Northrop walked into Jeb’s kitchen through the back door and grabbed an orange from the fruit bowl. Instead of peeling it, he just fiddled with it as he looked over to Jeb.
Jeb showed no surprise in Northrop’s unannounced entrance. “What are you doing here for?”
“It’s nice out today,” Northrop said, “I thought I might go out for a walk.”
“That’s nice,” Jeb commented, focused on peeling his orange.
“Want to come with me?” Northrop asked.
“Not really,” Jeb commented. He finished peeling the orange and put it down in a bowl before turning away to throw the peel away.
It was in that moment that Northrop made his move, switching out his unpeeled orange for Jeb’s peeled orange. When Jeb turned back around, he found Northrop eating the first orange segment. He frowned, but didn’t protest and picked up the orange with a sigh.
“You really should come with me,” Northrop said. “Delia might be out there.”
“Oh?” Jeb asked, not giving anything away.
“Besides, I’ll just keep bugging you until you come walking with me,” Northrop said. He stood up and gestured towards the backdoor.
“Fine, fine.” Jeb sighed as he left his orange and walked out of the house and right into a downpour. “I thought you said it was a nice day?”
“It is a nice day,” Northrop said as he followed Jeb outside. He opened up a neon pink umbrella. “A nice rainy day.”
“A nice day for a walk,” Jeb dryly commented, giving his friend a look.
“Yep,” Northrop replied. He started walking and Jeb had no choice but to move with him.
“So why are we out walking anyway?” Jeb asked as they strolled down the street.
“Oh, look, there’s Frank,” Northrop exclaimed, pointing across the street.
Jeb’s eyes narrowed. “You’re up to something aren’t you?”
“Is that pie in his hands?” Northrop asked, peering at the figure. “Where did Frank get pie?”
“Who cares about the pie?” Jeb asked. Northrop ignored him, grabbing his arm and dragging him across the street.
“Howdy, Frank,” Northrop greeted. “Is that pie?”
“Just got it from the bakers,” Frank said. He motioned towards the half eaten pie. “Would you like some?”
“I’d love some pie,” Northrop said as he sat down in the patio chair across from Frank. Northrop motioned for Jeb to join them. “Pie, Jeb, pie.”
“It looks good, I guess,” Jeb said as he sat down.
Frank cut them each a piece and then returned to eating his own slice. “It’s a good day for pie.”
“So, how’s the clownery doing?” Northrop asked. “How do you like being a clown?”
“Being a clown is great, I guess.” Frank frowned and took another bite of his pie. “People always laugh at my tricks and I’m getting really good at throwing pie.”
“Not this pie, though?” Northrop asked.
“No, not this pie.” Something clanked and Frank jumped a mile, twisting around and seeing nothing but his own shadow. He turned back around and offered them a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that.”
“That’s okay,” Northrop said, knowing that Frank did that often.
Another bang happened and Frank shrieked, halfway jumping into Jeb’s lap. Jeb just sighed and patted the man’s back.
“A nice day for a walk, huh?” he asked no one.
A yellow cat ran past, dripping paint.
