Breakfast was over and it was my week to help clear the table, so I rose to gather the dishes and pile them next to the sink. “Don’t worry about rinsing them off,” Dad said, “I’ll do that when I rinse the pots and pans.”
“So, a patisserie?” Jenna asked. “Does that mean you took or got a crafting class? I don’t think you two or Jojo ever said what you were planning on doing for character creation.”
“In a manner of speaking,” Mom said.
“I had too many ideas and not enough information,” Jocelyn said at the same time, “so I went with Fate to see what I could get. The guide helped me get a really good class and race, so I took it. But my friends don’t like it, so I don’t know what to do now.”
“What did you get, Jocelyn?” Mom asked.
“I don’t remember what the race is called, but I look like a unicorn elf,” she began.
As I was passing by to collect more plates, Jenna elbowed me in the side and whispered, “You have to show her Daybreak Gleaming!”
Jocelyn continued, not having heard Jenna. “And my class is Golemancer. I summon little living wooden dolls to do things for me, but everyone thinks they’re creepy, so they don’t want to play with me. I guess it’s okay, though. I have enough little wooden dolls to help me fight and do stuff.”
“Why do your friends think your golems are creepy, Jocelyn?” I asked.
“Because they’re small, because they don’t have any faces or features. They’re more like artist mannikins rather than Barbies or LOL or anything.”
“They’re also your level one summons. When you get stronger in that skill or other skills, you may have more life-like golems,” I tried to reassure her.
“Or they might just be jealous that you got something so cool and they didn’t, Jojo.”
“Jealous or creeped out, it doesn’t matter. Becky said she didn’t want me around in the game, and what Becky says, the rest agree on,” Jocelyn said. She didn’t sound as bitter as I would have in her situation -- she was more of a loner anyway -- but she sure wasn’t happy about it.
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“Well, Jocelyn … I’m already playing with one sister in my group, why not two? A Golemancer sounds neat and helpful, and Jenna and I would be happy to have you with us if you want, wouldn’t we, Jenna?”
My older sister responded instantly and sincerely. “Of course, Jojo can hang out with us and help us kill monsters. She’ll probably be better at it than me, anyway.” She flashed Jocelyn a smile “Besides, you just have to meet up with us at least once, anyway.”
“What about your friends?” Jocelyn asked. “If my friends didn’t want me, why would some older kids want me?”
Mom and Dad stayed in the background for the exchange, but they did look a bit concerned for their youngest daughter. However, since Jenna and I were handling it, they seemed inclined to stand back and let us try being responsible. Or, rather, continue being the loving and supporting family that we were raised to be.
“Well, you already know them, Jojo, and they already know you. I mean, we’ve all played board games together or volleyball or gone to the beach. Three or four years isn’t that big of a difference, anyway. At least, not in a few years.”
“You’ve known Mika since you were knee-high to a grasshopper, Jocelyn.”
“Oh! Your girlfriend and Jenna’s friends?” Jocelyn perked up.
“Mika is not my girlfriend,” I reminded her. “A best friend is better than a girlfriend any day.”
“You can be friends as well as a couple,” my sister said. “Look at Mom and Dad. They’re married and they’re best friends.”
I rolled my eyes and my parents both tried not to laugh. “Regardless, Jocelyn, I’m too young to worry about relationships just yet,” I lied. “And so are you,” that wasn’t a lie. At thirteen, my little sister really was still a few years younger than the minimum age for dating -- sixteen -- that my parents had set. I wasn’t too young, but, well, I also haven’t been looking. When your best friend is a girl, you have two sisters, and your entire circle of close friends are girls (one of whom is a sister), you don’t really need to be looking for romance in order for there to be women around.
It would almost have been easier if I were gay.
“Anyway,” I continued. “We were talking about you being able to play with us, not about whether or not I have a girlfriend. You know and like Mika, Naomi, and Susie, and more to the point, they all know and like you.
“Well, I suppose,” Jocelyn said. “But not every day! I’m going to want to do other things besides killing monsters and exploring the wilderness. I want to find a library in the town.”
“Sure thing. And if there isn’t a library, we’ll help you make one,” I winked at her. “Well, maybe not Jenna, she’s not too big on books, you know.”
That earned me a stern glare, and if I had still been at the table, probably a not-too-gentle elbow in the side.