How Green Becomes Wood

"Has he?" Amty Zeinab asked, patting Cooger on the cheek and walking over to Lex, looking her over, "He's very kind of my grand-niece, and very close to her husband, so he's just another one of my babies, really. We were just talking to him about what a shame it is he's not gotten married yet."
 
"It is a shame for him and all the girls that don't know what they're missing, but it sure is great for me!" Lex said cheerfully. "It's nice to have a friend like him, wouldn't you say, Amty? We haven't been friends very long, but it's been fun. He's a decent bowling partner."
 
"I'm 36, I'm from New Jersey, which is northeast quite a ways, and I moved me and my son here looking for a quieter life. I got a house in the city instead of the country because it was cheap, but now I'm questioning that decision. I'm a blacksmith by trade, and I make pretty much everything with a hammer and a forge. I do have a degree in welding, but I like smacking things with a hammer better," Lex told Zeinab. "Let's see, I think that covers everything important."
 
"Eighteen going on nineteen. I didn't make the best choices when I was younger," she admitted to Zeinab, unashamed, just stating facts. "He's a sweet kid, better than I deserve, and making better choices."
 
Last edited:
"I see..." Zeinab replied nodding, but it wasn't clear what her opinion on this was. She was able to ask another question when Daizi came up and lightly touched her arm, "Amty, will you help be neaten my hair for the party? Dark normally does, but he has to grill, and I don't want my hair to smell like fish."

"Oh, of course habibti," Zeinab replied, allowing herself to be led off.

Once she was upstairs, Cooger glared at Dark, "I am going to kill you."

"Not as long as you are holding my child, right?"
 
"Speaking of child," Lex said, unfazed, "let me see the birthday girl! That's why we're here, right?" She grinned at Ivy and waved with her fingers the way adults tended to do. "Ivy! Hello, Ivy! Happy birthday little thing!"
 
Cooger heaved himself up off the couch and walked over to her a bit shyly, "Here she is in all her glory. I think she decided this was the perfect occasion to make herself even cuter than usual." He looked at Lex, "I, um. Sorry, about that. You look nice."
 
"Hello, sweetie," Lex cooed at Ivy. "How are you? Not too crowded? You do look adorable. I like your shoes." She turned her blue-grey eyes to Cooger, brushing her brunette hair back out of her face, and smiled. She didn't normally wear her hair loose, but she had decided to let it go today, revealing it had just a slight wave to it when not trapped back out of harm's way. "Thanks. I didn't want to upstage the birthday girl. And don't worry about your aunt. She's sweet and a lot gentler than my mother would be. Or my aunts."
 
Cooger smiled back at her, standing a bit closer, "I don't think we gotta worry about that, she's in her best today. She knows it's her day. Anyway, Zeinab is being sweet because she doesn't know you enough to be pushy. I'll get an earful later."
 
"Ah, one of those kind," Lex said with a chuckle. "Sorry I'm inviting wrath down upon your head, then, or at least a lot of questions about what you're doing slumming with a girl like me."

The bell rang again, and this time it was the Hollis family.
 
Cooger looked at her with a confused look on his face, "I'm not slumming it with you."

Again, Dark opened the door, since Daizi was having Zeinab fixed her hair, "Hello Sally, Jack, Peter. Please, come inside."
 
Lex smiled at him. "Maybe that's what you believe, and I'm inclined to believe you. Not everyone is going to agree with you."

"Dark, darling! Congratulations!" Sally said enthusiastically, giving him a very quick hug. "I am so happy for you. Today is a big, big day!" She stepped inside and carefully lined her shoes up out of the way before touching the salt.

"Congratulations," Jack said. He pretended briefly to go in for a hug and then smiled cheekily as he offered Dark a handshake.

"Thank you for having us, sir," Peter said politely.
 
Cooger shrugged, "Maybe. But I ain't a smart man, and I sure ain't pretty, so people'd say you're slumming it with me."

When Sally hugged him, Dark froze in surprise, and then looked quickly at Jack before shaking his hand, "Thank you. We are all excited for today. Daizi will be down in a moment."
 
"In that case, maybe we both sell ourselves short," Lex told him with a smile that brought her dimples briefly.

"Where is the birthday girl?" Sally asked, glancing around the room.

Peter wandered over to Alec and Xander where they stood in the corner. "Is that a wagon out front? Looks like fun."
 
Cooger shrugged, "Or the rest of the world is."

"Ivy-Qadira is with my brother, you have met Cooger before, many times," Dark gesturing that way while Daizi and Zeinab came downstairs.

Meanwhile, Sloan came and knocked on the door. After being quickly let in, she made her normal brief hellos to the adults before walking over to her friends, "Long time no see."
 
"Cooger, why are you holding the baby captive?" Sally demanded, heading in his direction. "Other people wish to see her. Hello, Lex!"

"If he lets her go, he faces death," Lex smirked.

Sally looked at Lex in confusion and then looked to Cooger for an explanation.

"How's life in the gym?" Xander asked her.
 
Cooger sighed, looking at Sally mournfully, "I told Amty Zeinab about the lavender suit. And I showed her... a certain video."

"It's good," She answered brightly, "We brought in a gopro, so I took some videos of what it looks like for me. But I've pretty much been spending the day in the gym. It's weird, a bit ago I was unsure of what was next, but I feel like I'm really hitting my stride now."
 
Sally laughed. "Ah, I see. No wonder you have a tight hold on her. I suppose I shall have to wait until later to have my turn. Hopefully then he will be distracted and forget what he has against you."

"That's really awesome," Xander told her. "You get any videos of your strides and flips?"

"That is great to hear!" Peter encouraged.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top