A Nintendo Surprise After Bus Bickering (Part 3) – Mad Chaos: February 22, 1999

A Tournament Gone Wrong

Reaching 11:00 p.m. we headed back to my house, ate the Pizza and then started back up on the Nintendo. This time we sought to play each other instead of the computer in a season match. Keith came over minutes after we turned on the Nintendo and in our first game we decided to make it a tournament and the winners of each double match made it to the final. Shawn was against Tatton and Keith was against me in the next game, whoever won made it to the next level, the Superbowl.

However, being my cocky self and gathering I would beat Keith I called it the Tony Bowl but after Tatton was beaten and then I was beaten by a touchdown I called it the Tray Bowl, mixing my name and Tatton’s name together. Everyone had a good old laugh at my expense but I didn’t care that much, I wasn’t phased. Keith also took it upon himself to order a Pizza to my house and just before midnight it turned up. Bringing downstairs the Maxibon’s from the fridge I would say we had a fair bit of a feast.

Back Up the Dirt Hill

Shawn won the game against Keith and what was different about our games recently was that the scores were low and competitive instead of basketball numbers. Speaking of our off road experiences to Keith he wanted to know when we were going again and Keith persuaded Shawn to persuade Tatton to head out there after our games were finished. Knowing that Keith only wanted to head out there so he could take advantage of Tatton and drive the car I said it out loud and I gather this is what kept him from saying those commanding words later in the night.

Tatton was persuaded by the both of them to take the car off road rally driving and as we headed back up to the start of Glen Alpine where the train crossing is, we prepared ourselves for some dirt flicking. Keith was in the back seat with me and as Shawn started on his way Tatton made it very clear there was only to be one run of the course. Flicking dirt, hitting gravel and plummeting through water puddles, it had the lot.

Reaching the other end we made our way out of the TAFE the normal way but with Keith and Shawn continually badgering Tatton subliminally he caved in and allowed Shawn one more drive through. “Are you sure you want to go the long way home” Shawn kept saying to Tatton. So with that we headed back through the field and with that rush over we headed home via Queen Street. Getting back home around 2:00 a.m. I had some relaxing therapy in watching television and then pounced upon my Diary for the next couple of hours.

Making Plans With Lyssa

Heading now into Sunday’s entry, let me begin with the call that Lyssa gave to me at 11:30 a.m. With only five hours of sleep to my name I was tired when Lyssa called and I wasn’t too keen on jumping out of bed and heading to Tempe. Rather, I waited to hear what Lyssa would say about our day and I was glad to find that she wasn’t too intense on the Tempe idea.

Inviting Lyssa over to my house and informing her that I had her surprise ready she asked for me to meet her in an hour at Campbelltown station. That meant I still had to get up and do what I normally would have had to do but with this plan I didn’t have to worry about problems arising when I arrived at Tempe. Informing me that she was calling a taxi to Sydenham and then leaving for Campbelltown we made plans to meet on the seats out the front.

Late But Worth Waiting

Finishing our conversation I had my shower and prepared myself for the voyage to Campbelltown heading off with plenty of time to spare. Arriving at the station after dropping off the Nintendo game at Blockbuster I gathered that I would be late but to my surprise, Lyssa wasn’t there. The time crept up to 12:30 p.m. and taking me an hour to get ready and head for the station I was surprised that I had beaten Lyssa there. Patient I was for the next hour as I continued to wait for Lyssa and I thought that something probably went wrong but I knew better, Lyssa was just late.

Lyssa finally arrived to greet me up the stairs where we wait for the cars. Greeting me she informed me that the taxi was late in getting to her and then the train was late in coming so that’s why she took so long. Unfazed by how long Lyssa had been we made our way to the bus stop. Sitting there reading the magazine she had bought Lyssa informed me of that guy in her family that is sleazy and his crude conversation with her.

Lyssa told me how he wanted to call Lyssa at home and chat with her and how he had a photographer lined up to take pictures of her and her Aunt that is married to his brother was in on the plans. This whole portion of the family is really demented and pathetic, sexually deprived and deviant perverts also comes to mind. If I’m not mistaken, I think they pulled this same conversation on Lyssa last time I was with her at a gathering. “Where’s the guy with the ponytail” they also asked, that’s me now aye, I’m nothing but the ponytail guy to them.

Mental Block and Bus Bickering

Before I move on let me just say that this mental block of mine is really affecting my choice of words in normal prose and it’s pissing me off. My stance is all wrong, my legs are getting pricks and needles and my fingers are starting to stray. My thoughts are not with me and haven’t been for the last couple of days and if it doesn’t get better soon, well, what can I do…

Catching a bus back to my house Lyssa started to question me inquisitively about my night out for Saturday. When the sneaky questions kept coming I started to realize that Lyssa was trying to figure out if I had done anything bad for the night and I was getting pissed off with her subliminal accusations. Twenty questions wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I picked up Lyssa so in my agitated tone I asked Lyssa to stop asking all the questions.

There weren’t many people on the bus but I can be sure two or three of them heard us bickering, I didn’t really care. To me, that deflated my whole plan to surprise Lyssa because I didn’t want to show her a present when the both of us were upset.

For the sake of remembrance to be on a happy note I started to make amends of our anger, trying to make Lyssa smile and just carrying on with normal conversation. Stopping off at Bradbury shops was a good option as Lyssa and I could regain our cool before heading to my house. While there Lyssa bought herself something to eat for when we arrived at my house because she hadn’t eaten all day.

The Surprise Nintendo

Departing the shops in a favorable mood we made our way to my house. Unloading Lyssa’s hands of her burdened bags she was gladdened by my always-helping attitude. Opening the door and walking in before Lyssa I had to enlighten her that I didn’t want her to see the surprise yet. Thus, walking into my room and closing the door behind me so Lyssa wouldn’t peep I turned on the already set up Nintendo with Super Mario in it. “Hello, this is Mario” uttered Mario from within the game and walking back outside to greet Lyssa, her eyes opened up, elated with surprise, she began her joyous ballerina tip toeing into the room.

Announcing to Lyssa that the Nintendo was hers to keep but not directly connecting the gift with our day of celebration we began to play Super Mario. Starting off the game myself I showed Lyssa just a few tips that I learnt playing it two nights before and then I let Lyssa have the reigns of her new toy. You could see Lyssa was happy and although she told me she couldn’t possibly think of taking the Nintendo from me, she really didn’t mean it.

Concluding to the same problems that I faced with Super Mario, Lyssa couldn’t get a grasp of the analog control you had to use. Both Lyssa and I would have preferred to use the directional buttons as it was easier to use but that wasn’t an option in the control menu. Lyssa couldn’t get her hands around the analog controls and you could see her getting a tad frustrated so after playing man for man and showing Lyssa how to defeat the first and second monster we turned that game off.

Lyssa and Her Sensitive Nose

Hungry was Lyssa still after eating the food bought from the shops so I made my way upstairs to make us two sandwiches and a meat pie to share. Up and down the stairs I came to bring Lyssa our meal but as Lyssa doesn’t appreciate the food that’s made, she only had half a sandwich and some crusts off the meat pie. Lyssa is very discriminating and discerning when it comes to her nose or her taste senses. Lyssa makes it well known to me when she thinks something smells or when she doesn’t like something she’s eating.

On top of that, Lyssa has the most scrupulous smell and taste that I along with other people would think it was too meticulous. This nose that begs for distinction would smell the slightest particle of sweat upon someone and deem it putrid. Then, when I smell for it I really can’t smell a thing. Learning not to give too much credit and attention to Lyssa’s heightened senses is the key to keeping sane about your own.