Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“Come on. It’d be, what? An hour every week or two? That’s an excuse and you know it.”</span>
Cindy’s pinched expression told you that you were correct in calling her on her bullshit.
<span class="mu-r">“Wanda will give you that time, and probably do your homework if you ask nicely.”</span> you continued. <span class="mu-r">“Or…”</span>
You hummed thoughtfully for a moment, before snapping your fingers, the effect creating a tiny spark between them.
<span class="mu-r">“Who says that you have to be the only one to train Wanda? We’ve got friends who can help out every now and again.”</span> you suggested.
Cindy opened her mouth to respond, closed it again, and started nodding to herself.
<span class="mu-s">“That’s…actually not a bad idea. You really think they would go for it?”</span> she asked.
<span class="mu-r">“I don’t see why not, but it couldn’t hurt to ask.”</span> you said with a shrug. <span class="mu-r">“We both know she’d be open to the idea. A chance to learn from some of the best in the business. That ought to jump start her career rather nicely.”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“We’ll have to be careful about breaking the news to her. All that excitement might just cause her to have a stroke.”</span> Cindy said, a bit of humor creeping back into her voice.
<span class="mu-r">“Just follow my lead. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but delegation is kind of my <span class="mu-i">real</span> superpower.”</span> you proclaimed, prompting an appropriate eye-roll from Cindy. <span class="mu-r">“But, even as amazing as I am, I’m still only one man with a surprisingly busy schedule for someone that’s <span class="mu-i">technically</span> unemployed.”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“I thought the term we were using was ‘between jobs, right now’.”</span> Cindy said with air quotes from only one hand.
You nodded approvingly.
<span class="mu-r">“That’s just the term we use around my parents and judgemental strangers.”</span> you explained. <span class="mu-r">“But since none of them are here right now, I’m fine with leaving myself open for a low blow.”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“You don’t think <span class="mu-i">I</span> might go for it?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“You probably could, but I think you like your allowance too much to take that risk.”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“There <span class="mu-i">is</span> this new phone that I’ve been looking at…”</span> she teased.
<span class="mu-r">“No way. If Wanda found out that I’d bought you a new phone instead of paying for therapy sessions, she’d probably kill me, and then you.”</span>
Cindy winced at that.
<span class="mu-s">“Yeah, I guess that’s fair.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“And that’s if she doesn’t tear your head off for giving both of us that weak ‘I’m too busy’ excuse for not attending therapy.”</span> you said. <span class="mu-r">“It’s not a bad excuse, per se. Personally, I’d keep blaming others for my misfortune.”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“That doesn’t sound healthy.”</span> Cindy observed.
<span class="mu-r">“What’re you, my therapist?”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“Oh, you totally had that loaded.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Yeah, I kind of did…”</span> you admitted with a smug smile on your face.
The two of you shared a short laugh, completely ignoring the family of giant, hairy spiders descending from the trees.
(Cont.)
