Page 30 of Hot Tea & Bird Calls

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Celene – 8:55 pm

Are they for my commission?

Skye – 8:57 pm

No, sadly. I’m sorting for Luce. I’ll be using stained glass for yours, all hand-cut.

Celene – 8:58 pm

Okay. Good.

The conversation ended there, realistically. No three dots bounced on Skye’s side. If Celene felt like having a more dynamic talk, she could hit up Nadine. Yet, reflecting on the past left her a little wounded, a little wistful.

Celene – 9:03 pm

What do you do for fun?

Skye – 9:05 pm

Hang out with friends. I take walks. Picnics.

I mostly spend my downtime in nature.

Celene – 9:07 pm

That hasn’t changed.

Celene looped long hair around her pointer finger, pushing a pillow under her chin. It surprised her to find this much interest in what could come off as a mundane discussion. Her smile bent like anything else.

Skye – 9:10 pm

You’re right.

Well…

I do have a thing tomorrow.

A thing? Her mind guided her back to the clumsy Gertrude’s interaction. By now, Celene had decided on a stain color, and her sister would have to get on board.

Celene – 9:12 pm

With June?

Skye – 9:13 pm

No.

Seniors at the rec center on Cedar. Luce volunteered me to be the caller at their Pokeno game.

Pokeno’s like bingo with playing cards.

How very small-town and kind of cute. Older generations could be fun. Less bullshit and faking from them, though Celene hardly saw seniors outside randoms on her everyday routes in the city. Her grandparents were all long gone.

Celene – 9:16 pm

Do they win fabulous prizes?

Skye – 9:20 pm

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