Shoelaces

“Pheebs is here!”

Mandy’s youthful voice echoed down the hall. Her father replied with equal volume.

“Just text if you’re planning on staying out after school! And tie your damn shoelaces! You’ll trip in front of a bus one day!”

She looked down at her shoes, laces a mess. Phoebe gave a chuckle.

“He knows you well.”

“Too well. Come on, I’ve got something to show you.”

They started off down the footpath, soaking up the late autumn sun. Mandy wasted no time in discussing her new online love interest, swiping through a collection of images on Instagram. Pheobe responded with due hesitation.

“He looks… mature. How old’s this one?”

“Don’t be a bitch, Pheebs. He’s really nice.”

“Nice like Curtis or nice like James?”

Mandy laughed off the mention of her previous disasters, masking the spike of anxiety with faux confidence and her trademark wit.

“What would you know, Dyke Wazowski?”

Always partial to a pun, she was quite proud of that one. A triple whammy that put her as secondary character whilst incorporating her Polish roots and sexual orientation.

Accustomed to the banter, Phoebe gave a nonchalant shrug. Approaching a pedestrian crossing, she noted the speed of approach of an oncoming vehicle and halted. She also witnessed her friend continue forward, haphazardly stepping onto the road without checking.

“Stop!”

The cry of a hard brake sounded but Mandy barely registered it, only looking up as the bumper gently brushed her jeans. She reacted to the driver’s agitated hand gestures by returning a middle-fingered one of her own.

“Check the stripes, arsehole!”

Phoebe hurried on after, offering an apologetic wave along the way.

“You need to be more careful, Mandy.”

“Me? He was in the wrong. And not just for buying a yellow Mercedes.”

“Yes, but I don’t care what happens to him.”

Sensing that her worried comment was not really about the crossing, Mandy fell back on humour again.

“I’ll be checking the news today. If he ends up wrapped around a tree, that’s on you.”

Phoebe chose not to respond, though Mandy knew exactly what was going on in her head.

“He’s 28, okay?”

“He’s eleven years older than you?!”

“Ah, no. He’s an October baby, so it’s ten and a half.”

“Oh, good. In that case, uh... dive right in, I guess.”

Mandy chuckled at Phoebe’s stuttering attempt at a retort. She’d never quite mastered the art of sarcasm. Or speaking in general, for that matter. She needed a few seconds to prepare before each sentence.

“Thanks for the flashbacks to your English presentation last year. The funniest bit was watching Mrs Mason trying not to laugh.”

The hurt silence that followed didn’t feel good. She uttered an apology and offered a quick side-hug. Phoebe accepted both and moved on, asking to see the pictures again.

“He’s not half bad. If that’s your thing, I mean.”

“Back off, lesbo, he’s mine!”

That one hit the mark, eliciting a laugh and lifting their spirits.

*********

The jocular tone continued right through to the Bayden Park intersection where, on a normal day, they’d go straight ahead. This time, however, Mandy veered off to the left and entered the grassy parkland; a move that didn’t go unnoticed.

“Why are we going this way? We’ll be late.”

“I need the toilet.”

“You just went at home, before we left. I heard the flush.”

“What are you, a stalker?”

“Mandy...”

Her silence spoke ample.

“I knew it. You’re skipping school, aren’t you?”

“We, Pheebs. We are skipping school. Just for an hour or two, anyway.”

“Absolutely not. We have Design first up, the only class I actually enjoy.”

“We’ll just be working on our final assignments, which I know for a fact you have already finished.”

“Do I even need to ask why?”

Feeling cornered, she was almost relieved when the magpie came. The sudden woosh of air by her head was accompanied by a familiar clack of a sharp beak. With a surprised shriek, she ducked and threw her hands into the air.

“Fuck off! Why do they never attack you, the walking Statue of Liberty?”

“I’m probably more imposing. Weird, though. It’s not even nesting season.”

The aggressive bird swooped again, Mandy in its crosshairs. The pair broke into a run, laugh-screaming all the way to playground in the centre of the park. Panting and grinning, Phoebe allowed a moment of cheer before steering the conversation back to the matter at hand. Mandy sighed.

