how sweet a love

“I’m just saying, that barista’s not a human - I’m just saying,” Myah held her hand up defensively before they could object - it wasn’t an insult, it was just true. “There was an extra lid under their eyelid when they blinked the other day, I saw that.” 

“I’m not entirely sure I understand what you mean,” Adele furrowed her brow. “I mean, they very much look human. I somehow doubt they’re a lizard disguised as a human,” she laughed slightly before looking back over at the barista. “Though, their hands were quite cold when they handed me my tea. Nearly chilled the mug.”

“A reverse princess and the frog could be interesting, but the name changing is bothersome” Majo said to the woman thinking of the way she would do it, but only thinking of shrek.

“And what’s the message of the book?” Majo asked sipping from her cup “is the pacing good?” she added another question, always curious of other people’s work.

“A reverse princess and the frog situation would be really great, if it were well written enough,” she nodded. “The message? Well, I’m not even sure. I think there’s a through line of the whole be yourself and you’ll succeed thing most kids books have but, again, it’s poorly executed and I’m still not sure I understand, especially as the pacing should have allowed the book to end much sooner than it appears to be ending,” she chuckled. 

Julian had found himself talking to the person across from him at the coffee shop. “What’s wrong with a magical lizard?” He took a small flask out of his pocket and poured its contents into his coffee.

Adele watched the person opposite empty the contents of a flask into their coffee. She decided not to make notice of it, everyone had their own morning routines -- who was she to judge? “I don’t have a problem with a magical lizard per say but I have a problem with the poor writing.”

Having lacked time to pack lunch the day before, Simon held no other option but to scout the city for something of interest. He had managed to find some sort of diner not too far from work itself, much to his favor, and nestled himself at a table in the further end of the room. However, he had barely glanced at the menu between his hands before a voice to his side caught his attention – sitting on the feeling she was merely speaking aloud – his tongue itching to add a comment of his own. “I don’t think my daughter would be able to pull that connection, honestly. I’m going to reckon you’re at least a little bit familiar with things such as Winnie the Pooh that has characters literally just named ‘Rabbit’ or that donkey named after it’s own sound. As long as it’s colorful and has something that rhymes they’ll eat it up.”

Adele looked over to the man near her and smiled. “I guess you’re right, but it doesn’t make it any less -- well, I guess the word I’m looking for is terrible,” she furrowed her brows. “I mean, I guess I don’t know enough children myself, but I’d assume they might want something more -- imaginative? At least Rabbit lives in the Hundred Acre Wood with Eeyore, Piglet, and the one and only Winnie the Pooh. All Lizzy has is a shit excuse for a sidekick character called Alvin the Alligator. If I’m honest, I prefer Alvin to Lizzy,” she returned her glance to the manuscript, “Alvin at least has a personality. A bit like Rabbit actually in that he’d much prefer if everyone leave him alone and finds Lizzy’s antics bothersome,” she smirked. “But, again, maybe I’m too far separated from kids to understand what kinds of characters they like.”

Finally breaking eye contact with her phone to stare over at the woman across from her at the park, her eyebrows narrowed at the comments that landed inside the open space between them. “How do you misspell your own character’s name?” she questioned, not caring one bit if the person would get annoyed by her interruption. “I mean, especially if that said name happens to by Lizzy.”

“I wouldn’t know how they’ve done it. Perhaps they’re a moron or don’t even want to read what they’ve written for themselves,” Adele chuckled at her, perhaps too mean joke at the expense of the author she would keep anonymous. “Lizzie with an IE, Lizzy with a Y, and Lizzi with just an I. I’m pretty sure I’m forgetting one. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they’re just testing out names -- but still. I shouldn’t -- and don’t want to -- have to read this mess.”

“Well, i don’t know, kids are smarter than most men I’ve met, more than most adults I’ve met” Majo said answering, fairly, a question who was clearly not made to be replied to, she was hearing the woman in the adjacent table talk to herself and found funny the comments she made, women were always cherished and loved by Majo.

“Point case, i think i would read the history of a magical lizard” she confessed drinking from her cup of coffee, something funny and easy to read was always nice for the morning.

“You’ve got a point there,” Adele chuckled. “I’ve been in relationships with both men and women who still use the bunny ears method to tie their shoes, so perhaps I’m expecting too much from this book,” she placed the manuscript down. “I wish I could give you a base summary of what I’ve read so far, but I’m not entirely sure I understand it. I guess Lizzy the Lizard, or Lizzie with an IE -- depending on the page, is on some sort of quest to find a castle where her friend has been taken? Her friend is, somehow, human. I can’t tell if it’s a reverse Princess and the Frog or what -- but I hate it.”