“Sinker, splitter?”
“Fastball naturally tails away from righties, into lefties,” Puppy said proudly.
“Let’s do it, historian, ‘cause the less time I spend with these ghosts the happier I’ll be.”
Puppy threw up on Vern’s shoes.
• • • •
BOAR FACE SMILED so broadly she could’ve swallowed a squirrel.
“Mr. Saul is very happy.” She leaned against the glass wall to block out any intruders, though much of the staff still hadn’t made it in by noon after the Story. With her big-shouldered black dress and jacket, she pretty much eclipsed all the light from the hallway.
“What did Mr. Pietro say?”
Katrina pawed carefully at Zelda’s drawings. “We know where he stands.”
“But you have to show him first,” Zelda persisted.
Boar Face’s smile froze a little. “And why is that?”
“Collegiality.”
“Of course,” Boar Face said with mock gratitude. “Once I have his job I’ll be very collegial.”
Zelda knew she was roaming a little far out of her comfort zone, which is why she’d avoided the work world. Succeed and do well, but not at another’s expense. That wasn’t success, but corruption and elitism. A Family helps each other, Zelda silently recited Grandma’s Seventh Insight.
“I kind of wish you would show him.”
Boar Face’s shadow blotted out the chair.
“Since I’m part of this,” Zelda went on.
“Your insights and my guidance,” Katrina apprehended each syllable. “Partners.”
“I’m glad my drawings inspired that…”
“Inspired by my guidance,” she repeated wintrily. “As I’m inspiring your rise.” She sat on the arm of the chair; Zelda hoped she wasn’t propelled through the glass wall like a see-saw. “With me in charge, there’s an opening for you.”
Zelda stared dimly. No one had ever offered her a promotion before. Other than art and dance and acting classes, she’d never even received a grade above a C. Boar Face sensed that and charged through the swamp.
“I appreciate all this is new for you. Which is why your perspective is so wonderful. Fresh, like the sea air.” Katrina dragged Zelda and the chair closer to the desk. “Mr. Saul is a legend. But old. The organization needs new ideas. That’s what struck me about your sketches. Your salmon boy with the curly-haired fins and tail is priceless. My knowledge and your etchings make a powerful combo, Zelda.”
Zelda smiled politely. “But Mr. Pietro…”
“Pietro would nail you sitting down and then nail me standing on my head without wiping off his pecker,” Katrina growled, quickly resuming that sweet smile. Chomp on bones, swallow tendons. “Zelda, stick with me. I’ll teach what you need to know.”
• • • •
PUPPY BARELY MADE it to the Couples Room ahead of Annette. On his way, he’d been frozen outside a discount clothing store on East 175th where that piece of crap Hazel smirked through the window as if knowing Puppy was standing there, watching the vidnews.
“Bring back the HGs. Local pitching legend Puppy Nedick, who doubles as the game’s historian, tried his hand at the AlleGed sport this morning.”
Three clips of baseballs ricocheting off the left, center and right field walls.
“Ouch. Oh not to be a baseball. But the good thing about the AG sport is pretty much anyone can try. No skills required. Check it out for yourself. Least they have some good food.”
Hazel bit into a hot dog and barked, ending his two PM vidsports report with a smirk.
Annette swept into the Couples Room as if riding a white cloud of happy. She startled the guard with a peck on his cap and gave Puppy a big smooch on the nose.
“Hello, dear Puppy.” She frowned. “Why the sad face. Did you not get a doggie biscuit today?”
“Screw you, Annette. I’m not in the mood.”
“Be cheerful. It’s a beautiful day.” She rolled up the white shutters before the guard could stop her; they were a line of defense against an ex being tossed out the window. “Almost sunny. We’re young and alive.”
“More or less.”
Annette scooted her chair closer. Puppy tensed.
“Am I too close?”
“Depends what you’re planning.”
She flapped her lips, making a popping noise. “You look well. Lost weight?”
“A little. I’ve been vomiting more than usual.”
“The less fat opens up your eyes. And me?”
“Gorgeous as ever.”
Annette waited for the guard to agree, spinning her red curls around. “What about the color?”
“Astonishing.” Either she was on medication or plotting something. Sometimes she’d get this way after a shopping spree.
“My potential fiancé agrees. He likes you, by the way.”
Puppy slid his chair back a few inches. “I don’t know him.”
“Oh yes you do.”
“No.”
“Oh yes you do.” Annette deliberated if it’d be fun to repeat the exchange one last time. “Elias.”
He thought for a second. “Elias? Doesn’t go ding dong.”
“Try Elias Kenuda.” Annette grinned as Puppy fell down the dark hole and out the other end.
“Kenuda’s your fiancé?” he said dully.
“Not officially. Remember Grandma’s wishes. That’s why we’re here.”
“And stop talking in that sing-song voice,” he snapped.
“Sorry. Love has buoyed me into the sky.” Annette shook the gold bracelet on her left wrist. “From guess who?”
“Elias Kenuda.”
“Oh, Puppy. Puppy, Puppy, Puppy. Elias and I agree you have such a way about you.”
“You and Kenuda talk about me?”
“Oh yes.”
“Stop saying oh yes.”
“He likes you. And?”
“What?” His lips didn’t move.
“Do you like him?”
“Oh yes. Maybe we can have a play date.”
“That’d be lovely because he knows.”
“Knows what?”
“That we were, you know.”
“You can say married, Annette. It’s why we’re here.”
They smiled at the relieved guard, who saw the day coming when these wretched people would be gone.
“I didn’t go into details, Puppy. Oh, before he officially met you, I did complain a little about our, you know.”
“Marriage,” he prompted.
“Saying that perhaps you weren’t the best husband for a number of reasons.”
“Which were?”
Annette frowned. “I didn’t say. So many choices. Oh, maybe I mentioned you always had a lot of potential, all unrealized, of course.”
He didn’t argue.
“Certainly I wouldn’t go into, you know.”
“I don’t know.”
“Neither does anyone else. Like Kenuda.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll make sure he only hears good things so he supports your moronic baseball.”
“He’s supporting baseball?”
“If I stop saying oh yes will you stop repeating back my words? Good.
