I DON’T LIKE MONDAYS

It all started so innocently. The practical joke that would go horribly awry, the idea of having a bit of fun at the expense of someone less fortunate, and the stupidity that was my fault. And the Monday that would change everything. Can’t forget that.

Why I allowed my friends to talk me into it, I’ll never know. I never did things like that on my own. No, I was usually more caring and less of an idiot. But not this time. This time, it was different.

For some silly stupid reason, I lost all ability-for that split second when it was all decided-to think about the feelings of our intended victim. No, I didn’t know her from Adam. But that shouldn’t have mattered. Nor should her appearance ever have mattered. Nothing should’ve mattered except her feelings…and the reasons behind why she seemed different.

All that mattered at the time was that it was Monday and we had nothing better to do. Sure, we all had a job. But we were off for the day. Hell. We’d been off all weekend, drinking. And drunks often seem to find mischief to get into.

We were no different. We’d started drinking on Friday and hadn’t stopped at all through the whole weekend. In fact, we were still drinking by Monday morning. Of course, we thought nothing of it. We didn’t have to go back on the job until Tuesday, sometime.

It was a one of our beer runs when we spotted her. Down an alley, off the main drag, she stood in ragged clothes. She couldn’t have been more than fourteen. Not that she was all that bad looking, it was just her worn and tattered appearance that had us in stitches.

“Hey,” I started, the idea popping into my head, “how about having a little fun? Nothing violent. Nothing against the law. Just a small practical joke?” I knew, in the back of my mind, as soon as I had said this, that I should’ve thought better. But being on a drunk, and not thinking as I should, I discounted the nagging little thought as soon as it tried to shut me up.

“Whad’ya have in mind?” Bobby inquired, his speech a bit more slurred than usual.