‘You know, I still have no idea what an office fitout is,’ Kiera mused, absentmindedly playing with a lollipop in her mouth.
‘It’s all Dad’s been talking about for weeks,’ her sister Lola frowned. ‘You haven’t been paying attention?’
‘I’ve tried to,’ Kiera sighed, falling backwards onto her bed (being sure not to choke on the lollipop). ‘He just makes it sound so boring.’
‘Well, it is boring,’ Lola conceded. ‘But you should make more of an effort.’
‘Okay then, smartie-pants,’ Kiera frowned, propping herself up on an elbow. ‘You tell me – what does a Melbourne office fitout look like?’
‘Nice try, sis,’ Lola laughed. ‘But you’re not getting that from me. This is what we call a teachable moment.’
‘You’re a teachable moment,’ Kiera mumbled childishly under her breath. Lola ignored her. ‘At least give me a rough idea!’
Lola slammed her pen down onto the desk – homework, it seemed, would have to wait until her kid sister left the room.
‘It’s not that hard to understand!’ she said, swivelling in her chair. ‘It’s just a way of… a process where… some people just need to…’
Lola frowned at herself, as a huge grin started to spread across Kiera’s face.
‘I knew it!’
‘Oh, shut up!’ Lola scowled, swivelling around.
‘You have no idea, do you!’
‘I thought I did!’
‘But you don’t! Na-na-nah-na-na!’ she crowed, laughing as ducked the stapler Lola threw at her.
‘Go ask Dad then!’ Lola said with a huff. ‘Get him to tell you all about the intricacies of office design trends for Melbourne businesses, see how much sticks!’
‘What’s going on in here?!’ a voice boomed from outside of the door, and both girls immediately stiffened. Kiera glanced at her lollipop, stiffened and quickly shoved it under Lola’s pillow.
Their father, a large man in a fitted suit, pushed open the door, frowning into the room at his too-innocent daughters. ‘Well?’
‘Nothing!’ Kiera said with a grin. ‘Lola was just helping me with some homework.’
‘Right. Yes,’ Lola nodded. ‘Some homework.’
Their father glared at them suspiciously.