Myshuno #10
Title: Untitled
Prompt: Wasting the day/ The monkey house at the zoo.
Word Count: 483
Notes: Johnny, Ripp, and Ophelia from Strangetown.
"Look at that one. He's using a stick to catch bugs to eat."
"Gross."
"Oh come on, Ophelia, insects are a delicacy on a lot of worlds. Even parts of this one."
"Do you want me to make you some, Johnny?"
"Er, no thank you."
She smirked and the three of them moved on to the next exhibit. It was a teacher in-service day, so no school. To celebrate, and stay out of the heat, they'd went to the zoo. They'd just left the reptile house and were meandering through the primate area.
Johnny snorted, and pointed at a huge silver back. "This one is named Loki. Not sure why, he's much better looking."
Phe tried to cover her laugh, "Johnny behave."
"Oh come on, you thought it too."
"Doesn't mean we should say it out loud."
"Why not, he's not here. Hey, Ripp, back me up on this!"
"Huh? Wha? Uh sure, Johnny, whatever you say."
"Okay Ripp, what gives? You've been a thousand miles away all morning."
"Nothing."
"Ripp, it's me, not your Dad."
Ripp rolled his eyes. "Well, that's part of it. We have a day off from school, and Dad didn't argue once about having us stay at home and run a billion laps on the obstacle course. Not a hint of argument about Buck going over to your house to play with Jill. And Tank, he didn't make a single crack about us hanging out together and at the zoo of all places. I just don't get it. They're not acting like themselves at all."
"It is strange. Your Dad was even pleasant to me when we showed up. Usually he only talks to Phe."
"Men."
"Phe?" both the guys asked at once.
"Ripp, you could have asked me about this hours ago, instead you've been wasting the entire day thinking about it. And you, Johnny, are about as observant as a metal pole."
"Wait, you know what's going on?"
"Yeah, Ripp, and I could have told you in the taxi if you'd just asked."
"So tell me now."
"Your father and Tank are acting strangely for the very same reason."
"I'm still lost."
"Me too."
"Then let me explain further. Yesterday, I overheard Tank make a date with Violet Jocque for today, so he was probably too nervous to really care about what you were doing, Ripp. As for your father, well, as our taxi was pulling away from your house, Ripp, I saw a beautiful red-headed woman walking up toward your place. And as she wasn't wearing, green, kakhi, or camo, I doubt it had to do with work."
The boys just stared at Phe for several seconds.
"It's elementary, my dear boys. Elementary."
Ripp's frown grew deeper now, and his brow furrowed.
"Oh for heaven's sake, Ripp, I've explained everything, what's wrong now?"
"Dad and Tank both have dates, and I'm here with you guys."
Prompt: Wasting the day/ The monkey house at the zoo.
Word Count: 483
Notes: Johnny, Ripp, and Ophelia from Strangetown.
"Look at that one. He's using a stick to catch bugs to eat."
"Gross."
"Oh come on, Ophelia, insects are a delicacy on a lot of worlds. Even parts of this one."
"Do you want me to make you some, Johnny?"
"Er, no thank you."
She smirked and the three of them moved on to the next exhibit. It was a teacher in-service day, so no school. To celebrate, and stay out of the heat, they'd went to the zoo. They'd just left the reptile house and were meandering through the primate area.
Johnny snorted, and pointed at a huge silver back. "This one is named Loki. Not sure why, he's much better looking."
Phe tried to cover her laugh, "Johnny behave."
"Oh come on, you thought it too."
"Doesn't mean we should say it out loud."
"Why not, he's not here. Hey, Ripp, back me up on this!"
"Huh? Wha? Uh sure, Johnny, whatever you say."
"Okay Ripp, what gives? You've been a thousand miles away all morning."
"Nothing."
"Ripp, it's me, not your Dad."
Ripp rolled his eyes. "Well, that's part of it. We have a day off from school, and Dad didn't argue once about having us stay at home and run a billion laps on the obstacle course. Not a hint of argument about Buck going over to your house to play with Jill. And Tank, he didn't make a single crack about us hanging out together and at the zoo of all places. I just don't get it. They're not acting like themselves at all."
"It is strange. Your Dad was even pleasant to me when we showed up. Usually he only talks to Phe."
"Men."
"Phe?" both the guys asked at once.
"Ripp, you could have asked me about this hours ago, instead you've been wasting the entire day thinking about it. And you, Johnny, are about as observant as a metal pole."
"Wait, you know what's going on?"
"Yeah, Ripp, and I could have told you in the taxi if you'd just asked."
"So tell me now."
"Your father and Tank are acting strangely for the very same reason."
"I'm still lost."
"Me too."
"Then let me explain further. Yesterday, I overheard Tank make a date with Violet Jocque for today, so he was probably too nervous to really care about what you were doing, Ripp. As for your father, well, as our taxi was pulling away from your house, Ripp, I saw a beautiful red-headed woman walking up toward your place. And as she wasn't wearing, green, kakhi, or camo, I doubt it had to do with work."
The boys just stared at Phe for several seconds.
"It's elementary, my dear boys. Elementary."
Ripp's frown grew deeper now, and his brow furrowed.
"Oh for heaven's sake, Ripp, I've explained everything, what's wrong now?"
"Dad and Tank both have dates, and I'm here with you guys."