Drabbles 73-80
Eight years again of Darren
Car in the desert
"We have done crazier stuff than this."
Darren snorted as he stretched his legs. "You have. I've never driven a car across the desert."
"You're the consummate activist," Colin pointed out. "This scene should not be new to you."
Darren smiled as he looked around the latest encampment of Occupy London. "This makes my entire college past look like piecemeal."
"How so?"
"Well, I used to stand with Emil and Marce on small issues. A land, a law....local stuff." Darren paused to take a drink. "This time, I think we're making a statement to the rest of the world."
Ice cube in the mouth
"How hot is it there in Manila?"
"Too hot to hold an ice cube in your mouth."
Darren winced as he adjusted his grip on the phone. "Maybe you guys should just go live in a swimming pool or something?" he suggested.
"And get all wrinkly? I'll have a preview of myself as an old man," Emil laughed.
Darren groaned at this mental image. "I could live a little longer without imagining that!"
"Hey, I'll get there eventually!"
The younger man smiled, glad not to hear any mention of an old death wish. "You sure?"
"Oh I definitely plan to."
Octopus
Hannah giggled as she collapsed on the nearest beanbag. "You, Darren, would be an octopus."
"And not a chameleon?" the older thespian asked. He was not sure if he relished the comparison to the invertebrate.
"Octopus," Hannah repeated. "You're crafty, colorful, and an acquired taste."
"I hope you didn't mean that literally," Darren quipped, remembering Hannah's love for vampire novels.
Hannah snorted. "You're nice, but not an easy person to keep up with."
"That's bad?"
"No. You just have your own ways of living, that's all. And you're too smart sometimes, for your own good."
Darren could not quite agree.
Seashell Mobile
"I knew a girl once who was in love with the water."
Paul looked curiously at Darren. "One of your best friends?"
"No, the best friend of my best friend," Darren replied. The clicking of the shells on the mobile reminded him far too much of Ida's melodious tone of voice. "Her friends used to joke that she should have been a sailor. I guess she might have done it if she was braver."
"Where is she now?"
"A mom. Running her own clinic. Living high and dry on land." Darren sighed. "Funny what other loves can do to you."
Luggage stack
"I still can't believe you guys actually came all the way to London to find me!"
Marce looked straight at Darren. "Emil wants you as a groomsman, and I need someone to keep him in line. Besides it's not a wedding without you there."
Darren tossed his small suitcase on top of the stack. "A party you mean. You don't want someone like me witnessing your sacred vows."
"Darren, there's no prohibition on you being there," Emil said. "Besides, you were the one who brought me to her, it's only right you should be there," he added.
Darren finally smiled.
Green drink with umbrella
The entire party watched as the drinks were served out. "A drink this green needs a classy glass to go with it," Wena said at last.
"Well I haven't gotten around to getting proper martini glasses or goblets," Marce said. "Emil here still drinks his red wine out of a normal drinking glass."
Everyone groaned at this revelation. "Emil, you know wine needs to breathe!" Darren reprimanded his friend.
"Hey, it still breathes, just not as elegantly," Emil said defensively. "Besides it's for my own enjoyment, no one else."
Darren sighed, wondering how his friend could suddenly turn so sloppy.
Hammock
"Last one there is---oh darn, Marce has the hammock!"
"Can't argue with a pregnant woman. We'd better sit elsewhere."
Darren shrugged as he followed Wena to another cabana at the beach. "Last chance to relax before we go home and things get complicated," he mused.
"How bad can it be? Marce handling a trial, Emil at work, me doing my first exclusive with a new network, and you...?"
"Remembering I'm between projects."
Wena sighed. "It will get better, dramaman. You'll find a play you'll actually like."
"Should I lower my tastes?"
"Never."
Darren smiled, happy that someone agreed with him.
Mermaid
"So you're going to take Andrei to see 'The Little Mermaid' on stage?"
"Not just yet. He can barely sit still."
Darren snickered at Emil's admission. "It will be a while till you and Marce can have a night to yourself to watch plays again."
"Not really. Layla said she's willing to watch Andrei. And my Mom is more than happy to step in."
"Your mother will spoil your son rotten. That's what grandparents are for, didn't you know?"
Emil cringed at this. "Maybe I ought to check if there's a special 'children's theater' version of that play," he muttered.