“that’s good.”           it was a simple response, but she spoke gently and with a warm little smile, an indication of respect. so many people had complaints about their lives these days. it seemed like nothing, or even no one, was good enough. it was sort of refreshing to hear someone express that they were content with the way they lived, and that their parents’ opinions about it were just something to be curious about, rather than be concerned. betty’s own family wasn’t necessarily controlling, and they were more or less the stereotypical supportive suburban parents on the whole, but she did feel this sort of underlying, innate drive to make them proud, regardless of how she actually accomplished such a feat. “and … i mean, i didn’t know them, so … i can’t exactly convincingly fill the encouraging friend role that’s usually customary for this kind of conversation, but…” she shrugged, taking a bit and letting the corners of her lips lift just slightly. “if you’re happy … that’s what matters. right? that sounds like a parent thing to say, at least.”

jack   appreciates   her   effort   to   comfort   him   ——   he   looks   down   at   his   hands   ,   fingers   on   his   left   hand   start   to   pick   at   the   ones   on   his   right   just   for   a   brief   moment   before   he   mentally   scolds   himself   for   doing   so   .   so   ,   to   occupy   his   hands   ,   he   reaches   for   a   rock   and   begins   running   his   thumb   over   the   gentle   ridges   that   populate   its   surface   .   “   they   would’ve   liked   you   ,   y ’ know   .   my   mom   and   dad   .   ”   it’s   true   ——   his   mom   would   have   loved   sitting   and   talking   about   .   .   .   well   ,   whatever   girls   talk   about   and   his   dad   would   probably   try   to   teach   her   to   fish   if   she   didn’t   already   know   .   jack   sets   the   rock   down   and   turns   to   look   at   her   again   .   “   .   .   .   you’re   a   good   friend   to   me   ,   betty   .   i   mean   that   .   ”

      ❝ DO YOU….are you talking about twelfth night ? ❞

“   yeah   ,   that’s   the   name   .   .   .   i   think   i   lost   my   copy   .   ”