AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Mm. Tasty. Bruno, you should try it.”
He says, “I like the nigiri, myself. Is there some salmon in there?”
As Bruno reaches into the doctor’s bowl, he looks up at both of us with an awkward laugh and a half-hearted protest. “What is this? Why are you here?”
I tell him, “Relax. What are you so jumpy about?”
“Why would you be worried?” Bruno asks him. “Man like you? Man in your position. What would you have to worry about?”
“It’s a nice afternoon.” I say, “You’ve got a little time to yourself. Nice break from work. You should be enjoying your late lunch. What is it, actually? Clear that up for us, would you, is it a late lunch or an early dinner for you?”
“Yeah,” Bruno says, “Back to work after this? Saw a few more people’s heads open before you go home to the kids?”
“Wait…” the doctor starts to rise up off the bench.
Bruno lays a hand on his forearm.
“You don’t want to leave your dinner, now, do you? All that nice fish? That would be a terrible waste.”
“Is there,” he looks between us, anxiously, “Is there something I can do for you?”
“Ah, now that’s nice,” I tell him. “Isn’t that nice, Bruno?”
Bruno nods. “There is a generous and a gentlemanly offer.”
I nod, too. “I wonder if there is something the kind and courteous doctor could do for us, Bruno. What do you think?”
“It’s a tempting proposition, and that’s absolutely for certain.” He looks into the doctor’s face. The face that is draining to appear a little pale. “I wonder what he might do. What do you think, Donna Fortuna? What might the good doctor have in his gift to do for you?”
I straighten up with a smile. “You know, Bruno, I think that our friend the cultured and well connected senior neurologist might be able to make some introductions for us.”
“We are friends,” Bruno still holds the doctor’s arm, “Aren’t we, doc?”
“Come on. Please. What’s going on here?”
I nod, “And friends like to be introduced to other friends.”
Bruno says, “That is often the way. And that’s how we broaden our circles of acquaintance.”
“Indeed,” I smile. “We widen our our spheres of influence and deepen our interactions in society.”
“What is this?” The doctor’s voice is becoming thinner. Rising a little in pitch. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh,” I say, “Please. Don’t be too modest and coy with us, doc.”
“C’mon, Doc,” Bruno nudges him. “You’ve been meeting some people, now we’d like to meet them, too.”
I open my hands, “Our friend, introduces his friends,”
“Us,” Bruno prompts.
“To his new friends.” I wait.
“Comeon, Doc.” Bruno looks in his eye. “You don’t want to beunfriendly, do you?”
“Not with us,” I say, “Surely.”
“We would be offended.” Bruno tells him.
