by fuckin’ robot!”
Snod ignored him, getting back on target and moving quickly toward Mark and Frankie. He was
stumbling a little bit, and he had no idea what he was going to do. He did not possess a wide array of
social skills and any tact he may have had was lost from all the alcohol he’d been guzzling down.
He boldly approached them without any care about interrupting their conversation. He showed his
teeth in what could have passed for a smile and said loudly, “Hi.”
Mark did not look pleased with the sudden intrusion. He scoffed, scanning over Snod with a very
forced smile. He wrinkled his nose as if he smelled something unpleasant, asking politely, “So,
Frankie. Who’s your... friend?”
“This is Obadiah,” Frankie said, gently placing a comforting hand on Snod’s arm. “He’s new in town,
and he’s staying with me for a little while.”
“Staying with you?” Mark scowled, his eyes wandering back to Snod with a new and intense scrutiny
as if he had missed something important. The forced smile returned, and he asked stiffly, “Where are
you from, Obadiah?”
“Around,” Snod replied shortly.
“He’s from the Lancaster area in Pennsylvania,” Frankie explained quickly. “He was part of the
Amish community there, out on Rumspringa. He’s not planning to go back, so I’m helping him get a
fresh start.”
Snod made a face at the lie, though Frankie told it well.
“Little old for that, aren’t you?” Mark asked Snod with a faint smirk. “Thought the Amish did that
when they were teenagers.”
“Late bloomer,” Snod replied with a venomous sneer.
“Well, isn’t that sweet,” Mark oozed. “You know, that’s one of the things I love about you, Frankie.
You have such a kind heart. You’re always taking pity on the less fortunate.”
Snod knew it was meant to be an insult, but he grinned anyway, boldly sliding his arm around
Frankie’s waist as replied, “Oh, but I’ve been very fortunate. He’s been showing me a whole new
world, and it’s been... intense.”
Frankie laughed weakly, and his thoughts were volatile.
I’m going to kill you.
Snod only smiled more brightly, very pleased with himself when he saw how Mark was beginning to
