“You didn’t even…savor the…peelies!”
Eleanor and Dania both looked up, confused. Gwen was staring at the computer screen, wearing headphones, as a wheezy laugh rose from the speakers. She quickly grabbed the jack for the headphones and plugged them into the side of the laptop.
The laughter snapped away, but Dania had already dropped her book into her lap.
The screen faded to white, but quickly returned on a still shot of the four main girls yelling at each other. Playful smiles filled the screen – from everyone but Noelle, of course – as the dialogue changed to address the player directly.
“You know how during metamorphosis, inside the chrysalis…” Gwen began.
“I’m doing the voice of Diya!” Eleanor interrupted. “Get your own character.”
“I have Noelle!” Gwen said. “Sorry, I thought it was still her.”
“You wanna play as the Wolf for a bit?”
“I’m fine.”
Eleanor navigated down a series of tree branches, the brisk wind on the tundra nearly sweeping her into the abyss below. As she landed on the lowest step, Dania flew above her, hoping to grab the ––
“What is this, exactly?” she asked.
Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of friends who are always out experiencing the best of entertainment. Be it plays, films, concerts, exhibits, or games, they’ve learned that the arts are best when experienced together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. Recently, the discussion centers on “Cuphead,” a video game by the Moldenhauer Brothers that evokes the spirit of the Fleischer Brothers . Let’s listen in on their conversation…
Gwen worked silently in her room, making notes in a script as she parsed through the pages. Lying on her bed in the silent day, she was struck by what appeared to be a muffled cry of grief from outside the window. She stopped, sat up, and waited for the noise to repeat itself. But nothing came.
“Hello?” Gwen put the script down, and peered out her window towards the street. Nothing seemed amiss – in fact, no one who could have emitted the cry was in sight. Gwen was just sitting back down on the bed when – perfect timing, she thought – the cry happened again. Longer, more indistinguishable words this time.
The Hanslick Girls 