Work Text:
Lenny is reading quietly, face smudged from where his hand holds it, leaning lazily over the damp wooden table. He yawns, wide, slumping even further across the table till the point he’s almost half-lying over it.
The only element of this sleepy composition to suggest anything other than a midday nap is the book held stubbornly upright in stark contrast to the rest of his sluggish posture.
Mary-Beth glowers out wistfully across camp, knitting project crumpled, inactive in her lap, bitterness radiating off her. She narrows her eyes, shaking her head woefully.
“ Jesus, Mary and Joseph - I don’t think I’m ever getting my book back.”
From where she’s scrubbing the dirty clothing, Tilly raises her eyebrows amusedly. “That's how Sean speaks.”
“Not the book part, surely.” Mary-Beth snorts.
“Well, no.” Tilly says, tilting her head.
Mary-Beth groans, rolling her head back dramatically. “It’s just, just-” she begins the frustrated sermon for the third time that day. “It’s been two whole weeks! And you know-
“...We do.” Agrees Karen peacefully.
“That’s my favourite one outta the whole series. An’ y’know-”
“....Mhm.” Agrees Tilly affably.
“...when I recommended it to Lenny- I sure do appreciate him actually readin’ it but would it kill the feller to read faster?”
Karen and Tilly nod supportively as their friend rehashes the same complaints she stated only an hour ago.
Oblivious to the slander he was facing only a hundred feet away, Lenny resettles himself comfortably, turning a page. His easy disposition seems to only make Mary-Beth more crestfallen as she huffs irritably.
“ Lord, it's going to take the whole month. ” She mutters defeatedly.
“Speaking of Sean, he’s to blame I’m sure.” Karen pipes up, sardony entwined in her tone.
Tilly gives a light scoff at her side, Mary-Beth turns to her quizzically.
“Whaddaya mean?” She tilts her head, lost on how the illiterate redhead was responsible for Lenny’s inconsiderate reading pace. Or was this part of the whole Sean’s the worst bastard ever post-break-up thing…
“Good Samaritan Leonard’s teachin’ Sean how to read, or tryna.” Karen shrugs, taking a drag of her cigarette. “An’ to that I say Lord help him.” She adds with an ashy flourish of her hand.
“That’s what the damn hold up is?” Mary-Beth asks incredulously.
Tilly waves dismissively. “Hey, it ain’t goin’ so bad I reckon. Sean sorted the town supplies out for Pearson this week an’ he only messed up on like, three or four things outta the whole list.”
On Mary-Beth’s other side, Karen grins, shaking her head. “I hardly reckon that’s worth it for Mary-Beth’s favourite outta the whole series , ain’t that right?”
Mary-Beth blinks from the back-and-forth she’s caught in, turning her head around left and right. This is like those paintings of Man between the angels and the devils.
Tilly faces them both fully, eyes widened mock-defensively. “ Well , if it’s still a problem- why ain’t you confront ‘em on it? Or jus’ confront Lenny, ain’t Sean’s fault he’s slow.”
Mary-Beth can hear the beginning of giggling in her voice, she rolls her eyes. Suddenly, she feels like those two are poking fun at her bleak anguish.
“I can hardly give ‘im a hard time for takin’ the recommendation I gave him, can I now?” She protests weakly.
“Darn.. I don’t think so.” Karen sighs solemnly. She clicks her tongue, shaking her head in dismay… but there’s a smirk on her face.
Mary-Beth narrows her eyes. “ Oh , I see what this is.” She leans back grumpily.
The dam breaks beside her as Tilly giggles wickedly over John’s shirt.
“Girl, if you want your book back, just go an’ ask instead of complainin’ to us about it. It’s your own damn fault.” Tilly insists. There’s a distinct quirk of affection in her eyes, however, and none of the vinegar of Miss Grimshaw comes across in her words.
“Thought you said I could come to y’all if I needed to talk?” Mary-Beth asks dryly.
Tilly smiles. “Well, we have talked, ain’t we? Now go talk to Lenny.”
Karen tuts beside them. “Ah, too late.”
Mary-Beth whips her head round to where one Sean MacGuire was leading Lenny- and her damn favourite damn book outta the whole damn entire damn series - away from camp. Not to mention the cheek of them to leave in such a hurry, yet seem to be reading at one word a week.
As she helplessly watches them leave, Lenny looking significantly less tired as he chatters away happily, Karen and Tilly exchange amused glances.
“Well…” Mary-Beth sighs unhappily, sliding the half-knitted scarf to the side. She dusts herself off and meanders away to where Kieran is tending to the horses.
Karen side-eyes Tilly, who starts giggling into the laundry again.