The man blinked owlishly.
“You from ’round here?”
“No.” The man went back to cleaning the headstone.
Seymour was expecting more of an answer than that, but he wasn’t sure what else to say now. He didn’t know if he was actually making a connection or if the man was merely humoring him.
“Right.” Seymour took a step back in preparation to leave.
“When was he born?” the man asked.
“Sorry?”
“When was he born? What day and what month? Your father.”
“Uh.” Seymour had to look back at the marker. “Twenty-fourth of July.”
“Leo,” the man said with a small nod. “They can be vain and arrogant, but also kind, loyal, and exceptionally creative. Their colors are those of the sun, bright and warm. Red, yellow, gold, and orange.”
“Huh?”
“You said you never knew him. I thought perhaps you would enjoy knowing what kind of man he might have been.”
“Oh, well, thank you. That’s real nice of you.” Seymour smiled warmly. “So, you’re into zodiac stuff?”
“Yes. I am into zodiacstuff.” The man chuckled. “It is fascinating.”
“I used to have this big book all about it. It had stuff with birthdays, even down to the time you were born. I thought it was real interestin’. My mama used to read the horoscopes every day. Used to do it with the paper, but uh, I think she had an app for it or somethin’.”
“An app? Like for a phone?”
“Yeah!”
The man seemed intrigued. “That is very convenient.”
“You believe all that stuff, huh?”
“Everyone needs something to believe in, do they not?”
“Fair enough.” Seymour walked a little closer, shoving his hands in his pockets. “All right. Is this the part where you ask me what’s my sign?”
“If you would like to tell me.”
“Aries.”
“Ah. The first sign of the zodiac.” The man beamed. “Confident, brave, often impulsive, and a penchant for competition and arrogance. Ruled by Mars and the element of fire, Aries are said to be one of the most passionate signs.”
Seymour hummed thoughtfully as he considered the description. “I dunno ’bout bein’ competitive, but I can maybe be a little impulsive. Like thinkin’ it’s a good idea to stick around here talkin’ to a handsome stranger in a cemetery.”
The man blinked slowly, and his cheeks turned pink. “That is quite impulsive.”
“Is it a bad thing?” Seymour grinned. “I’ve been told I can be very charming.”
“I am not sure yet.”
“About me bein’ charming?”
“If it is bad.” The man scrubbed at the tombstone.
