AURIC

Chapter 7: Adapting to Change

Micky

            In ancient Egypt, no Pharaoh could handle all of his duties alone. That's why he would appoint a chief minister called a vizier as a supervisor to assist him in all that needed to be done. Thinking about this role, I would imagine that Lance is like the Pharaoh's vizier. He is always helping out and making sure that order was kept in the home.

Today was no exception. It was a Saturday afternoon, the Pharaoh was at work and I had stopped by with Linda...something which had become very common. Linda was watching reality TV with Dustin and Junior while Lance was in the kitchen preparing meals ahead of time for next week. I commented on the garbage that reality TV was before leaving the couch and finding it more interesting to watch Lance.

"Do you need any help?" I offered, leaning against the door frame. He looked around before responding.

"It's alright, Micky. You can watch TV." He said. I found it really entertaining watching a man as ripped as Lance with his sleeves rolled up doing classical women's work.

"No, thanks. It's not my kind of program." I said, just before hearing laughter from Dustin, Linda and Junior. Something along the lines of What the hell? And, That's not good... And a cute, Ha Ha! Followed by the sound of a snapshot from Junior's Polaroid camera.

Lance chuckled while bringing out a pot from under the sink and setting it down.

"Me neither. Alright then, wash those hands and let's get to it." He ordered and I listened. From then on, after finding aprons in a drawer and making him wear one with me, I helped Lance prepare a big pot of chicken soup, baked potatoes, scrambled eggs and a mushroom stir fry. He really put the pressure on preparing such large portions so I wondered why that was.

"It's so much, are you sure?" I asked.

"We're guys, we eat more. Especially Junior and I cause we're E....uh..." Lance paused, "...we're eccentric with our physical activity...so we need to eat a lot more."

It's true that Lance eats enough for three Lindas. I thought it was because the guy was so buff from working with horses all day long and needed all that fuel to burn. But that didn't explain why Junior can sometimes keep up with the rest of us in terms of food...it made me suspicious all the more about the theory that they're...unreal.

"Not to mention Jordan comes around and he's got a big appetite as well, ha ha!" Lance added.

As we put all of the food into Tupperware's for storage, I observed Lance with his beany hat on over his ears as usual. I haven't ever seen the guy without it and every time I try to get close, he always avoids me and puts his hands over his head to keep it from coming off. Junior's ears were normal...but then, I never gave Junior pointed ears. I gave him a stuffed chameleon, which he did have. I think most people by now would accept my theory as fact, but it wasn't enough evidence for me. I wanted check mate, not check.

"You really like that hat," I started, hoping to convince him to remove it.

"Uh, yeah. It's my lucky charm." He said, putting a lid over some chicken soup. It's going to take several containers to store that whole pot.

"How's it lucky?" I asked, taking the container from him and starting to load the bottom shelf of the fridge.

"I don't know, I feel better when I have it on. It's just a habit, like the way girls are with their makeup, I guess." He said.

He looked genuine when he said that.

"Can I try it on?" I said gesturing for it and he dodged me.