The Moon's Edge in


Payback (pt. 2)

They were at the regular booth, when I stopped by the Good Food Diner.
"Hey, John," I said, "Hi, Steve."
John moved in to let room for me to sit. I took off my brown courderoy jacket, sat down. Steve didn't seem especially pleased to see me. There was nothing I could put my finger on, really; just a feeling.
"Go away, Arnie," Steve said, "And fast."
"What're you talking about?" John and I said as one. The only difference was, when Steve stared at John knowingly, I was still confused, and John said, "Oh."
"This is about why you haven't been around lately," I said to Steve, "Isn't it?"
Steve shook emphatically. John said, "No! He's got a point, Arn. Get out."
"What goes on, guys?" I said, elbowing John. I surmised from his statements that he was the weak link in this duo. "Steve's got a woman, doesn't he?"
"It's better you don't know," Steve said, and, presumably to silence John, he added, "I don't think you're ready."
I nodded, understanding now what my friend was talking about, but feeling full his sincerity. He meant what he said and he said what meant, and what could my faithful response possibly be?
"Pay me," I said.
John quickly reached into his pocket.
"Something big is up!" I said, moving off of the red vinyl seat to look Steve straight in the nose. "Spill."
"Something's up," Steve sighed, agreed, looked at the clock, "Red's in town."
"Red?" "Red's in town," John repeated, "and she's coming here."
Little Red Spoonsworth, Steve's kid cousin, doesn't live in the City, but she comes in every now and then, professes undying love for me, follows me around like a pitiful puppy, then goes home. Last time I saw her, she was twelve and desperately trying to convince me to wed her. That I was just beginning a years-long love affair didn't seem to sway her at all. I was a mature fifteen, and had no use for an obsessed prepube following me around. I tried to let her down gently, but still, it was a disturbing scene.
And now, the poor sun-freckled, fire-headed skinny, gum-gnawing gangly kid was back to cause more trouble for the two of us. This, I could not allow.
"Say no more," I said to the guys. I stood up and readied myself to go. "What's Red doing in town? I thought she was in boarding school?"
"Spring Break," Steve said.
I nodded. No more chit-chat. Red was coming, and I wanted to have long-flown before she could get her prepubescent appendages into me. No more would I have this little girl three steps behind me, starting incessant conversations about me Me ME! No more would I deal with Steve's frustrated accusations of me molesting his young cousin. I had to go. I picked up my jacket and fluffed it out.
"How's she doing?" I asked.
"She's good," John said.
"You've seen her?" "I've seen her."
"Right, well, gotta go," I put on the jacket, "Tell her I had an appointment far out of town."
The door swung open.
I didn't have to look. I knew how the world worked. I had dallied too long, and now was caught. And I'd been so close to escape, too.
I turned with the sincerest smile I could fake plastered on my face, ready to face the furies.
I saw a siren.
Red was a little girl, still, but one of the most beautiful little girls I had ever seen. her red curly hair rested far ont oher shoulders. Her skin was still pale, but so much less freckled than I remembered. She was dressed not like a preteen, but more like a powerful goddess. Her jeans were crisp, with a tight white v-neck tucked into them, mostly covered by a denim button down -- this is not normally my vision of perfection, but suddenly, it seemed to suit the bill quite nicely. Small gold hoop earrings and a thin gold necklace that nestled low down her T made me realize just how much little Red had grown up.
Her rhythm coming over to the booth was methodical, as her knee-high black leather boots beat time with my heart. Her green eyes sparkled, even twenty, fifteen, ten, five feet away.
"Hey, Arnie," she said.
Golly.

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