Gall sat back and surveyed his handiwork. Flakes of wood that he'd chiseled off with his thinnest strings were littered across the table. Multiple failed attempts at carving had been sliced to pieces in frustration, leaving only the one he thought was adequate.
When making lunch that day, he saved an egg yolk. With it in hand, he returned to his worktable. He retrieved two tins of pigment and mixed small scoops into two different bowls of egg yolk. He dipped a brush in. One side would be painted in sky blue; the other side would be purple. When he was done, he hid it behind a large sack of potatoes.
A few days later, Gall knocked on Milo's door. Waiting, he tried to figure out why he was so nervous about this. It was just a piece of wood -
As soon as Milo opened the door, Gall shoved a wad of paper at him. "This is for you."
"It's not my turn to take out the trash."
"What's for you is inside, dumbass. Open it."
Milo unwrapped the paper like as many layers of onion. Nestled in the center was a figurine of himself, blue-purple hair and all. It was accompanied by a card, which Gall had written the word "JERK" on in block capitals.
Milo looked up and smiled. "It looks amazing."
"I was practicing fine control and detail work," Gall said, looking away. "And I'm giving it to you so you don't get any funny ideas about what I'm using it for."
"Thank you."
"Whatever."
