Time: Back In The Day / Kinsey: Age 11 / Pre-YIM
Rating: Fun For All
Isaac, Taylor, and Zac were seated in the Jackson’s basement with Kinsey watching tv while her parents took Brenna to see “Homeward Bound” at the theater.
“I’m so bored,” Kinsey groaned, flopping dramatically over the arm of the couch.
“Well… we could play video games,” Taylor suggested, “I’ll kick your butt at Super Mario Kart.”
“Oh, you’re on!” she said, jumping off of the couch onto the floor in front of the tv. Taylor quickly put in the game, selected a 2 player race, and then immediately chose Yoshi.
“Taylor! I’m always Yoshi!” she exclaimed.
“Yeah, well, today I am.”
“What’s your problem? Just let me be Yoshi!”
“No! I picked him first fair and square. Just be Peach or something!” Taylor told her.
“She isn’t fast and you know it! You just took the best racer!”
“Kinsey, just pick something else. You can’t always be Yoshi. That’s why you always win, you know.”
“No, I win because I’m good.”
“You just said that Yoshi is the best racer!” Taylor said, looking at her incredulously.
“Yeah, he is… when I’m using him! And it’s my house, so I get first pick!” Kinsey countered.
“Shouldn’t you let your guests pick first?” Taylor argued.
“Taylor! Just let her be Yoshi, geez! What’s wrong with you two today?” Isaac asked.
“I am not going to give in!” Taylor exclaimed, “She can pick another character for one game! It won’t kill her!”
“Fine! I’ll be Luigi!” Kinsey spat.
“Thank you!” Taylor yelled unnecessarily as he started the level.
“You’re welcome!” Kinsey yelled back. Then in silence, they played, and of course, Taylor won. Before he even had the chance to gloat, Kinsey threw her controller on the ground and stomped upstairs, slamming the door as she reached the top. All three guys flinched.
“Geez… you really made her mad, Taylor,” Zac replied, finally taking his gaze away from his Game Boy.
“All I did was what we’ve all wanted to do for forever! She always picks Yoshi and it’s not fair!”
“I know, but geez… you guys have never fought like that before,” Isaac said.
“She just made me so mad!”
“It was weird…” Isaac said, trailing off as he thought about what had just taken place. Taylor shrugged.
“Whatever, do you want to play?” he asked Isaac.
“Yeah! I’m going to beat you!” he replied, forcing the fight to the back of his mind.
“Whatever,” Taylor said disinterestedly.
“Guys, shouldn’t someone go check on Kinsey?” Zac asked.
“No,” Isaac and Taylor said in unison.
“Oh, okay,” Zac said contentedly before looking back at his game of Tetris.
Kinsey stormed up the stairs to her room before closing the door and collapsing onto her bed. Taylor had never made her that mad before. They had known each other their entire lives, and then had never yelled at each other before that day. She grabbed her stuffed Dalmatian and curled up in the middle of her bed.