At the cove

Posted on Saturday, 9 May 2020 - 1:19am by Lieutenant Ryan Rose MD

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: Monterey, California
Timeline: 19 years ago

-- breakwater cove, monterey california --

19 years ago

“Ryan! Hold my cotton candy, and my corn dog, and my soda.” Amanda started piling things into Ryan’s hands. Ryan looked where Amanda was headed, barely able to see over the top of the mound of cotton candy that was currently making his left hand sticky.

“Oh no. You aren’t going on that. That can’t be safe.” Ryan looked horrified at the spinning teacups.

“It’s fine! I haven’t finished the second corn dog yet. I won’t puke!” Amanda scampered off, leaving Ryan standing there, watching on in concern. Less than 5 minutes later, Amanda returned, and although she looked a tad green, she was no worse for wear.

“You ate my corn dog!” Amanda acted outraged, but Ryan knew her well enough to just smile. passing back her items. He brushed the crumbs off his shirt. “It was delicious.”

“Well you should have gotten one when we were there.” and for a moment she sounded eerily like Beverly. “You know you sound like your mother...”

Amanda scoffed, then smacked him lightly in the upper arm, completely ignoring his flinch. “Just for that, you are buying me a new corn dog.”

Ryan smiled. “Fair enough.”

Amanda spent the entire time in line for a corn dog checking out guys.

Ryan purchased her food, handed it to Amanda, then commented. “You know if you want to hunt for guys, hanging out with your brother is probably detrimental.”

Amanda chuckled. “Just looking, just looking. I saw a couple of girls checking you out.” She waggled her brows playfully at him.

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Well they have poor taste.”

Amanda stuck her tongue out at him. Having too much fun at the carnival to lecture her brother on his self confidence issues.

They wandered around for another hour before Ryan began flagging. It had been three months since he was out of the hospital, and this trip had been the longest stretch he’d been on his feet and active. He spotted a booth filled with stuffed animals that you could win by knocking over jars with a baseball, but there was no way he would have the range of motion needed for that. The next booth over had darts and balloons though. Ryan put the rest of his tickets into darts and tried to win something for Amanda.

She encouraged him, but wasn’t at all surprised when he was unsuccessful. “These things are rigged anyway.” She commented. But she had a few tickets left herself, so decided to give it a go.

On her very first throw she popped a balloon, and got to chose a small stuffed animal. “No way, I’m going for a big one.” Apparently darts was Amanda’s game, because she won not just the level 1 and 2 animals but then the 3rd. On her last ticket she managed to get to the largest animal, and let out a squee as she jumped up and down and pointed to a large stuffed alligator.

“Yay.” Ryan congratulated her, but clearly he was done in.

“Sorry.” Amanda realized she’d kept him out too long. “He’s yours.” She grinned. “Doctor Sexy Alligator.” She shoved the green thing at Ryan.

“Oh no no. You won him.” Ryan deferred.

“I did, and I’m giving him to you.”

“You can’t give him such a ridiculous name and then pawn him off on me.” Ryan tried to defer again.

“I can, I just did, shut up and say thank you.” Amanda just stared him down.

“Well aside from mentioning those two things are mutually exclusive. Thank you.” Ryan grinned and pat the alligator, clearly pleased despite his protest.

When Ryan fell asleep on the transport home, Amanda couldn’t help but snap a picture of him clutching Dr Sexy Alligator.

 

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