Chapter Thirty-two
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Funny, no odd, it took us almost as long in Customs exitin’ the North as it took to enter. And then, Customs on the South side took more interest in us than I expected, too. My mind churned a bit about the latter. Tryin’ to avoid anarchist gettin’ in? I doubted that. Maybe syncin’ up who went up North, and ensurin’ they made it home in one piece?
Not once had Hale complained about the pain he had to be experiencin’.
So good to be back home, better to get back in Mama’s car. Safe-like. Instead of headin’ for the East-West Turnpike, Hale told me to head to the Hilton. He needed some sleep. Papa’s told me in the past that there’s no sleepin’ in a hospital. Hale had booked a suite without mentionin’ it. That should irritate me. But Hale is Hale.
On the way there, Hale began navigatin’ me off the path I knew would take us to the hotel. Turned out to be to an upscale restaurant. Evidently made a reservation for that too. Again, the irritation burned just a tad. Occurred to me he didn’t want just any diner this afternoon, after the “incident”.
Ogres eat, a lot. Hale made out to be a serious ogre, at the restaurant. All the stitches didn’t worry his appetite. Even Cordiz began to watch him pile it in, after orderin’ the second side of beef. One Ogre Platter is usually good for two, as it is. Yeah, I guess those human servin’s he got in the hospital left him tummy-restless. Funny.
Cordiz had said, “Ya keepin’ the family ranchin’ business successful all on yar own?” I’m learnin’ to enjoy the hen’s sarcasm. Who knew she even knew that our great-great-grands run the largest ranch on the continent.
Don’t know if it was passive aggressive, or just Hale bein’ Hale, but never looked up from his platter. Hadn’t said anythin’ to either of us, anyway, except to give me directions. Seemed to have a good rapport with our orc server, though. Maybe he was thinkin’ about Beky. They’d exchanged a gazillion texts throughout the day.
Oh, well. It allowed Cordiz and me to chat like ogre hens. A topic that came up a lot—guess Cordiz was feelin’ a bit, say guilty—why she was still stayin’ with us, drivin’ east with us. Her eyes washed over Hale a lot durin’ the topic. Pretty sure she was wantin’ his—validation. A positive comment. The poor hen is stupid in crush with my emotionless sibling.
She might be headin’ for a painful fall, but I enjoy her company. Like havin’ a real sibling to talk to. That sounded mean in my head. But, Hale isn’t one much for talkin’. So blah blahin’ with Cordiz, just felt good. I should sense some guilt in takin’ advantage of her that way. It was a bit sad, I’ll admit, that I had to engage a stranger to be my friend. A bit—sick. But to be fair, I knew she didn’t want to get back to her real job. So didn’t hurt nothin’, I rationalized. Except maybe what Papa was prolly payin’ for her playin’ sibling with me.
A few hours later, with her and me sittin’ cross-legged on our beds facin’ each other continuin’ the blah blahin’, Cordiz began to feel like—didn’t have a word for it. But I sensed a bond between us that would last a lifetime.
My life is so laid out in front of me. She’s way past the teen years, well into a career. But she seemed more confused about her future than any fifteen-year-old.
“What should I do?” she asked me.
I maybe stared at her with a stupid face.
“I’ve shared more with ya than I woulda a real sibling,” she said. “I expect ya to support yar end of the relationship and give me some good advice.” She said that with a bit of irritation in her voice, which I took as more of her sarcasm.
“Uh, ya owe a lot still on school loans,” I stated the obvious, under pressure.
“I deserve to be happy, huh?” she asked.
Givin’ up on her silly dreams about Hale would be a good place to start.
“Ya’re not goin’ to give me any witch wisdom?”
“Not a witch,” I growled.
“Claims the witch who speaks to her sibling mind to mind.”
“It’s not like that,” I said.
“Seems.”
She was waitin’ on wisdom from a seventeen-year-old? Fool. In my head I ticked down the other ideas she’d told me she thought about to support herself. I’d much rather hear more about the various bulls she’d flirted with over the years. Sounded as though she’d been popular. I’ve always hated the popular hens.
