“What good are you if you don’t understand it either?” Sylus muttered to himself as he sat on the floor at the living room table sifting through several sheets of plastic parts.

I sat across the room giggling to myself as he and Qaitax struggled with the build. I knew he’d ask me if wanted my help so I just sat back and read my book while they went at it. So far they had some very articulate limbs built but we’re currency struggling with torso instructions.

“Is it upside down? How much is it supposed to stick out? That’s the wrong joint thingy… Why is there so much spruuu??” He huffed. “No Qai we are not making new parts that fit together better. These’ll fit together once we figure it out-I DROPPED THE STICKER!”

I burst out laughing.

“Enjoying my misery are you?”

“If you’re not having fun, Sy, put it down for now.” I wiped a tear from my eye.

He growled before returning to his suffering. He wouldn’t stop until it was done. No matter how imperfect it turned out.

“I just absolutely maimed that sticker trying to jam those two pieces together. Why didn’t you stop me?”… “what do you mean that’s what you thought the instructions were saying? I’m the dumb mortal, Qaitax. You’re supposed to know everything.”… “So? Just because you’ve never done it before doesn’t mean you can’t tell me I’m fucking up.”… “WELL THAT’S DIFFERENT!”

I snorted. I could tune in to hear the other side of the conversation, but it was far more entertaining just hearing Sylus yelling at himself.

Once he finished the torso, he proudly attached the limbs. All that was left now was the head.

“Why aren’t the legs even?” He asked softly as if pleading with the tiny plastic parts. “Why.” He turned it over, pushed on some things, part of the torso’s belt popped off. He grumbled as he got it and put it back on. A leg fell off. He snarled as he put it back. Giving up on the mismatched leg lengths, he laid it down and began working on the head.

“Jeron.”

“Yes?” I looked up to find him standing over me.

“What do these instructions look like they’re telling me to do with these two pieces?” He offered me the paper and two plastic parts.

I laid the instructions in my lap before taking the pieces. The diagram was drawn at a weird angle, but I managed to figure out how the pieces snapped together. I offered the joined parts back to him. He bowed and returned to the couch.

The next step was for him to get the head on without popping anything else off. A gentle but firm touch was necessary. He popped an arm off, growled, put it back on, popped a belt piece off, snarled, put it back on, balanced the finished product and sat back, sighing with relief.

He sat back, arms folded across his chest and nodded with satisfaction.

“Never again?” I chuckled.

“Oh absolutely again.”

“Didn’t exactly sound like you were having fun.”

“Despite the complaints, it was worth the effort. I just need to get better at it. We just need to get better at it.”

“So Qaitax had a good time?”

“Surprisingly. I’d love to do it again, but maybe an easier build next time. I think I just skipped like five brackets. The stickers are awful and I had to jam so many pieces together because I couldn’t file the spru off good enough. But it’s done.”

It was a humanoid mecha with big black wings and purple trim.

“I’m afraid to move it.” He sighed. “But it can’t stay here.”

I motioned to the bookshelf in the corner beside me. “There’s some space there.”

He took a deep breath before lifting it carefully by its feet. He moved across the room as if he was carrying a full bowl of hot soup. He placed it down, balanced the legs, and stepped back. “There.” He breathed as he returned to the couch and flopped down. “You suck.” He mumbled to Qaitax.

I laughed. “I’m proud of you both for not giving up out of frustration. It’s a very nice robot mecha thingy. Good job.”

Sylus groaned.