Quoted By:
It takes you a moment or two, but once you hear it you can’t <span class="mu-i">unhear</span> it! Did… did he say his name was <span class="mu-s">RAJ?</span>
“At your service!” Raj grunts, still dangling from the side of the ferry like a very orange sprig of mistletoe! “Don’t think I’ve met’cha yet, man… you a transfer student or something?”
Not exactly, you shrug. Say, haven’t you seen him at <span class="mu-s">GANESHI INDIAN TAKEOUTS?</span> You're a sucker for their <span class="mu-s">LAMB CURRY</span>!
“Ha ha! Yea, I get that a lot…” Laughs the would-be thief as a seagull swoops by and takes a snap at his beanie. “Nah man, my mom and dad run <span class="mu-s">D-MART</span> though… y’know, the grocery store on Andale Street?”
You’ve passed it a bunch, but you can’t say you’ve been inside.
“Fresh-a produce at-a great price-a! That’s a <span class="mu-i">SPICY</span> meatb-”
You don’t even have a disguise yet, <span class="mu-i">LYDIA</span>. Just drop it for now!
“Oh hey, you’re Pepper’s friend?” Raj asks, his already-chipper voice becoming even chipper…er than before. “Good on you, man… hey, are you <span class="mu-i">sure</span> we haven’t met at school, cuz’-”
Yea alright, this guy seems okay… motioning for Raj to pause for a moment, you brace yourself against the railing before pulling him back over! Tumbling over the safety rail, your new acquaintance lands in a heap on the deck along with the <span class="mu-s">BEATEN-UP SKATEBOARD</span> he had cradled between his legs!
Wait, was he holding that the whole time?
“‘S’all about the mindset, dude.” He replies, peeling his stubbly face off the floor to give you a smile! “Linda and I go <span class="mu-i">way</span> back, y’know? If she falls, <span class="mu-i">I</span> fall!”
Pretty admirable of him, not gonna lie! Leaving Raj to collect himself, you turn your attention to your <span class="mu-s">INSULATED PIZZA PACK</span> and let out a sigh of relief when you find it hasn’t been tampered with! Wiping some sweat off your brow, you take the opportunity to reach inside and retrieve a <span class="mu-s">COMPANY HAT</span> for Pepper!
“No way!” Exclaims the skater as he leans over your shoulder, “You a <span class="mu-i">PIZZA GUY</span>, bro? Man, I <span class="mu-i">definitely</span> woulda’ known you if you went to <span class="mu-s">GREENRIDGE!</span>”
“Actually, he’s a <span class="mu-s">SANDCRAB.</span>” Explains Pepper with a wry grin. You can’t exactly see them through the tangle of black hair covering Raj’s face, but if you could you’d see they were bigger than satellite dishes right now!
“Woah…”
>CONTD.
