It was just one summer day among many. Thomas and Marie were leaning against the old tree, relaxing and waiting for inspiration to strike. Thomas was reading a book on 16th Century poetry, while Marie seemed to be deep in thought. Then, without warning, she leaned over.
"Tommy?"
With a miniscule sigh, he looked up. "What is it, Marie?"
Had Marie looked carefully, she might have noticed that her cousin looked slightly annoyed by her interruption, as he always seemed to look. But she didn't. "Have I ever told you how much I love your accent?" she said.
"Yes. Twice this week already."
"But it's just so awesome!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms up in excitement. "It's all British-y and deep! If I had an accent like that, I would talk to myself all day!"
"That's because you're crazy," Thomas said. carefully marking the page about iambic pentameter he had reached. He knew he wasn't going to get any more read now that Marie had something in her head.
"I am not!" Marie huffed. "I'm lovable and eccentric, just like Mom and Dad say."
"Sounds crazy to me."
She shoved him lightly, causing Thomas to chuckle. Then their eyes met and Marie started giggling uncontrollably at his unmistakeably British laughter, and it was Thomas's turn to shove her in a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"So wait," Marie said after they both calmed down a little more. "How is it that your accent is so British? I mean, you've grown up here pretty much all your life, right?"
"I spend a lot of time with Dad," he explained simply. "And Mum's accent is actually similar-"
Marie giggled again. "Heehee, you said 'Mum'!"
"What?"
"Like you're the Queen of England!" she exclaimed.
There was a pause as Thomas stared at her still enthusiastic expression. "Marie, that makes no sense."
"'Look at me, I'm Tommy," Marie continued, undeterred, in a terrible British accent. "And I'm all Britishy and posh,"
"Marie-"
"And I love drinking tea like the grown-ups,"
"Marie!"
He had stood and grabbed her by the arm and she stopped, looking up at him with her big, blue eyes.
"T-Tea is really good," he mumbled, turning his face away as it grew red. "Also your accent was terrible."
"Aww, I wish I could change my boring voice to a proper British one." she said longingly. Marie then gasped, in her trademark fashion. "Tommy! I've got it!"
The fiery red-head immediately leapt up as though charged. She began brainstorming ideas about a machine that would allow people to swap voices with other people all over the world. A machine that was cool, efficient, pink, and totally cool.
Thomas leaned back against the tree and watched her leap around. Smiling, he murmured a few lines to himself. "I hope your 'boring voice' is here to stay; your accent truly brightens up my day."
"Did you say something, Tommy?" Marie asked, as she continued pacing.
"Oh, I said 'I guess your boring voice is alright'," Thomas said, blushing furiously.
"Aw, Tommy!" Marie giggled happily. "Now c'mon, help me build this thing! We've got no time to waste!"