"Anyone who says it’s 'just the Internet' can fuck off. And then when they come back, they can fuck off again."

My last circuit of the evening came up short.

But this morning, a friend I've never met had written this.
Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

* * * * *

I had a dream about roo just now. No it wasn't a dirty dream so you just get your mind out of the gutter you filthy thing.

In the dream, I was reading roo's book. I got to this one part that was illustrated like a comic book. In this scene, she has gone back in time to visit her younger self. She wants more self-confidence, so she decides this is the best way to do it.

So there's little roo: bony, big brown eyes, long brown hair. And she's marveling at adult roo.

"You're so pretty," little roo says.

"Yes, but I'm you," grown-up roo says. "So you know what that means? It means..."

"I'm pretty," little roo says, because, even then, roo was a clever thing.

"Yes."

And then grown-up roo sat down with little roo, and told her all the things she wished she'd known back then. And you wouldn't think little roo's eyes could get any bigger, but they did.

When they were done talking, grown-up roo gave little roo a hug. When she did this, little roo felt a warmth flow through her, an energy.

"Are you a superhero?" little roo asked.

Grown-up roo thought little roo must be referring to the time travel, but then suddenly she realized little roo meant the hug.

"Yes," grown-up roo said smiling, "That's my superpower."

"When will I get it?" little roo asked.

"I think you just started," grown-up roo said.

"Awesome. You're awesome."

"But you know what that means," grown-up roo offered.

And with that, little roo stood up, feet apart, hands on hips, chin up, looking up and off into the future. You could almost see a cape fluttering gently in the breeze behind her.

"Awesome."

* * * * *

Comments

[Kathi]

This is so sweet! Glad to see you're back!

BTW - I thought I left a comment, but it didn't show up. So, if I did, and it happens to show up twice, sorry. This seems to be happening a lot to me lately. I think it may be user error.

[roo]

Okay, I've tried to publish the same comment three times already. What the fuck, Typepad.

Yeah, this story made me cry a little when I read it. I'm lucky to have such wonderful internet friends.

[sheila]

Wow. That is so so moving.

[roo]

Thank you, sheila. He's a great friend.

Looks like typepad ate your comment for a while there, too. I'm going to knock some heads together soon if Typepad doesn't shape up.