Gilded Latten Bones

80

Business rolled along while I snoozed. People came, people went. General Block, Belinda, and Saucerhead all left. Some beer and a nap were all Tharpe needed. Singe and Jon Salvation got their heads together, scheming something. Morley woke up and turned crabby because he had missed Belinda. Salvation left after his confab with Singe.

Tinnie dropped in and spent some quality time with Singe, their banter getting heated. First, Singe would not let her wake me up. She used the words "too much drama" more than once. Then the overdue dividend came up. The exchange went from heated to icy. Tinnie refused to believe that our shares had not been paid.

Singe said, "I have received no deposit receipt from our bankers. Produce evidence that payment was made."

This was when Morley entered and saw the actual exchange.

Tinnie replied, "We have not failed, ever, to meet our obligations, on time and in full. What you claim is impossible."

Singe countered, "You handle the fiscal paperwork for Amalgamated. Even when you don't authorize payments you keep records of them. So I say again, show me proof of payment. Our bankers would have given you a receipt, too. Produce it."

Morley was impressed by Tinnie's self-control. By this point most Karentines would have launched a vile rant about uppity vermin.

"Tinnie saves her bile for me."

Evidently Singe's grim, firm, confident, no-nonsense attitude got the best of the redhead. She scribbled a note, then roared out of the house.

Morley said, "I expect somebody at Amalgamated is hanging by his short hairs now. If what Singe claimed is true."

Having seen Typhoon Tinnie Tate in a category-four rage I was glad the bad weather was headed elsewhere.

I read her note.Sorry I came when you were resting. I had a wonderful time at rehearsal. Never felt so happy. Thank you, Malsquando. Love you, and always will. X O X

It was not signed.

Had anyone read it?

Singe? Almost certainly.

Morley? No. His odd sense of honor would forbid it.

Dean might have done had he known about it and been inclined to think being aware of the contents would help him protect the household.

Penny appeared while I brooded, bringing tea. She saw the unfolded note. She reddened.

So.

Why would she be nosy?

Did she have some vague notion about getting back at Tinnie for having fed her so much slime about me?

Morley watched Penny leave. He chuckled.

"What?"

"You missed some real excitement."

"My head hurts."

"It ought to. And you did it to yourself."

Not only did my head hurt, it was still wobbly from the dizzy water. "What did I miss? Besides Tinnie?"

"Winger. She came looking for her pet playwright. He was gone by then. She was hammered. She wouldn't believe Singe. Singe and Dollar Dan got her under control. She went away, then."

"Bad shape, eh?"

"Blitzed pathetic. She's too old for melodrama."

"Aren't we all? But still it happens."

We shared a moment of silence, reflecting on the absurdities of our relationships.

Morley asked, "Is it even possible for men to get past adolescence?"

"Maybe not. I'm missing Old Bones big-time right now. He could share centuries of observation."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning he could answer your question. Me, I think we can't help but act like juvenile idiots till we can't contribute to the continuation of our tribes anymore."

"If we were well behaved and thought with our heads. ."

"We're slaves to our little best friends. But the gods had a reason for making us that way."

"A disgusting digression, Garrett. But you're probably right. And the gods made sure that girls are dim enough to believe anything we tell them until they're old. Nature wants that next generation's boots on the ground before anything else."

"Because we do think, though, we make it more of an adventure by coming up with ways to get around Nature."

Morley lost interest. He asked, "Where are we going, Garrett?"

"Nowhere. I'm going to sit here and feel sorry for myself. My head will be ready to explode in a couple more hours."

"I meant in our relationships."

What? We were men. We didn't get into stuff like that. Not seriously. Did we?

"You and Tinnie practically announced to the world that you were going to tie the knot. You moved in together. Then the invitations never came. After a while people forgot. And now you're involved with a totally delicious confection off the Hill. Who must have a love-me spell on her. Even Dean likes her better than he likes Tinnie."

"I'm not involved. Not yet."

"You're sleeping in the same bed. One of you doesn't care who knows. She moved a trunk into your room. I'm pretty sure that qualifies as involved."

"Where did you hear. .?"

"Singe let it slip. Accidentally on purpose, I'm sure. She says the woman has no shame."

"In private. But she does have a sense of propriety. She wouldn't hurt someone deliberately."

This stuff was a lot less complicated when I was younger.

Singe came in. She gave us the fish-eye, favoring me with the magnum variety. "The ladies are here for your evening treatment, Mr. Dotes. And you, Mr. Garrett, need to reacquaint yourself with the bathtub. A change of apparel would not be amiss, either."

She had to be channeling my mother.

"I took a bath last week!" With a vintage eight-year-old whine.

A bunch of stuff happened at once, starting with Dean's announcement of a late supper as the ratwomen closed in on Morley. Dotes got a chance to gobble a few mouths full, then participated in the customary rituals in my former office. Singe went and worked hard in her office. I drank a mug of beer, then took myself up to bed. I had a full belly and the world wasn't going to let me do anything else anyway.

I just wanted to escape to dreamland before my hangover set in.

"I'll be responsible next year, Ma."

When I woke up because I needed to commune with the chamber pot I was no longer alone. Strafa stirred but did not waken. When I climbed back into bed she snuggled against me like a second skin. I found it amazing that she could get so close and still leave me comfortable. I did not stay awake long. I spent those moments wondering how Strafa had gotten in. I didn't remember leaving the window open.

It was open now. The air was cool. Strafa's warmth felt good.