another chapter! in this one, I envisioned Howie and Ramona about 12 years old, so older than in the canon-verse. this prompt was actually pretty hard...
THEME: #15 ~ Slapstick Action
He cleared his throat and she pointedly ignored him, glaring darkly at the fence so that he marveled it didn't combust.
"Ramona," he started, watching for a reaction. Nothing. "Ramona," he repeated firmly. Still nothing.
Her silence was starting to unnerve him— this was Ramona, after all. Everything she did somehow managed to explode in bright words and colorful expressions. The last thing he'd expected was for her to… mature. Didn't he deserve some sort of warning? Well, if she wasn't going to talk to him, he certainly wasn't going to grovel. Casting one last look at Ramona hunched over on her front steps, he turned to leave.
He should've known that escape wouldn't be that easy.
"So. You thought it was funny, huh?"
He couldn't help but wilt slightly. "Look, I said I was sorry, Ramona-"
"And that makes it better?" she retorted.
Rearranging his face into a neutral expression, he turned around. Ramona's face was flushed and eyes narrowed. Her hair that had once brushed at her chin now swept her shoulders as she straightened. Older or younger, she always knew how to make a fuss.
"It was your idea."
"When I said 'let's set up booby traps,' I didn't ask you to do one against me!"
Ramona was right, but he didn't dare concede. "Well, it worked."
"I noticed!" she shrieked. "Your stupid rake smacked me right in the face!"
"You walked right into it." Literally, he wanted to add. It'd actually been hilarious to watch Ramona's surprise as she stepped right on the prongs, flipping the handle upward and into her nose. "Are you going to get over this or not?"
"Not!" she snapped, flouncing into the house.
Something told him that his apology was going to have to involve a smarting nose of his own.
I mean, I can only imagine that Howie's stoicism borders on insensitivity every now and then. review?