Page 42 of Collin: Episodes 7-9
“No.” Collin turned around and opened an internet browser, searching for it. A few minutes later, he had it. “There, look. She wrote a book about taking care of stuff or choosing stuff to keep.”
“I don’t like reality TV.”
Collin just shot him a look. “Twenty minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”
Ash sighed. “Where did you even hear about this?”
“I like organizing.”
Ash fixed him with a look that clearly questioned Collin’s sanity. “You like cleaning?”
“No, I like keeping things so I don’t have to clean them much.”
“Dude, you’re not even making sense.”
“Just watch the show.”
By the end of the first episode, Ash was leaning over the back of his straddled chair, muttering and shaking his head. “Collin, tell me you don’t have that much stuff.”
“I was living in a pantry until a few weeks ago, so no, I don’t. You think I wanted to kill myself?”
“Okay, fair, but does Mr. Reevesworth, like, have that much stuff?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Ms. Linda has a huge place, and she doesn’t even have that much stuff. Are there really people who own that much?”
“Lots. Have you ever been to an estate sale? Some people have so much stuff that when they die they just open up the door and ask people to walk in and pick stuff to buy.”
“I’ve never been to an estate sale. Isn’t it creepy, like going through some dead person’s stuff?”
“They’re dead, so if someone doesn’t take it, it’ll all go to waste. I think that would be more sad, like what if everything you treasured suddenly becomes trash just because you die?”
“Point.” Ash sighed. “So, you want me to do that with all the stuff here? Wait, are you worried I might die?!”
“Um….no, I hope you’re not dying! Jeez, Ash. And yes, sorta, on the doing part. As an organization, we need to account for everything and know who has what. What if someone steals a device, but we don’t even know because we forgot we owned it? And once you organize things, then you can just automate things, like look at the list and know who has what and who needs what updates.”
Ash scrunched up his nose. “Fine. But I’m getting rid of all the old useless stuff around here. I don’t want this place to look like that house.” He shivered, eyes still locked on the screen.
“They cleaned the house. It was looking good.”
Ash shuddered. “I know I keep things a mess, but…no, just no.”
Collin chuckled. “Maybe we can buy you some organizers. I’ll teach you the magic of label machines.”
Ash snorted. “You’re civilizing me, aren’t you?”
Collin held his finger and thumb half an inch apart. “Maybe just a little. But I promise I’ll tell Ellisandre how awesome you’ve been.”
Ash gave him a long, narrow look. “I don’t know if that’s a threat or a bribe.”
“You’re the one who spent the weekend with them and Ms. Linda. You tell me.”
“They like me.”
“So…”
“I think it’s a bribe. You know I’m going to spend Halloween with them?”
