_{‘    yeah.  i will.  i’m on your side  —  but,  uh.  you don’t hear that a lot,  huh ?    ’      she doesn’t have to be a social worker to recognize the signs ;  father out of the picture,  mother a negligent drunk,  smart kid digging himself into an  early grave  by his own misguided machinations.  ironic,  when so much of what he does seems driven by that one base instinct :  SURVIVAL.  it makes her heartsick.}

_{she recognizes,  too,  what it must’ve taken for someone like him to consciously reach out  &  ask for help.}

_{‘    hey.  i’ll do everything in my power to get you out of here,  but you’re gonna have to  TRUST  me.  &  believe me,  i know that’s a big deal.    ’}

_{four word starters.  // accepting !}

_{‘    oh,  no  —  i do,  lucifer.  i want you.    ’     pause for effect.  this doesn’t get old.  then :     ‘    i want you to stop dicking around  &  do the job that you’re actually,  SURPRISINGLY,  good at.  the one you just  had  to have,  remember ?  look  –––––––  i don’t know what’s gotten into you lately,  but i need you to focus.  can you  do  that for me ?    ’}

_{four word starters.  // accepting !}

_{‘    what  –––––––  you don’t like  dinosaur - shaped  chicken nuggets ?  guess i shouldn’t be surprised.    ’     calling this  COOKING  is a stretch ;  anybody can preheat an oven.  but just for that,  he can kiss any future invitation to  taco tuesday  goodbye.  instead of dinner,  she serves a withering look.     ‘    okay,  martha stewart.  you think you’re the expert ?  show me.  you’ve got fifteen minutes  &  a hungry  eight - year - old  down the hall.   ’}

_{four word starters.  // accepting !}