“He texted me his address last night. I know I’ve had a few shitty boyfriends in the past but this one’s different. Besides, you’re coming with. Imposing to both magpies and men. Doesn’t that count for something?”

Phoebe gave an audible sigh. The warnings, to her, were so glaringly obvious. She wanted desperately to inject some sense into the fool but knew she’d get mocked for being superstitious.

“I’m just... worried.”

“I’m taking precautions. What’s there to be worried about?”

“I’m worried you’re not seeing the signs, okay?”

“Oh, not this again.”

“I mean it. On top of your history of attracting bastards, the near miss with the car back there felt like a strong signal to me. And the magpie just now. Swooping this time of year? That’s a bit off.”

“Sorry, Pheebs. I don’t buy it. Hit me with facts, sure, but I won’t accept any superstitious bullshit.”

A warning shout sounded, half a second too late.

“On your left!”

Mandy sidestepped but the well-built man, clad in bright Lycra, barrelled past her. A slight bump and uneven footing left her face down in the grass. Phoebe swore after the runner, who carried on unbothered. Helping her friend to her feet, she didn’t bother containing a satisfied smirk.

“And what say you now?”

Mandy beamed, presenting the two-dollar coin she’d unearthed during her fall.

“I say, where does that sit on your stupid-stition meter?”

“Well, it’s hardly enough to retire on.”

They continued their argument, tit for tat, until they reached the public toilet block. Having washed the dirt from her face, Mandy began reapplying her makeup with her phone’s camera as a mirror. Phoebe continued, persistent as ever.

“I assume there’s no talking you out of it?”

Placing her phone down beside the basin, Mandy gave a goofy grin. She held out the coin.

“Let’s flip for it. Heads, I win. Tails, you lose.”

A swift flick of her thumb and the metal disk took flight before the obvious trick could be protested. It spun unevenly through the air, bounced off the wall and slipped through waiting fingers on its downward path. With a watery plonk it disappeared down the drain hole. Mandy swore and Phoebe laughed.

“Neither heads nor tails? One could almost take it as another sign.”

“Doesn’t count. It’s a do-over.”

“Of course.”

They left the facilities behind and continued through the park. Mandy knew Phoebe was still nervous, if not by her fidgeting, then by her annoying questions.

“How far is his place?”

“Not far. It’s on Millet Street.”

“Have you checked though? Open Maps and have a look.”

“It’s not far, Pheebs.”

“Is it walkable? Maybe we should take an Uber.”

“For God’s sake! It’s not–”

Red and blue lights up ahead stole her attention. The treeline, by the street running adjacent the park, was illuminated in intermittent flashes. Curiosity got the better of them and they picked up the pace. Mandy heard Phoebe’s shocked gasp a second before she noticed it herself.

A yellow Mercedes. Wrapped around a tree. The driver sat on the kerb, head in his hands. A police officer knelt beside him, placing a foil blanket over his shoulders. To their left, two paramedics loaded a stretcher, occupied by a man clad in familiar attire. Bright Lycra.

They watched on as the responders worked, along with a small crowd of onlookers. Eventually, Phoebe approached a fellow bystander.

“Do you know what happened?”

“The guy didn’t look. Ran straight across the road. The car struck him hard, then lost control and hit the tree. The driver seems alright. Bit shaken up though.”

Mandy swore.

“Shit...”

Phoebe turned back to her and nodded.

“Surely now you can–”

“… I left my phone in the toilet!”

“Mandy!”

But she was already sprinting back through the park. Phoebe followed, cursing her ignorance. At the toilet block they were met with a barred doorway and a sign that read Cleaning in Progress. Mandy proceeded to duck under the bar, only to be halted by a council worker.

“Hold up, sweetheart. It’s mess in there. Water all over the floor.”

“What? No there’s not, I was just in there.”

“Funny you should say that because someone left the tap on. Wouldn’t have been an issue, if not for this little bugger blocking the pipe. Know anything about that?”

