Sweater Kid

Prompt from DailyPrompt.com

I knew them as “the weird sweater kid” long before I tried talking to them. Even in winter it stood out amongst the dingy grey and beige of the apartment block. Like someone threw together a rainbow sweater from unicorn barf. Gaudy, glittery uneven slabs of off-primary colours. You couldn’t pay me to try it on. Couldn’t strong-arm me into wearing it in public.

But the kid wore it every day. Without fail. I assumed some relative must have made it for them. Like, it was the sole remnant of a loving grandma with tragically poor colour vision.

Normally I never would’ve talked to them. Not because of the sweater, I just don’t make the first move like that. It’s stressful. Scary, even. Easier to be alone.

But it was the height of summer and I’m out front of the apartments in the sole scrap of shade the barren yard has, under the wall. Longing for a breeze.

And the kid walks past. Wearing shorts and sneakers and that sweater. I couldn’t believe it. The words slipped out.

“Aren’t you hot?”

They stop and stare at me. Surprised by the sudden conversation, I guess. Then they smile, polite and friendly like, and assure me “Nah! I have my sweater.”

“Uh, yeah. Isn’t it way too hot?”

“No?” Sweater kid is squinting at me like I’m crazy. “I’m always comfy cosy so long as I have my sweater.”

“Ummm… k?”

Silence drones between us. I stare at the worn paving. Sweater kid scuffles from one foot to the other. We’re out of things to say but don’t know how to end the conversation.

They clear their throat a few times. Pick at a scab on their knee like they’re fishing for a topic. Finally they mumble “Do you not have a sweater?”

“Sure? But I’m already roasting.”

They squint at me some more. I squint back.

They’re not sweating. Pretty sure being crazy doesn’t let you fool your body like that, right? They should have beads running down their neck and soaking their hair. But nope. Meanwhile I look like someone emptied a bucket over my head.

Wish someone would.

“Your sweaters don’t keep you cosy?”

“Er, they keep me warm. When it’s cold. It’s not cold.” I’m struggling to explain physics to this kid who apparently doesn’t abide by it. “Sweaters don’t…” I wave a hand, torn between what I know about the world and what’s standing right in front of me, and amend “My sweaters don’t help if it’s too warm.”

“Ohh.” Sweater kid digest this. I can see wheels spinning behind their eyes. I think I just gave them context for a whole lot of people being confused at them their whole life.

I’m past intrigued and it’s hot and I’ve got a fiver in my pocket. “I’m Jackie. You?”

“Ellis.”

“You like ice cream? My treat.”

Their eyes light up, magic sweater or no. “Yeah!”

I can ask more questions in the cool.

Prompt was “It’s impossibly ugly this sweater, but I wear it each week, no matter the weather.”