Happy keeps an eye on him as he drops his
book bag and searches a cupboard. She
announces, "We’re eating early."
Ben grabs a bag of chips, "But I’m starving
right now." And he stuffs some potato chips
into his mouth, "I'm a starving child in Indiana."
Happy grabs away the chips, "Don’t be
sarcastic about starving children, Ben.
Ben grabs a bag of chips, "But I’m starving
right now." And he stuffs some potato chips
into his mouth, "I'm a starving child in Indiana."
Happy grabs away the chips, "Don’t be
sarcastic about starving children, Ben.
It isn't funny."
"I'm funny."
"What?"
"I’m sorry."
Happy hands him the chips.
He smiles, "Thank you. I really do feel
like I’m going to faint."
"You're as dramatic as your father."
"Ha. Ha." Ben sits on the kitchen counter,
"You're as dramatic as your father."
"Ha. Ha." Ben sits on the kitchen counter,
"Did Dad call?"
"He called while I was outside gardening and
left a message," she hits the button on the
answering machine.
DAD'S VOICE: "Where are you guys?.. Okay.. it is..
What time is it here? It is 8:32 in the morning.
It is a beautiful day but I will be in meetings
at Sanyo until tonight. So I will try you tomorrow
around this same time. Everything is going well.
Can't wait to bring you both to see Japan. It
is quite something. Miss you both. Love you."
BEEP
Ben, munching the chips, taps the pink card
that is sitting on the counter, "Que es?"
"I found it in the mailbox."
Ben studies it and turns it over
"He called while I was outside gardening and
left a message," she hits the button on the
answering machine.
DAD'S VOICE: "Where are you guys?.. Okay.. it is..
What time is it here? It is 8:32 in the morning.
It is a beautiful day but I will be in meetings
at Sanyo until tonight. So I will try you tomorrow
around this same time. Everything is going well.
Can't wait to bring you both to see Japan. It
is quite something. Miss you both. Love you."
BEEP
Ben, munching the chips, taps the pink card
that is sitting on the counter, "Que es?"
"I found it in the mailbox."
Ben studies it and turns it over
"R U A Sammeee? Cool. An A.R.G."
Happy stops what she’s doing, "A wha wha wha?"
"Knock, knock, Mom. A.R.G. Al-ter-nate
Re-al-ity Gaaame."
Happy stops what she’s doing, "A wha wha wha?"
"Knock, knock, Mom. A.R.G. Al-ter-nate
Re-al-ity Gaaame."
"I speak english, Ben."
"Oh that’s right. (he smiles) Kidding. Okay, so
an A.R.G. is like... Its like a game. Probably to
promote a movie or something."
"It's a game?"
Ben tilts his head, "Part of it is, but it also has a
story that you try to figure out around like puzzles."
Happy mocks him, "What is "like" puzzles?"
"You know what I mean, Mom. You try to figure
stuff out and you play with other people
that you meet on the computer and you chat
with them about the game and the clues and
the story and the characters and sometimes
you meet the characters in the story and so
you are part of the story. Like stepping
into a book."
Happy nods with no enthusiasm, "Sounds fascinating."
Ben gives it back, "Don’t be sarcastic."
Happy smiles, "Me?"
Happy mocks him, "What is "like" puzzles?"
"You know what I mean, Mom. You try to figure
stuff out and you play with other people
that you meet on the computer and you chat
with them about the game and the clues and
the story and the characters and sometimes
you meet the characters in the story and so
you are part of the story. Like stepping
into a book."
Happy nods with no enthusiasm, "Sounds fascinating."
Ben gives it back, "Don’t be sarcastic."
Happy smiles, "Me?"