He showed them the two-dollar coin he’d fished from the drain. Mandy felt her pulse quicken but maintained a level head.

“It wasn’t me, if that’s what you’re implying. I just left my phone in there. Could I duck in and grab it? I don’t want to be late for school.”

“Sorry, love. Slip hazard. I’ll have to mop it up first. Won’t take long.”

Before she could protest further, she was pulled back by her arm. Leaving the cleaner to his job, Phoebe released her frustration, hissing through gritted teeth.

“For God’s sake, Mandy, open your fucking eyes. That guy, the runner who knocked you over, just got mown down by the same car that nearly killed you earlier. That car then gets, wait for it... wrapped around a tree. Your exact words, remember? And now this! Ask me again where that coin sits on my stupid-stition meter. Do you really believe this has been one big chain of meaningless coincidences? How can you be so blind? Something is clearly telling you not to go to this guy’s house. Can you please just listen to it?”

Taken aback by the outburst, Mandy was lost for words. Never had she heard such unhindered speech flow from her friend's mouth. And never had she seen her so frightened. The anger failed to mask the fear in Phoebe’s eyes.

A few awkward minutes passed, neither of them entirely sure how to move forward. Half-finished, the cleaner managed to retrieve the phone and return it. Mandy murmured a word of thanks and took a deep breath.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“I’ll listen.”

“Really?”

“Yeah... let’s take an Uber.”

Phoebe hung her head in disbelief.

**********

The silent treatment was impressive, continuing back through the park, over to the nearby pick-up zone and for the entirety of the rideshare. Offering no absolutely response to Mandy’s attempted conversation, Phoebe simply stared out the window.

She was tempted to leave. Abandon her ignorant friend and head to school. But the string of bizarre happenings couldn’t be ignored. They left her with a bad feeling and she knew that if something happened, she’d hold herself responsible.

The feeling didn’t improve upon arrival to Millet Street. Dilapidated houses with unkempt lawns. Rusted trampolines, scarcely used. Damaged vehicles, parked and awaiting repair. The Uber moved along slowly for a few hundred metres, before coming to a stop with two wheels on the grass. They glanced out the window and the driver spoke, voice unsure.

“Number 62. You girls sure this is the right place?”

Mandy was speechless. Phoebe answered.

“We’re sure.”

Blue and white tape ran between the two side fences, cordoning off the property. In the driveway sat an empty police car and a windowless van with Forensics Unit labelled on one side. The curtains of the house had been drawn, but the regular flashes of a camera cast momentary silhouettes of those working methodically within.

The neighbours on the right, husband and wife, were both out in their yard, still clad in pyjamas. Exiting the car, the girls approached them.

“What happened?”

“Not sure. It all went down this morning. An ambulance just left, with two patients by the look of it. Police arrested some fellas as well. I’ve always thought this lot was a bit shifty. Been saying it for months. Weird stuff going on in there.”

Mandy took out her phone and held an image up to the couple.

“Was this one of them?”

The wife nodded.

“Oh, for sure. He was there. Got taken away in a police car only a few minutes ago. Didn’t go willingly either. Did you know him?”

She shook her head and turned back to look to the house. Tears began to well in her eyes. Feeling Phoebe’s sympathetic arm wrap around her shoulder, she turned into her friend’s embrace and cried.

**********

They stood there a while, watching on in silent reflection. Lost in thought of everything that had happened and everything that could have, if they’d not been so lucky. They could have stayed all morning but an officer eventually came out and told them to move along.

The walked slowly, heading in the direction of school. As they neared the crossing at the start of Millet Street, Mandy pulled out her phone and began to book an Uber. Phoebe reached out and put a hand over the screen to stop her.

“It’s a beautiful day. Let’s walk.”

“But we’ll be late.”

“That really doesn’t matter.”

They smiled warmly at each other and arrived at the crossing. As one stepped onto the road, the other hesitated.

From the opposite footpath, Phoebe turned to see where Mandy had gone but her view was obscured by a large bus driving by.

It was only momentary. Once it passed, she saw her friend had yet to cross the road. She was positioned low, down on one knee.

Tying her shoelaces.