27- Xerondar

Dude.  Seriously.

GET.

A.

LIFE.

And that’s ME talking.

Xerondar laughed.  Over the past few weeks he’d gotten used to Fanzou’s dramatic way of starting conversations.  He certainly knew how to get his point across.  Xerondar took a sip of Dr. Pepper and bent over his laptop to respond.  And what exactly do you suggest I do?  He pressed enter and waited.  Seconds later he heard another soft ping sound from his laptop speakers.

What did you do all that time she was gone?  Mope around and dream up the creepiest ways to stalk her when she got back?

He choked a little on his drink and some of the fizzy liquid sprayed out of his nostrils.  That hurt.  Xerondar reached for a napkin to wipe off the computer screen, then wiped the sticky stuff off of his nose and chin.  He thought for a moment before he replied.  Mostly I just attended classes.

Yeah I noticed.  Your transcripts are ridiculously impressive.

At this point Xerondar wasn’t even surprised that Fanzou had seen his transcripts.  Was there anything this man didn’t have access to?  Well I had a lot of time on my hands.

And you still do.  Come on, man.  You didn’t pick up a century’s worth of college credits just to walk around the neighborhood spying on a toddler all day.

Xerondar sighed.  Well, he was right about that.

You can’t even talk to her for another 10 or 12 years.  What’s the point?

He sat back and took another sip of his Dr. Pepper.  It was true that she wouldn’t be awakening for another decade or so.  But still.  I’ve missed her.  Surely you can understand that?

Of course.  We all have those feelings.  You think I don’t miss Xiaoli?  I think about her all the time.  I’m going to want to see her every day when she gets back.  But I won’t.

Xerondar rolled his eyes.  Sure, he wouldn’t.  It was easy to talk like that, when Xiaoli wasn’t even in the world yet.  Why not? he replied.  If you have a chance to see her, why wouldn’t you?

One word: DIGNITY.

I still have mine.

Xerondar frowned.  He wasn’t really that bad, was he?  It wasn’t like he was camped out in front of her house or anything.  And he’d been keeping his distance.  Waving from the porch every morning instead of asking to hold her actually took a lot of restraint.  Of course, he only did that because too much close contact so early would be dangerous for her.

You’re right, he typed.  Maybe I do need to back off a little.  Perhaps he could sign up for some classes somewhere.  There were a couple of universities in town.  And a new mixed martial arts place had just opened up down the street.

Ya think? Fanzou sent back.  You could always come down here for a few months.  Sao Paulo is really beautiful this time of year.  We could hit the beaches.  I could really use a tan.

Xerondar smiled.  Fanzou probably spent every minute hunched over a computer in a windowless room every day while the rest of Brazil played in the sun right outside his door.  He could just picture it.  No, he replied.  I can’t go that far away from her.  What if something happens and she needs me?

The whole point is to get away from her.  She’s an infant.  She’ll be fine.

Sure she would be fine.  Wasn’t that what people always said right before disaster struck?  I don’t know, he sent.  It would feel like I’m abandoning her.  It wouldn’t be right.

Everybody does it sometimes.  You know Mila was born in Japan a couple years ago, and that same day Alexei got on a plane for South Africa.  He hasn’t even seen her once.

South Africa, huh?  Xerondar could easily guess which city.  So that kid was still up to his same old tricks.

Grushilde’s in Australia and she’s almost 15 now, and Karl’s still chilling in Switzerland like nothing’s up.

Xerondar didn’t know much about Karl.  He belonged to one of Shepetheleh’s followers.  Don’t think I’ve met him.

The point is you need to get out more.  DO something besides sit at home and pine over the little drool machine like a lost puppy.

Okay you’re right, Xerondar conceded.  I’ve been acting pathetic.

So you’ll come?

Come where?  Brazil?  Had he actually been serious about that?  Xerondar thought for a minute before he responded.  I’ll think about it, he sent.  He looked at his watch and glanced up the street.  For now, I have to go.

Time to wave at the baby?

Xerondar laughed.  Yeah, he admitted.

Lol okay.  Later, man.  Think about my offer.

I will.