Twenty-Sixth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

[Ring, ring!  It is 6:00 in the morning and there is someone buzzing at your door.

The day after Thanksgiving, Lucas was awakened by the sound of the telephone.  Upon picking it up, he was greeted by a friendly disembodied voice thanking him for his application as a paper-boy.  He'd be starting tomorrow!

 . . .

The rest of the day was spent in anxiety about what he was going to do.  And seeing as how he was Lucas, he came to the inevitable conclusion that he'd better make the best job of it he could.  This is the reason why your doorbell is being rung at an ungodly hour -- If it's possible for a buzzer to sound polite, it does.  Lucas will wait with a cheerful smile on your front porch until someone shows up to answer the door, after which he'll promptly launch into a speech that sounds as if it has been nervously rehearsed for hours.  In the event that no one does, he will leave after two rings.  Morning people may notice that there's no bike nearby, but there is a table meandering about your front lawn.  The speech runs as follows, though you can cut him off at any time.]

Good morning, [mister/miss]!  My name is Lucas.  We're not acquainted, but I wanted to let you know that I'll be responsible for bringing your newspapers in the morning now.  I'll do everything I can to make my delivery as quiet and punctual as possible.

Thanks very much, and I look forward to serving you!

[In the event that he knows you.]

O-Oh!  Hi!  Um.  Ah.  Oh, I have to change my speech.

Comments

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

[covers her mouth politely and tries not to laugh.] It's all right, really!

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas is as red as the stripes on his shirt after a few moments. His first morning at his first job and he was already doing horribly.]

U-Um. So. Here's your paper, Miss Vietnam.

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

[she takes the paper.] Well, as long as I'm up, do you want some coffee? [g-giving coffee to children is perfectly normal right]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Totally. Lucas has never had coffee before and knows nothing about that it smells nice.]

Oh, thanks! But I don't want to trouble you or anything. I think I'm supposed to be serving you, after all. I don't have any drinks with me, though.

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

[She moves aside to wave him in.] It isn't a trouble! I've already made some.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Oh, but . . .

[He'd be late with the rest of his paper route. But if she'd already gone to the trouble . . . And he hadn't had any breakfast, either. Well. He was five minutes early, anyway. After a little more hesitation, he gingerly steps in.]

Thank you, Miss Vietnam. Do you mind if I . . . ?

[The satchel full of the papers is tentatively set on the floor against the wall.]

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

Oh, go ahead! I don't care much for this place, anyway. [it's America's house; the more holes in the wall, she better. she beckons Lucas towards the kitchen.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[As he enters, he closes the door behind him, unzipping his coat and removing his gloves. Ah. Warmth was nice.]

Thanks. I guess no matter how long we live here, it can never really be home.

[He follows after hesitating a few moments about taking off his shoes before he does so.]

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

We can learn to tolerate it, though, right? [she takes Lucas's coat before he can protest and hangs it up.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Uh-huh. Whatever we have to do to survive -- and survive as happily as we can.

[He protests afterwards instead.]

Ah, I wasn't going to stay too . . . thanks.

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

Don't worry yourself. [...wow, the coffee she's made sure smells really strong. and it's really, really black. she picks up the pot.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[OK maybe smell 'nice' was a bit of a euphemism; the scent causes Lucas to wrinkle his nose a little as it hits him. Curiously, he edges a little closer to her to see what she's doing.]

It looks like . . . sludge really dark chocolate.

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's something like that. [n-not really.] It's better than chocolate, though. [n-no...]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

It must be really good, then!

[Lucas perks up a little at that. He's very fond of chocolate -- and when the joys of hot chocolate had been introduced to him, that had been even better.]

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

It is! [Vietnam sincerely believes this! so it's not like she's trying to lie to Lucas or anything. she really likes coffee. so she pours them both a cup each and passes one to Lucas. she sips, and says cheerfully,] Try it!

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[Lucas takes ahold of the cup, eagerly at first, then a little more gingerly when he realizes how hot it is. He blows on the surface for a little while. Then he sips.

. . . . .

Oh god. It is like drinking the essence of bitter darkness itself. Lucas's cheeks puff out a little as he tries to swallow without making a fuss.]

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

[She doesn't seem to notice Lucas's struggle, and is sipping like it isn't horribly bitter.] Would you like a cookie?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

'm ood.

[After a few more moments of mild agony, Lucas finally swallows everything in one big gulp. His eyes are tearing up. It must be from the deliciousness.]

. . . It's very unique.

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

Oh, really! Would you like more! [QUICK LUCAS, she's leaning over to refill your cup]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Oh god nooooooo. Lucas's mind is paralyzed for a second at the thought of having to drink any more of that and he moves his hand too late to prevent her from pouring any more.]

W-Wait!

I mean, um. If you give me anymore, you won't have any left for yourself.

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

[Vietnam looks a bit startled. You see, Lucas, in her culture, a guest draining their cup is a signal that they are surely thirsty for more. He's confused her, and she's already poured it anyway.]

Oh, there's no need to- do not worry about it! Please enjoy.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Vietnam, meet the most polite young man you'll ever meet. Lucas is so overwhelmed with joy that he'll just smile timorously and bring the cup closer to him again.]

T-Thanks. But you really have to save the rest for you, OK?

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

If you insist. [except not really, because if he drains his cup again she'll fill it anyway.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Some people say it's better to get it all down in one gulp. Lucas tried that the first time and it was pretty awful so he sips it more slowly this round.

. . . He can feel his taste buds dying away.]

[lotuslife.livejournal.com]

[she's watching closely to see if he's drunk the whole thing again.] Oh, I do love coffee!