever since I shave her head at a family camp. My twin had always been a heavy sleeper so never detected me cutting her hair with a pair of bright orange scissors.
We quickly stopped at the local nature reserve at the north eastern end of the suburb. She smiled at me when I arrived three minutes late with her white teeth smile just like in those advertisements. I mimicked her spotting a bulge in her left pocket.
“Just like old times,” I jumped over the gate when she said aloud. My shaded t-shirt imprinted with the words, I know what you’re looking at ,blended with the evening overcast than my sister’s blue orange blouse with the logo of Otago University by the collar.
“If you’re talking about our colour preferences then its spot on, sis.”
“I notice you cut your hair.” That was evidence number one. Alluding to my hair was a direct reference that this jog was more than exercise.
“You like it?” I pulled my beanie off. “Call it a memento for surviving the Big One.”
“That’s absurd.”
“Spot on and to commemorate its failure, I cut my hair and dyed the ends black. Exposes my neck doesn’t it?”
“Hmmmm Mmmmm,” I expected her to have a second reference about hair but I assume she was lying low. She’s playing innocent, avoiding any suspicion from me, while she secretly scheme every detail of her deluded plan in her mind.
“Remember when Jonathon had his first kiss here with Cousin Wilma. Little bugger took the whole family attention.”
‘Spot on, and that day was meant to be our 19th birthday.”
“Little bugger turned a reunion to a feud.”
“And remember when dad hid his PS2 for five months as punishment.”
“What about Cousin Wilma,”
‘Probably gotten herself a real partner,’
Iclisa chuckled. I quickly gaze at her in case she was looking at me at the same time. I mustn’t let my guard down. My hair is at stake. Around me the reserve is silent almost haunting despite the abundance of greenery. It must be the birds because the place haven’t change ever since we had celebrated my- I mean our- 19th birthday. It was still the same old reserve that had a similar atmosphere with the movie Blair Witch that I watch recently, much more when the birds are gone for the winter. They’re usually busy chirping, pecking, and searching for food. Without them, something paranormal would occur at this very reserve which was why it was a good reason to bring my camera along.
"I'm going exploring, want to come?"
"Soon," That was all I had answered, as she went off.
Just In case
That was all I had in mind circling the reserve avoiding a path leading downwards to the main road. It was after all a waiting game. That’s what my sister's whole scheme was all about. If she were to admit defeat, then I can do anything with her but if I were to fail, and enter that path then I would say goodbye to my hair. Even so, I had my own defence in the form of our childhood toy named Ms. Chuckles. If she were to ambush me then it’s goodbye to the penguin.
Yet If I were to choose between the penguin and waiting for her to admit defeat then it’s the latter. It wasn't at all fruitless. I found the remnants of the family picnic, a wooden doll hung by the neck. No one seemed to get it out. Too depressing. It was like those nests the crew found in the Blair Witch. Fifteen metres away from it, I found the spot where that little runt had his first kiss, Wilma's blue ribbons tied to the base of a tree. Teenage angst and being with Cousin Wilma may have played a major role for this incident. Even today he prefers relatives rather complete strangers. I wonder which one of us, he liked most. That runt needs a life.
I heard the soft break of dried leaves from behind. It’s her. She had admitted, and all it took was half an hour of doing nothing. She must have gotten impatient that her well schemed planned couldn't occur. I wonder what shall do with her. Maybe force her to have a date with the little runt. Oh boy, that would seriously work. I can't wait the look of her eyes.
False Alarm. Great, it wasn't her, so much for the date. It was just a guy walking his Labrador...with its head unusually shaved. Talk about kitsch. When was the later time I saw a head-shaven dog. That must be evidence number two. Iclisa had been given permission to shave the guy's dog. It now makes sense why she took this long. She was practicing. This was serious. I wanted to ask the guy who really had done it until I read his t-shirt, Don’t even dare.
Five minutes rolled, and no sign of her. My sister was really serious avoiding that date with the little runt. Across the road was an abandoned house that we usually hang out during our collage days. It’s in private property but who cares. As if the owner would set up security cameras to sue two teenage girls trespassing. Even if they did, it’s more likely they want to videotape something supernatural. Maybe she’s there. It’s possible but I won’t take any chances going down that path only to be knocked unconscious by my twin with a rock.
I watched a man entering a reserve with a lad probably about my age dressed in a blue orange hoodie with a picture of a bear in a wheelchair. They were oddly quiet taking turns biting a bun. They gave a moment to turn their heads at me, and both nodded- It must be a gentleman thing- before they turned their attention to the bun, twisting it 360 degrees at every bite.
Half an hour slowly crept. It was nearing half past seven. I was getting cold, hungry and yet there was no sign of my sister. Maybe she went home, and enjoyed a warm dinner with the family. Unlikely, I there was one thing I knew of my twin it is that she is committed in defeating me at any game. That is our sibling rivalry, and at this little game of waiting, she was still around waiting to express her revenge against me. For my part, I have to do the same waiting for the right moment to express victory for the failure of my twin’s plot, and the full possession of Ms. Chuckles.
Spoiler
Oh, i forget, just for info's sake. The Big One talk here is about some guy who predicted an earthquake in our city back at February. never really happen.
