A New Device

Despite everything that had happened the previous week, Reuben hadn’t forgotten about Ryder sneaking out. After his experience with Ryder’s mind fog ability, one thought kept gnawing at him: What if Ryder got lost out there and needed help? If he couldn’t find his way home, how would he get help? These questions lingered in Reuben’s mind in the days following the incident, stirring a deep sense of worry.

This led Reuben to one answer. Get the kid a cell phone. Reuben recalled Vesna on her cell the day they met. Just like a teenager. Luckily, Ryder hadn't ever taken an interest in really playing with Reuben's cell phone so the guardian never thought to purchase one for him.

But now, the frei was getting a bit more adventurous, Reuben could tell by the late night escape. So, it was time. After he closed up shop, Reuben went to the local retailer and took a look at the different phones he could add to his phone plan. Over all, Reuben figured to get Ryder something easy, user-friendly, and one the guardian could help with had the frei any issues; his old iPhone 6s Plus.

Reuben decided to splurge and get himself an upgrade, leaving the frei with his old phone, which he could easily clear off.

Reuben walked into the house with an oversized shopping bag for what was contained inside. "Ryder, come out here please!" the guardian called to his charge as he set his keys on the table, swinging the bag onto the table as well.

Ryder, donning a new set of horns and wings, quietly floated into the living room. "Yes?"

Reuben's eyes widened upon seeing his charge in the new getup. "Nice horns," he said with a slight nod of his head.

Ryder smirked and nodded in return. He then continued to float there questioning why his guardian had called him out in the first place. He glanced at the bag that Reuben had sitting in front of him and raised a brow.

Reuben cleared his throat before he spoke. "So because of your little excursion the other night, I decided it's finally time to get you something," he began, digging his arm into the bag, pulling out his old phone.

Ryder's brows furrowed when the man took out the phone. He shrugged and shook his head.

"It's a cell phone. That way if you ever need to contact me or anyone else, you can." Reuben held out the phone to his charge, who took it.

"Cool," he said with a smile, taking a look at his new device. "So, how do I use this?"

Reuben chuckled. "I'll teach you, don't worry."  ​