Okay... dunno if this challenge is still being run, but I figured I'd give it a shot. I know, this is a pitiful attempt.
'It Looked So Easy when SHE Did It!'
Artemis Fowl was not a happy camper.
His mother, Angeline, was hosting a party. Mainly for society ladies and their husbands. Typical for her.
Of course, it goes without saying that the only person there who was anywhere near his age wasn't someone he wanted to talk to.
Tara, a shy girl of maybe twelve, sat next to her mother, picking at her food. She seemed to be unaware of what was going on around her until her mother said her name.
"Oh, yes, Angeline, my little Tara is quite the entrepreneur! She loves making soap, of all things, and, in fact, she's started up a little business selling them. Her little friends and their mothers all love it!"
Tara's cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Angeline noticed this, and said to her, "Tara, dear, could you show me how to make soap? Maybe Arty would like to see you do it, as well!"
Tara said quietly, "If you want me to."
"Then it's settled," Angeline said cheerfully. "Would tomorrow work for you? I can have Butler come and pick you up."
Tara's mother confirmed the time quickly, pleased that her daughter was going to 'make friends' with Artemis.
Apparently, she wasn't that good of a judge of character.
The Next Day
Tara exited the Bentley before Butler could open the door for her. She reached for her bag, but Butler was quicker and carrid it to the house for her.
Angeline greeted Tara with an embrace and a cheerful, "Lovely to have you here, sweetie!"
"Hi," she almost whispered.
Drawing Tara close, Angeline said quietly, "Don't mind Arty's taciturnity, dear. He's really quite harmless."
Just as she said that, a scowling Artemis appeared at the top of the stairs. His mother beckoned to him, saying cheerfully, "Our guest is here! Come on down, son."
Angeline grabbed Tara's left hand and her son's right and led them to the kitchen. "All right, Tara dear, show us how it's done. Do you need anything?"
"A microwave, a cutting board, and a knife is all I didn't bring with me. Thank you very much."
Artemis wondered sarcastically if she could speak above a whisper.
Angeline quickly got out a cutting board and a knife, and showed Tara how to operate the microwave.
Tara cut up the soap base with the grace of a soapmaking master, and then melted it. Artemis was bored, and would have walked off if it hadn't been for his mother's dirty looks.
Right when Tara removed the soap from the microwave, Arty had an idea. If Tara could sell her soap, he could learn how to do it, and crowd her out of business.
Artemis paid very close attention to what Tara did as she stirred in the fragrance and colour (or colourant, as she called it) memorizing every motion. When she was done pouring it into the heart-shaped moulds, he smiled at her, with great effort.
"Tara, could you help me make my own batch?" Artemis nearly gagged on his own sweetness.
Tara nodded her head quickly, and showed Artemis how to cut up the soap base, ("Watch out for your-" "OUCH!" "-Fingers.") melt the base, ("Don't do that, it's taken me years to build up a tolerance for the heat of- are you okay?") add the scent and colourant, ("Oh dear- I hope that suit wasn't too expensive!") and pour it the moulds. (Arty, stand back, give her some room!" [That was Angeline.])
After Tara had packed up her stuff and left, Artemis muttered, "That was the worst idea I've ever had. I'm going to leave soapmaking to the experts from now on."
And so he did.
This challenge is gonna be fuuuuunnn. One idea, yes? D'Arvit.
