love me - stranger things²

[002] familiar tunes.

WHILST STEVE STOOD OUT FRONT SLINGING ICE CREAM, DUSTIN, JENNIFER, AND ROBIN WERE IN THE BACK, LISTENING TO THE RECORDING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. "That music sounds familiar." Jennifer noted, earning a groan of annoyance from Dustin.

"Will you and Steve please stop about the music! We're trying to translate the Russian." He repeated to the girl.

"I'm just saying it sounds familiar!" 

"Wait, that last part, just one more time." Robin said, cutting the two off. Dustin quickly rewound the tape and pressed play again. "Okay, that word. Um... It's pronounced... 'day-nna-ya.'" Dustin repeating the word to himself. "Which is spelled..." The two quickly began translating the words, Jennifer helping wherever she could. 

"We got our first sentence." Jennifer said excitedly as she opened the window, looking out to Steve who quickly turned to her.

"Oh, seriously?" 

"The week is long." She spoke, imitating a Russian accent as best she could.

"Well that's thrilling." Steve complained.

"Yeah, but at least it's something." Jennifer spoke optimistically, a smile on her face. Once the window was shut, Steve couldn't help but also smile, chuckling at the girl who had just gone back to continue helping Dustin and Robin. 

Later, when the mall had been well closed, Steve, Jennifer, Robin, and Dustin remained out back of the Scoops Ahoy ice cream shop. "The week is long, the silver cat feeds, when blue meets yellow in the west." The four spoke aloud in sync.

They looked at the whiteboard confused for a few moments before moving to close up shop. "I mean, it's just... it just can't be right."

"It's right."

"Honestly, I think it's great news."

"How is this great news? I mean, so much for being American heroes." Steve scoffed. "It's total nonsense."

"It's not nonsense." Jennifer spoke up. "It's obviously a code, if they are Russians, they can't just outright say their plans over radio. 'We attack at dawn.'" She said, imitating a Russian accent once again. "That'd just be stupid." The girl continued, Dustin nodding in agreement.

"What do you mean, a code?"

"Like a super secret spy code." 

"That's a total stretch."

"Not really." Jennifer said in a sing song voice.

"I don't know, is it?" The other girl said at the same time.

"You're buying into this?"

"Jen's right, they wouldn't send out clear messages. And my translation is correct. I know that for sure, so... 'the silver cat feeds.' Why would anyone talk like that unless they're trying to mask the true meaning of their message?"

"See?" Jennifer noted, looking over at Steve momentarily. Dustin and Robin continued to talk as they walked ahead, Steve mimicking the two earning a slight hit on the chest from Jennifer. Steve stopped suddenly, looking at a coin operated horse whilst eagerly searching his pockets for loose change; Jennifer stopped next to the boy, looking at him confused. "What is it?" She questioned.

"The music." Was all he muttered. It took Jennifer a second, though once she realised what he was talking about, she was quick to copy him, searching for any loose change she had on her. Up ahead, Robin and Dustin turned to the two after noticing they had stopped following behind. 

"What are you guys doing?" Robin called out.

"Uh, it's a quarter. I need- do you have a quarter?" The boy asked desperately.