July 14, 1998
'Pwease, Zef?'
I resisted the urge to punch him in the face. 'One,' I said through gritted teeth, 'Do NOT call me that. Two, I am very busy today and I can't possibly--'
'Pweeeeaaaase?''
He looked up at me with those huge brown puppy dog eyes of his. 'I be happy,' he suggested.
'No.'
He looked like he was about to cry. I considered drugging him again. But no, the last time I had done that, the King had gotten very angry with me, for some strange reason. I was sure that he wanted a break from his pesky little son too.
'Zef no play with me anymore!' Now he started crying. 'Zef hate me!'
Great. Just great. I was already late, and Mrs Anderson would kill me and probably give me detention. Again.
'Listen, Robin,' I said gently. I leaned down to his height. He rubbed his eyes, looking at me hopefully, thinking I was agreeing with him.
'I need to go now, okay?' I said.
'No!'
'Yes,' I said firmly. 'I don't hate you, but Daddy will get mad at me if I don't hurry up. I'll come back as soon as I can, okay?'
'Daddy get mad?'
'Yes, Daddy get very mad.' Not true. The King had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with this.
He looked sad. 'Okay,' he mumbled.
Really? Was it that easy? Well, I should say that every day--
'Zef take me with you!'
Oh no.
I sighed. I was quickly losing patience with him. 'Robin, stay home,' I said. 'I need to go. Play with your sister.'
He frowned at me. Aw. How adorable.
'Luna bowing!'
'You seriously need to get used to girls.' I wagged a finger at him. 'Trust me, you won't be saying that later on in your life. In fact, you'll probably become good friends with a girl. . .' I was thinking of Petunia.
He looked sad for a moment. 'Angie gone,' he said. 'She dead.'
I froze.
Then I swallowed the growing lump in my throat. 'Yes, she is,' I said hoarsely. Why was he talking about this? "That's why you need to go play with Luna. You never know how much they matter until they're gone.'
Maybe he could see that this was a touchy subject and I was getting upset and he wanted to humor me about this. Or maybe he was just tired of trying to convince me. Either way, he finally gave in.
'Okay Zef,' he said. Then he patted my cheek. 'It okay,' he said. 'You see Angie one day.'
Then he turned around and waddled away. I stared after him. Ange used to waddle.
Hey guys, I'm back ;). Did you miss me? Been away for a while, haven't I?
You know, the blog is sorta helping. . . mebbe if I actually had a reason to write all this I'd add more . . but. . .
(Hint, hint.)
'Zelf Silvermane. What did I tell you about being late?'
I swallowed. 'Sorry, Ma'am,' I muttered.
'Chin up and stop muttering, Zelf! You are not a rag doll, you do not slump. Straighten up.'
In answer I promptly slid down to the ground in the splits. I heard a few gasps and I smirked to myself. Yoga did help, after all.
'Detention!' Anderson turned away from me with a haughty twist of her head and a dusty twist of her heel, and turned her attention back to the board.
I puffed out my cheeks lazily and blew a silent raspberry at her. I heard snickers. Then I got up and headed towards Petunia.
'You should behave better, Zelf,' she scolded me in a whisper. I shrugged.
'Why?' I said. 'It's not as if she's going to treat me any better.'
I had a point there, so Petunia didn't say anything more.
I straightened my shirt and made my way to my room. Nabe was going to meet me at a convention center tonight. I slipped the shirt off over my head and dropped myself on my bed, my pendant bumping against my chest.
It was a miniature head of a silver lion with emerald eyes, my family crest. My father had given it to me the year after he had given me the sword (which was still too big). It was about the size of the top part of my pinky, a little less than an inch in diameter. I had never taken it off. It was special to me. Daddy had made it.
I chewed on my lip as I considered the King's idea of me starting my own business. Should I? Would anyone buy anything? How was I supposed to make a living, anyway? There was nothing else I knew how to do that could make money. Well, I could run a kissing booth. . . .
I shook my head, glancing at my watch. 6:30. I had had an early dinner with Robin and co. (namely Luna) so that I would get to the convention on time. It was lovely. I had a full half hour now. Enough time to brush my teeth, take a shower, brush my hair. . . oh, and put on some good clothes.
So I did everything. Except the latter. I marched in front of the mirror. My hair was damp and dark. You could just make out the streaks in it. I shook my head with a smile as I remembered when this random girl came up to me and asked if I had gotten highlights. HIGHLIGHTS. Think about that for a moment people.
Keep thinking.
Are you done? Good. Now you can go crazy and gawk like an idiot at the girl like I did. Highlights. As if.
Hmm. . . maybe I needed a haircut. . . my hair just barely brushed past my shoulders. I frowned. I was starting to think like a girl. Bad sign. I glanced at myself: hair a mess, dark green eyes shimmering in defiance (of what, may I ask?) and, well, half-naked. Well, I had on a towel. Did that count?
That's when I had the idea.
