“At least you weren’t murdered by a bloodyaxguy.”
“Well, there’s that,” he nodded. “Way to look on thebrightside.”
“That’s my specialty,” I said, even though it was such a lie. I rarely, if ever, took the optimistic view of anything. “So what are you going todonow?”
“I was planning on finding a drainage ditch and crying myself to sleep. Why? What are you going to do today?” He grinned, some of his earlier charmreturning.
“Oh, you know, I was going to watch a bunch of coolbands.”
“Oh, yeah. Huh.Greatidea.”
I grinned, feeling suddenly braver than I had in years. I wanted to help him, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t let my hang-ups holdmeback.
“Getin.”
Ass-guy looked totally stunned. “That’s a nice offer, but you’re a little late. I’m already here, and now I’m heading in the other direction,so…yeah.”
“Get in,” Irepeated.
“Why? I can’t go into the festivalwithyou.”
“Whosays?”
“Uh…the security people. I think they hired Seal Team Six to guard theentrance.”
“I know anotherwayin.”
“Oh, really?” He asked, surprised and instantly curious. “Does this way involve me going to jail if it doesn’tworkout?”
“Surprisingly,no.”
“Well, hot damn. That’s the best news I’ve heardallday.”
“Somehow Ibelieveyou.”
“So just exactly how are you planning to getmein?”
“The validticketway.”
The guy groaned, his face instantly falling as the recently departed despair returned. “You don’t think I already tried that? They’ve been sold out formonths.”
I grinned with a knowledge he didn’t have. My brother was afforded certain privileges that we mere mortals could only dream ofhaving.
“What?” heasked.
“Last chance. Get in or go find yourself aditch.”
The guy evaluated me for a second and then reached for the back door, opened it, and shoved his stuff inside. He climbed into the passenger side, and his sweaty odor immediately permeated the car’s interior. Although I realized it was rude, his stink was rancid enough that I was forced to cover my nose with my crochetsweater.
“Sorry,” he said, and took a quick sniff. His face twisted in disgust. “Oh, damn. That’snasty.”
I nodded my agreement. Again I imagined a team of pest control professionals fumigating my travelcompanion.
“Just so you know, I started my day with deodorant, but even the Old Spice guy couldn’t overcome the disaster todaybecame.”
“You’re fine,” I said, my voicecracking.
I could feel him evaluating me for amoment.
