My little brother wants to try character chatting. Please be patient with him.

Lucy lit up at his compliment, "Callie showed me how,"
Callie: I ruffled her hair a bit and took back my hot chocolate. "Like I said. She needs me."

Cricket: he smiled. "An' you need 'er, right? I can tell."

Callie: "Mmm." I nodded. "She is all I really have."

Cricket: he nodded, smiling warmly to himself. "You're lucky, y' know?"

Callie: "In some way's. Not so much in others." I stare into the remains of my lukewarm chocolate. "You take what you get, you know?"

Cricket: he nodded. "Oh, I know," he muttered, mostly to himself. Story of his life, right there. Take what you get, even if you don't get much.

Callie: I shook myself off, just ike rutine. "What's your family like?"

Cricket: the question caught him off-guard. "Good question," he said.

Callie: I cheweed on my cheek. "Never knew your parents I presume?"

Cricket: "I don't remember my mum, but as for Papa...have you ever known a stranger all your life? That's what it was like."

Callie: Lucy was tracing patterns in the wood of the table. I bit my lip. "Yeah..." I gave him a half hearted smile. "I'm sorry."

Cricket: "Nah, don' worry about it." He leaned back in his chair. "What about you? You've got parents, I presume?"

Callie: "Parent." I corrected, my eyes solemn. "We live with my mom. My dad... is, uh... he doesnt stay with us anymore. Not since Lucy." Luce perked up at her name. I made a note to censored the conversation.

Cricket: he smiled at Lucy, but turned serious again when his eyes turned back to Callie. "Tha's a shame," he said, "but if he was willing to leave 'is family, perhaps it's for the better."

Callie: My eye's pricked uncomfortablely. "Willing -is not the word I would use." I stopped myself. How could I tell him? A total stranger? ...How could I say it without Lucy knowing? She could never know. Not until she was old enough.

Cricket: his eyes flashed in a curious way. "My mistake. You don't 'ave t' tell me, if you don' want to," he said, guessing her thoughts.

Callie: "No no, no mistake. You didnt know. Not your fault." I wanted to tell him, but I didnt know how. So I said nothing more, but pushed more hair out of Lucy's face.

Cricket: he smiled weakly, feeling over the rim of his hot cocoa cup, studying her for a moment and trying to guess her thoughts. He was still curious, but then looked away as not to intrude.

Callie: I'm a suckish human being. Why cant I just keep one conversation without turning it into awkward silence like a normal person? I sighed and rested my head in my hands.

Cricket: awkward silence. That was just perfect. He blushed slightly. "Pardon. I'm not th' best at small talk."

Callie: I smiled, "Me neither. Dont feel bad."
Lucy was getting antsy. "I'm done." She said getting up to throw the plastic wrap from her cookie away.

Cricket: he peered into his cup. His hot chocolate had mysteriously dissapeared. "Me too," he said, and chucked the empty cup straight into the garbage, almost automatically. "Woops. Habit," he said, glad he didn't miss.

Callie: I laughed a little, "Not a problem." I told him, shrugging into my coat. "What're your plans for the day?" I asked him.

Cricket: "I like to improvise," He said with a slight smile, and stood up. "What 'bout you?"

(Hey, you're on! Haven't seen you in forever!)