Chapter ~6~ [Video]

[imhisaunt]

Hello, everyone. 

[Delmar's smiling, though its a bit distant. He's lost in thought mostly, mind wandering elsewhere, somewhere among old New York tenement houses and the chilly winter waters along Rockaway.] 

I just realized that, um, that with how long I've been here, I'm probably 64 by now. Isn't that strange? Or...or maybe that isn't so strange...maybe I should have thought of that sooner.....

[His voice trails off, a little embarrassed, but after a moment he clears his throat and starts again]

It just made me think about how many of us miss birthdays and all those special occasions from back home because we're here. So I just wanted to wish everyone who has missed their birthdays too a belated happy birthday and to say that...that once Hope is recovered and the bakery has more ingredients, I'll make a birthday cake every day so that at least there will be something to make it a little special...

[He's not had a birthday party since he was a small child but he had always hoped to throw them for a special someone or for nieces and nephews. Delmar had had visions of little cone hats and baking cakes some someone could blow out the candles. Life hadn't gone that way, but at least maybe here it could, if only in a small way] 

And, um, well that's all I wanted to say. Have a good day, everyone. 

Comments

[toiletseat_girl]

The shops have gotta have toothbrushes and toothpaste. I found a toothbrush not long after I came here. Had to use baking soda to brush with which was nasty but eventually toothpaste showed up.

[brushing solves everything!]

Yeah? Have any big plans for it?

[imhisaunt]

You are very good for being so responsible.A lot of young people are not so careful when it comes to hygiene.

[Something he's never really understood. Aside from when he had to be dirty from working in the family shop, he had always been meticulous about being clean and neat]

Oh no. I never really do anything for Halloween.

[After all, the neighborhood parents tend to walk their kids past his house anyway. He's not the sort they want their kids interacting with, apparently.]

[toiletseat_girl]

Well, I dunno if I technically need to be since, you know. Grim Reaper healing. But I figure it's a good idea to brush, even if it's to get the nasty taste out of my mouth when I wake up.

[George has self esteem that can be measured in negative digits, but she's not about to inflict morning breath on everybody. that would be gross]

Really? Did you at least get to go trick or treating when you were a kid? 'Cause that's a lot of fun. You get candy and you get to see the inside of other people's houses.

[if she knew, she'd be pissed. Delmar seems like the most genuinely nice person she's ever met and he deserves people being nice back]

[imhisaunt]

Not really, the neighborhood where I grew up couldn't really afford things like candy or sweets. But sometimes we'd make silly costumes out of what we could find in the house and if she could find the money for it our mother might make us toffee apples.

[It was rare, but the handful of times it happened are cherished memories]

Did you always dress up?

[toiletseat_girl]

[well, now she feels awkward]

...oh. I, uh, didn't know that. That sucks. [and she tries for a smile] But, it's good that you guys were able to dress up sometimes and get toffee apples.

[George led a much easier life in comparison]

Yeah, always. It was never anything creative or something. I usually went as a ghost. The candy was great, don't get me wrong, but the best part was seeing into other people's houses.

[imhisaunt]

[Unlike George, Delmar finds nothing awkward in it. That was just how things were for most families at the time. Parents and kids had to work unless you were very fortunate. Delmar had always had what he needed: food on the table, school clothes, a roof over his head... he had never gone wanting, it was just that there had never been anything extra. But it was always the same for the neighbors, so he and his siblings had rarely felt like they were missing out on anything]

Were there lots of nice houses where you grew up?

[toiletseat_girl]

[call it middle class guilt. her father was a professor at UDub, her mother was a legal secretary. she never had to worry about money until she died. then, she was forced into the workforce to earn the money for rent and food which was quite a shock to her system. she'd suppose that it's different if you're surrounded by people in similar circumstances, but her neighborhood was firmly middle to upper middle class]

Yeah, a few. Beatrice Lane was in a good neighborhood, so people usually went all out on candy and decorations.

[imhisaunt]

Beatrice Lane? That's a lovely name. Where was it?

[toiletseat_girl]

It was in a suburb of Seattle. Close enough to get to the city in less than twenty minutes, but far enough away that you didn't have to worry about city things.

[imhisaunt]

I have heard Seattle is very beautiful. What is it like?

[toiletseat_girl]

It rains a lot? But it's near the ocean and the mountains, so that's nice? I don't know much about the museums and parks and other stuff, though. When I was alive, I was busy--avoiding people and places and places that might have people. When I was dead, I was too busy chasing after reaps.