Artemis groaned silently as lunch was served, knowing that his afternoon
with Pfeiffer would be absolute torture.
Danny caught his eye and smiled brightly, enjoying every minute of Artemis's pained expectations.
Finally lunch was over and Pfeiffer walked outside, waiting for Artemis to join him.
Rod pointed Artemis down a path that led to the beach not 50 feet away, "Be back before nightfall, and please," he lowered his voice, "Keep him out for at least an hour. Your aunt and I need to plan Pfeiffer's suprise party without him around."
Artemis nodded reluctantly, with any luck, Pfeiffer would fall asleep on the sand and not give him any problems.
No such luck.
Pfeiffer bounced around like a all on an elastic string. When he realized that Artemis wasn't going to talk to him any more than necessary, he quieted down a little bit.
They walked in silence for a moment, Artemis, contemplating his fate, and Pfeiffer, contemplating his cousin's odd behaviour.
Finally Pfeiffer spoke up, "Artis?"
"Yes, Pfeiffer."
"Why are you so different? You're not very good at lots of things."
Artemis looked at Pfeiffer, half-annoyed, half-interested, "Is that so?"
Pfeiffer nodded, "My mom is better than you, my dad is better than you, my sister is better than you, my friend, Billy, is better than you, my grandma is better than you, my grandpa joe is better than you, my daycare teacher, Mrs.Smith, is better than you, and Bob is better than you, and kimmy is better than you, and-"
Artemis interrupted, extremely ticked off, "Okay! Okay. Is there anyone who is not better than me?"
Pfeiffer stopped, eyes distant, deep in thought.
Finally, he shrugged, "I'm not sure. I'm just a kid ya know."
Artemis gritted his teeth, clenching his hands in frustrated at Pfeiffer's nonchalant attitude.
Danny caught his eye and smiled brightly, enjoying every minute of Artemis's pained expectations.
Finally lunch was over and Pfeiffer walked outside, waiting for Artemis to join him.
Rod pointed Artemis down a path that led to the beach not 50 feet away, "Be back before nightfall, and please," he lowered his voice, "Keep him out for at least an hour. Your aunt and I need to plan Pfeiffer's suprise party without him around."
Artemis nodded reluctantly, with any luck, Pfeiffer would fall asleep on the sand and not give him any problems.
No such luck.
Pfeiffer bounced around like a all on an elastic string. When he realized that Artemis wasn't going to talk to him any more than necessary, he quieted down a little bit.
They walked in silence for a moment, Artemis, contemplating his fate, and Pfeiffer, contemplating his cousin's odd behaviour.
Finally Pfeiffer spoke up, "Artis?"
"Yes, Pfeiffer."
"Why are you so different? You're not very good at lots of things."
Artemis looked at Pfeiffer, half-annoyed, half-interested, "Is that so?"
Pfeiffer nodded, "My mom is better than you, my dad is better than you, my sister is better than you, my friend, Billy, is better than you, my grandma is better than you, my grandpa joe is better than you, my daycare teacher, Mrs.Smith, is better than you, and Bob is better than you, and kimmy is better than you, and-"
Artemis interrupted, extremely ticked off, "Okay! Okay. Is there anyone who is not better than me?"
Pfeiffer stopped, eyes distant, deep in thought.
Finally, he shrugged, "I'm not sure. I'm just a kid ya know."
Artemis gritted his teeth, clenching his hands in frustrated at Pfeiffer's nonchalant attitude.
