React and Interact

Kevin and Rolf (friendship)

-/-/-

Kevin looked up from the television at the sound of the doorbell ringing. "Dad! Someone's at the door!" The 9-year-old called to his father, who was elsewhere in the house.

"Can you get it, Kev?" Came the reply.

Sighing, Kevin slid off the couch and walked over to the door. He snatched up the stepstool that was leaned against the wall and used it to look through the peephole. On the other side, he saw another boy, perhaps his age, looking straight ahead and holding a bowl full of something Kevin couldn't see. Quirking an eyebrow, Kevin pushed the stool aside and opened the door.

"Greetings!" The new boy exclaimed, grinning awkwardly.

Getting a better look straight-on, Kevin could see that the boy's skin was a bit darker than his, and his hair was much darker and shorter. He was taller than Kevin and clad rather oddly. "Um… hi." Kevin replied, unsure how else to respond.

"I am Rolf Skovgaard and I have- moved into the house across the… street." The boy, Rolf, introduced himself haltingly with a thick accent. He turned back and pointed out the house across the way.

"Oh, yeah. I was wondering who moved in there." Kevin nodded, then stuck out his hand. "My name's Kevin Burke."

Rolf looked down at Kevin's hand for a moment, seeming confused, before he smiled again and thrust his bowl out for Kevin to take. "Oh… uh, thanks." The red-headed boy replied, accepting the ceramic container.

"It is a traditional dish of greetings in Rolf's homeland," Rolf explained, still smiling, "Sugared octopus!"

Kevin blinked, looking from the new boy, to the bowl, and back again. His father saved him from having to reply, however. "Ah, hello!" The man said as he came up behind his son. "You must be from the family who moved in a few days ago."

"Yes, sir," Rolf nodded, "I am Rolf Skovgaard. Mama and Papa wished me to come and meet some other people who live here, also."

"I see. Well, I'm Neal Burke," Neal extended his hand.

Seeming to realize something was expected of him this time, Rolf looked down at the man's hand then slowly extended his own. Neal took it and shook quickly before releasing it, never noticing the oddly relieved look on the boy's face. "You've met my son, Kevin. My wife, Sandra, is at work."

A few more pleasantries were exchanged before Kevin handed his father the bowl of "sugared octopus," which Neal accepted with about as much grace as his son. "Well, ah- Kevin, why don't you invite Rolf in? I'll just go put this in the fridge."

"Sure… you wanna come in?" Kevin asked the boy at his door, who nodded eagerly.

Kevin gave him the grand tour of the house before coming back to the living room. "I was just watching TV before you rang. Wanna watch?" The boy asked his new acquaintance.

Rolf cocked his head, seeming confused once more, before understanding lit in his eyes. "Oh, yes! The moving pictures of entertainment, yes?"

Kevin chuckled. "Yeah, that's it." He grabbed the remote and flicked the television back on.

The two boys sat and watched through a whole cartoon, while Rolf periodically turned to Kevin in confusion, asking naïve questions and causing the red-headed boy increasing amounts of laughter. When the show was over, Kevin nudged Rolf and grinned. "Hey, y'know, you're pretty cool."

Quirking an eyebrow, Rolf shook his head. "Cool, no. Your weather is much milder than that of my home country. Rolf is quite comfortable."

The boy sitting opposite him stared in confusion for a moment before cracking a grin and shaking his head. "Dude, you have a lot to learn."

"Dude?"

-/-/-

Words: 619

Author's Note: Way longer than it should have been… I feel like this one was sort of awkward, but I find Kevin a bit difficult to write. He's kind of all over the map.