Bar times cont. (3)

“And how about you, Jack?” they both ask in unison looking straight at you.

“Well, when you left for college,“ you say nursing your drink and looking straight at Sydney, “Scarlet and me continued to hang out together until it was time for me to leave for college too. But it wasn’t the same without you.”

“Yeah,” Scarlet pipes up, “although Jack was nice to be around, he isn’t a fox you know.”

“So, you missed me. Both of you,“ states Sydney with a playful smile. “Well, to be honest, although I won’t deny it was nice to be among other foxes again I kind of missed you guys too.”

“So that’s why you were so glad to see me coming up the street.” You say as something clicks in your head.

“Like I said, signing up for the Esperanza Project was kind of a calculated risk with our DRC background that we might be able to get together again,“ says a pensive but smug looking Sydney. “Worst case scenario: I would get to travel to an apparently uninhabited island until now all expenses paid,” she continues while lightly swishing her tail. “So you left the DRC and went to a Kith college and then?” she concludes and returns the conversation back to you.

“Well, I have always been curious why I was who I was. I did consider Psychology because of how the mind works and personalities are formed or History to seek out my roots. But I’m not a history buff like Scarlet and I don’t like burying my nose in ancient texts. Although that last one may not be 100% accurate. Over the years I’ve come increasingly intrigued by the so-called Genesis Myth especially when I started to read about the scroll discovered by Kathy Mclaughlin and how genetic research confirmed the text at least for a part so far. But what really got me into Sociology is when I realized how it affected society and still is … I mean … just look at where we sitting.” you reply underlining your last statement with a sweep of your arms.

While listening to you an unbidden thought crosses Sydney’s mind “He missed me!” Clearing her head she says, “You're only a sophomore … so what gives?”

“Well,“ you start, “when you have grown up like we did at the DRC in the diversity of Kith, Kindred and Warrigal and then you are thrust back into the reality of a Kith only society it was quite a shock to say the least. It all felt so monotone and bland. And in contrast to Sydney although I was among others of my kind it didn’t feel home anymore … and I now wonder if it ever did…”

“And … I can guess the rest “ continues Sydney “ the moment you got the invite to the Esperanza Project you jumped ship. Or rather on the ship,“ she concludes with a smirk.

“Well” pipes up Scarlet between sips of her mocktail, “I guess I’m lucky the Project came along when it came along. I never had to face these conundrums one way or another.”

After everyone had finished their drinks and you were about to rise you hear someone deadpan, “For your info I’m zorilla not a skunk.” You roll your eyes and don’t even dare looking at the others lest you all burst out laughing.