Double Dream

He would’ve been great for Barry the Bacterioplankton… Frankie thought, but didn’t dare state her thoughts aloud when the mood had hit such a sudden low. They’d already packed up their stuff- gotten a refund on the stall rental. It wasn’t any use to try in this economy.

“So he was… your friend?” Katie asked, going to calm Tara like they were another sibling.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” They uttered. The punk could be cold as ice, when they felt like it.

Now the three of them were just walking again. No destination in mind, just hoping for some kind of break from the oppressive situations surrounding them- the sisters came to understand how Tala felt each and every day.

Katie, hopeful as she was, looked up at something that interested her.

“They have kendo here?”

“Yeah… pretty popular…” Tara allowed the group to stop at the dojo they’d almost walked past, the name translating to something like Flaming Sword Catch.

“Is it… could I go there?”

“You want to? I won’t stop you.” Tala sounded exceptionally happy for the girl, even if they weren’t feeling the best.

“Yeah.” Katie nodded. “I wanna try.”

“This is sudden.” Frankie commented. “Thought you’d rather go on all the rides, haven’t hit a single one since we got here.”

“I feel bad for not training when I had the chance, back when in Everfair... I wanna actually learn something this time.”

“Makes sense… so swordfighting’s… what, another dream for you?”

“Guess it is.” Katie smiled.

“Can your life even hold two dreams?” She sounded more impressed than pessimistic.

“Yours did, didn’t it?” The big sister asked, referring both to the sea and to Percy.

“I guess. Though they weren’t as big as yours.”

“Fair point.”

“…But also… my determination isn’t the same as yours.” Frankie glanced at her infinitely strong sibling. “It took me forever to set my sights on something this big. You... you’ve wanted everything and then some from the very start.”

“So you’re saying…”

“If there’s anyone who can hold that many dreams, it’s you.”

Katie nodded.

“I think you’re right. I’ll do it.”

Frankie pat her friend on the back and watched her enter the dojo.

“I’ll meet you back at the big coaster-statue guy in an hour!”

“Okay!” Frankie waved with a smile. “Have fun.”

Katie already ran inside. The display cheered Tara up, just a little.

“So.” They idled awkwardly, turning to Frankie. “What do… you like to do?”