Chapter Nine
Happy Birthday Richard!Richard: Thanks Watcher. You know, considering I'm aging to elder today I feel like I look pretty good.
The question is more how you look afterwards...Hey Aiden. Bad day at school?Aiden: Yeah! I made a really cool project and the teacher gave it a B just cause some other kids looked better. He didn't even do much work on it, he just covered it with sparkles at lunch.
Eh, don't worry too much about it. You're still doing fine in school.Eliza: You wouldn't be sending pictures to that boy in your class would you?
Kat: Well yeah, he's cute.
Eliza: Of course. I'm going to play a game of Blicblock, want to join in?
Kat: Nah, I want to do some laps around the pool.
Arianna: So whats high school like?
Kat: Pretty much like grade school, only a lot more reading. Look at how thick this book is! And it's only one out of six.
Aiden: Why'd you change into PJ's already?
Kat: Cause they're comfy, duh.
Eliza: Don't be mean sis. Here, check this out...
Liz: So first, you don't want to keep a constant color. Mixing the paints together by hand as you work will cause your shades to be slightly different, which actually makes a painting look better overall. You just can't have too much variation is all.
Richard: Very good Liz! You're learning quick.
Robyn: Well, looks like it's time. Happy birthday dear.
Richard: Gah! I'd almost forgotten the back thing...
Kat: Ugh, school is so annoying. When I tell the teachers that I already know what we're learning in class, they just say "Well this will help you to remember it in the future" or "Practice makes perfect", blah blah blah.
Kat: Still, I'm pretty proud of where I'm at with my grades though. Got my A already!
Robyn: Which is exactly what should happen with how smart you are. Right Arianna?
Arianna: Um... Yes mom.
Robyn: I know it's hard having to do work you've already got a firm grasp on, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.
Arianna: Maybe you can study other stuff when you get done with your work for the class? That's what I do while I'm waiting for the other kids to finish.
Kat: *stretches* That wasn't a bad movie. I enjoyed it anyways.
Robyn: I've seen it way too many times, it bored me to tears. I'm going use the gaming pad.
Kat: Enjoy your swim?
Eliza: I did! I didn't really like swimming as a kid cause I couldn't touch the bottom, but now that I can it's much more fun. I like just floating in the water and feeling like I'm weightless. Hey dad, want to play some chess?
Richard: Hm? Oh sure, go set up the board and I'll join you shortly.
Richard: So why the sudden interest in chess?
Eliza: Well there's a chess club at school, and a few of my friends are in it. I want to join, but I also don't want to lose all the time.
Robyn: Well you probably shouldn't have chosen to play against your father then.
Richard: Now sweetie, don't say that, she'll get discouraged. But yeah, you probably should have chosen someone else to practice with.
Richard: Checkmate.
Eliza: Wait, what? Again? Ugh, I thought I was getting better...
Richard: You are, but chess really isn't a game you pick up in a couple hours. Go grab the Logic book I wrote off the shelf, there's a section in there for chess. If you want you can take it to school and read it there, it's got a bunch of good tips on how to play.