"Snake?" Buttercup said in surprise.
"Pleaseds to meets you, Miss Utoniums," Snake said.
Buttercup looked at the resume. 'Sanford Ingleberry, high school diploma' it read.
"So, Sanford. I always thought you were a dropout? And please, call me Buttercup," she said, smiling.
"Mys grandma... she'ss beens a positive influence ons me. Fors once ins mys life, I studieds hards ands graduateds," he said.
"I didn't know you wore glasses," she said.
"Ohs thiss? Grandma saids its makess me looks smarts, looks professionals. I don'ts reallys needs its," Snake said, smiling.
"What do you know about insurance?" Buttercup asked.
"Insurance iss whens someone payss ans amounts ofs moneys to ans insurance companys, ins returns the companys promisess to pays a certains amounts ins specifics casess," he said.
"Cases such as?" She said.
"Casess suchs ass loss, damage, illness ors deaths. Insurance ins the case ofs fire, ors... a monsters attacks," he replied, raising an eyebrow.
Buttercup laughed at the mention of monsters. Everyone knew how prone Townsville was to such attacks.
"Congratulations, Sanford. You've got the job. You'll be handling the processing of insurance forms and updating the details of the policy holders in the database. Oh and you'll receive insurance applications from customers strictly through emails, no handling of calls needed," Buttercup clarified.
Snake breathed out a sigh of relief. "Fors a moments, I wass scareds I hads to handle callss," he said.
"You wanna go out for coffee? My treat," she said.
...
"How's Ace?" Buttercup asked.
"I don'ts knows. I haven'ts seens hims ins yearss," Snake said.
"Was it because of me?" She asked in a low voice tinged with guilt.
"He saids I stole you aways froms him, calleds me a backstabbers ands nevers wants to see me agains," Snake said.
"I didn't love him anymore, our breakup was not your fault," she said.
They were quiet for a while. Snake tried to change the subject.
"You knows, no one'ss calleds me Snake ins a longs time. Everyone justs callss me Sanfords," he said.
"At the workplace, I'll call you Sanford. But when we're outside, I'll call you Snake if you like," Buttercup said.
He smiled. "Yeahs, thats woulds be nice. How'ss yours familys?" He asked.
"Bubbles became a doctor and married a scientist. She has two children now. Professor Utonium lives with Bubbles, he takes care of the grandkids. Blossom became a lawyer, married a senator.
"And I'm just a Human Resources executive at an insurance company," she said.
Snake looked at her left ring finger, no wedding ring there. She still called herself Miss Utonium.
"I'm still single, if you're wondering," Buttercup replied, heaving a sigh.
"So ams I," Snake said.
They shared a look.
Buttercup blushed and cleared her throat. "So uh... how's your grandma?" She asked.
"She'ss fine. Doctorss says she'ss gots a bodys ofs a persons tens yearss youngers," Snake said.
"So, you're still living with your grandma?" She asked.
"Yeaps. I didn'ts like its ats firsts, buts it'ss nice to have someone to come home to. Mys owns parentss... I don'ts knows where theys wents," he said.
"I'm living alone now, renting an apartment. But yeah, it does feel kinda lonely. At first I was glad I didn't have to be surrounded by my sisters anymore but then they all got married and I guess I kinda miss having them around all the time," Buttercup said.
Snake glanced at his watch. "Oopss, break'ss almosts overs now. Let'ss gets backs to works," he said.
"Yeah, you're right. Anyway, it was nice talking to you, Snake," Buttercup said.
"Waits," Snake said. "I almosts forgots. Do you wanna come meets mys grandma? You knows, to celebrate me gettings the jobs?"
"Sure, why not?" She said, smiling.
...
"Grandma, I'ms home!" Snake said.
"How was the interview? Did you get the job?" Grandma said.
"Yess I dids," he said happily.
"And who's this lady? She looks familiar," Grandma said suspiciously.
"It's me, grandma. Buttercup, " she said.
"Buttercup? You better not be getting my grandson into anymore trouble! Your boyfriend almost hurt Sanford because of you! Who said you could come here?" Grandma said, waving her cane in the air in Buttercup's direction.
Snake quickly stood in the way, risking himself getting hit by her cane.
"Sanford, what the hell are you doing, boy? Get out of the way," Grandma said.
"Grandma! She'ss mys boss, mys superiors. She'ss the HRs executive who hireds me!" He exclaimed.
"She's your boss? Good heavens, why didn't you tell me earlier that you were inviting your boss to dinner?" Grandma said.
"I'ms sorrys Grandma, I forgots to tells you," he said, panicking.
Buttercup cleared her throat. "Sanford, Mrs Ingleberry, I apologise for causing undue distress. Perhaps now isn't such a good time," she said, turning to leave.
"Buttercup, wait! I apologise for my earlier behavior. And please, call me grandma. You have to understand, my grandson is all I have left in this world ," Grandma said.
"I understand, grandma. Sanford's told me a lot about you. He loves you very much and I know you love him too. I'm also renting my own apartment now so I miss being with family," Buttercup said, giving grandma a hug.
"Aww, come now, both of you," Grandma said, pulling Snake into her hug together with Buttercup. She patted Buttercup's back. "Now, if you miss having a home cooked dinner or just want the company, you know you're always welcome at grandma's place."
"Thank you, grandma, " Buttercup said, smiling.
"Please, do join us for dinner. It would reflect very poorly on me for a guest to leave without even a cup of tea. Also, I've cooked plenty of food to celebrate Sanford's new job," Grandma said.
"Alright, maybe I'll have a bite or two," Buttercup said.
Grandma had prepared a feast. Deep fried mushrooms for the appetiser, chicken baked rice, fish and chips, macaroni and cheese filled the table and made Buttercup drool.
"These are all Sanford's favourites. There's chocolate ice cream in the freezer too," Grandma said, smiling warmly.