Boo!

Sven walked obediently at his side, tail wagging furiously as he looked around at all the people milling around the sidewalk. It was Kris who spotted a familiar face among the crowd first. It had been a couple of months since he’d taught her the basics of rock climbing. “Uh….Izzie?” He wasn’t the best with names unless he talked to someone multiple times. “How’s the, uh, hunt for exercise going? Been back to the rock climbing gym?”

At the sound of her name, Izzie spun away from the storefront where she’d been arguing with herself over whether or not to buy the yellow jacket.  Spotting the man and his dog, she gave a cheery grin.  “Hey, Kris!” Slipping easily around a couple of chattering people, she walked over to him. “Who’s your friend?” Holding out her hand for the dog to sniff, she nodded at the man. “Yep, been several times, but somehow never spotted you.  And I’m doing good - you?”

“A little birdie named Artemis told me that you would be a fun companion for a night out. Is she right?”

Izzie’s eyebrows rose as she turned to the other.  “Artie rarely makes mistakes,” she replied, curiosity filling her dark eyes.  “Just depends on your definition of ‘fun’.”

“See, I can be a good influence.” She can be a bad one too, but Artemis chose to hide that from most people. Or at least she tried her best to. “Will you let me skip the club this time? I mean I am willing to go but I’d like to know if there was a possibility that I don’t.” She extended her hand as if to seal the deal. “You got yourself a deal.”

“I knew that - it’s others that don’t always get it.”  Izzie grinned at her friend.  “And as long as you’re skipping it because you want to or need some quiet ‘you’ time, then yes.  If something else is wrong and you’re not telling me, I’m going to be very unhappy.”

Milo nodded, he was glad about the fact that she was just startled and that he he hadn’t given her a fright. He smiled when she sat down beside him, “I tripped on my own two feet which is something I’m prone to doing, one of the perks of being clumsy.” He said with the latter being said more sarcastically.

“Better that than tripping over thin air,” she pointed out, her smile turning into a quick laugh.  “At least you tripped over something.  I can trip over thin air without a single other thing being present.” She shrugged.  “Usually its because I’m not paying attention to where I’m putting my feet.”

“That sounds like quite the energy drink,” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Hmm, I mean, sometimes the pleasures in life aren’t the best for us, but if it gives us a little bit of happiness, why not?” Tigger responded with a shrug. “I don’t think she’d mind it, she’s pretty lax about things like these. I’m just worried I’ll be really homesick mid-performance and get misty-eyed.” 

“As people keep telling me - everything in moderation.” Izzie put on a mock serious face, but she couldn’t keep it up, her smile breaking over her face.  “It’s kind of like time - what’s the quote?”  She hummed for a moment.  “Oh! Right!  Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.  I love that one.”  Then she tilted her head.  “So . . . maybe do a gig, go see the sister, and then come back to another gig?”

“You really need to stop being a lazy butt when it comes to school.”, Artemis pointed out before taking a spot next to Izzie on her bed. This was the last day of their vacation and she did not mind spending it just like that. “Good. Let’s go have one today then. It might help you.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” She chuckled as she rolled her eyes.  “Pretty sure this is why big brother likes you being my best friend,” she pointed out.  They’d just ignore the trouble side.  “So, spa day and maybe some club time?  Then we can do the whole calendar thing to make sure I build in study time around the parties, okay?”

“Oh! I got just the idea! Why don’t y’all come on over and, when I find my cane sugar, and I know I will ‘cause I’m about as stubborn as a lion in the middle of the savanna,” She began, “I’ll make ya some homemade sweet tea and compare the sugars.” 

“Sure!” Izzie agreed, mostly amused now by the woman’s emphatic opinions.  “That sounds . . . intriguing.”  Why turn down a free drink, even if it was just sweet tea?  “Just let me know when and where.”

MINI CHALLENGE 008 - WARDROBE MUST HAVES

“Heavens no! Cane sugar’s much more pure than granulated sugar. You use granulated sugar to make cookies and cake, but if you wanna make sweet tea, pure cane sugar,” Lottie rattled on for a moment. “The day The Teacup makes actual sweet tea will be the day I won’t be called Miss Charlotte Louise LaBouff, darlin’.” 

“Ah . . . okay?”  Izzie smiled, but she could feel the uncertainty in her expression.  She doubted she could have told the difference between one type of sugar or another . . . And sweet tea was sweet tea, wasn’t it?  “In that case, I’m not sure I can help.”

“Ooh, I heard they were really good too, but I’ve yet to try it,” Tiggs responded with a bright grin. “It’s a bit of a toss up at the moment, I dunno why. Usually all my sister says is ‘going home on a book tour’ and without hesitation, I go, but this time, I dunno…I just feel like I’ve been inspired by a lot these last few months that I’ve compiled all these thoughts down and brought music into it.” 

“Chocolate, coffee, and caffeine,” she giggled.  “It’s hard to think that might be bad.”  Tilting her head in consideration, she spread her hands.  “I can see the debate, but . . . I mean . . . I guess the question is - how upset will your sister be?  Or will she be totally cool with it?”

“Ever since I got back from NOLA, I’ve just had such a hankerin’ for some sweet tea and of course, it ain’t the same here as it is at home and I’ve been lookin’ everywhere for some pure cane sugar,” Lottie sighed with exasperation. “Does anyone in this town know where I can find some?!” 

"That’s not just regular sugar?” Izzie blinked. Somehow she got the feeling she was missing something in the conversation.  “And the Teacup doesn’t have the right kind of sweet tea?”

“On one end, I can go home and enjoy a bit of the cold and the rain while my sister goes on her book tour…on the other end, I could stay here and book three more gigs at The Teacup…” Tiggs thought aloud to himself as he mulled back and forth between the plane ticket that was given to him versus his song book. “This…is going to be hard..” He trailed off. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve rambled too much already, how are you?” He asked the person in front of him. 

“Hey, no problem.”  Izzie shook her head, eyes opening wide in reassurance.  “I’m enjoying my iced mocha, so feel free to ramble.”  She took another sip and tilted her head.  “And I can say I’m not going to be able to help you because I’d love to see the performance - which is totally selfish - but as the baby sister, I’m all about the family thing too.”