Best Friends
Now it was Daniel's turn to snort. "When you came in the next day, it was all I could do not to laugh at you. The whole situation, really."
"I couldn't look you in the eye for days. If I had, I'd have laughed myself."
"I still have the letter Frank sent me from you, back when he was still the paperboy. Written instructions on how to open a door."
"I hope you take them to heart."
Daniel laughed. He was a little thirsty, but he knew Orville was, too, and he'd be working in the sun all through the festival. He'd just fill the bottle before he left. Once more, the two looked out towards the run. Daniel thought he could see somebody running towards them, but couldn't tell who it was.
"We've had some good times up here, haven't we?"
Orville lifted the water bottle into the air. "And let's hope for plenty more to come."
"I hope my daughter will have a friend as good as you one day."
"I hope her friend's the sensible one."
Daniel was about to say something, but just then Haruka came in through the back door. She knew the house so well now, she didn't feel the need to knock anymore. Looking at her, brushing some flakes of dry mud off her shoe, you'd never have guessed she'd been awake all last night. "Hey Orville." She said. "You miss me?"
"As always, Haruka." he replied. "I hope you haven't been bullying my poor animals."
"Not today, Orville, don't worry." she laughs. Haruka begins to feel that there's an uneasiness in the room, and, eager to break it up, addresses her father. "Come on, Dad, we haven't got time to talk. We're already gonna be late!"
Daniel thought he should say something, but he knew she was right. However nice it was to get out of the heat for a while, they still had a festival to feed that afternoon.
"Come on," said Orville, "I've got your milk in the barn."
"Me too."
The two were silent for a long while after that. It seemed like Daniel was about to say something, but just then Haruka came in through the back door. She knew the house so well now, she didn't feel the need to knock anymore. Looking at her, brushing some flakes of dry mud off her shoe, you'd never have guessed she'd been awake all last night. "Hey Orville." She said. "You miss me?"
"As always, Haruka." he replied. "I hope you haven't been bullying my poor animals."
"Not today, Orville, don't worry." she laughs. Haruka begins to feel that there's an uneasiness in the room, and, eager to break it up, addresses her father. "Come on, Dad, we haven't got time to talk. We're already gonna be late!"
Daniel thought he should say something, and looked to Orville, but they both knew there was nothing more to say.
"Come on," said Orville, "I've got your milk in the barn."