[00OH4] Day Four

words: 995
rate: PG
(Fourth day of the O Henry series.)

Day Four: Damn You, Mr. Sun!


It was the fourth day of SJ-M’s vacation in Canada and they had decided to stay in that day (Shiwon had expressed such a love for Canadian traditional coffee that he made everyone try; no one slept that evening). It was a Tuesday and thus, Henry was home alone with the members. Henry’s parents were out at work and his younger sister – whom he had begged his parents to keep away from the members because of her tendency to fangirl – was at school; his older brother was away at post-secondary school. They had to wait until Friday before going to sight see with Henry’s parents.

Henry, who had also indulged in a few cups of coffee, but was used to it and managed to fall asleep quite easily, was sitting in the living room watching television. His attention was pulled from the television set when a familiar tall and lanky form filled the doorway from the main hallway. Leaning against the doorway, he yawned, still dressed in his pyjamas.

“Morning Zhou Mi ge,” Henry said brightly, “Come sit with me on the chesterfield.”

Zhou Mi blinked, “What’s a ‘chesterfield’ and why are you calling me ‘ge’? You never do. Why are you being so nice?”

“A chesterfield is a couch, and I woke up an hour ago; give me thirty more minutes and I’ll stop being nice,” Henry said with a roll of his eyes.

“You should just call it a couch then; don’t need to get all fancy and complicated,” Zhou Mi murmured as he walked over and practically collapsed on the couch, toppling over so that he completely leaned against Henry, “Well, while you’re feeling nice, I’ve been wondering something.”

“Oh?” Henry replied as he turned his attention back to the television.

“Canada is supposed to be the ‘True North’, right?” Zhou Mi asked,

“Um… yeah, I guess it is,” Henry said,

“THEN WHERE’S THE SNOW!?” Zhou Mi demanded suddenly,

Henry was so startled that he threw the remote in the air. He managed to catch it before it hit his head and then turned his head to look at the head on his shoulder, “It’s… It’s March.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Zhou Mi stated, sitting up properly so he could glare at the younger man, a pout marring his usually smiling face.

“There’s no snow in March,” Henry stated,

“Don’t lie to me!” Zhou Mi accused, “I did my research! Winter is from December until March! Winter! Winter means snow!’

“But even in Korea the winter is shorter than before; global warming and all that,” Henry replied, waving the remote around as if the gesture expanded on his explanation.

Zhou Mi looked at him, unconvinced, “But this is Canada! I mean, you don’t even live in an igloo! What kind of Canadian are you!?”

Henry jumped to his feet, “What did you research!? Only those in Northern Canada live in igloos and that’s because it’s all rural snow-country up there!”

“But… but this is Canada,” Zhou Mi stressed,

“But this is Southern Ontario; Souuuuuuthern!” Henry replied,

“But… but if you don’t live in an igloo, how do you stay warm in the winter?” Zhou Mi demanded, “Igloos are built to keep people warm from the snow and cold!”

Henry gaped at him as his hand grew limp and the remote fell from his hand onto the couch. “We… we have central heating systems for the winter.”

“They have central heating systems in-”

“Do not even finish that sentence, ge!” Henry warned, running a hand through his hair, “Canada is every bit as advanced as Korea… okay, maybe not that advanced… Canada is every bit as advanced as the United States, but we’re better liked, okay?”

Zhou Mi gave him a suspicious look, “If you say so…”

“I do and don’t listen to Kyuhyun anymore, too. He told you about beaver meat and told Shiwon some lies about maple syrup,” Henry said as he sat down back down on the couch, picking up the remote as he did so.

“You mean I did a shot of maple syrup last night for nothing!?” Zhou Mi gaped.

Henry blinked and leaned his head against the back of the couch, “I don’t know whether or not to cry or to laugh.”

Zhou Mi sighed, “Every time I researched ‘Canada the north’ all I ever got was information about snow and igloos and polar bears – which, by the way, I have yet to see one! – and since we landed two days ago, I’ve seen none of it.”

“When you searched that, ge, it probably gave you information about Northern Ontario,” Henry sympathized, patting his knee, “But like I said, with global warming and such, our winter’s gotten shorter.”

He wasn’t sure how, but Zhou Mi got sadder, his bottom lip protruding into a deeper pout, “I was so excited for snow.” He suddenly looked up at the ceiling, shaking a threatening fist, “DAMN YOU, MR. SUN! DAMN YOU AND YOUR HAPPY RAYS OF SUNSHINE!”

Henry stared at the older man before smiling and patting his knee again, “Would it make you feel better if I tossed a shot of maple syrup into Kyuhyun’s lunch later today?”

“Usually I’d say no, but he lied to me, getting caught up in his mischievousness,” Zhou Mi said, leaning his head back against Henry’s shoulder, “So, yes. Give him an overdose of maple syrup and he’ll come to me for comfort.”

Henry laughed just as another person appeared in the doorway from the main hallway. Kyuhyun looked at the pair, blinked, and then turned and left. They could hear stomping going up the stairs and the sound of a door slamming.

“Don’t worry, ge,” Henry replied, “He’ll be okay by lunchtime.”

“Sure, and it snows in Canada,” Zhou Mi stated sarcastically, sitting up straight and crossing his arms.

“It… it does, just not… Oh Zhou Mi ge, let me explain it again,” Henry sighed heavily, “Canada has four seasons too…”



(Coming soon, Day Five: I Want a Lucky Rabbit's Foot!)