(Untitled)

[a1enzo]

Enzo is sitting at the bar with a slim volume-an actual, paper book-in his hands and an expression of mild but continual bewilderment on his face. It's interested bewilderment, though, and every so often he'll laugh at something

Comments

[heyfootballhead]

"A declaration of extreme holiday dislike?" Arnold suggests, having spotted Enzo and come over just in time to hear his question.

[a1enzo]

"Hey, Arnold!" He looks back at the book. "Maybe, but the first time, he said Christmas was a humbug. Not sure that parses."

[heyfootballhead]

"I dunno, then. We should look it up." Not that Arnold is curious or anything.

[a1enzo]

"I think I'm gonna have to look up a lot of stuff in this," mutters Enzo. "Bar? Can we have a dictionary, or do we have to find the library?"

This time, however, Bar seems inclined to be helpful, and the dictionary appears.

"Thanks. Let's see..." Flip flippity flip. "Oh. Something intended to deceive, a hoax or fraud... a willfully false, deceptive, or insincere person, an impostor... deception... nonsense... orrrr hard mint candies. Huh."

[heyfootballhead]

"I wonder why Scrooge just says 'bah, humbug' so much, if that's the case."

Arnold is not psychic and does not know what Enzo is reading...however, the only people he knows of who use the word "humbug" are Helga and the fictional Mr. Scrooge.

[a1enzo]

"I guess he thinks a lot of stuff is nonsense."

[heyfootballhead]

"And he doesn't even appreciate it. No wonder he's so grumpy."

[a1enzo]

"Yeah! Nothing wrong with a little humbug," he says, popping a mint and grinning. "You know the story?"

[heyfootballhead]

"You mean A Christmas Carol? Sure, it's a classic. Is that what you're reading?"

[a1enzo]

"Uh-huh. A friend of Guppy's gave it to me, 'cause I didn't know who the Ghost of Christmas Past was. I'm not there yet, but Marley just said there were more ghosts coming to haunt Scrooge, so I guess that's one of 'em."

[heyfootballhead]

"Maybe," Arnold says slyly. He's one of those that staunchly refuses to confirm or deny anything about a story until the other person has experienced it.

[a1enzo]

Enzo rolls his eyes slightly.

"It's Past, Present, and Future, isn't it?"

Some triads are just obvious.

[heyfootballhead]

"Could be." Mum's the word!

[a1enzo]

"'Cause it is."

[heyfootballhead]

"Perhaps."

[a1enzo]

"Admit it!"