I adjusted my hat, pulling it down over my eyes. I had been going to wear sunglasses, but they were too big to fit under the hat. Therefore, I did not wear them. Simple.
I chewed on my lip and glanced at the door. Nabe was late. At least, I thought he was late. I didn't have my watch and I didn't see a clock anywhere. They say time slows down when you're impatient. I don't know who "they" are, but time was practically crawling for me now.
'Hey there, young man!'
I spun around. In hobbled a frail old lady, walking stick and all. She was waving said walking stick at me and had a stern expression on her face.
'Yes?'
'What are you doing here?'
I tried to look nonchalant and flipped my skateboard up. 'Nothin'.'
'Well, only invited guests are allowed, so I'm afraid you'll have to leave.'
I raised an eyebrow. 'Is that so?'
'Yes. Now please, out.' She pointed to the door.
I yawned. 'Make me. old lady.'
She gasped. I know, I was being rude. Extremely rude. Don't judge me! I'm a nice dude, I promise. It's just that I needed to stay in character. Plus, the old lady was starting to get on my nerves.
She looked around. For a split second, I thought she was going to call security. But then she looked back at me and her eyes narrowed.
'You're that boy, aren't you?'
I blinked. 'What boy?'
'Don't play dumb with me, young man,' she said, wagging her finger at me.
I made my eyes go really wide and let my jaw drop. 'Huuuuuh?'
I don't think she found it very funny, though. 'You're the one who's been stealing all that money from the residents! Well this is the end of that! I won't let you get away!'
I don't know whether it was that statement, or the sudden image of the old lady chasing me with a cane and a police uniform, or maybe both, but suddenly I just burst out laughing. I couldn't help it, really.
'You just wait!' she said to me, and hobbled off in the direction of the door.
I stopped giggling (with difficulty) and tried to put on a tough face. Hey, might as well go with the flow. Suddenly I'm a money thief. Who could have guessed? Zelf Silvermane, public enemy number one. Huh. Too bad, really. I've always wanted to be an assassin, not some petty robber.
'Hey!' I said, in my most commanding tone. 'You stop right there, lady!'
To my surprise, she stopped.
'Um. . . ' I began. I hadn't guessed that she would actually listen to me. I cleared my throat, thinking quickly.
'You're right,' I finally decided. 'I am the thief. And now I will take you as my prisoner!'
I suddenly had the urge to burst out in a fit of hysterical giggles again, but I restrained them. Giggles are for girls. Men chuckle. So I have to say, I suddenly had the urge to burst out in a fit of hysterical chuckles.
Well, that doesn't sound weird at all.
I resisted the urge to punch him in the face. 'One,' I said through gritted teeth, 'Do NOT call me that. Two, I am very busy today and I can't possibly--'
'Pweeeeaaaase?''
He looked up at me with those huge brown puppy dog eyes of his. 'I be happy,' he suggested.
'No.'
He looked like he was about to cry. I considered drugging him again. But no, the last time I had done that, the King had gotten very angry with me, for some strange reason. I was sure that he wanted a break from his pesky little son too.
'Zef no play with me anymore!' Now he started crying. 'Zef hate me!'
Great. Just great. I was already late, and Mrs Anderson would kill me and probably give me detention. Again.
'Listen, Robin,' I said gently. I leaned down to his height. He rubbed his eyes, looking at me hopefully, thinking I was agreeing with him.
'I need to go now, okay?' I said.
'No!'
'Yes,' I said firmly. 'I don't hate you, but Daddy will get mad at me if I don't hurry up. I'll come back as soon as I can, okay?'
'Daddy get mad?'
'Yes, Daddy get very mad.' Not true. The King had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with this.
He looked sad. 'Okay,' he mumbled.
Really? Was it that easy? Well, I should say that every day--
'Zef take me with you!'
Oh no.
I sighed. I was quickly losing patience with him. 'Robin, stay home,' I said. 'I need to go. Play with your sister.'
He frowned at me. Aw. How adorable.
'Luna bowing!'
'You seriously need to get used to girls.' I wagged a finger at him. 'Trust me, you won't be saying that later on in your life. In fact, you'll probably become good friends with a girl. . .' I was thinking of Petunia.
He looked sad for a moment. 'Angie gone,' he said. 'She dead.'
I froze.
Then I swallowed the growing lump in my throat. 'Yes, she is,' I said hoarsely. Why was he talking about this? "That's why you need to go play with Luna. You never know how much they matter until they're gone.'
Maybe he could see that this was a touchy subject and I was getting upset and he wanted to humor me about this. Or maybe he was just tired of trying to convince me. Either way, he finally gave in.
'Okay Zef,' he said. Then he patted my cheek. 'It okay,' he said. 'You see Angie one day.'
Then he turned around and waddled away. I stared after him. Ange used to waddle.
Hey guys, I'm back ;). Did you miss me? Been away for a while, haven't I?
You know, the blog is sorta helping. . . mebbe if I actually had a reason to write all this I'd add more . . but. . .
(Hint, hint.)
