Yolanda smiled at Gabriel's response and settled down beside him. It would be a bit of fun; something she hadn't had a chance to truly enjoy for a while due to her constant traveling. Traveling brought with it new experiences and cultures, but there was always a lingering feeling of homesickness and isolation.
She allowed her mind to wander as the sound of her friends chattering devolved into white noise.
----
"Yolanda, do you really think we should be doing this?" A frightened young girl looked upon a younger version of Yolanda with worry creasing the corner of her eyes.
"Alu, you have to relax. It's just a game." Yolanda, eight years old, smiled at the one friend she had managed to make.
Alu, a scrawny and dark haired girl of the same age, gave a hesitant nod. "Okay. Just a game." She picked up three pencils and held them loosely; she truly didn't want them in her hands at this moment.
Yolanda picked up three pencils in turn and held them out to Alu, who tentatively connected her pencils with those held out to form a square. She looked at the other girl and nodded. They began to chant:
"Charlie, Charlie, can we play?"
"Charlie, Charlie, can we play?"
Both girls repeated the chant twice before peering down at the square. There was no movement for what felt like eternity, but eventually the left side of the square gave a violent jerk inwards. Yes, they could play.
Alu made a small noise of fear but Yolanda just smiled. "Charlie, do you know us?"
A jerk inwards. Yes.
"Charlie, do you know how old we are?"
Another jerk. Yes.
Yolanda looked at Alu to ask a question but the girl shook her head feverishly. She scowled at the other girl's display and, irritated, demanded:
"Charlie, will Alu die soon?"
No movememt. And then... a jerk inwards so hard that the pencils nearly flew from the girl's hands.
Alu squeaked, tears already flowing from her eyes. Both girls jumped at the sudden sound of three definite knocks on the wall of Yolanda's home, more akin to a beating than a rap of the knuckles.
Yolanda's eyes widened and she hurriedly indicated to the near hysterical girl to end the game.
"Charlie, Charlie, can we stop?"
"Charlie, Charlie, can we stop?!"
A different movement this time. A jerk outwards. No, you can't stop. Yolanda and Alu both gaped and immediately dropped the pencils, disconnecting the square on impact. Alu took a stumbling step backwards and fled, ignoring Yolanda's shouts of apology.
She sighed and looked down at the scattered pencils. She didn't need to ask Charlie to know that she had just lost her only friend.
----
Yolanda shook herself from the memory; a heavy feeling of regret and sadness had settled at the bottom of her stomach. She grimaced and forced herself to focus on her friends of the present.