Escape 066

[prefers_chess]

[Letter | Public Because Rudy Has No Privacy]

Dear Mom and Dad

Comments

action;

[threadthefire]

[Here's the other arts and crafts counselor, and he's... cheery.]

Hey, Rudy! That looks great, if for your Dad?

action;

[prefers_chess]

[Cheery is not always the best of demeanors for dealing with Rudy, but he has something of a soft spot for arts and crafts counsellors. So this once he'll let it slide.]

Yes. It's a tie rack.

[He holds up the assorted pieces of wood.]

How do you think it's coming so far?

action;

[threadthefire]

I looks wonderful.

[He takes the anti-camp camper's genial demeanor as a Good Sign, so he sits down next to him.]

How do you plan on finishing it?

action;

[prefers_chess]

A walnut stain. To match my parents' bedroom furniture.

[He refrains from tattling with regard to the pressure to paint it colours instead.]

action;

[threadthefire]

How considerate to consider their established design.

[He's encouraging you, Rudy. If you love arts and crafts, perhaps you'll learn to love camp.]

Are you going to do any carving on it?

action;

[prefers_chess]

[Counsellors who let him do his own thing generally suffer less than the ones who don't. This is wise.]

Do I have a Dremel at my disposal?

action;

[threadthefire]

You don't want to try carving with a pocket-knife?

[He chuckles. Ah, the days when he was a kid.]

Just kidding. So long as you don't use it to cut through the tent-poles, sure.

action;

[prefers_chess]

[Power tools. This counsellor is definitely a keeper.]

Then I'll reprise the scrollwork of my parents' headboard.

action;

[threadthefire]

Beautiful idea.

[He leaves for a moment and returns with the tool and the extension cord. And a beat-up pair of safety glasses.]

You will be careful, won't you?

action;

[prefers_chess]

I don't neglect safe operating procedures.

[He sounds offended at the mere suggestion.]

action;

[threadthefire]

It's my job, Rudy, I have to say it.

[He chuckles and reaches for a bunch of colored embroidery flosses, pulling a few color-coordinated strands and affixing them to a safety pin. Propping his foot up on the bench next to him, he starts weaving and knotting them with surprising dexterity and skill.]

Besides, if you drill your eye out we have to flip the blank days since last accident chart in the counselor's tent to zero and there goes our bonus.

action;

[prefers_chess]

Consider your legal obligations sufficiently met, then.

[And he resumes drawing on his sketch paper.]

action;

[threadthefire]

Thanks.

[The weave starts taking shape, a flame pattern emerging.]

So. I gotta ask, why the escape attempts?

action;

[prefers_chess]

My legal counsel has advised me not to comment on any questions of that nature.

[A pause.]

I am, however, authorized to release a statement: I want to go home.

action;

[threadthefire]

Why, Rudy? It's not that bad here, is it?

action;

[prefers_chess]

It's prison. And I want to go home.