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Today I played a prank on Shin.
Shin's favorite toy store was offering a one-day only special promotion for a figurine he had his eyes on, and --just his luck!-- with the sale he could afford it with his meager savings. A few obstacles were in his way, however, such as the flash sale being hosted on a school day. Shin stared out the school windows like one of his anime protagonists, clearly thinking about his toy, but he made no move to skip classes throughout the day. Consequently he only had an hour after school before the store would close up for the day.
Shin has been excitedly talking about the features of this toy since the product was announced weeks ago. Limbs that could be detached and swapped out for upgraded parts like rocket punches or shooting fire balls. The plastic balls might have been energy blasts. Either way, once Shin gets to talking details he looks far too sad if he picks up social cues that it really isn't that interesting for anyone else to hear it.
In the future, Shin might be recruitable for the doll workshop. His ideas of what robotics should be capable of sound fun to put into practice!
But on point: his mission was to reach the toy store within an hour and he was guaranteed to get his prize. To test his resolve additional obstacles were necessary.
Outside of the school gate Shin searches his pockets and bags only to realize he has misplaced his bus pass -- whoopsie! And he was so sure he had it with him this morning too, what a shame. He attempts a running start, but he doesn't make it to his first street light before his pace slows to a brisk jog and finally to his usual walking pace. Already breathing hard from the short sprint. An effort was surely made, but his gym class records clearly show abysmal track results. Gotta try harder, Shin!
One could see it all over his face that he was worried walking would be too slow, but underneath that he must have been calculating the distance in his head. With renewed confidence he achieves a sustainable power walk that would definitely get him to the toy store on time!
If not for a choice orphan on the street with an ice cream in her hand and pocket money enough for another rounding the street corner at the exact time for Shin to crash into her at his slightly above average pace! The pink haired girl forgot that crying is normal for a child her age with her treat smeared across her shirt and the rest of it plopped on the ground, but Shin is so kind he stopped to fret over her anyway. Dear, sweet Shin. The girl then harassed him to buy her a new ice cream to replace her ruined one when he can barely afford his toy even at sale price. This interaction provides an excellent data point: between a sad child and his own desires, what would Shin prioritize most?
As soon as she's out of sight Shin calls me to beg for the little bit of cash he's short.
Far too weak to the pleas of small children, far too reliant on others to come save him.
Shin looks up to me as a model for behavior so I hung up on him and watched the realization hit him from my observational position. He's so fun to play with.