'Zelf Silvermane. What did I tell you about being late?'
I swallowed. 'Sorry, Ma'am,' I muttered.
'Chin up and stop muttering, Zelf! You are not a rag doll, you do not slump. Straighten up.'
In answer I promptly slid down to the ground in the splits. I heard a few gasps and I smirked to myself. Yoga did help, after all.
'Detention!' Anderson turned away from me with a haughty twist of her head and a dusty twist of her heel, and turned her attention back to the board.
I puffed out my cheeks lazily and blew a silent raspberry at her. I heard snickers. Then I got up and headed towards Petunia.
'You should behave better, Zelf,' she scolded me in a whisper. I shrugged.
'Why?' I said. 'It's not as if she's going to treat me any better.'
I had a point there, so Petunia didn't say anything more.
I straightened my shirt and made my way to my room. Nabe was going to meet me at a convention center tonight. I slipped the shirt off over my head and dropped myself on my bed, my pendant bumping against my chest.
It was a miniature head of a silver lion with emerald eyes, my family crest. My father had given it to me the year after he had given me the sword (which was still too big). It was about the size of the top part of my pinky, a little less than an inch in diameter. I had never taken it off. It was special to me. Daddy had made it.
I chewed on my lip as I considered the King's idea of me starting my own business. Should I? Would anyone buy anything? How was I supposed to make a living, anyway? There was nothing else I knew how to do that could make money. Well, I could run a kissing booth. . . .
I shook my head, glancing at my watch. 6:30. I had had an early dinner with Robin and co. (namely Luna) so that I would get to the convention on time. It was lovely. I had a full half hour now. Enough time to brush my teeth, take a shower, brush my hair. . . oh, and put on some good clothes.
So I did everything. Except the latter. I marched in front of the mirror. My hair was damp and dark. You could just make out the streaks in it. I shook my head with a smile as I remembered when this random girl came up to me and asked if I had gotten highlights. HIGHLIGHTS. Think about that for a moment people.
Keep thinking.
Are you done? Good. Now you can go crazy and gawk like an idiot at the girl like I did. Highlights. As if.
Hmm. . . maybe I needed a haircut. . . my hair just barely brushed past my shoulders. I frowned. I was starting to think like a girl. Bad sign. I glanced at myself: hair a mess, dark green eyes shimmering in defiance (of what, may I ask?) and, well, half-naked. Well, I had on a towel. Did that count?
That's when I had the idea.
I adjusted my hat, pulling it down over my eyes. I had been going to wear sunglasses, but they were too big to fit under the hat. Therefore, I did not wear them. Simple.
I chewed on my lip and glanced at the door. Nabe was late. At least, I thought he was late. I didn't have my watch and I didn't see a clock anywhere. They say time slows down when you're impatient. I don't know who "they" are, but time was practically crawling for me now.
'Hey there, young man!'
I spun around. In hobbled a frail old lady, walking stick and all. She was waving said walking stick at me and had a stern expression on her face.
'Yes?'
'What are you doing here?'
I tried to look nonchalant and flipped my skateboard up. 'Nothin'.'
'Well, only invited guests are allowed, so I'm afraid you'll have to leave.'
I raised an eyebrow. 'Is that so?'
'Yes. Now please, out.' She pointed to the door.
I yawned. 'Make me. old lady.'
She gasped. I know, I was being rude. Extremely rude. Don't judge me! I'm a nice dude, I promise. It's just that I needed to stay in character. Plus, the old lady was starting to get on my nerves.
She looked around. For a split second, I thought she was going to call security. But then she looked back at me and her eyes narrowed.
'You're that boy, aren't you?'
I blinked. 'What boy?'
'Don't play dumb with me, young man,' she said, wagging her finger at me.
I made my eyes go really wide and let my jaw drop. 'Huuuuuh?'
I don't think she found it very funny, though. 'You're the one who's been stealing all that money from the residents! Well this is the end of that! I won't let you get away!'
I don't know whether it was that statement, or the sudden image of the old lady chasing me with a cane and a police uniform, or maybe both, but suddenly I just burst out laughing. I couldn't help it, really.
'You just wait!' she said to me, and hobbled off in the direction of the door.
I stopped giggling (with difficulty) and tried to put on a tough face. Hey, might as well go with the flow. Suddenly I'm a money thief. Who could have guessed? Zelf Silvermane, public enemy number one. Huh. Too bad, really. I've always wanted to be an assassin, not some petty robber.
'Hey!' I said, in my most commanding tone. 'You stop right there, lady!'
To my surprise, she stopped.
'Um. . . ' I began. I hadn't guessed that she would actually listen to me. I cleared my throat, thinking quickly.
'You're right,' I finally decided. 'I am the thief. And now I will take you as my prisoner!'
I suddenly had the urge to burst out in a fit of hysterical giggles again, but I restrained them. Giggles are for girls. Men chuckle. So I have to say, I suddenly had the urge to burst out in a fit of hysterical chuckles.
Well, that doesn't sound weird at all.