Success story.He meant the relapse.My graceless clambering back onto the wagon.
“Aye,Sidi.”I tried to keep from groaning and failed.“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Cradling my takeaways, I escaped.And as further proof of my paranoid state of mind, I could’ve sworn the shiny black Porsche followed me all the way home.
Voice Memo Interlude 1
RECEIVED: August 22
Titch:Armaaand!How we doing?How.Are.We.Doing?I’m great.I’m so great?Which I know is something you worry about, because you listen to all my messages.Did you know I can see that?’Cause I can.Technology is on the side of Robin Finch, so sorry Big Guy, you’ve been rumbled.You looove meee.YOU LOOOVE MEEE.[kissy sounds]And no you can’t cry “bloody inappropriate,” ’cause I don’t work for you anymore.I’m a free agent.But I miss it, you know?Like, I kinda wanna go hang around an old folks home or something, so I can get my fix of helping someone who doesn’t know where they are or how they got there.
[pause]
Skyler misses you too.
[pause.Sounds of birds chirping]
Seattle was fine.His brother thinks I’m the devil.But yeah, I’m great.We’re doing the last two shows ofThe Shadow of Neverthis weekend, and when the semester starts, I’m taking Dr.Lazlo’s screenwriting course!I know I said acting was definitely, like, the best most expressive art form, but I don’t know?I keep thinking about how I could’ve written a better Peter Pan retelling, and the wizard vampire romance comic I did in your class keeps scratching at my brain, so maybe I should write a script?Yeah, anyway.Answer me, Mandy.How’s London?How’s Luuucas?You guys coming up for air at all, or is it 24/7 macking?
RECEIVED: August 25
Titch:Armaaand why don’t you answer meee?Say hi, Skyler!
Skyler:Hi, Skyler.
Titch:So, they opened this new frozen yogurt place on campus[sluurp]and Skyler and I were discussing whether they have frozen yogurt in England—
Skyler:It seems like a pretty universal concept.
Titch:That’s ethno-centric!Do we even know if there are cows in England?
Skyler:Tell him about the thing.Robin has something to tell you.[pause]Should I tell him?I can tell him.
Titch:No, I, um.So, we’re at this froyo place.It’s called the Gurt Yurt, and the guy behind the counter is in my screenwriting course, his name’s Joseph Ho and he’s really nice ...
Skyler:Can I tell him?
Titch:Sure.
Skyler:Terri came in.The guy who Robin reported for harassment last term?He came in with some of his friends, and they were being assholes, spilling froyo on the floor and stuff, and Robin got them to stop.
Titch:...I told them to go away.
Skyler: It was impressive.And he told Joseph how to report them to campus police.
Titch:Yeah, so ...arethere cows in England?There’s gotta be, right?Aren’t “beefeaters” a British thing?But, like, did they figure out they couldmilkthe cows—
Skyler:Robin was brave and cool, and you’d be proud of him.
Titch:Okay, gotta go.Love to Lucas, BYE!
Skyler:Yeah, love to Lu—
Armand:[thumbs-up]
Lucas Takes It All In
August 27
