2. Half-baked idea
Clyde didn't like Lori's absence too much either.
"You should be happy. You can visit the house without turning the floor into a pool of blood", I commented on the way to school, seeking to encourage him.
"That's not the problem!" Clyde replied, "What if she forgets me in her absence?"
"Don't overdo it. Lori couldn't forget something that bleeds frequently before her eyes".
"Do you think so? Have I created an indelible image in my beloved?" he exclaimed, with a naive joy.
"Well of course. A very ugly one".
And his smile wiped away.
"But ... Of course you can come home whenever you want, you know my other sisters love your company," I said, trying to mend my blunder.
"Thank you. Linc. And tell me, do you think Leni can help me with a project that's on my mind?
"Leni?" I said, having no idea what it might be.
"It's merely a craft. I know her talent with wood engraving is exceptional. I'm not able to create anything artistic with that material".
I knew that. I can't forget when he tried to create a bust of Lori with toothpicks: Everyone praised him for his artistic rendition of The Grinch.
"Calm down, buddy. I'll talk to her. Will you tell me what your project is?"
"I'm afraid that not by now. But you will see it someday. This time I try to cause the shock of a surprise", he said with full confidence before sliding off with a banana peel and falling down to the ground. Before I could react, he was already standing. Battered, but standing.
"Don't worry! I'm fine! I have training!", he claimed to no one, and not looking anything fine.
"Are you sure? That bump..."
Clyde shook his head, and that seemed to work: He was more conscious after doing so.
"One hundred percent. The fact that Luan plays that prank on me so often is beneficial in the long run".
Hearing that name made me ask my friend something.
"Clyde, what do you think of Luan?"
"What do I think of your sister?"
"Yes. Because of the pranks that she plays on you.
"Well, I think she's great. She's funny and smart, and she's an excellent company, at least in 364 days of the year, if you know what I mean. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing. Just curious", I said, as I made the decision to achieve a full year of happiness. I couldn't hide my smile when a plan began to emerge in my mind... And it did with two words: "Luan and Clyde."
How do those two names sound together? Weird, right? Well, not so much. Both are very valuable people to me, and they get along great. My sister said that love transforms us all (and after the Hugh incident, I totally believe that). If someone steals her heart, there is a huge possibility that her evil yearly tradition would disappear, or in the worst case, become much lighter. And why Clyde? Because he accepts her with her comic nature, and even admires her. And if I'm going to let one of my sisters have a boyfriend, he has to be somebody noble like him. Not to mention that he can stop suffering for Lori. Enough of that!
The only way to begin was by bringing them together.
Clyde's part was almost ready. I didn't have to come up with anything for him to come home. Leni had agreed to help him in whatever was necessary, and of which, unfortunately, I still knew nothing at all.
"Hi, Claude! How are you?", she said.
"It's Clyde. Well, I'm getting used to it."
"Oh, Clyde!" I like that name more", my sister said, winking. "I want to show you something I'm doing". She took him enthusiastically by the arm, and carried him in, going up the stairs.
I left them and looked for Luan. I found her heading for the kitchen.
"Hey Luan, are you going to cook?"
That's right. At the last party, I found out that the cream on the pies doesn't have the consistency that I need. And I'll be happy to explain what the problem consists of.
Seriously, I don't know how can she make a joke with everything.
Leni rushed past us, still pulling Clyde, but they were heading out of the house.
"Oopsie! I forgot I had it outside", she commented without stopping, while blushing a little.
Both Luan and Clyde met each other's eyes for a second.
"Hello, Luan! Bye!"
"What's kickin' little chicken?" she greeted him, with a finger gun. Then she turned to me again.
"Come with me; you'll be my assistant this time".
Already in the kitchen, she put on the apron and asked me for some ingredients: Heavy cream, icing sugar and vanilla essence. She placed the cream in a small bowl and began to look for something in the cupboard... presumably the beater.
"The key, I recently found, is to beat the cream at minimum speed. It would take about six minutes. Possibly Dad gave me that tip before, and I have it forgotten over time".
I decided to plant a seed.
"Someone gave me a similar advice once, and do you know who it was? Clyde. He is very skilled in many fields".
Luan paused for a moment.
"Clyde is a good boy. And lucky to have two talented fathers", she commented.
"And more fortunate to be my friend, and your friend", I said, with a smile that, I hope, had not been overly fake.
Luan slammed one of the pantry doors. My false smile turned into a very sincere scowl. Have I bothered her?
She growled in fury, and said, "Dang! I could swear that beater was here. Where the heck is it? Did anyone take it?
A lispy voice came from the stairs. "My sincere apologies, sister. I borrowed it for a moment".
It was Lisa. He wore rubber gloves; On the left had a portable Bunsen burner, and the beater on the right. As calm as ever, she delivered the beater to Luan, who was not at all excited about the presence of my second younger sister.
"So opportune... I'm glad you didnt use it in poop studies."
"I don't think it would be wise to discuss the subject of my investigation," Lisa said, rolling her eyes and looking suspicious. "But I think I should get away from the kitchen immediately. I see you are manipulating carbohydrate, a.k.a. "icing sugar", while I'm holding my lighter. Oxidation in that type of sugar plus a small flame can release its caloric energy, and start a rapidly inflating chain reaction".
Seeing us blink in silence, Lisa had to translate.
"If that sugar mixes with air and fire, it makes an explosion."
Luan and I stepped back from the fright. Lisa walked away calmly, saying, "May someone remind me of what I learned from my older brothers".
"To walk, maybe?" I asked to my little sister, but she was no longer in sight. Luan rinsed the beater blades (just in case) and minutes later she was already beating the cream at minimum speed. I could already see her smiling again.
"Gosh! Lisa's wisdom always blows us away! Ha-ha-ha! Get it?"
I did understand, but I'm not going to laugh about it.
In the end, the whipped cream came out better than I expected. Sweet and with a firmer consistency, more palatable. But we know my sister just needs it to look good in someone's face.
"Since you have ready such a good cream, you could take the opportunity to make a quick dessert".
"Good idea! I know how to make one with fruits that you will like", she replied.
"I'm telling you that because of Clyde.I'm sure he'll adore whatever you prepare him for".
"Of course. I know he has good taste. Call him. The three of us will eat it".
Excellent...