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21 August
2009
| "The I Do's of
March"
by M. Mitchell Marmel & E.O. Costello © 2007-9 by M. Mitchell Marmel and E.O. Costello Willow Fawnsworthy, Reggie Buckhorn, Franklin Stagg, Orrin Brush, Leslie duCleds, Kara Karoksdottir, Charles Foster Crane, Inocenta du Cleds (nee de Ciervos), Carlos de Ciervos, Senora de Ciervos © Eric Costello Rosie Baumgartner, © M. Mitchell Marmel Marryin’ Sam and Lulubelle Mae Brunswick © E.O Costello and M. Mitchell Marmel Brenda and Covina Johnson © Walter D. Reimer Part Four
Willow: The female Cerberus (well, tigress) who keeps the "BOYZ" out was on duty, whitewashing the wooden picket fence rather than guarding the portals. "Hi," I said. "Hi, yourself," the bouncer grinned through some white speckles on her muzzle. "Bar's open. Go on in." I rather expected the Lotus' bar would be open during a typhoon. (Rosie later confirmed this.) Apart from a handsome Malinois gal in a barkeep outfit polishing the mirror behind the bar, the place seemed deserted. "Hi! I'm looking for Brenda or Covina." A cheeky grin from the canine. "I'm Covina. What can I do you out of?" I liked her. Adopting a conspiratorial grin, I leaned forward and growled softly, "Rosie sent me." Covina tossed back her short mop of dark headfur and giggled. “Rosie sent you? How sweet of her! I’ll go get my hip boots and the baby oil.” I snickered as well. Covina grinned at me. "Rosie sent you, huh? You must be Willow, then. Rosie’s told us a lot about you.” "All good, I hope." "Mostly, yeah. What's up?" "Welll...Rosie’s run into a bit of trouble at Luchow’s, and she asked me to come down here and see if I can get a few extra sets of paws.” “A bit of trouble, huh?” A blond, slightly gruff-sounding Labrador emerged from the storeroom behind the bar and sidled up beside the Malinois. “I’m Brenda,” she said, kissing Covina on the cheek. “Pleased to meet you,” I said. “Yeah, Rosie needs a little help getting junk moved out of the place so she can get it cleaned up. She wants to get Luchow’s back up and running before tourist season.” Brenda hummed a verse or so of Rosie's tune, If It's Tourist Season, Why Can't We Shoot 'Em? “That fast?” “That’s what she told me.” The two canines looked at each other for a moment, then Covina nodded. "We owe Rosie one. We'll see about rounding a crew up." “Sure,” Brenda added. “Anything to help.” Fortified with a couple of hot ciders and warm smooches from the pair, I headed for the water taxis. Until reinforcements showed up, I figured Rosie could use my help. After all, this restaurant was a dream of hers... (And Rosie's an excellent friend.) Damn tootin.’ ***
Rosie: Willow came back quick with good news. Yay! Knew I could count on Brenda and Covina. Great people. I attended their wedding ceremony about a year and a half back. Spontoonie service, oiled fur and all. Followed by a naked wrestling match to see whose last name they would use. I kinda think Covina lost on purpose. Brenda's kinda always been the man of the house, if ya catch my drift. Anyhow, various and sundry noises from downstairs told me Willow was getting her paws dirty schlepping more stuff to the street. I was managing to move a fair bit from upstairs myself. Tho' I hadda wonder if old Luchow was related to the Collie Brothers... Hadn't found any Model T parts, though. Yet. Willow poked her head in the door. "Found something." I raised an eyebrow. "Model T radiator?" "What? No, this." She held out a small box. I opened it and smiled. "Oh, NICE." "That what I think it is?" "Yep. Ol' Man Luchow's recipe file." Since I'm a Yiddische tochter, I could make out most of the German. "Lot of expensive ingredients, there." I closed the box and sighed. "Well, once the place gets on its feet. 'Till then, it'll be simple stuff . . ." Willow started down the stairs. "Hm. I just got an idea." I quirked an eyebrow towards the bed parts. "I love it when you talk dirty." "Hush, you." I also love it when Willow blushes. She continued, firmly, "Anyway, think we can get things up and running in time for Les' wedding?" "Mmm. Mebbe. Depends on...well. Think our erstwhile boss would go for it?" "Oh, I'm pretty sure he'd agree. No reason not to." I nodded agreement. "Lord knows I could use the money." I grinned. "And I'm pretty sure Les won't stiff me." And if he tried, Willow would just finagle a way to have him fire me then rehire me at higher pay. Strange and mysterious, the ways of does. "Darn tootin' he wouldn't. And it'd take some of the burden off - Hi!" She broke off and headed down the stairs, waving and flagging. Over the railing, I could see Les and Reggie entering my biersgarten (as I've started calling the side courtyard) with Inocenta in tow and followed by . . . eight . . . nine . . . ten strapping young visions of womanhood from the Lotus. God bless Brenda and Covina Johnson. next |