She let out a groan, alternating her bespectacled gaze between the clock and Ira for maybe three minutes. “You done?” Her lace stocking’d leg jiggled in anticipation.
“No. And even if I was, it’s too early to go.”
“You guys are friends! He’s not gonna fucking mind.”
“Fifteen more minutes. At least.”
“…fucking lame.”
But she stayed put as Ira pulled on his socks and put on his shoes, though he earned an infuriated glare at the snails’ pace at which he purposefully did up his laces. He snickered; she grumbled under her breath to herself. But there were only so many things Ira could keep her waiting for, and when he set down the lint roller (more like cat-hair roller) and hesitated for just the slightest moment Ori shot up out of her chair. She seized Ira by the elbow, dragging him towards the front door. “That’s good enough, stop laughing at me and let’s fucking go!”
She paused only to grab the gift bag that she’d gotten for the Moorens and to allow Ira time to find his keys, and then all but shoved him out the door. The walk over to Spectrum was quick; Ira didn’t dawdle once they were outside. Without his blazer the early evening air was cold and he shivered unhappily as they waited for the crosswalk. It was worth the discomfort when Ori noticed and gave him a warm hug, which he returned as the light flashed white from the other side of the street.
And then they were up on the sixth floor of the apartment complex, Ira buttoning up his relinquished blazer and Ori rapping excitedly on the door. There was the scuttling of small footsteps, and both siblings exchanged a smile at the sound of a little girl’s voice. Alida? Ori mouthed, and Ira nodded, nudging Ori to reply.