An Excerpt from a Writing Project

​From The Magic Video Game 4: The Upbringing of a New Comedian

​Levi was lying in bed for the longest time. He noticed that Duchess was lying at his side. And he wasn't quite sure where Prussia was at the moment. He was lying on his stomach, trying to figure out when he'd want to get out of bed. It might be a good idea to get out of bed when pigs can fly.

People have been trying to figure out when pigs can fly. It should have been over ten years ago, but alas. Pigs can most definitely fly. That is, for sure, a given. However, no one has ever figured that out. Not Levi nor his family. Not Levi nor his friends. And most certainly not Marty the Polar Bear nor his comrades from Wakahakai, a supposedly fictitious island by Hawaii. But, pigs can fly if they set their minds to it. Then, they can go places. Quite literally, too.

Then, Levi thought that it would be a great idea to get out of bed. He was hoping to do something today. The sun was up, and it was supposed to be a nice day out. Levi wanted Olivia and Evelyn Maeve to do something with him as well. And he knew for sure that at least Olivia would try to go along with what he'd want to do.

Levi got ready for the day, which didn't take him much more than fifteen minutes. Then he came downstairs and did the usual. He made himself a sandwich and ate that as quickly as possible. Then, he wanted to announce to Olivia what his plan for the day entailed. He had the whole today at his feet. He and his sisters had the now at their feet. Levi wanted to be sure that Olivia was okay with what they were doing. He wanted to know for sure that she didn't have other plans. But he was more than confident to explain what he wanted to do today.

"I wanna just walk around downtown," Levi remarked to his older sister when he finally saw her.
"That sounds like a lot of fun since we don't really have much else going on today," Olivia stated.
"It's 9:30 in the morning."
"Dude, what time did you wake up?"
"8:50. I am so proud of myself," Levi replied.
"Oh yeah? Since you have never been able to wake up that early?" Olivia stated.
"Yeah, unless it was for school or something like that."
"Did you need an alarm by any chance?"
"I didn't sleep through it today, strangely enough."
"What time did you have your alarm set to?"
"Nine o'clock."

Good thing they didn't have much else going on today. At least Olivia was cool with being out on the town for the day. And Evelyn Maeve would most likely feel the same way. And Levi could invite Rhody to join them since he knew for a fact that he wasn't busy. But he was more than certain that he wouldn't be awake at this hour.

Levi was sitting in the common area playing some video games before they explored downtown for the day. The cats were not with him. They were probably still up in his room sleeping. And Evelyn Maeve noticed her brother on the couch. She definitely wanted to get his attention.

"You're up, Levi?" Evelyn Maeve questioned.
"You seem very surprised," Levi said.
"I am very surprised."
"Okay. We will leave it at that."
"What time did you wake up?" Evelyn Maeve asked.
"Ten minutes before my alarm," Levi answered.
"Which was...."
"Nine o'clock."
"Oh wow. I am shocked."
"What time did you wake up?"
"8:30."

An hour later, Levi decided to call Rhody to see if he'd like to come with them to Valpo. Now, Levi was sure that Rhody would be up. And he was still surprised at the fact that he was up. But this is one of the rarest of occasions for Levi. He must have really been in a good mood this morning to have woken up so early. But he was planning to live today in a positive manner.

This would mean getting Rhody out of bed and at their house at his earliest convenience. And this would also mean spending a day out on the town. And this would definitely mean trying to call him. Levi's phone was within reach from the coffee table. He had left it there after playing video games, but he used it now to get a hold of Rhody.

"Hello, earthling," Rhody answered on his end. He apparently knew that Levi was calling him.
"Hello, human," Levi replied.
"What's going on?"
"Olivia, Levi, and Evelyn Maeve are exploring downtown."
"Does that include me?" Rhody asked.
"Are you busy?" Levi answered with another question.
"Not at all."
"Wanna come with us?"
"Absolutely."
"You stole my line."

That was a deal. Rhody would come over at around 11. This gave the Cranston's a little time to do some more of their chores and to just get ready for the day. And, since Rhody lives a couple blocks from the Cranston's house on Elmhurst Avenue, it wouldn't take Rhody very long to get there. It would probably take him no more than two minutes.

The chores wouldn't take too long either. Olivia, Levi, and Evelyn Maeve knew what chores they had to do, so they'd get them done as soon as possible. Olivia would dust, so Levi wouldn't have to, because of his asthma. Levi would pick up around the house as much as he could. And Evelyn Maeve would do what she absolutely loves best: cleaning up in the kitchen.

The chores didn't take much more than an hour. That gave Olivia, Levi, and Evelyn Maeve time to get ready for their outing in downtown Valparaiso. And it also gave Rhody some time to get ready for the day.

It was already noon, and the kids were planning to get lunch before they would do anything else. And they knew where they wanted to go. All they had to do right now was wait for Rhody to come over. And Rhody was most likely coming at around 12:15. All the kids did at the moment was sit on the couch and recliners in the common area. Evelyn Maeve wanted to play a video game or two. But then, she thought that it wouldn't be the best idea to do so.

