My name is Peninnah Isadora Carlotta Escobar Rodriguez.
It?s a mouthful, I know.
I introduce myself as Penny; Ms. Escobar if you?re nasty.
Most assume that it?s short for Penelope and I almost never correct them. Usually my name ends up being butchered at the start, which while that does bode well for me for other reasons, can be incredibly annoying. So Penny is it. Don?t call me Pen.
Which is exactly what my new landlord was calling me as I stood in the open courtyard somewhere in Battlefield Park.
?So Pen, can I call you Pen?? An excitable awkward sort of bookish man somewhere in his early thirties asked while holding a small ring with keys dangling at the end of it.
?Penny.? I said while pinching the bridge of my nose as my eyes squeezed shut. Trying not to lose my temper, I took a deep breath and then looked back up to him, forcing a smile out at him.
Deep breaths Penny. Don?t light the little nerd on fire.
?Please call me Penny. I?m not fond of,? I trailed off with a wave of my hand as I half explained.
?Oh! Right. Penny. I?m so sorry.? Immediately apologetic, he even started to give a half bow until the jingling keys in his hand drew his nervous attention there and he remembered the task at hand. ?Penny,? he started again, this time holding out the keys towards me. ?Here are your keys.?
He carefully dropped them into my palm, as if he expected a spark of electricity to hit him if our hands touched. I got the impression than if I jerked any part of my body in his direction he would have leaped right out of his skin. I couldn?t tell if that was because of him, or because it was me.
?Thanks,? I said as my gaze drifted up and around the courtyard. New life was just hinting at its arrival through the dirt and stone that surrounded us. Spring was here.
We would have probably stayed there in silence except for the chirping birds in the not so distant trees, but he was staring and I wasn?t so sure that I wanted to appear as though I had noticed.
After he cleared his throat however, I couldn?t pretend any longer. ?Yes??? Uh?.? I realized I had forgotten his name and turned back towards him.
?Tim,? he reminded me. He looked ready to ask me something that weighed on his mind. After a few hitched breaths, he tumbled out with, ?So the building behind me here is where the kitchen will be, but construction is working on the whole indoor plumbing thing. If you need anything for your new place just let me know and we?ll get it added to the list. There?s lots of decent places in town to eat though and if you need me to show you around I?d be happy ??
My palm raised out to him, the signal for stop. He gulped and froze, and I could tell that he was just barely shaking. I had the vague notion that if I sneered and muttered something incoherent at him, he?d probably piss himself. Inwardly I frowned, we were getting off on the wrong foot. He didn?t need to be terrified of me.
?Tim, don?t worry. If I need anything, I?ll be sure to ask. I?d like to get a lay of the land myself first. Helps me stay oriented.? My hand lowered as I spoke and I did my best to put on a gentle and friendly smile.
Tim relaxed a little. Or at least, he wasn?t shaking anymore.
?Right,? shaking his head and letting out a nervous laugh as if something I said was utterly obvious and he should have realized it sooner. ?Of course, of course. I?ll be in the Great Hall if you need me.? Gesturing again behind him towards the massive stone building in the center of the compound.
Soon Tim scurried off as I jingled the keys in a wave behind him and I turned to face the heavy oak door to my new home.
A wizard in a stone tower, I snorted to myself. How clich? can you get Penny?
I hate moving.
It?s a mouthful, I know.
I introduce myself as Penny; Ms. Escobar if you?re nasty.
Most assume that it?s short for Penelope and I almost never correct them. Usually my name ends up being butchered at the start, which while that does bode well for me for other reasons, can be incredibly annoying. So Penny is it. Don?t call me Pen.
Which is exactly what my new landlord was calling me as I stood in the open courtyard somewhere in Battlefield Park.
?So Pen, can I call you Pen?? An excitable awkward sort of bookish man somewhere in his early thirties asked while holding a small ring with keys dangling at the end of it.
?Penny.? I said while pinching the bridge of my nose as my eyes squeezed shut. Trying not to lose my temper, I took a deep breath and then looked back up to him, forcing a smile out at him.
Deep breaths Penny. Don?t light the little nerd on fire.
?Please call me Penny. I?m not fond of,? I trailed off with a wave of my hand as I half explained.
?Oh! Right. Penny. I?m so sorry.? Immediately apologetic, he even started to give a half bow until the jingling keys in his hand drew his nervous attention there and he remembered the task at hand. ?Penny,? he started again, this time holding out the keys towards me. ?Here are your keys.?
He carefully dropped them into my palm, as if he expected a spark of electricity to hit him if our hands touched. I got the impression than if I jerked any part of my body in his direction he would have leaped right out of his skin. I couldn?t tell if that was because of him, or because it was me.
?Thanks,? I said as my gaze drifted up and around the courtyard. New life was just hinting at its arrival through the dirt and stone that surrounded us. Spring was here.
We would have probably stayed there in silence except for the chirping birds in the not so distant trees, but he was staring and I wasn?t so sure that I wanted to appear as though I had noticed.
After he cleared his throat however, I couldn?t pretend any longer. ?Yes??? Uh?.? I realized I had forgotten his name and turned back towards him.
?Tim,? he reminded me. He looked ready to ask me something that weighed on his mind. After a few hitched breaths, he tumbled out with, ?So the building behind me here is where the kitchen will be, but construction is working on the whole indoor plumbing thing. If you need anything for your new place just let me know and we?ll get it added to the list. There?s lots of decent places in town to eat though and if you need me to show you around I?d be happy ??
My palm raised out to him, the signal for stop. He gulped and froze, and I could tell that he was just barely shaking. I had the vague notion that if I sneered and muttered something incoherent at him, he?d probably piss himself. Inwardly I frowned, we were getting off on the wrong foot. He didn?t need to be terrified of me.
?Tim, don?t worry. If I need anything, I?ll be sure to ask. I?d like to get a lay of the land myself first. Helps me stay oriented.? My hand lowered as I spoke and I did my best to put on a gentle and friendly smile.
Tim relaxed a little. Or at least, he wasn?t shaking anymore.
?Right,? shaking his head and letting out a nervous laugh as if something I said was utterly obvious and he should have realized it sooner. ?Of course, of course. I?ll be in the Great Hall if you need me.? Gesturing again behind him towards the massive stone building in the center of the compound.
Soon Tim scurried off as I jingled the keys in a wave behind him and I turned to face the heavy oak door to my new home.
A wizard in a stone tower, I snorted to myself. How clich? can you get Penny?
I hate moving.