Volume 1, Issue 7: Just Like a Ninja

Georgia Smalley lived across the road from Ian, Selma, and Birdie. She had never met them before but whenever she stepped out on her porch to smoke in the evenings, she could see Birdie across the road, sitting on her patio stairs reading a book. She rarely saw Selma around the apartment and took little interest in her. Neighbor Boy and Redhead Girl were interesting to observe though.

She didn’t know how Ian and Birdie were related, but she knew that had to be kin of some sort. Brother and sister? Cousins? Fraternal twins? She couldn’t tell. Their stature, blazing red hair, and freckles made them mirror images of one another. Ian seemed like a worrier—always fretting over some thought rolling around in his head. He always walked down the road to the bus stop deep in concentration, staring at the ground with his eyebrows crinkled.

Birdie, on the other hand, was a dreamer. Georgia was intrigued at the carefree and confident way that Birdie walked. She paid attention to her surroundings but not in the paranoid, hyper-vigilant way that Georgia tended to. Birdie saw every tree, every squirrel. She felt every drop of rain and every ray of sun. To Georgia, Birdie was damn near a Buddha—always present and smiling.

Georgia was putting the finishing touches on her Halloween costume. She was dressed as a masked ninja. Once she was fully dressed, she left for the Halloween party. Every year, the theater crowd at ICU threw a big party for Halloween. Chaos always ensued at these parties. Georgia was hoping that tonight would follow suit.

That morning Georgia had gotten mail addressed to Birdie in her mailbox. Georgia, being bisexual, had a big crush on Birdie and hoped that the letter would be her ticket in to getting to know her.

Little did she know, the letter would be unnecessary in getting to know Birdie. She and Ian had also been invited to the Halloween party. Birdie looked amazing as Rosie the Riveter—a little skinny, but cute as hell. Ian was…well…Georgia couldn’t tell what Ian was exactly. She came to find out later that he was attempting to look like one of his favorite and obscure writers. No one got it. Poor, clumsy Ian.

Georgia walked towards Birdie who was chatting with a group of people in the kitchen. Birdie saw her and made eye contact. Georgia didn’t miss the not-so-subtle way that Birdie checked her out as she walked towards her. Georgia’s curvy body moved in waves under her ninja suit. Her brown eyes were all Birdie could see of her face.

Birdie excused herself and walked out to the back porch. Georgia followed her. The night was chilly, and, aside from a few chatty smokers, she and Birdie were the only people outside.

“Nice night,” Georgia commented. Birdie looked at her.

“If you hadn’t have said anything, I wouldn’t have known you were even there, being a ninja and all,” she said and then looked away, seemingly embarrassed.

“Yep. We ninjas are an interesting lot. You never know when we’ll sneak up behind you,” Georgia said, taking a long drag of her cigarette.

Georgia walked towards Birdie and made eye contact. Birdie didn’t look away.

“What’s your name?”

“Birdie O’Reilly. What’s yours?”

“Ninjas never tell.”

"I think you're sexy," Birdie said and then clapped her hand over her mouth terrified she had let that information slip. Apparently the whiskey she'd had made her a little loose-lipped.

Georgia snuffed out her cigarette, leaned in, and kissed Birdie softly on the mouth. Her mask and the tequila she'd been drinking had made her extra brave. Birdie leaned into her touch and Georgia felt a vibration on her leg.

“Shit! My phone!” Birdie gasped. It was Selma.

“I’m sorry. It’s my roommate. She was at O’Reilly’s pub a couple weeks ago and got trampled when the fire alarms went off. Her ankle is broken and I should probably see what she needs,” Birdie stumbled.

Georgia nodded and smiled.

“I’ll be inside…if you can find me,” she said and winked.

After a quick chat with Selma, Birdie went back inside but couldn’t find her ninja girl anywhere.