It was one of those lazy afternoons in the Mystery Shack. Rain pattered gently against the windows, casting a peaceful vibe over the whole place. Mabel had declared it the perfect day for a trip down memory lane and had pulled out the family photo albums, intent on showing Pacifica every embarrassing picture of me she could find.
Pacifica sat cross-legged on the living room floor, flipping through pages with an amused smile. Mabel sat next to her, pointing out each picture with glee.
“And here’s Dipper at six years old, dressed as a robot for Halloween!” Mabel giggled, pointing at a picture of me in a tin foil costume, my face smeared with chocolate from the candy.
“Oh, wow!” Pacifica laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. “You were adorable, Dipper!”
I was lounging on the couch, a pillow clutched over my face in a futile attempt to hide my embarrassment. “Come on, Mabel. Do we really have to go through all of these?”
“Absolutely,” Mabel declared, beaming. “Pacifica deserves to know all the hilarious details.”
Pacifica turned the page and burst into laughter again. “Is that you in a kiddie pool? With floaties and everything?”
I peeked out from behind the pillow, my cheeks burning. “Yep. That’s me, the fearless swimmer.”
Pacifica’s laughter was infectious, and despite my embarrassment, I found myself chuckling too. “Oh my God, I was such an ugly kid!”
Pacifica shook her head, her laughter fading into a soft smile. “You weren’t ugly, just… very dorky.”
“Gee, thanks,” I said, rolling my eyes but unable to suppress my grin.
Mabel jumped up, eager to dig out more dirt. “Wait here! I’m gonna get the other album with our baby pictures!” She dashed off, leaving Pacifica and me alone with the open album.
Pacifica flipped through a few more pages, quieter now. I watched her, wondering what she was thinking as she studied each picture.
Finally, she looked up at me, a playful glint in her eyes. “Don’t worry, Dipper. You’re definitely not ugly now.”
Her words caught me off guard, and I felt my face heat up even more. I laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of my head. “Uh, thanks. I guess I grew out of it.”
Pacifica closed the album and moved to sit beside me on the couch. “Seriously, though, you were a cute kid. And now… well, you’ve grown up a lot.”
I met her gaze, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. There was a moment of silence between us, one that felt loaded with unspoken thoughts.
“Thanks, Pacifica,” I said finally, my voice a bit more serious than usual.
She shrugged, a faint blush on her cheeks. “Just telling the truth.”
Before the moment could stretch into something even more awkward, Mabel returned, arms laden with more photo albums. “Okay, ready for round two?”
Pacifica leaned back, her composure back in place. “Absolutely!”
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of laughter and nostalgia. Mabel delighted in showing off every silly moment of our childhood, and Pacifica seemed to relish each new revelation.
By the time we closed the last album, the rain had stopped, leaving the world outside fresh and bright. Pacifica stayed for dinner, the tension from before replaced with a more relaxed camaraderie. I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the rainy day that had given us the chance to connect, even if it had come at the expense of my dignity.
