eek, monsters

[pandion]

Time goes by. Trouble keeps right on bringing desserts (and once a quiche and once a loaf of bread with nuts in it). The Swans are uncomplaining. On Christmas Eve he brings two kinds of cookies and an astonishingly edible fruitcake and stays overnight on the couch. (Andi, self-servingly, got him a little box of assorted Genuine Maple Products. Bella got him an inexpensive yet adorable miniature sewing machine.) Robin comes over too, Christmas day (Andi gives her a packet of guitar strings and sheet music for assorted Green Day songs. Bella gets her a tiny tape recorder.)

School is back in session in January, after New Year's. (The twins set off small fireworks in the driveway - well, Andi does. Robin is invited to this event; Trouble is not, it somehow does not seem wise.)

Now it is the first weekend after the resumption of school.

Robin's supposed to be over any minute for practice for Nameless Band Which Kind Of Needs A Third Person But Bella Doesn't Want To. Andi taps out beats on her drums. Taptaptap. Taptaptap-kish. Taptaptap. Taptaptapkish.

Comments

[aeskhyne]

"Yeah, not a lot of people are with me on that one."

[instar]

"I hope Charlie's recoverable."

[aeskhyne]

"Me too," says Trouble. "I'd say I hope Reggie's not, but I already get him back plenty often, so it's not like I can imagine he's dead or anything."

[instar]

Bella shivers again.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble shrugs.

[kindestgarden]

The door opens, and in comes Renée. She pokes her head into the living room. "Hi, Trouble. Staying the night again?"

[aeskhyne]

"Yep," says Trouble.

[kindestgarden]

"All right. Bella, did you do all right for dinner?"

[instar]

"Spaghetti," shrugs Bella. "Robin and Ethan were over too but they're gone now."

[kindestgarden]

"Ooh, dinner for five. Is there dessert left?"

[instar]

"Yeah, we didn't eat the entire cake."

[aeskhyne]

"It's really great cake," brags Trouble. "You should have some!"

[kindestgarden]

"Don't mind if I do," chuckles Renée, and off she goes.