"Elder Price! Your brother will be: Elder Cunningham!"
"That's ME! THAT'S ME! HELLO!"
Kevin Price stood rooted to the spot, his beaming, hopeful smile plastered across his face as he processed what had been said. His new mission companion rushed over to greet him and offered a large, sweaty palm. Kevin, ignored it. He stared in disbelief at the Mission President. He had worked SO GOSH DAMN HARD all for this moment, and he was paired with… well, this. Becoming aware of his new companion still eagerly stretching out an expectant hand, Kevin hurriedly shook it, wincing at the clamminess of the other Elder's palm. He quickly retracted it (with some force, Elder Cunningham gripped HARD), before wiping it on his crisp, white shirt. He'd ironed it himself this morning. He needed to look perfect today. But now that had all gone to waste. All hope was lost.
"And your mission location will be…"
Kevin snapped out of his trance. There was maybe a tiny sliver of hope left. He'd forgotten all about the location! Heavenly Father must have given him the location he'd prayed for. Elder Cunningham was merely an inconvenience. If Kevin was sent to Orlando, he could forget about the other Elder and do something incredible. He could change the world!
"Uganda!"
No. NO. Okay, now all hope was lost. What could he accomplish in Uganda? Stuck with this...imbecile Kevin decided was an appropriate term. Elder Cunningham was talking to the Mission President, but Kevin couldn't hear. Still smiling, he took a deep breath. It's what Heavenly Father wants. He's done this for a reason. There must be something he wants me to do in Uganda. Kevin tried to convince himself why this had happened and that he could still change the world, but there really didn't seem to be any possible way. Upon hearing the words "Lion King", Kevin finally dropped his eternal smile, and turned to face his new companion. He tried to turn off his negative thoughts by picturing the beautiful sunsets he would see in Africa and the colourful wildlife. He could practically hear The Circle of Life playing in the background. Until his fantasy was interrupted by a heavy, sweaty palm being slammed onto his shoulder.
"Here that partner? We're going to AFRICA! We can sit by the water holes and talk about each other! I'll tell you about all my Star Wars merchandise, and you tell me about, I don't know, your vast collection of hair supplies."
He glanced up at Kevin's hair. Gosh darn, he thought that his hair would look naturallyperfect.
"We're gonna stay up ALL night 'cos it'll be like a sleepover! I've never had a sleep over before! Have you? I bet you've had loads. And we'll be together allnthe time but we won't ever get bored or annoyed by each other-"
Ha
"-because best friends don't get annoyed at each other!"
"Wait, Elder, you do realise we're just mission companions right? We're not best friends. We'll just help each other out!" He flashed the other Elder one of his trademark smiles. Did he really think they would be friends? There was no way that Kevin could be friends with this man.
"Right! Help each other out! Like best friends do!"
NO. "Look, Elder, I'm going to go and use the bathroom okay? I need to clear my head. Today's just been so exciting" He sarcastically pumped his fist. It's like talking to a child. He needed to get away. He needed to process what he was hearing. He started to walk away.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!"
Kevin jumped and hoped that the brief expression of annoyance flickered across his face quick enough for Elder Cunningham to not notice. At least if he saw how irritated I am, he might get the message. He inhaled and turned to see what his companion wanted now.
"That's the once place I can't follow you! Otherwise we have to stay together at ALL TIMES."
"Yes Elder, that's correct." Thank Heavenly Father he knows that.
"Imagine how funny it would be if we had to stay together even then! Wouldn't that be awkward?"
"Yes Elder, that would be pretty awkward!" He faked a laugh. He had to sit on a plane for MULTIPLE HOURS with this. "Elder, I really need to go now, or there might be an accident and that really WOULD be awkward!" This was physically painful. It was like he was trying to talk to his little sister, Evie. He started speed walking away but Elder Cunningham STILL kept babbling. "Why don't you check the list of what we should pack for Uganda? Do some research! We don't know what the weather will be like." HOT. The weather will be HOT. ANYTHING to get this cretin to leave him alone.
Arnold watched his new companion as he walked away. Elder Price was talking to him like he was a five year old. Why did he hate him so much? Despite Price's constant fake smile, he really wasn't great at hiding his annoyance. Arnold had idolised him for so long, and now his idol looked at him like he was stupid. Couldn't Elder Price see how awkward and nervous Arnold was too? He KNEW it was a problem that he spoke whatever came into his mind. He KNEW it was a problem that he got verbal diarrhoea when he was nervous. He tried to make jokes. He tried to lighten the mood. He'd TRIED to make a FRIEND. And now he'd completely blown it.