- It was a lazy Sunday morning in the bakery. The cases were filled with fresh, still warm to the touch, doughy goodness. Despite a wall between himself and the kitchen, Tough could feel the heat of the stoves in the back radiating through. Yawning, he stretched and eyed the empty lobby. It would be filled quickly. Sunday was a slow start, but right about 10-11am, the phonyland customers would trickle in and start to order goodies and drinks.
Tough was considering finding a book, to wait out the dull period, when the chime of the door broke his consideration. In walked a couple, their eyes wide as they observed the goods. With a straight back, he tried to put on his most friendly (ie not stern) face and waited for them to order. Minutes past. They were still whispering and pointing, occasionally making frantic eye contact with Tough before looking back at the board with clear written prices. More minutes trickled by and Tough was starting to wonder if they would ever order. Then, peculiarly, the two seemed to be debating between one another. Their fingers pointed at their own chests and then the others, the female of the two shaking her head in exasperation. With a sigh, the male nodded and approach.
"H-hello." His voice was thick with an accent, and he struggled to order the nessecary things. Tough nodded and politely let the man take his time, giving him a reassuring nod when he said something right.
"Your total is twenty even." The man sighed in relief and for the first time Tough noticed the beads of sweat collecting on his brow. The woman giggled and began to speak, but ... Woah, what was that? Tough was about to bag their order when a burst of sound came from her mouth, all unintelligble. It wasn't as if he hadn't heard a foreign language before, but it was... Well it FELT like the first time.
After their things were bagged and paid, the couple waved and left the bakery. Tough was shocked, and he couldn't understand why. Because not everyone spoke the standard Phony dialect? He was aware of this fact. Or was it the way they had seemed nervous and skittish to order. A frown tugged at his face. Was it... Intimidating to speak another language you had not grown up with?
So much of his life had changed and rapidly. He had learned to be Honest gently with Royal We, learning that there was a difference between honesty and brutal honest. He had learned to Laugh with both Tsunami Waves and Just Lance. Lance he learned to laugh at himself, and Tsunami he learned to laugh at circumstances and relax. Loyalty had come at the price of his poor tongue... Eurgh. That was the last time Dude Food fed him mystery snacks. With Wildflour, he had learned to be Generous, not only with material goods, but also with his time and ideals. Finally, with Sugar Petal, he had learned Kindness by taking the time to talk to his sister and trying to help her.
Actually, of all the moments, talking to Sugar Petal had solidified some of his feelings. He wanted to be a tutor like his Da, but.... What would he want to teach? That was still undecided.
At least it had been.
That couple had seemed worried and nervous, probably about being misunderstood. If he was in their shoes, wouldn't he too? If only he had known what language they were most comfortable in, maybe they would have felt better? That was when it clicked.
Tough Talker would become a tutor/teacher of foreign languages. He'd need to learn some for himself and study hard, but he had no doubt he could do it. A sense of relief and purpose washed over him, making him stand just a little taller.
