A Thumb War

A young McDonald’s worker places a tray of food at the front counter.

“Carmine!” He yells out to the crowd.

I raised my receipt in the air to signify I was on my way and the worker slid the tray forward.

“Alright, our food is ready so I gotta let you down to carry it.”

“Mhm.” Imani releases her hold around my neck.

I slowly lowered Imani to the ground and took the tray of food from the counter.

“Oh, the drink!” I took the tray over to the soda fountain, and placed it to the side.

Whenever there’s a soda fountain I always like to have Imani choose and pour the drink. It’s a funny fascination she has with watching machines doing things, even if it’s just pouring some liquid. I believe she could watch paint dry and have the time of her life. Actually, I think she really did watch paint dry for a whole day when I changed the color of her room to her latest favorite color.

“Here.” I gave Imani the cup, and lifted her back into my arms. “Which flavor?”

Imani held the cup with both her little hands and studied the drink brand pictures on the soda fountain.

“Mmm, this one and this one!” She pointed to two different drinks.

“Are you sure?”

“Mhm, they’re both my favorite!”

“You can only have one favorite.”

“Nuh uh!”

“Then they’re both your most favoritest’ of all time?”

“Yes!”

“Then try 'em both together I guess, we only have one cup.”

I brought Imani closer to the soda fountain so she could reach her cup forward. “Only a little of both, then take a sip.”

Imani gently pressed down on the levers underneath her two choices, creating a strange soda concoction. Once she took a sip, her face shriveled up with disgust.

“Blech!” She stuck out her tongue.

“If you don’t like it, pour it in there.” I pointed to the drain at the bottom of the machine.

Immediately she dumped the soda down the drain. “Why do they taste so bad together?”

“Even I don’t know, it’s just something that happens.”

“That’s stupid!”

“Woah, don’t say that, and where did you learn that too?”

“Miss Georgia said it when the picture machine wasn’t working right.”

“Picture machine? You mean projector.”

“Yea, it was doing this funny thing where it went bawoop-weep, and flashing lights, and it was all fuzzy.”

“Uh-huh, well don’t repeat that word to anyone ok?”

“Even Sam?”

“What, why Samuel?”

“Coz Sam is stupid, he always steals my erasers and makes them dirty.”

“Imani, do not call Samuel stupid ever! Now pour your drink.”

“I’m sorry papa.”

Imani pushed the cup under the machine and it began to fill.

“What about my Sammy?” Sofía stepped in to put a hand on my shoulder with a strong grip, making my body tense up.

“Oh, uh!”

“Sam is stupid,” Imani squawked, “he said you were gonna eat my papa!”

“Imani!” I shrilled.

Sofía bursted with laughter and pressed her own cup under the soda machine. “I see, but aren’t you good friends with Sammy?”

“He’s my rye-wall.”

“Your rival?”

“Yea.”

“Isn’t everyone at preschool your friend?” I intervened.

“Yea.”

“Even Samuel?”

Imani paused and her head lowered. “Yea…”

“And should you call your friends stupid?”

“Never.”

Sofía patted me on the back and leaned in, making me feel tingly inside.

“Why don’t you two come and sit with us?”

“Oh, sure! Are you okay with that Imani?”

“Mhm.” Imani nodded her head.

“Ay, your drink” Sofía giggled before heading back to her table.

“Our Drink?” I looked over to the cup in Imani’s hands.

The soda was flowing over the top of the cup and getting on Imani’s hands.

“Imani the cup!” I stepped back to get her away from pressing the lever.

The soda spilled over onto the counter and splashed the floor. Imani screamed, but also laughed.

“Oh my go-, Imani, carefully, let’s put the cup down.”

Imani was slightly shaky, but we miraculously were able to put the cup down without making any further mess.

“Good.” I put Imani down and a cap on the drink. Let’s put our food at their table and go get you cleaned up.”

“Ok!” Imani raised her sticky soda covered hands in the air.

I took our tray and rushed over to the table Sofía was sitting at.

“Excuse me,” I placed the tray down. “Can you watch this for a moment?”

“I have a fee of one fry.” Sofía grinned with a pointer finger up.

“That’s fine by me, be right back.” I took Imani and rushed her to the bathroom.

“Hey papa.”

“Yes?”

“Do you like Sam’s mom?”

“Uh, well…” I cautiously scanned around me.

Of all the places to discuss relationships, a McDonald’s public bathroom isn’t one. The last thing I want is for strangers taking a piss to listen in on my love life, but I’m basically trapped in this predicament. I held Imani up to the sink so she could wash her hands, but she refused to do more than stare at the sink until I answered her curiosity.

“I think we already said we’re friends.”

“So you like her?”

“What do you mean by like?”

“Like you want to play games together.”

“Well…”

“Do you not want to play with her?”

“Adults don’t really, well, I guess, what? hold on.”

“Papa doesn’t play?”

“Imani, can you just wash your hands please.”

“Not yet! Do you like her?”

