New Divide

New Divide: 09

Upon entering the apartment, Charles quickly discarded his drenched coat. It was raining harshly outside. Not only did he have to use his satchel as a temporary umbrella, but he also found himself unfortunately getting splashed by cars which sped down the roads.

“Please, if I suggest going out – for whatever reason – do not let me. It is horrible out there! At least it's warm in here,” Charles said lightly while wiping stray water droplets from his face. He was well and truly soaked through. Despite him attempting to avoid getting battered by the rain, it failed. Pushing his rain soaked hair out of his face he looked around. It was silent, though silence was never a bad thing, it was never a wholly good thing.

Moving away from the door he looked towards the sofa. Margo sat cross legged, four books hanging in the air surrounding her. Every so often a page of one would turn, and she'd look to another and flick through several pages before nodding slowly. She leant her chin against her hands and slowly looked up at him.

“What are you doing?” Charles smiled and pulled his damp dark blue jumper over his head. He promptly dropped it on the dining table before rolling his shirt sleeves up and moving over. He was generally interested in her answer. Managing to manoeuvre around the books he sat down next to her. He leant forwards and looked over the pages she was on and let out a quiet thoughtful noise before crossing his arms. He quickly noticed the dictionary near by, this made him let out a quiet laugh.

“It's still raining?” Margo looked over the books to the window.

“It has been all day. Have you not noticed?” Charles asked while moving a pillow out of the way so he could fully lean back on the sofa.

“No.” At least she was honest. Slowly her eyes looked to him. “I've been reading.” She answered his earlier question with a rather obvious answer.

“Couldn't have chosen an easier subject?” He reached up to hold onto one of the books, it simply fell into his hands.

“You don't own anything that reads on a year five level.” Margo joked.

Charles shook his head and flicked quickly through the book. “I'm sure you're more capable than you think.” He looked to her. He was taking her joking rather seriously, especially considering the tone she used wasn't a joking one.

Margo smiled, “Mutation is a change in DNA. It affects how someone or something looks, behaves and general physiology...admittedly, I had to look this word up,” she smiled sheepishly.

“And what does it mean?”

“'The branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts. The way in which a living organism or bodily part functions'.” She recited with a light frown, at the end she smiled. Charles merely inclined his head and nodded smiling lightly. “So! If someone or somethings DNA changed, it'd cause changes in life.” Pausing she looked to him. “I do believe this is what you'd call: learning.”

“I do believe you're right.” Charles stood and decided that sitting around in damp clothes wasn't going to do him any favours. Placing the book he was holding on the cushion he was just sitting on he moved off.

“So...I read somewhere that mutations are essential to evolution. Seems your simple answer was also the answer which all these fancy books gave too.”

“Fancy books!” Charles laughed from somewhere else in the apartment, his head peeked around his door before he fully moved out of his room while rolling up a clean shirts sleeves. Placing his hands in dry trouser pockets, he stood in the doorway and looked to her. “You were expecting to discover something else?” He asked curiously while moving back to sit next to her. He collapsed back on the sofa and looked to her.