the graceless

[instar]

Bella sits out, this year as every year, from gym class. It's just asking for a lawsuit. She does stretches and crunches and push-ups in the corner.

Comments

[aeskhyne]

"Cute," says Trouble. "So how do you know what actually works?"

[instar]

[pandion]

"Bella?"

[instar]

"I'm not omniscient, and using my first wish to become omniscient would have its own problems, but I am not made of cardboard, and therefore I can tell a difference between things that do and do not work when I look at them, and if I had the leverage I could make things that do not work more similar to things that do work. I don't think wanting to improve things is cute and I don't want to go into any more detail with someone who holds that impulse in contempt."

[aeskhyne]

Trouble sighs.

"I'm sorry I called it cute," he says. "Wanting to fix things is good. But when I ask you how you're gonna get it right and instead of talking about who you'll ask for advice and how you'll find out what you need to know, you get your back up about how you can get it all done by yourself, I don't start wanting to hand you a genie in a bottle."

[instar]

"If only I had guessed that my prize was a genie when I had the opportunity to collect such a prize. In practice I'm thinking medical research."

[aeskhyne]

"Probably safe," says Trouble.

[instar]

"Ah, I have your seal of approval. All is well."

[pandion]

Andi hugs her sister.

[aeskhyne]

"Is this my cue to get lost?" says Trouble.

[instar]

Bella shrugs. "I didn't like how you asked a question. That doesn't mean you aren't allowed within a hundred yards of me by court order, or anything. If I were really mad I'd tell you not to come over this evening."

[aeskhyne]

"Okay."

[instar]

Sandwich.

[pandion]

Andi looks her over, then tells Trouble, "She's okay."

[aeskhyne]

He smiles. "Good."

[pandion]

"I would totally hand Bella a genie if I had one," Andi adds loyally.

[aeskhyne]

"Bet you would," Trouble agrees.

[instar]

The twins eat their lunches.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble eats his, which appears to have been brought from home.

[pandion]

"Trade you my fruit cocktail cup thing for your kiwi."

[aeskhyne]

"Sure," says Trouble. He hands her the kiwi.

[pandion]

Andi completes the trade and consumes the kiwi. Nom!

[aeskhyne]

Trouble consumes the fruit cocktail cup thing. Everyone is happy!

[instar]

Eventually lunch ends. Off go the girls.

Bella sits out of gym as usual; today she has little weights she's holding while she does her crunches.

[aeskhyne]

"Hi," says Trouble. "Sorry I made you mad at lunch."