“The problem with the new game 'Few or Many' is that it is so stressful … it really depends on what you're talking about and the game just gets crazy toward the end and I know that they are doing that on purpose.”
“Yep, it's all ratings and another piece of stress we ain't gotta even deal with any more.”
Almost-18-year-old Vanna Trent was talking with her 21-year-old brother Melvin Trent as they set a table on the lawn for Sunday dinner for their little siblings, cousins, and friends.
“Yeah, going without television in general is more peaceful,” Vanna said. “We've lived out here like what, 6-7 months, and it just amazes me how much time in New York my friends and I spent talking about people who aren't even real instead of having real conversation about our lives.”
“Yeah, it's good that stopped while you still had friends – you wake up in the morning if it takes three more years and find out you don't even have any friends because they aren't even real, in their heads,” Melvin said. “I mean, it's the music too, but you know I've been making my own for years, so that was even more of a shock!”
“See, that three years – it's another few or many type of thing,” Vanna said. “Three years is a real long time when you are growing up and your family is on the move.”
“And people just don't get it who don't get it,” Melvin said. “Like you look at the little Ludlows – it's been a long three years for them.”
“We kinda gotta call that thirty-six months,” Vanna said. “156 weeks and some change. They will just be talking to Gracie and start saying stuff about what they went through before their grandparents got them and it's just like they felt every day of that and it's just started getting good like yesterday."
“Just a few days it's been good and many days it was not!” Melvin said. “That's also why our elders who have been through a lot can be 50 about to live to 90 and be singing, 'Just a few more weary days and then I'll fly away.' That's a lot of years they are trying to count real fast!”
“And this is why this is so stressful because we act like we know what anybody is talking about when they talk about anything although we are using the same words sometimes – it is getting wild out here!” Vanna said.
“The real world has been wild for a minute,” Melvin said.
“I think I'm going to get big real quick and just eat me a bunch of big plates of food!” five-year-old Lil' Robert Ludlow was saying across the lawn to his grandmother, Mrs. Thalia Ludlow, as they stepped off their porch.
“Next week, though,” she said sweetly.
“Next week, though!” he merrily caroled back.
Vanna started laughing.
“What it is, is, nobody has a sense of time that matches anyone else's!”
“Well, like Rev. Stone said,” Melvin said, “it's because we are built for eternity.”