Page 9 of Defined and Defiled
He rolls his eyes.
“Never watched it.”
The best way to make sure your results are accurate is to see if they can be repeated, so I am more than willing to 'experiment' again, but Melon barks, reminding me that she'll wither away if I don't feed her now.
Richard floats off around me as I give the biting princess her kibble.
“We should probably eat too.” I turn to Richard. “How do you eat?”
He settles down on the counter and watches as I peer into the fridge. The options are pretty scarce but Twyla has some leftovers she's helpfully abandoned.
“I'm not sure I do. I don't feel hungry and I'm not even sure I have a stomach anymore.”
“At least we know you won't turn into a bloodthirsty book if I don't feed you after midnight.”
I take Twyla's container and start eating it cold.
“You're not going to nuke that?” Richard asks.
“No, I'm a firm believer that everything tastes better cold. The sauce just sticks to the noodles so much more after it cools off.”
Richard shifts over to me. “That's interesting.”
“I know some people think it's weird but,” I start my re-heated argument.
“Not that. When you were describing it to me, I felt something. Keep going.”
“Alright,” I munch on half an eggroll. “This place has the best wontons, they're so crispy and made fresh daily. The eggrolls are a close second.”
Richard closes his eyes and releases a low moan and I stop chewing so I can hear it clearly.
His eyes fly open.
“I'm sorry. I just,” he shakes his head, “I think I've found out how I eat. I feel full from your words.”
“Interesting indeed. Well, that probably saves a ton on groceries.” I move over to the fridge and open it up. Nothing has changed in the last few moments, but now everything has new possibilities. “So what are you in the mood for? We have almond milk, two eggs, and probably twenty loose ketchup packets.”
He closes his eyes, “There were these snacks the kids always had, dunks? Diparoos? I can't remember, do you have any of those?”
I snort and shut the fridge.
“Not since I was twelve. Who'd have thought you'd have such a sweet tooth? Maybe we can go to the bakery tomorrow after school, and I can describe a cupcake to you?”
I was only teasing, but the look of joy on Richard's face tells me we'll have to do just that.
"Will you be listening to that cassette again on the way to work tomorrow?" He asks as he inspects the magnets on our fridge.
"Cassette?"
“Oh, you know. The wild one you were listening to when you ran us into that building.”
It takes me a second to catch up and when I do I can't contain my laugh.
“You mean my audiobook? Oh dear Richard, you have a lot to learn about moderntechnology. I don't know anyone who listens to cassettes anymore.”
He turns back to me, impatience coloring his voice.
“Well, will you be continuing?”
