I have discovered a new method of keeping Brooke and Morgan close from a distance. Alivia told me about it, and initially I was extremely confused—no, I will be truthful. I am still very confused. But it seems to be working. It is called sexting.
“Young humans seem to enjoy pushing two words together,” Alivia noted. “So, sex and texting.”
“How are these two things related?” I asked.
She only laughed. “Suggest it to your charges and see what they think.”
So, wary though I was to take Alivia’s advice—she has shown a great deal of interest lately in the human practice of pranking[1]—I did exactly that.
Brooke was in the middle of a very dull meeting when I found her. The air conditioner[2] in the meeting room they were using was not working as well as it should, and it was very hot. She was looking for something to distract her from the heat, and so it was easy to suggest that she message Morgan.
Dull meeting, she wrote, trying to look like she was taking notes on her phone. AC not working. So hot.
In New York, I found Morgan still at breakfast, sitting in her pajamas with her feet curled under her. Her mouth full of cereal, she nearly choked when I made the suggestion Alivia had recommended. But then she grinned and set down her spoon.
Yeah u are, she replied.
On receiving the text, Brooke barely managed to cover her astonishment with a cough. Waving away a concerned glance from her neighbor, she turned her attention to the phone, where she had another message.
Are you sweating?
Smiling to herself, Brooke answered in the affirmative.
Where?
From there I believe I should not continue to relay the conversation, in order to preserve their privacy. I was rather confused and a bit embarrassed, I admit, unsure as to whether I should leave them alone for this. The exchange was subtle enough that of the other people in the room with Brooke, none seemed to notice anything except her mild distraction. Meanwhile she and Morgan were discussing things that I was not quite sure to be possible, before today. It certainly was educational.
The important thing is that it has warmed them both in a way that does not have anything to do with air conditioning. The distance between them now feels a bit smaller, and so thank you, Alivia.
This does not mean, however, that I trust you entirely. You have too much mischief on your spirit lately.
[1] This is deliberate mischief leveraged against another person. Some of the pranks, as they are called, are harmless, but sometimes they can get quite cruel. I am certain Alivia would never be part of the latter; I am less certain as to her willingness to participate in the former.
[2] A device that cools the air, quite necessary for a hot summer.