Lucia wiped off the counter and sighed. She was about to finish her shift and wanted to go do a little shopping with her friends.

Denny was busy, and Monica was working. Last one would be Jonah. But would he be available? She could just go alone and do some shopping by herself, but where's the fun in that?

Lucia gave a thoughtful little frown and asked, "Hey, Mon, when's your shift end?"

"Not for another two hours," Monica sighed. "I was late getting here, so the boss is making me work longer."

"He's such a jerk," Lucia muttered under her breath.

"Hey, do you know where Denny is?" Monica asked with a frown. "I haven't seen him today."

"He went home early. Said he had an experiment he wants to do," Lucia nodded. "I think I'll go over and see if he wants help."

"You best do that. Denny's so accident prone. He shouldn't experiment alone."

"Mhm," Lucia chuckled. "See you later!"

Monica waved.

Lucia got in her car and drove over to Denny's apartment. She circled around to back of the building only to find huge bouncy castle. "Denny?" She called loudly.

Denny was bouncing inside and peeked out an opening near the top. "Hi!"

"What are you doing?" Lucia laughed.

"Experimenting!"

"What's the experiment?"

"Something with gravity."

"Oh, dear," Lucia chuckled. "Anything I can help with?"

Denny shrugged. "Come bounce around."

Lucia kicked off her shoes and crawled inside. "What's the point of this?" She asked as she began to jump.

"I will be taking various things and testing their bouncing abilities and velocities."

"Nice," Lucia nodded. "Is a human being one of them, or is this just for fun?"

"Just getting my use out of it."

Lucia chuckled. "Just out of curiosity, how long have you been jumping?"

"Only three hours," Denny smiled as he did a flip.

"Denny," Lucia laughed, "be careful."

"I used to bounce like this all the-" Denny hit the outer edge and fell, his shoulder sinking under his weight.

"Oh, god, are you okay?"

Denny groaned and rolled towards the middle of the bounce house, gripping his shoulder.

Lucia knelt down beside him. "What's wrong?"

"My shoulder," Denny whimpered.

"Do I need to take you to the hospital?" Lucia sighed.

"No...I'll be fine." Denny sat up, and by the look on his face, he was clearly in pain.

"Honey, I think maybe you should get it looked at," Lucia said softly.

"I'm fine, Luci."

"You're clearly not."

"Don't go to the hospital," Denny sighed. "Just to Urgent Care."

"Alright," Lucia nodded as she helped him up, being careful not to hurt him. "Gosh, Denny, how do you manage these things?"

"Ugh," was all he could say.

Lucia kissed his cheek and lead him to the car. "Be careful when getting in," she warned.

Denny carefully sat in the passenger seat, making sure not to hit his shoulder on anything.

Lucia gently shut his door and hopped into the driver's seat, pulling out of the parking space. "What do you think you did to it?" She sighed.

"I don't know."

"You're so fortunate that the Urgent Care is just down the street." Lucia pulled into the parking lot and quickly found an open space. "Do you need help getting out?"

"No. Just stay here." Denny managed to get out of the car and go inside.

Lucia gave a sigh. "Yeah, like that's going to happen." She quickly ran in after him.

Denny was sitting down in the waiting room.

"Hey," Lucia smiled, sitting down beside him.

Denny sighed.

"Dennis Joseph," the nurse at the front desk called, "you may go in now."

He got up and headed over to the open door with the doctor.

Lucia followed him.

The doctor had Denny have a seat on the table and examined his shoulder for about little while.

"What's the diagnosis?" Lucia sighed.

"I think Mr. Joseph has a rotator cuff tear. It may not be completely torn, but we'll know for sure with some x-rays. You'll want to go to the other muscle office about ten minutes from here for them."

"Alright," Lucia nodded, wrapping an arm around her friend. "Thank you, Doctor."

Denny thanked him and they headed out.

"Gosh, Denny," Lucia sighed as they drove off, "how do you get yourself into these situations?"

"It's a particular talent I've always possessed."

"Oh, dear."

Ten minutes later, they arrived at another doctor's office.

"Let's go," Lucia sighed, taking off her seatbelt.

Denny sighed and got out of the car.

After about an hour and a few x-rays, Lucia was told that she could come into the room with Denny. "So," she said to the doctor, "did he tear his rotator cuff?"

"Not completely. He just needs rest," the doctor told her.

"I'll see to it that he does," Lucia nodded.

The doctor gave Denny a sling and the pair left.

"Okay," Lucia sighed. "What lesson have we learned?"

"Um..."

"Don't go anywhere near a bounce house."

"Why not?"

"Because you're accident prone," Lucia chuckled.

"But I like bouncy houses," Denny complained.

"You're gonna kill yourself one of these days."

Denny simply sighed in reply and watched out the window.

"Hey, I know what'll cheer you up," Lucia smiled. "How about I take to you the new exhibit at the science museum?"

"Really? About the Tesla coil?

"Yep," Lucia nodded.

"Oh, I want to go see it."

"Let's go now."

—————

The next day.

"Hey, have either of you heard from Jonah?" Monica frowned.

"Not me," Lucia replied. "What about you, Denny?"

Denny shook his head and winced as a pain shot through his arm. "Nope. Not me."

"You alright, Hon?" Lucia frowned.

"Yeah. I just get these occasional pains."

Lucia kissed his cheek. "How long did the doctor say it would take to heal?"

"A few weeks."

"Well, that's good. You'll be back to experimenting in no time."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Maybe?" Lucia frowned.

"Yeah."

"You're having doubts about experimenting?"

"Of course. Two accidents? And these are just in the past few months. I've had loads before."

"Well, technically, you tore your rotator cuff when you were goofing around," Lucia said thoughtfully. "It didn't have anything to do with your experiment."

