Dot snort-laughs.“I’m game to have my mind blown.How ‘bout it, Henry?”
“Um, well…” My refusal catches in my throat when Venus descends the stairs over Mr.Massie’s shoulders.Her delicate fingers dance down the banister, and her hair flows like a golden cape behind her.
Dot leans closer.“Ah, I see what’s gotten you so tongue-tied.”
“It’s Venus.”Mr.Massie gawks like a cartoon character.He drops his case and falls to his knees, blocking her path.“Ah, Venus!Please say you remember me, or my heart will break into a billion pieces.”
She tilts her head and quirks her brow.“Mr.Massie, hello.”
“You remember him?”I blurt.
“He used to do so-called magic tricks with an invisible ball and a paper bag, remember?”
“You never fell for it,” he laughs, taking her hand and holding it in both of his.“Still, it’s a pleasure to see you again.You’re lovelier than ever.”He kisses her hand before jumping to his feet.“You’re just in time to see my real act.”
“Whatrealact?”
He bows, like they’re meeting for the first time.“Eric the Sword-Swallower, at your service.”
“She’s not interested, Mr.Massie,” I say, annoyed by him and especially by that hand kiss.
“That’s an erroneous assumption,” Venus snaps, her green eyes wide and twinkling in a challenge.She turns her attention back to Mr.Massie.“You’re agenuinesword-swallower?”
“Bona fide and verified,” he coos.“I’m happy to show you, if Henry will allow it.”
All eyes land on me, and I must relent.“Fine.”
Mr.Massie grabs Venus’s hand and escorts her to a bench against the wall.He motions for me to take the seat beside her.Then, he asks Dot, “Fancy being my assistant?”
“Does that mean I get to call 9-1-1?”she says.
“That won’t be necessary,” he says, unbuckling his case and opening it on the floor between them.
My arms fold over my chest as I prepare my thanks-but-no-thanks speech for when this is over.
“Why the reluctance?”Venus asks beside me as he gets ready.
“I’m trying to get away from the carnival vibe and turn it into something more authentic, historically, and locally.This guy might as well be a fake Elmo in Times Square,” I whisper back.“I’m surprised you remember him.”
Her shoulder brushes mine as she shrugs.“Ibarelyremember, but Maggie didn’t like him, and… he and I had that in common.”
I side-eye her, adjusting my glasses.“You shouldn’t have felt unliked by Mom or anyone.They didn’t know you enough, didn’t give you a chance to be liked.Truly, I’m sorry.”
Astonishment flashes across her face for a nanosecond.“It’s fine.That was the norm.You were the anomaly.They had valid reasons to dislike me, especially Maggie.”
“You aren’t unlikeable, Venus.Far from it.Mom was… is overprotective.”
“She’s right to be, and I don’t blame her, even after—” Her lips clamp shut abruptly.“Sword swallowing is an ancient art?—”
“Even after what?”
“Ladies and gentlemen, what you’re about to see is not for the faint of heart,” Mr.Massie announces loudly.“Never try this at home.”
He goes on with his short, dramatic spiel while Venus leans closer, whispering in my ear.“Keep an open mind, Henry.I think you’ll like this.”
He asks Dot to test his swords, ranging in length from sixteen to twenty-four inches.I cringe when he licks the first blade, tilts his head back, and sends it down his gullet.He extracts it a moment later, seemingly unharmed.Then, he holds the longer blade in his hand, bringing it closer for us to inspect.I don’t bother, but Venus picks it up and gives it a careful inspection.
“Impressive,” she decides.