“Why would you want to know?”

“Coz I never see Papa play with anyone.”

“I play with you all the time.”

“I think Papa should play more, and with everyone, even Sam’s goat mom.”

“Don’t call her Sam’s goat mom, her name is Sofía.”

“Do you like Sofía?”

“Yes, I like Sofía.”

“So Sofía is Papa’s friend!”

“Is that all you needed to know? I just said we were friends.”

“But friends aren’t friends if you don’t like them.”

“You’re very smart Imani, yes, friends are only friends if you like them. Now can you wash your hands please?”

“Mhm!”

She washed her hands and the both of us left the bathroom, one with a smile and clean hands, and the other, a victim of interrogation.

I know I don't really have friends, but I never thought my own preschool daughter would be the one to shine a light on how much of a loner I am. Maybe that’s why I came out feeling much more depressed than the usual fast food bathroom goer.

“Welcome back!” Sofía waved to us as we came near.

“Sofía! Sofía!” Imani started to run up to her.

After what took place in the bathroom, I already saw what was coming, and it sent shivers down my spine.

“Ima-“ My voice cracked.

“Sofía!” Imani jumped up into her arms.

“Aw! Dime linda, what is it?” Sofía held Imani.

“Papa said he likes you and wants to play with you!”

“¿En serio?" Sofía grinned, “Interesting.”

“Hold on, it’s not like that.” I quickly sat down to present my defense.

“It’s not like that? Don’t you want to play with me?” Sofía spoke in a mockingly cutesy way, even pressing a finger to her cheek.

“I… I don’t know.”

“You don’t want to play?” Imani looked at me as if betrayed.

“Yea Carmine, don’t want to play with me?”

I had the idea that she was toying with me, and that any further struggle was only going to amuse her more. But I worried that if I became too forward, it would imply something and cause more misunderstandings.

Maybe I was being too conscious of what was only a little fun. For all I know, she could be sending me signs. Is she interested in me? That can’t be. She might be a little strange, cosplay and all, but she’s got a son and is a killer in the looks department, she must have somebody. I didn’t see a ring on her finger, but maybe she’s not engaged? Having kids before marriage isn't rare. For anything to happen between us would seem too good to be true.

Then I caught myself for a second. What am I thinking? Just cus she’s a woman, doesn't mean I should worry about getting close. Am I stupid? We can be friends. What am I even worried about? Just go with the flow.

Whatever happens, happens.

“Whatever happens, happens.” I repeated to myself aloud by accident.

“Hm?” Sofía tilted her head.

“Sorry, I meant to say yes. I do like you, and I do want to play.” I claimed boldly.

Immediately I regretted my words, but there was no turning back. This was the new me, and a new me required a new mindset.

“Ah, what would you like to play?” She leaned in closer with a sultry voice.

My newfound mindset was nearly shattered just from this simple move. If this was a game of chess, she was already leaving the tournament with a medal and I was in the bathroom crying.

“Um, Imani?” I looked to her for assistance before I collapsed.

“Thumb war!” She raised her thumb, now comfortably sitting in Sofía’s lap.

“Thumb war, are you okay with that?” I looked back to Sofía.

“Are you scared?” Sofía gave a cocky grin, positioning her hand forward to initiate the thumb war

“No, it’s just a thumb war.”

It wasn’t just a thumb war. The moment her hand was out in front of me, my own hands began to sweat. The last thing I want is to make an impression that I’m getting nervous to the point of perspiration over a kids game. With her looking at me so smug, I could imagine her next words being ‘pathetic’ whilst looking down at me with disgust.

“If it’s just a thumb war, then come on, do it.”

“Papa you can win!” Imani cheered.

“I thought you were on my side.” Sofía looked down with dejection at Imani.

“I just like it here, it’s soft and comfy.” Imani leaned back into Sofía’s chest.

“Alright, alright.” I put my hand out for the thumb war. “Let’s get this over with…”

“If you don’t want to play, I can play with someone else.”

Sofía slowly began to put her hand down, but I snatched it before it got away.

“I want to play… I just don’t want to make you cry when I absolutely destroy you!”

“Ay, que agresivo. I didn’t know you were that type.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing, just know you’re going down.” She stuck her thumb up.

“Go mommy!” Samuel joined in at her side with a mouth full of food.

“Chew and swallow your food before you speak Sammy.”

My hand was sweating, but she didn’t say a word. Instead we locked hands and prepared to battle. All I could pay attention to was her hand, it was much smaller and softer than mine, the nails were painted black, which if I were to see them on anyone else, I’d think that it was unsettling, but on her, they looked perfect. I think people would say I’m biased or wearing rose-tinted glasses, maybe that’s true.

“Ready?” Sofia looked into my eyes, making my heart flutter.

It’s true.

“Yea.” I cleared my throat.

“Ok, if you lose I get half your fries.”

“Wait-what?”

“One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war.” Sofia shouted over me.

“Hey!”