6:30 PM PST
Marty, Jennifer, and Haven were all in the kitchen making sugar cookies, while listening to Up To Here by The Tragically Hip.
'Hey, Marty,' chided Haven, 'quite eating the dough. We're trying to bake cookies here.'
'But the dough tastes so good,' protested Marty. 'It tastes better than the cookies.'
'Come on, now, Marty,' insisted Haven. 'If you want to eat cookie dough, then make your own. Lets get these cookies in the oven.'
'Yeah,' added Jennifer, 'I like sugar cookies with frosting and candy decorations on it.'
Marty then grabbed for the container of coloured candy dots, and began to pop some into his mouth.
'Marty!' gasped Haven. 'Why are you being so difficult? It's not like you're starving to death, or anything.'
'Sorry,' mumbled Marty. 'It's just that these are so damn good.'
'Yeah, but they're not yours,' Haven reminded Marty. 'If you do that again, we're going to have to tickle you to death.'
'Oh, you wouldn't dare,' protested Marty, laughing - as he started to run for the living room.
Haven and Jennifer ran after Marty, and they captured Marty by the couch. Jennifer started to tickle Marty on his torso - while Marty collapsed face down on the floor, laughing. Haven then reached for Marty's legs. Marty kept trying to escape from the girls, but the girls had blocked off all escape areas. Haven then caught sight of Marty's bare feet, and she sat on his legs - while Jennifer sat on Marty's back, and pinned his hands behind him. Haven then started to tickle the soles of Marty's feet - while Marty was laughing helplessly and trying desperately to escape. Haven really relished the idea of making Marty suffer in ticklish agony, and kept tickling Marty's feet for ten minutes. Then Haven had reluctantly decided to quit. Marty was breathing heavily on the floor, while he was trying to recover.
'Now, Marty,' Haven said, with a smirk. 'Do you promise to behave yourself? No more snitching cookie dough or candy decorations?'
'Yeah, Haven,' Marty said, breathing heavily, 'I promise. I'm sorry. I guess I got carried away.'
'Good,' Haven said, smiling. Then she leaned over to help Marty up from the ground.
Marty then returned to the kitchen with Haven and Jennifer. Jennifer threw her arms around Marty, and hugged him tightly. Marty out his lips onto Jennifers', and they kissed for a minute or so.
'Okay, you two,' chided Haven. 'Let's get back to work. We have cookies to bake.'
Then Marty and Jennifer started to scoop the cookies onto the baking sheet, and patted them down with a fork. Haven reached for the hot pads, and she put the baking sheets into the oven. She then reached for the boom box, and turned the tape over.
'I must say, Haven,' Marty said, impressed, 'this is great music. You really love The Tragically Hip, don't you?'
'Yeah, they're one of my favourite bands, replied Haven. 'They're still together, recording and touring, in 2004. I've seen The Hip in concert a few times. They put on a great performance. They usually perform in small venues, as they don't have too many fans around here.'
'Oh, why is that?' asked Jennifer. 'The Tragically Hip are wonderful, talented musicians. They're obciously under-appreciated around here, in the future.'
'I guess it's because they have a distinctly Canadian sound,' Haven suggested, 'and it kind of does take an aquired taste to appreciate The Hip.'
'Well, I think their style is awesome,' insisted Marty. 'Then, again, I guess I am a connoisseur when it comes to music. I mean, I like a catchy beat as much as the next person - but I also love prog rock. I guess it's partially because I'm a musician.'
'So what do you think of Rush?' asked Haven.
'Oh, I am a huge fan of Rush,' Marty gushed. 'I really like their first album a lot, back when John Rutsy was in the band. Their first album is very Led Zeppelin influenced. I mean, Working Man reminds me of Whole Lotta Love.'
'Everybody always says that,' remarked Haven, laughing. 'I'm actually a bigger fan of Rush, after Neil Peart joined the band. I think Subdivisions is a great song.'
'Oh, yeah, I love that song, too,' replied Marty. 'It kinda describes high school life a bit, and all the cliquishness that entails the life of high school. I mean, I do have my group of close friends, but I don't like to exclude anyone. I try to be friendly towards everyone. It bothers me to see people get made fun of.'
'It looks like some things never change,' Haven said, with a small smile. 'I have to admit that I'm not as outgoing as you are. I tend to be rather shy, so I tend to get nervous around people that I barely know. I get I tend to worry, what if they don't like me? I have a tough time taking rejection.'
'I understand what you mean, Haven,' Marty said, softly. 'I tend to be very sensitive, and it does hurt to not be liked. Back when I first started high school, Mr. Strickland's cutting remarks would end up reducing me to tears. I've eventually learned to not take his cutting remarks personally, though, and that he pretty much seems to not really like anyone. Furthermore, I tend to be a very social person - so I don't let the fear of rejection stop me from reaching out and making new friends.'
'I wouldn't exactly say that I'm an outcast,' remarked Haven, 'but I'm not especially popular, either. I guess I'm one of those who tend to be in-between. I do have my group of friends that I hang around with, and I don't really get picked on that much.'
'Douglas Needles and his gang used to pick on me,' said Marty, 'but that was because I used to have a problem with losing self-control over being called a chicken. I guess it was also partially because I would stand up for people who are being picked on. It's not a very easily position to take - but I cannot, in good conscience, just stand by and let people get bullied. I try to be a friend to those who need one.'
'Well, anyway,' Haven said, sighing, 'shall we start decorating the cookies, now?'
Marty and Jennifer both nodded in agreement.