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

[instar]

And off Bella goes.

[aeskhyne]

At about a quarter past six, somebody rings her doorbell.

[instar]

Bella answers the door. "Hi, Trouble. Come on in."

[aeskhyne]

"Hi!" says Trouble. "Bella, meet pie. Pie, Bella."

He is carrying the pie, in a pie dish and wrapped in a towel. The visible edge of the crust looks perfect and the pie as a whole smells delicious.

[instar]

"Mmm, pie." She steps aside to let in him and the pie. "Mom, Andi, Trouble's here!"

[kindestgarden]

"That's such a peculiar nickname," remarks Renée, peering into the hall. "Hello, Trouble, I'm Bella and Andi's mom, Renée. Do you want to stay for dinner?"

[aeskhyne]

"Sure," says Trouble.

[kindestgarden]

"Excellent. Would that pie be better warm, should I pop it in the oven?"

[aeskhyne]

"Nah, you have to let it cool or you get pie soup," he says. "It's still pretty snuggly, actually."

[kindestgarden]

"All right then." She puts a trivet on the counter and gestures at it. "It can cool there, then, I'm afraid between the air conditioning and the width of the windowsills there's no traditional pie-cooling to be had in this house. Sit down, sit down."

[pandion]

Andi is setting out spoons.

[instar]

Bella is tipping ice from a tray into a water pitcher.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble sets the pie down on the trivet and unfolds the towel off of it. The entire thing looks amazing. He finds somewhere to sit.

[instar]

Eventually everyone has sat down and starts taking turns ladling themselves bean stew. (Salad has been predistributed.)

[aeskhyne]

Okay. Trouble helps himself to some stew.

[instar]

The stew is beany and spicy!

[aeskhyne]

It is tasty and enjoyable!

His salad remains untouched.

[kindestgarden]

"Trouble, I don't know if the girls told you; in our house everyone waits for dessert till they've eaten their vegetables," Renée says mildly, taking a second helping of stew. "If you're allergic to something in the salad there are some baby carrots around."

[aeskhyne]

Trouble shrugs.

[instar]

The girls eat their salad.

[pandion]

(Andi drowns hers in ranch.)

[aeskhyne]

Trouble does not go for his salad. Or for any baby carrots.

[kindestgarden]

Eventually everyone has finished eating. Renée gets up and puts the leftover bean stew in a Tupperware. "We also have vinaigrette if you'd rather that than ranch," she tells Trouble.

[aeskhyne]

"Nah," says Trouble.

[kindestgarden]

Renée sits back down.

The pie cools on the counter.