Puzzle 36

[hintcoinplz]

[Phone.]

I-I think something may be wrong with my voice. It keeps getting all squeaky- [and right on cue, Luke's voice cracks as he makes a high-pitched noise] -when I talk.

[He coughs and clears his throat, trying to make his voice sound deeper.]

I think I might be [and again his voice cracks] getting sick. [Another cough before Luke tries to make his voice deeper again.] I mean, I think I'm getting sick.

I-I think I'm going to just stay off the phones for a while. I've got a speech due in class tomorrow...

[Unfortunately for Luke, he's yet to realize that he's hitting puberty now.]

[Outside 726 Anderson Lane.]

[It's that time of year again - a set of pumpkins will suddenly appear on the porch of 726 Anderson Lane with a set of carving tools and a bucket nearby. Who's the culprit? Well, it's probably that boy rolling yet another pumpkin up the street, past the row of newer and smaller golems being built in the yard of 726 Anderson, and towards the porch.]

Comments

[Phone]

[questionauthority]

[Hmm. How curious.]

If worse comes to worst, I could always send in a note to explain your absence tomorrow.

[Oh, he knows perfectly well that there's nothing actually wrong with Luke. He just likes playing hooky. What a good puzzledad.]

[Phone]

[hintcoinplz]

Y-you will? That'd be great! I can't imagine giving [another high-pitched crack] s-speeches like this.

[questionauthority]

Think nothing of it, Luke. I'm sure my colleagues would understand.

[hintcoinplz]

Well hopefully whatever this is will be [squeak] gone in a few days.

[Ohhh boy, Luke has no idea.]

[phone]

[noluckduck]

[All you get from Clover is wild, loud laughter.

It does not stop.]

[phone]

[hintcoinplz]

It's not- [squeak] -funny!

[phone]

[noluckduck]

It totally fuckin' is!

You're not sick, dude. You're turnin' into a man!

Re: [phone]

[hintcoinplz]

...

How is sounding like a squeaky toy supposed to make me into a man?

[noluckduck]

It's kinda like a rite of passage, y'know? [Okay, she can't say that with a straight face. She's laughing again.]

726 Anderson

[bread_goes_bip]

Well you're certainly keeping busy.

726 Anderson

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke was just getting ready to sit down for some pumpkin carving, before he glances up and smiles at Death.]

Mhm! The town may be falling apart, but it doesn't mean I can't have a little bit of fun first.

Re: 726 Anderson

[bread_goes_bip]

Definitely. Make the most of it, whenever you can.

[Phone]

[a_clockwork_melody]

Aww, that's so cute. [Aurica might not be the age to go pinching cheeks yet, but she means what she says.]

[Phone]

[hintcoinplz]

It's not cute, it's embarrassing and I sound all funny!

[Phone]

[a_clockwork_melody]

Hehe, sorry, sorry. I don't think you're getting sick though, is there anything else wrong?

phone

[cursedtolive]

Sick? Were you staying up late a lot or something? It is getting chillier..

phone

[hintcoinplz]

I was out without a jacket the other day, so maybe that's it.

phone

[cursedtolive]

You could've caught a cold. It'd probably be good to drink some tea or soup.

726 Anderson

[inthebones]

I can step outside time at will and even I don't have time for this.

[Susan murmurs to herself as she eyes the stacks of pumpkins and golems.]

Can't he invest in practicing his common sense instead?

Re: 726 Anderson

[hintcoinplz]

[And here comes Luke, rolling another pumpkin up the sidewalk and towards the house.]

Hello, miss [squeak] Susan!

[inthebones]

Hello, Luke.

[It being autumn now, Susan has taken to wearing her cloak at all times. It made for more dramatic effect when crunching through the leaves.]

Do I dare ask where you're getting all of these?

[hintcoinplz]

The general store started selling pumpkins a couple days ago. I thought I'd bring some home.

[How he's getting them all home is another question. It's like he's saving up for these kinds of things...

He seat himself on the porch, with the pumpkin and carving tools at his feet.]

[inthebones]

I seem to recall having a conversation like this with you last year.

Try not to hurt yourself.

[hintcoinplz]

Mhm, I tried to explain pumpkin-carving to you and you thought it was weird.

[Luke picks up the marker, making an "hmm" sound as he tries to figure out what picture he should make out of it. He'll end up drawing a question mark on the pumpkin.]

I wonder how they're going to top pod people and space vampires for Halloween this year. If they can that is. Seems as though this town is starting to run out of juice.

[Phone]

[equinamity]

Oh, Luke.

...I'm not certain that a cold would make your voice change quite like this.

[Riza has been very down lately...so it might be a bit odd that she sounds like she's biting back a laugh on the other side of the phone.]