No one said much for that amount of time. Perhaps a little bit of small talk, but not much else. They just wanted Rhody to come over so that they could go out on the town. And also the fact that they could get food. Levi, especially, was starting to get hungry. And Rhody was probably getting hungry as well. Olivia and Evelyn Maeve could wait for a little while. They were starting to get hungry, but they weren't to the point of starving to death.

At least not yet.

At 12:17, Rhody was still not at the Cranston's house. Levi was about to call him until he heard the doorbell ring. He knew who it was. With this in mind, Olivia and Evelyn Maeve let Levi open the door. Levi got up from the couch and walked toward the front door.

Hopefully, this wouldn't be some random pizza guy who had the wrong house address. Hopefully, this wouldn't be some random salesperson advertising ways to make pigs fly. And, hopefully, this wouldn't be the floating lasagna creature from the Land of Spaghetti.

Levi opened the door. Rhody was here to go out on the town with Olivia, Levi, and Evelyn Maeve.

"Oh hi, Rhody," Levi greeted his buddy at the door.
"Oh hi, Levi," Rhody answered.
"Your sister working today?"
"Actually, no. She has a couple days off."
"What's she gonna do on those days off?" Levi asked.
"She was thinking about going to the mall with a few friends," Rhody replied.
"Let me guess. It's everyone in that one apartment unit, meaning my sister, Bonita, and Felisha?"
"Most likely."
"I think Vicky wants another set of water show speakers, as well as some new outfits."

In no time at all, the four kids headed out to downtown Valparaiso. They stopped by the gas station on Lincolnway and Campbell to get a couple snacks before lunch. Rhody got beef jerky. Levi got beef jerky. Olivia got beef jerky. Evelyn Maeve did not get beef jerky. She got barbecue potato chips.

The four kids sat at one of the tables in the gas station and ate their "appetizers" before exploring downtown. They all wanted something in their stomachs before doing much else. Simply because they forgot to make something for themselves at home.

No one had any idea what they wanted to do or where they wanted to go. Unlike Victoria, Olivia didn't want to go shopping for hats. She just wanted to explore and possibly get coffee somewhere. Levi was thinking the same thing. And so was Rhody. And so was Evelyn Maeve. All they wanted right now was to walk around downtown and see what might be new. And they also wanted to get real food in no more than an hour. But, right now, they just wanted to walk around and make conversation. And then fill up on burgers and fries.

Potentially.

After walking around downtown Valparaiso for an hour, Olivia, Rhody, Levi, and Evelyn Maeve decided to go get food. Of course, Levi and Rhody were starting to get really hungry. Olivia and Evelyn Maeve were starting to get a little hungry, but they were pretty sure they wouldn’t pick out the manly dishes like Rhody and Levi would.

The four kids entered a restaurant near Lincolnway and Napoleon and waited for the hostess to seat them.

“Hi. How many?” the hostess greeted.
“Four,” Rhody answered for everyone.
“Please follow me.”

Everyone followed the hostess. In a few minutes, a lady walked up to their table with a small folder in her hand. Levi, Olivia, Evelyn Maeve, and Rhody did not have much time to converse until the lady would come to them and take their orders.

“Can I start you off with some drinks?” the waitress asked.
“I’ll do the cider,” Levi replied.
“Same as him,” Rhody answered.
“I’ll get a water,” Olivia said.
“A water,” Evelyn Maeve said.

“To the guys who ordered the cider, I’ll need to check your ID,” said the waitress.

When Rhody and Levi got their bottles of hard cider and glasses, the two boys set their glasses off to the side. They wanted to drink out of their bottles. However, before they started drinking, they toasted and then started.

“At least I’m the responsible one,” Olivia joked.

While waiting for their food, Levi and Rhody were drinking their hard cider and making dumb jokes with each other. All Olivia and Evelyn Maeve could do was laugh at the two jokesters. They all ordered burgers and fries and had to wait about thirty minutes for their orders to come up. Surprisingly enough, the restaurant was not really that crowded. Even though it is a popular point of interest. There were four other parties inside the restaurant. But that was it. At least it wasn't crowded to the point that Olivia and Evelyn Maeve couldn't hear the goofy jokes that Rhody and Levi were making. Mostly knock-knock jokes, some dirty jokes, and some other jokes that they know. But certainly nothing Olivia nor Evelyn Maeve couldn't laugh at.

​"Don't EVER get Rhody and Levi together," Olivia remarked.
"Why not?" Evelyn Maeve asked.
"They're so goofy."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Not at all. I was kinda making a sarcastic statement," Olivia said.
"They're so hyper when they're together," Evelyn Maeve remarked.
"Yeah. They're bad."
"Really bad."
"I don't know who's worse, Levi and Jack, or Levi and Rhody."
"That's a tough question."