Quest 155

[primrosella]

Comments

[misterblackbird]

I do believe I know a few people in that portrait.

And how is the skateboarding going? Sam was trying to talk me into trying it, but I'm not certain I should.

[primrosella]

I should hope you'd recognize at least one of them.

You should! It's silly that something as simple as going sliding around like that should be such fun, but it is.

[misterblackbird]

And I most certainly do recognize him, too. That is a splendid Christmas gift.

It may be fun for you, but I think I'd do nothing but fall off of it.

[primrosella]

Isn't it? It's just what I wanted. And we're putting it up in my room, too, so I can look at it every day.

Oh, believe me, I did plenty of that, too. Sam got the worst of it, though, since he kept trying to catch me and I kept knocking him over with me.

[misterblackbird]

That seems to me to be the proper place for it.

The more you tell me about it, the less I think I ought to try it myself. You're not hurt, are you?

[primrosella]

And keeping it there will help keep Sam from standing around staring at my mother all day, too, which is an additional perk.

I earned myself a fine set of bruises from it, but it's nothing serious. There are pads to wear on your knees and elbows to protect against falls, and once you learn how to balance properly, it's not so bad at all. That's the real trouble, that the wheels don't always stay with your feet the way they do with Rollerblades.

[misterblackbird]

Why ever would he stare at your mother, though?

Now I'm quite certain that I ought not to try it.

[primrosella]

I'm told it's because she's apparently quite lovely.

Silly, there's no way to get any good at it if you don't even try, you know.

[misterblackbird]

Well, I do agree with that, certainly. But I can't imagine he'd stare at her all day. That seems a bit peculiar, if I may say so.

All the same, I don't really think I'd enjoy falling over and bruising myself int he process.

[primrosella]

It wouldn't be the most peculiar thing he's done since I've known him, I'm afraid. I think that honor belongs to the time he took the pictures of me from when I tied myself up with magic rope and put them up in his bedroom. And then showed them to my father when he visited.

It's much easier to keep from falling over if you have someone hold your hand while you learn, actually. But does that mean you don't like to go skating on the ice, either?

[misterblackbird]

I'm not at all certain that would be the sort of thing one would want to show to a young lady's father, somehow. But I will say that's more peculiar than staring at a portrait of your mother.

I'm quite all right at skating on ice. Somehow, that doesn't seem as painful or as dangerous.

[primrosella]

I suppose I'm just used to that sort of thing by now, peculiar though it may be. I do live with him, after all.

Then you ought to try Rollerblades before you try a skateboard, really. It's almost exactly the same as skating on ice, only you're rolling on wheels instead.

[misterblackbird]

Yes, I suppose you would grow used to it after a little while. Still, you are quite patient with him.

I think I'd rather just stay with skating on ice, thank you.

[primrosella]

That's what friends are for, isn't it?

...Do you plan to go sometime this winter, do you think?

[misterblackbird]

I suppose so, yes.

I think I might, yes. But, really, it is more entertaining to go with a friend, of course.

[primrosella]

I think I might, too. As it happens, a friend of mine got me a pair of skates for Christmas, and I really ought to put them to use at least once before winter is over.