Welcome back listeners,
All ready for Chapter 2.
Make yourself comfortable.
Perhaps close your eyes and we'll continue.
The Advent of Smouse,
Chapter 2,
Earth.
Meanwhile on Earth,
Perched anxiously on stools at the bench in their large family room,
X and Perry are still trying to fathom out what has happened to Perry's laptop.
No matter what she tries,
Nothing reappears.
X can almost see the angry smoke rising from her as she stabs at the keys.
Patience and tolerance are not two of her virtues.
Two years her senior,
X has often had to extricate her from delicate situations.
She tends to speak and act before she thinks.
It's usually in response to some perceived insult or potential harm to animals,
Friends or family members.
Her intentions are good,
But her execution lacks finesse.
X,
A well respected gifted footballer who is bigger than most of his peers,
Frequently presents as her strong man.
In reality,
He is gentle and non-aggressive.
What's wrong with the stupid thing?
She snaps.
It's brand new,
One of Dad's latest models.
He won't be happy.
Someone will have to pay for this.
Their father,
Martin Black,
Is a forceful,
Very wealthy business tycoon who owns and runs a vast national chain of retail outlets specialising in a wide range of computers,
Tablets and phones.
His stores showcase the latest technology.
He's known as being blunt and ruthless,
But honest.
He is a perfectionist in everything he does and he expects his employees and his family to be likewise.
Nothing less than perfection is good enough.
X says nothing.
His sister is right.
Your father will not be happy.
It's best not to say anything when Perry is in this sort of mood.
Besides,
He is no expert on computers.
Not like Tamari next door.
Tamari is the eldest of the three Shiro children who live next door.
A picture of her flashes into his mind,
Causing him to blush.
She is petite,
Olive-skinned and almond-eyed.
He thinks she is beautiful.
Tamari is a computer whiz or,
According to Perry,
A computer nerd and is studying computer technology at the university.
Her father,
Taku,
Owns a small local computer store.
X hesitantly makes a suggestion.
Perhaps Tamari could help.
He steps back a little,
Expecting her to snap.
Instead she graces him with a wide smile.
Even though she considers herself intellectually superior to most,
Perry acknowledges talent when it's due.
Now why didn't I think of that?
You're not just muscle after all,
Dear brother.
It's the weekend,
So let's hope she's home.
Come on then.
She jumps up,
Gives him a sharp jab on the arm and,
Laptop in hand,
Rushes out of the room,
Down the stairs and out the front door,
Heading for the Shiro house.
X shaking his head at the unpredictability of his sister,
Obediently follows her.
The Shiro's house,
In contrast to the black's bold,
Modern two-story mansion of steel and glass with spectacular views across red cliffs to Port Phillip Bay,
Is a small,
Very old house,
Half hidden by ancient trees and creepers.
It is set in a beautiful,
Rambling garden that includes splendid raised vegetable beds and bountiful fruit trees.
The house,
Inherited by Tamari's father,
Has been lovingly restored by the family.
His wife,
Crystal,
A primary school teacher,
Spends most of her free time in the garden.
Unlike the black family,
The Shiro's are all keen environmentalists.
X and Perry are frequent visitors,
Enjoying the calmer,
More casual lifestyle of their neighbors.
Perry slams open the front gate to the Shiro house and races down the side path to the back garden where she finds Raz,
The Shiro's large,
Tan and white dog,
Asleep on the back doormat.
She curses out loud.
It means they're out.
Raz leaps up and bounds over to greet her,
Delighted to have some company.
Not today,
She growls at him.
Crestfallen,
He drops to the ground but bounces back up as X appears.
He nudges X under his knees.
Not home,
Eh,
Queries X as he bends down and fondles the dog's ears.
Don't state the obvious,
Perry snaps.
Raz is outside.
If they were home,
He'd be in with them.
I'll just have to sort it myself.
She turns sharply on her heel and storms back home.
X makes a wry face at Raz and shrugs.
It's just one of those days,
Mate,
He tells him.
X nonchalantly makes his way back through the garden with Raz ever hopeful at his heels.
Sorry,
Mate,
Gotta go now.
You know how it is.
He gives the dog one last pat before he leaves,
Making sure the front gate is secured.
Raz dejectedly wanders back to the mat at the back door.
X finds Perry in their father's study,
Impatiently firing up his main computer.
He studies her in amazement.
Their father would be outraged.
Perry catches his appalled frown.
I'm just having a look,
She hisses as the opening icons appear on the screen.
On your head,
Sis,
He replies and turns to leave.
I've got footy soon anyway.
He's halfway through the doorway when she explodes.
OMG!
It's the same!
He turns back sharply in time to see a small,
Vibrant,
Red zigzag ending in a flame-rimmed black hole zap across the screen of the computer,
Pulling all of the icons into its void.
Perry hastily switches the computer off.
White-faced,
She urgently pushes her brother out of the room,
Fearfully closing the door behind them.
Both have one thought.
What will their father do when he finds out?
And that's all for today.
Until next time,
Chapter 3.
