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Fi
What about your parents? Love ‘em or want to mail them back to Walmart?
Julie Seagle
Costco, actually. Mom is OK. A little… lacking depth, maybe? But nice. Dad is not around much.
Fi
Where is he?
Julie Seagle
They divorced when I was five, and I only get to see him a few times a year since then. He works all over the country, and it’s hard to coordinate times to see him.
Fi
Sorry to hear that. You deserve better.
Julie Seagle
Not a big deal. I’m used to it. And it’s great when I do see him.
Fi
When do you go back to Boston?
Julie Seagle
Sunday morning. Really early flight. Home by noon, I think.
Fi
You’re calling it “home” now?
Julie Seagle
Uh… Apparently.
Julie Seagle
How long are you in the South Pacific? Sounds so exotic.
Fi
Probably three weeks. Just got here last Sunday. Exotic experience started early while on the looooong flight. Ate a distinct meal of fermented cheese on canvas-y crackers.
Julie Seagle
Mmmm…. Yummy!
Fi
Dessert was an even more exotic congealed glob of rice pudding. Can still taste it!
Julie Seagle
Now you’ll just keep booking flights all over the world.
Fi
I live for airline food. Nothing gets me off more than small portions of gunk on a tray. And sporks, of course.
Fi
Love sporks!
Julie Seagle
Am making a note of your fetishes.
Fi
It’s go
Julie Seagle
Understood. Tell me the best thing you’ve done on this trip so far.
Fi
Bungee jumped. So awesome.
Julie Seagle
Ugh. I would NEVER. How was it?
Fi
Complete rush. Phenomenal. You’re not a daredevil?
Julie Seagle
No way. Total wuss. I nearly faint on escalators. What other crazy things have you done?
Julie Seagle
Oh, let me guess! Are those your skydiving shirts I saw?
Fi
Yup. Want to go sometime?
Julie Seagle
Uh, let me think… NO!
Fi
Come on! You’ll love it. Maybe. It’s nothing like an escalator.
Julie Seagle
Again, NO!
Fi
But don’t tell my parents. They don’t know about my risky activities.
Julie Seagle
Seriously?
Fi
They’d freak.
Julie Seagle
Understood. Lips are sealed.
Fi
I want to go bungee jumping in South America next. Right by waterfalls. Supposed to be gorgeous.
Julie Seagle
So many bungee jumps to make. Sounds like I won’t get to meet the renowned Fi
Fi
Probably not. Pretty committed for a while. We’ll see. Hard to pass up these opportunities. Be good to meet you, though. But at least we can chat for now!
Julie Seagle
True. And I kind of feel like I know you already. Weird.
Fi
I know what you mean.
Julie Seagle
Think it’s because I’m staying in your room and absorbing Fi
Fi
The vibes from the stinky monster poop in the closet? Yes, that’s it.
Julie Seagle
So that’s the funky smell. I’ve been wondering.
Fi
Apologies. Boys are gross.
Julie Seagle
Not all boys.
Fi
If I’d known you’d be staying in my room, I would have tried harder to make a better impression.
Fi
Will work on bolstering my image!
Julie Seagle
Not necessary. You’re very charming.
Fi
You don’t need pictures of me in a tuxedo, cleaned up, trying to look suave and presentable?
Julie Seagle
I don’t need tuxedos to be impressed.
Fi
Hm…
Fi
What do you need?
Julie Seagle
Still trying to figure that one out.
And so it went for the next two hours. Fi
And, yes, she kept flirting. Because it was harmless and fun, and truthfully, she just couldn’t help herself. There was something extraordinarily intoxicating about this Fi
Fi
OK, so Thanksgiving didn’t work out so well for you. Winter break? Will it be a step up?
Julie Seagle
Of course. But I’ll be in California with my Dad for three weeks, so I’ll miss Mom’s stockings and trees and lights.
Julie Seagle
Illuminated reindeer statues on the lawn, drunk Santa at the mall, pop stars releasing carol collections, etc. What more could a girl want?
Fi
Hold on. Are you anti-Christmas?