Page 77 of Rigid

“No,” Eddie blurted at the same time.

P-Nut shrugged and flopped down on the couch. “Sorry, Ed.”

“You guys better be nice to him.”

“I’m always nice,” P-Nut said. “Your dad’s the hot-head.”

“Depends on which context you’re talking about,” Smokey said, his tone thick with sarcasm.

I glanced at the clock.

5:30.

I looked at Eddie and then stood. “Want to start getting ready?”

“What about these boxes?” P-Nut asked jokingly.

I looked at Smokey, winked, and then turned toward P-Nut. “Gotta respect a bitch like me who’ll make a prick like you carry her boxes to the bedroom.”

He sat up and blinked a few times. “Did you just call me a prick?”

I nodded. “Not a prick, prick. But a prick in the not so much a prick sense. I meant prick in an affectionate way. You know, anything can be said if it’s done in the right context.”

“One point for Sandy, zero for the Nut,” Smokey said.

As I walked toward Eddie, she turned toward her room.

“He keeps track of everything,” she whispered as I stepped to her side. “And he forgets nothing.”

“I’ll remember that,” I said.

“We’re going to have to be conservative on the makeup,” she said as we walked into her bedroom. “Or dad will flip out.”

“I know a few tricks.”

“I wish I knew a trick to make him let me go out with Richard. I’m afraid he’s going to be a jerk.”

“Maybe he’ll surprise you.”

“I doubt it,” she said.

I on the other hand, reserved hope.

Because so far, Smokey had surprised the shit out of me.

TWENTY-FOUR

Smokey

When the doorbell rang, I felt sick. It wasn’t the kind of sick that a pill or medicine could fix, either. It was fear of the inevitable. Probably the same feeling those sentenced to hang got as they were led to the gallows.

“You want me to get that?”

I swallowed heavily and nodded.

P-Nut pulled the door open.

“Mr. Wallace?”