Always or Never

"Lesta, Lesta, come on," I said chiding and twiddling my Pen+GEAR dime a dozen implement; 1.0 mark on a blank sheet of paper. Outer edge the sun was rising, a helium balloon with no visible string, but I grasped anyway---

"Lester, Lester," she said waving a finger, the index. My first memory, no, no, no. No, no, no. I had that one arm outstretched. Upwards. That sparkling disc just out of reach by the ear-- not for play, Maman said twinkling.

Deer in the headlights. "Lester, Lester Lewis, well?" I'd forgotten I had raised my arm, gawking at the gold class bell, I knew I was supposed to give the right answer to the headmaster, but I'd forgotten the question. No, no, no. The Helium getting away. Noon on a school day.

"Lester, Lester Lewis! the baby!" the skein of yarn pulled farther and farther from outstretched hand, as I'm stuck in the cubicle, and the demand is for results. Specific results. No, no, no. All mixed together, like the curve of the teaspoon does in the highball.

The boss calling. The dark. Lights.

"Lester Lewis. Lester Lewis?"

12.09.2023

FFF#9 Wrong Place Wrong Time challenge @ChrisSadhill