I’ve written another little thing set in Lectorel’s Patience verse. Not sure why, but the scenes seem to be fixated mostly in the past as well as during Christmas time, similar to the last Patience verse drabble I wrote. In this one, though, Patience is twelve-years old and has just gotten her very first smartphone.
The format is different here, because the idea came to mind that Patience would want to experiment with the phone’s built in video camera. So I wrote it in a semi-script-like format.
I really hope I did well by Patience again, Lector.
Enjoy.
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V-LOG Entry: PJS-001
LOCATION: Home
DATE-TIME: 12/25/20xx - 16:42PM
A 12-year old fair-skinned, blue eyed girl appears on the video screen. She is wearing what looks like a cashmere white sweater over a black mock turtleneck shirt. The appearance of a pre-teen girl’s bedroom is behind her. When she speaks, it’s with obvious delight.
PATIENCE: Hi future self and/or family! This is me, Patience Janson-Summers, recording her very first V-LOG with the brand new smartphone Mom and Dad got me for Christmas! I have the best parents EVER!
From offscreen, a warm male voice catches Patience’s attention.
TIM: You haven’t even had the phone for more than an hour, and you’re already chatting up your friends?
PATIENCE: Oh, hi Dad. I’m not talking to my friends.
TIM: Then who—?
PATIENCE: I’m starting a V-LOG.
The girl turned the phone’s camera around, so Tim was on the screen. He was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest, looking very paternal as he watched Patience over the tops of his glasses.
TIM: Really? You’re not planning on putting it online, are you, because if you are your mother and I will need to discuss—
PATIENCE: Oh, it’s not gonna be online, Dad.
TIM: Just a video journal then?
PATIENCE: Something like that.
TIM: Mm-hmm… Ok, little girl, spill.
PATIENCE: What?
Tim made a motion with one hand.
TIM: Ulterior motive. Give it up.
PATIENCE: Oh Daddy—
TIM: Patience…
PATIENCE: *sigh* In school, before break, our teacher had us all write letters to our selves, ten years in the future. I kinda liked the idea of recording messages for myself and my future family so that… well…
TIM: Well?
PATIENCE: Well… so that when I have kids and if I start doing weird not-normal family stuff with them, I have proof that it’s because of the way you and mom raised me…
The dark haired man raised an eyebrow at the camera.
TIM: ”Not-normal?”
A slightly pained expression flickered across Tim’s face, but despite trying to mask it, Patience knew her father well enough to catch it.
PATIENCE: Not in a bad way, Daddy! I didn’t mean it like that.
The video screen jostled around as the phone was tossed onto the bed. Eventually it settled at an odd angle, partially catching sight of Patience hugging her father.
PATIENCE: I love our family and all the stuff you and me and Mom do all the time. But even you have to admit that a lot of it really is not-normal.
Tim’s expression is soft as he strokes his little girl’s hair, a small contented smile tugging at his lips.
TIM: Like?
PATIENCE: Dad… Do I even need to bring up the way Mom makes “fruit salad”?
Father and daughter stared at each other for a moment before Tim couldn’t help but chuckle.
TIM: Alright. Point made.
He planted a kiss on the top of her head before letting Patience go.
TIM: Wrap up your V-Log and then get yourself downstairs. Your uncles will be here any minute, and you know they will want your undivided attention.
Patience beamed at him as she watched him head out of her room. Then she went over to her bed, picked up her phone, and looked straight into the camera.
PATIENCE: Hmmm… I guess one day I’ll have to explain the whole “fruit salad” thing. It’s actually a lot of fun, but it really is not normal. But that’ll hafta wait for another day. Laters!
And the screen winked to black.
