HEY JUDE | NATE RUNCK

chapter five

[ tv show - that '90s show ]

[ chapter five ]

GRANDPA WAS READING THE NEWSPAPER, his legs resting on the ottoman before him. I was sitting down on the couch, dozing off slightly, wishing I was downstairs with the rest of the circle, but grandpa had asked, more like ordered for me to stay upstairs. Grandma and Ozzie were in front of me, the both of them in front of the computer.

"This is so exciting. Oh! Our first computer. I feel like Captain Kirk." Grandma eagerly said, jumping up and down slightly where she stood

"And, Ozzie, you are a doll for helping us set it up unlike my grandbaby over here." Grandma gestured to me and I gave my friend a nod, my eyes closing briefly before reopening them

"I don't understand why we need that thing." Grandpa told grandma, gesturing the computer that was resting on the table

"It is the future, Red. One of us has to stay hip and current with the times. Oh, look. It comes with a little foot pedal like my sewing machine." Grandma informed grandpa, doing a little dance as she held out the mouse to him

"Grandma, that's the mouse." I corrected her with a giggle escaping on my lips at her trying to be cool

"Oh. What does a mouse do?" She asked me nervously, her eyes widening slightly at the object in her hands as she went to sit down next to me

"It craps in your attic." Grandpa told her before lifting the newspaper up to his face, "Lighten up, Red." Grandma commented to him

"America is going online. Let's do our part. Now we can read about current events, sports, politics." Grandma listed off to him and he lowered his newspaper, "I do that already. It's called a newspaper."

"And you know what I love about this? No wires connected to the government." Grandpa told her, waving his hand over the newspaper

"Is this thing connected to the government?" Grandma asked Ozzie and me, gesturing the computer and I pursed my lips, fighting off my giggles

"Yes, the president can see you right now." Ozzie flatly said and I burst into laughter, muffling into my hand but I knew that I was caught

"I know you're kidding. But just in case you're not...Hi, Bill. Loved you on Arsenio." Grandma said, leaning forward to speak to the computer

**HEY JUDE**

"Taking a break from old-people computer day?" Nikki asked me as she came into the kitchen to find me eyeing the landline nervously

"Ozzie tried explaining the virtual desktop to my grandma. Then he had to explain the word 'virtual.' Then somehow, he had to explain 'desk.' It was a whole mess." I explained to her, my eyes lingering on the item still

"You know, you can just chill downstairs with us." Nikki suggested and I sighed, my eyes flickering up to meet hers

"Maybe later, Nikki. What's happening downstairs?" I asked her, wanting to change the subject and she smirked at me

"Well, Nate and Jay went to get a free hot tub, it's first come-first serve. Nate wants to contaminate it with your juices." Nikki informed me and I wrinkled my nose in disgust at her words

"Good luck to Nate cause I'm not getting in. It's weird though, who in the world is selling their hot tub for free!?" I asked her in shock and she shrugged her shoulders

"Well, it was either that or a free goat. He didn't get the goat because a) he didn't know who was going to get it if you guys break up and b) he didn't have a giant crate for it." Nikki listed off to me and I hummed, wondering if he should've gone for the free goat instead