Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Jory: You get another kiss for that.
Sam: How about we go upstairs and I get something else for that?
Jory: And charming. You forgot to say that I think you’re charming.
Sam: Fine. All right, let’s see here…
NUMBER NINE:
Technically ten because you asked Dane two. What impression do you think you give when someone meets you for the first time?
Jory: That I’m manic.
Sam: …
Jory: It’s not funny.
Sam: It’s a little funny.
Jory: But it’s true, right?
Sam: A long time ago, maybe. But not anymore.
Jory: So what do you think the perception of me is now?
Sam: That you’re bright, and by bright, I mean luminous, like the sun, because you are, and funny and kind.
Jory: Luminous?
Sam: Yes.
Jory: I love being luminous.
Sam: And exhausting. Don’t forget exhausting.
Jory: What’s your answer?
Sam: It’s the same as it’s always been.
Jory: And what is that?
Sam: Scary.
Jory: What? No.
Sam: Oh yes.
Jory: You mean volatile, ’cause you can be loud.
Sam: No. I mean scary.
Jory: You never scared me.
Sam: Yes, I know. You were the anomaly.
Jory: You really think that?
Sam: You could take a poll. All my guys at work, they always say the same thing… I thought you were so mean when I first met you.
Jory: That’s wild.
Sam: Some of them say scary. Or mean and scary.
Jory: Crazy.
Sam: Okay, here’s another. What’s––
Jory: I think when people first meet you, they might be intimidated, but I think when they meet you, the first impression you make is of strength. Inside and out, just strength they can depend on. You’re the most dependable person I know.
Sam: …
Jory: Awww, lookit your eyes.
Sam: I can’t look at my own eyes.
Jory: Yes, dear, I know.
NUMBER…oh who cares.
What’s more important, what you say or how you say it?
Jory: You know, I don’t know.
Sam: What do you mean you don’t know?
Jory: I mean, what does that even mean? How you say it? Like, I could see it being important in certain situations. If you tell me you love me but you’re flippant or angry, both those inflections in your voice would piss me off.
Sam: Then tone is very important.
Jory: What do you think?
Sam: I think it’s how you say something, because tone sends a signal to the other person.
Jory: It does. I agree.
Kola: Me too.
Jory: Oh look, the rare sighting of the Kola bird.
Sam: I don’t think the Kola bird is up for being teased at the mo—oh.
Jory: Honey?
Kola: Yeah?
Jory: Everything okay?
Kola: Yeah. Why?
Jory: Well, it’s been a long time since you’ve come downstairs and put your head on your father’s shoulder.
Kola: I’m having a super selfish moment, and I’m trying not to, but I can’t help it, so…yeah.
Jory: Okay. That was a bit rambling. What are you being selfish about?
Kola: People are dying, and I’m whining about not getting to graduate.
Jory: You’re still graduating, love. You’re talking about the ceremony.
Kola: Yeah.
Jory: It’s not selfish to be disappointed.
Kola: Yeah, but lots of people have bigger problems.
Jory: Again, you’re allowed to be sad.
Kola: I just—I wanted you and Dad to be proud and—
Jory: Kola.
Kola: …
Jory: Look at me. Honey, we’re so proud.
Kola: Yeah, but you would’ve cried, and Dad would’ve been all grouchy, ’cause that’s how he gets when he’s really touched, and it—
Sam: I do not get grouchy.
Kola: —was gonna be this last big thing that me and Jake and Harper did together, and now we won’t be walking, I won’t give my speech, I don’t know what’s happening with school next year, because with Covid nobody knows how things will play out and—
Jory: Breathe.
Kola: I just—this isn’t how I thought it would be!
Jory: I know.
Sam: Here, lemme move my arm so I can—there.
Jory: Good. Keep breathing.
Sam: Everything’s gonna work out like it should, and if you end up having to do the first semester remotely or whatever we have to do—it’ll be fine. And if you stay here until next spring, your father will be deliriously happy.
Jory: I would. That’s no lie.
Sam: You’ll be fine, and neither of us could be any prouder.
Jory: My kid being valedictorian… I mean, come on. My kid. Mine.
Kola: Co-valedictorian.
Jory: Yes, but still, dear, come on. I wasn’t expecting you and Ellie Martinez to have a cage match to see who would get to give the speech.
Kola: Only you would even think of that.
Sam: That would have been way more exciting than a regular graduation ceremony, though. I mean, the school could’ve sold tickets for that.
Kola: Graduation ceremonies are brain-numbing, aren’t they?
Sam: How big is your class?
Kola: There’s only 167 of us this year.
Sam: Yeah, see? We could’ve sat through that no problem.
Kola: How many kids are in public—
Jory: I could see your tonsils when you yawned, and it sounded like you cracked your jaw. Please never do that again.
Kola: ’Kay, but how many kids were in your graduating class, Dad?
Sam: I want to say maybe 650.
Kola: That’s…wild.
Sam: Well, you see, son, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, that’s how we did it. We clustered in large groups and––