"Now I can't do my experiment. I had to save up four months of tip money for this."

"I could help you. You still have a good arm that you can use, and I'll do everything you can't."

"Nah. Forget it, Lucia."

"No, come on. I'm not letting you give up."

"I want to."

"Do you think Isaac Newton would have given up? Or Albert Einstein? Or what about Ben Franklin?"

"Yes."

"Well, then you've gotta be better than them. I won't let you quit just because of a couple accidents."

Denny sighed.

"Come on. Let me help you."

Denny shrugged. "Maybe later."

"Maybe I should call Jonah," Monica said thoughtfully, not even paying attention to Denny and Lucia's conversation.

"Yeah, you go do that," Lucia sighed, shaking her head.

Monica dialed Jonah's number and waited for him to pick up.

Jonah picked up. "Hey."

"Hey. Where are you?" Monica frowned.

"I think I'm dying," Jonah sighed.

"Did you get poison ivy again?"

"No. Worse. I got a splinter."

"Oh, Jonah."

"It may be fatal. If I die, burn my diary."

Monica sighed. "Need me to come over?

"Yes," Jonah whimpered.

Monica got up.

"Where are you going?" Denny frowned.

"Jonah's."

"What's wrong with him now?" Lucia sighed.

"Splinter."

Denny rolled his eyes.

"Well, have fun with that," Lucia frowned.

Monica left quickly.

Denny sighed. "I bet he feels like he's going to die."

"He's overdramatic," Lucia shrugged. "How about we go try that experiment?"

"No. Not today."

"Alright," Lucia sighed, adjusting her seating position to face him, "what's going on with you? The Denny I know would never let this stop him from science."

"I'm just in pain," Denny sighed.

"Is there something I can do?" Lucia asked softly.

"No. It'll go away."

"The doctor didn't prescribe you pain medicine?"

"Yeah, he did. I just didn't bring it with me."

"Do you want me to drive you home?"

"Sure. Thanks."

—————

"Hi," Jonah sighed.

Monica cut right to the chase, asking, "Why are you so dramatic?"

"I'm not being dramatic. I got a splinter and sneezed two minutes after, and according to Google, I only have a week to live."

Monica rolled her eyes.

"I think I'd like to be buried in my backyard."

Monica sighed. "Need me to kiss it better?"

"I'm not two," Jonah sighed. "And yes."

Monica moved over and kissed his thumb. "You know that Denny did something to his shoulder, right?"

"Really?" Jonah frowned. "What'd he do this time?"

"I don't remember."

"Was Lucia with you when you called?"

"Yep."

"Oh," Jonah said, trying to act indifferent, "and why didn't she come with you?"

"She was helping Denny."

Jonah sighed. "Can I tell you something?"

"Sure."

"I like Lucia."

Monica's heart sunk deep. "Oh. Nice," she smiled brightly. "Really...nice."

"I think she likes Denny," Jonah pouted.

"I don't know anything."

"Think about it! She's always is with him!"

"Because he's always hurt."

"Maybe I should break my leg," Jonah pondered.

"Jonah, that's not the way to get the girl."

"But it'd get her over here."

"I'd come over."

"Thanks," Jonah said with a small smile. "I think I'm cured. Wanna grab a pizza?"

"Sure. Can you get up?" Monica put her hands on her hips.

"Yes." Jonah stood.

Monica shook her her head, feeling slightly annoyed.

"I'm starving," Jonah sighed, rubbing hands together. "Your car or mine?"

"I can drive," Monica volunteered.

—————

"Hey, Mon," Lucia smiled, setting her keys on the table. "How's Jonah?"

"Fine," Monica said shortly.

"Are you alright?" Lucia frowned. "You're acting weird."

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Jonah doesn't like me," Monica blurted out.

Lucia's eyes widened. "What? Why?"

"He's crushing on someone else."

"Who?" Lucia frowned.

"Um...I shouldn't say."

"Come on, I'm your best friend."

"You promise not to freak?"

"Yeah, I promise. Now give me the tea," Lucia said eagerly. "Who's he crushing on?"

"Um...you." Monica hid her face.

"Ew," Lucia gagged. "Why?"

"You're really pretty and sweet."

"But- Jonah, he's just...ew. He's one of my best friends and I love him to death, but not like that."

Monica sighed and flopped on the couch.

"I'm sorry," Lucia frowned. "I mean, I'm sure he's realized by now that I don't like him. Maybe he'll like you after seeing how caring you are."

"No. He wanted to know why you didn't come."

Lucia sat down next to her friend and wrapped an arm around her. "There are other guys out there."

"Ugh, but no one who knows me.

"We'll fix that," Lucia nodded, hugging her friend tightly.

—————

About three in the morning.

Lucia sat down at the dining room table and gave a sigh. She reread Potato Guy's letter and then decided that it was time to write a response.

Her letter reads as follows:

Dear Potato Guy,

Hey. So, some stuff has happened since I last wrote you. Remember how Denny is sort of accident prone? Well, funny story. I got out of work early the other day and went to his apartment. I went around to the back of the building to find him jumping in a bouncy castle. (He was doing some experiment with gravity.) Anyway, to make a long story short, he fell and tore his rotator cuff, so I had to take him to Urgent Care and then some other place so that he could get a few x-rays. Now, he wants to give up experimenting. I'm trying my best to talk him out of quitting, but he's super down. What do you think I should do? As always, send my love to your mother.

Lydia

P.S. I almost forgot to tell you that something HUGE happened. So, remember how I told you a while ago that my friend Monica likes my friend Jonah? Well, as it turns out, Jonah has a crush on ME. Poor Monica's super upset about it. Anyway, write back soon! Can't wait to hear from you!