Tweak: “Why didn’t you tell me she was coming to see us??”

Me: “She didn’t come to see us, she came to see YOU.”

Tweak: “But I YELLED at her!”

Me: “Tweak, you yell at everybody.”

Tweak: “I forgot to use my inside voice.”

 

Tweak is agonizing over her social awkwardness after last night’s surprise visitor. She is pouting on the night stand in the shape of a sad meatloaf.

 

Me: “So what did you guys do while I was gone?”

Tweak: “We took a nap.”

Me: “And then what?”

Tweak: “And then we took another one.”

 

Tweak scans the floor for redemption, lays her head on her cotton ball feet.

 

Me: “And did you eat?”

Tweak: “She found an ice cream sandwich in the freezer. She let me bite some.”

 

Tweak picks her head up, remembering.

 

Tweak: “Then she poured nurdles into my bowl. All the way to the top.”

Me: “So it was the perfect date.”

 

Tweak jumps off the nightstand, tail high and proud. Recovered.

 

Tweak: “I thought you said dating was hard?”

Me: “Not if you have the right partner.”

Tweak: “Isn’t this where you’re supposed to be funny?”

Me: “You don’t think this is hilarious? My inside voice is roaring.”

 

Tweak struts over to her food station, peers into her bowl. It’s full of memories.

 

Tweak: “I know how you could make your dates better.”

Me: “How?”

Tweak: “You could yell more.”

 

 

25 June 2014, “Tolerating Tweak.”