#phile boyce

[captainsbabysitter-blog]

Culture Shock

Okay, so because of a conversation I had with @gracieminabox about Phil Boyce, I had this little idea stuck in my head. I absolutely love the idea of Phil coming from my home state (and from the area I spent a considerable amount of my childhood, no less), so I’m keeping it.

Summary: Phil goes to Boston for med school and during the first week there, notices quite a few differences between his hometown of Waterville, Maine and the massive New England city.

Characters: Phil Boyce

Length: 689 words

Not even close to a comprehensive list on the differences between Maine and Massachusetts. We used to be the same state, but we’re nowhere near being the same state.

I more just needed enough for a quick catch-up convo between siblings who haven’t lived more than half an hour away from each other since they were born.

It’s not really even that big as far as cities go, but Boston was worlds away from Augusta or even Portland in terms of size. The towering buildings dotted every inch of the skyline as Phil approached from I-95, gazing out over the water from where the shuttle sat stuck in traffic on the Tobin Bridge.

He was cutting it all pretty close with only a few days to settle into his shared apartment, officially meet his new roommates, and learn the best train route from his apartment to campus. Originally, he planned to get there at least a week before classes were set to start, but the tantrum his oldest niece threw when she found out he was leaving the state took days to soothe. She only stopped with the hysterics when he promised weekly video calls.

Really, he only had himself to blame according to his sister. He was the one who spoiled her. In a million years, Phil would never say that was a bad thing even with the proof wailing (quite literally) in his face.

The first week was a trial. Actually… Trial was too mild a term. The entire week was a test of his determination and character. By the time he was waiting for Sarah to pick up the phone, he was beyond exhausted. It was only the excited voice of the 3-year-old Olivia exclaiming, “Unca Phil!” that finally gave him the shot of second hand energy needed to grace her with a warm smile.

“Hey there, munchkin! You having a good week?”

“Uh-huh.” She immediately launched into a disorganized toddler babble about everything she did (real or imagined) during the week he’d been gone. He indulged her with surprised gasps and exaggerated ‘really?’s until she seemed to ramble herself into a light doze.

Sarah released the breath she’d probably been holding since he left the state. “Finally… Do you know how hard it is to get her to sleep when she wants to ask a million questions about everything always? Reminds me of you.”

Phil just offered a mild smile as Sarah’s husband came to collect their daughter for bed, allowing her to turn her attention back to her brother. “So how’s your first week been?”

“Why didn’t you tell me there were so many ‘Maine things’ they don’t do in Boston?” His face had scrunched a little as he spoke. “About the third day, I realized no one actually talks to each other on the T.”

He couldn’t help but feel she was laughing at him. She shook with it until tears leaked from her eyes before she finally calmed down and was able to give him an answer. “Dad said we couldn’t. Part of some rite of passage when you visit away the first time. There’s no Moxie, either. Not that you drink soda.”

“There’s a corner store up the road apiece that has it if I ever decide to start,” he chuckled before looking thoughtful again. “You wouldn’t think things would be so different, being in the same region.”

“Boston’s just shy of ten times the size of Portland in terms of population, Philly,” she countered easily. “But really, you doing okay? Mum wanted me to ask if you needed us to send you anything. I mean… She’s gonna send it whether you want it or not, but at least I can tell her I asked.”

“I’m okay for now, I think. I wouldn’t say no to some of dad’s whoopie pies to endear me to the roommates, though. I’d try, but…”

“You’d burn the place down. Yeah, I can ask him to whip up a batch.”

“Thanks, sis.” He glanced up at the clock with a sigh. “I gotta go. If you think regular college is bad, try med school sometime.”

“No thanks. I’ll leave that to you.”

He barked out laugh at that and offered up a bright smile. “Probably a smart choice. Let mom know I’ll call her tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure thing, Philly. I’ll tell Livie you said good night. You know she’ll be offended we didn’t wake her up to say it. Night.”

“Night Sarah.”