The Reconfiguring

Ch. 3: Training

Phig sat back in his purple rolling chair. He rubbed his eyes from looking at the computer screen. He had been practicing sorting people for Entertainment. 'Entertainment....' There was only five days until it happened. His friends would be pampered and have the best time of their life for five days.

Then they'd die.

Phig refused to think about Bobonicle, Hankina, and Markocious. He could not break down and cry during Training. That would lower his profession score, and the chance of getting a good Draft sorter position. Finally, the bell rang which meant Training was over. He gladly grabbed his purple bag and slung it over his shoulder. All the Draft sorter Trainees filed out to the bus stop. They were all talking about what they would do the rest of the afternoon.

Phig, as usual, walked alone.

Until a neon purple-haired girl without a bag walked up next to him.

"So, are you excited for Entertainment yet? I'm not," the girl sAid. Phig glanced down at her, and she stared right back. He'd recognize those hazel eyes anywhere. Even if it had only been two days.

"Don? What are you doing here? Why is your hair purple? Is it a wig?" he heard that there used to be things called wigs that you'd put over your real hair.

"Whoa. Careful, fig-brain. One question at a time. Okay...I'm not wearing a wig, and I wanted to surprise you at work," she said, winking.

"Did you dye your hair?"

"No."

"Then why is it purple?"

"That's our little secret." 

Just then, the bus pulled up and everyone stepped on.

"Where did you get purple clothes?"

"I have my ways. Someone's inquisitive today." Phig wasn't sure what inquisitive meant, but he didn't want to sound dumb, so he took a seat on the bus and stopped talking.

"Okay," Don said, breaking the silence as she plopped down next to him, "I'm actually here to meet your mom to prove you're not a loner, which you kinda are, and to tell her about the Entertainment tickets."

"Yay. What I've always wanted. To introduce a girl to my mom. Super." Phig said sarcastically.

"I'll do most of the talking."

"Like always," Phig snorted. He looked over at Don and said: "I mean, okay. So how long is your hair going to be purple instead of black?"

"Until after Entertainment."

"Nice. Hey, here's our stop."

********************************

"Hi. I'm Donila. I just wanted to meet you so you knew Phig wasn't lonely and a TOTAL loser, and that we're going to Entertainment together."

"Well, I hope you two have fun together. I'll stay here and watch it on TV," Phig's mom said.

"Cool. Well, I'll get going then!" Don smiled, waved, and walked out the door.

"Phiganon, I'm so proud! You brought home a girl!" his mm exclaimed, hugging him.

"We're just friends mom, really."

"Whatever you say."

"I mean it, mom."

"Mmhmm."

"I'm leaving now."

"You'll be back."

"Fine, see you at dinner. I need to go for a run."