~
Hale
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Finally found the clinic that troll witch worked in—for an antisocial idiot, I know people who know people. I could have just asked Bele for her number—she had her bizcard. But I didn’t want her to know, yet. Don’t know why.
Dialed and tried to make an appointment. The receptionist must have sensed an ogre accent—I didn’t know I sounded ogrish. Evidently Tie mostly cares for trolls. Shoot. My mama’s as troll as ya can get. The hen on the phone waited for an answer.
“Uh. Ogre papa, troll mama,” I said.
And the stinkin’ hen cackled with laughter.
I waited. She continued to laugh. “What is so funny?” I hissed.
“This is Zole. Ya remember me?” she asked.
Name sounded familiar.
“We spent four months in the same art class.”
Oh. That Zole. “Hey,” I said. “How’s the sketchin’ comin’ along.”
“Despite yar help,” she said. “Ya notice I’m answerin’ the phone at a medical clinic?”
“Ya had the desire,” I offered. Was that the appropriate response? Prolly not. I’d ask Bele, later.
“Not the innate talent, like ya,” she answered.
I think that was a compliment. I never know what to say to those.
“Not like I ever expected to make a livin’ paintin’ portraits. But I appreciate my folks allowed me the dalliance.”
Zole was startin’ to come more in focus, considerin’ I try to disappear among others. I’d enjoyed her attention. What stood out, she struggled with takin’ command of a mental image. Her proportions were pooh, too. “Ya finish yar degree at TIT?”
“Associate's in Office Management,” she said.
Now what was I s’posed to say? I shouldn’t ever ask questions. Though Mama tells me every hour of my life that it shows an interest in others. Like I have interest in others. Phish.
“I know. Real impressive.”
Why was my face hot?
“Don’t feel bad if ya don’t know what to say. I figgered ya out second week of class, that ya’re a complete oaf. Though it was odd ya wouldn’t even answer me when I asked ya to a movie.”
Hm. I’d forgotten that.
“Should have asked ya out to dinner.” She cackled again like a hyena.
We ogres are known for our food intake. I guess bein’ half-ogre was enough to get a laugh.
“So,” she said after gettin’ control. “Dr. Tie still isn’t back full time. And she’s only seein’ existin’ patients. Not much chance she’ll see ya.”
Full time? Hm. Bele had mentioned the hen had looked a bit on the exhausted side. Near death, I think her expression was. I took a chance and asked about the doctor’s health. Explained she’d met my sibling at the Hamlet. Offered to help her.
“What’s goin’ on with Bele?” she asked.
How’d she know Bele’s name?
“Like everyone doesn’t know about the Bele and Hale team,” she said.
Team?
“Ya two are the center of the world in the Hamlet,” she said.
“Uh. That’s such a lie.”
She entered another cacklin’ stretch. Stinkin’ hen.
When she calmed, her voice turned—funny. “I get ya an appointment for Bele, ya take me out for a date?”
That sounded unethical, business wise. “The appointment’s for me.”
“Dr. Tie’s a pediatric specialist, by the way. Ya know that, huh?”
“It’s, uh, relatin’ to her other specialty,” I said.
“Don’t know what specialty ya’re referrin’ to, but didn’t get a yes or no on that date.”
“Really?” I grunted.
“I’m waitin’,” she hummed.
“I’m borin’. Why would ya want to go out with me?”
She cackled again. Stinkin’ hen. “Just yar blood line.” And she cackled again.
I’d have to ask Bele to explain that too. I’d never asked anyone out before. Figgered they’d say no for good reason. Plus, everyone was always a lot older than me at TIT.
“I’m waitin’?” she said.
“Uh. I’ve never been on a date,” I said.
“Ew. A virgin. That’s even better.”
Oh, bull. Somethin’ else I’d have to ask Bele about.
“Don’t sweat it,” she said after a long pause. “I’ll take good care of ya. Ya just have to pick up the tab. Rumor is yar family’s rich.” The cackle returned.
This troll hen cackled more like an ogre hen. Geesh.
~
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