Jean unwrapped two sticks of gum, releasing the clean scent of mint into the air, and popped them in her mouth. “I don’t know. Probably not. But it’s gonna be hilarious watching him try.”
I widened my eyes and shot Delaney a look.
“He can learn,” Delaney said. “We all can learn. It’s close-minded to underestimate someone. We all have the capacity for change. Let’s give him a try. Just for a week or so. If it’s not working out, I’ll tell him.”
“You’re going to fire Death,” I said.
She smiled. “You keep calling him that. While he’s here, he’s not really Death. He’s Than, the kite shop owner. Just another quirky citizen in our quirky little town.”
“I know. I get that,” I said. “Do you understand my hesitation?”
“Yes. Noted. Do you have any other concerns?”
“Who’s going to train him?” I asked.
Quick as a flash, both of my sisters pointed at their noses.
“Nose goes,” they both chirped.
“No,” I said. “I have too much on my plate as it is. Come on.”
“All you have on your plate is a unicorn,” Jean said. “Who I still haven’t met.”
“Trust me, you don’t want to.”
“I think a unicorn sounds fun.”
“Oh, just buckets of rude, demanding, self-centered joy. She took over my guest room, complains about my cooking, and won’t do as she’s told.”
Jean grinned. “No sympathy from me. You got me volunteered for the stupid Slammin’ Salmon Serenade. Bertie is a task master. Every time I think I’ve slipped away, she shows up right in front of me. She tracked me down when I was hiding out over lunch yesterday.”
“Where were you hiding?” Delaney asked.
“Here. Like, right here.” She pointed at the room.
I laughed.
“The door was locked!” she said. “But she came in anyway.”
“She’s a Valkyrie,” I said. “What did you expect?”
“Privacy. I expected to be able to eat lunch without her dumping a pile of paperwork on top of me.”
“Aw, poor thing.” Delaney cooed.
“There, there,” I said.
“You both suck.”
“Well, we both took our turn being Bertie’s lackeys,” Delaney said. “It is your turn, girl.”
“But it’s a salmon parade. It doesn’t even involve costumes. It’s just, like…dead fish walking.”
“So don’t care,” I said. “I had to roller skate breakfast goods to people.”
“And I had to judge a rhubarb contest,” Delaney said. “Rhubarb.”
“So you can march with the fishes, sister,” I said.
