He thought she was going to wear her new hair, but purple’s cool, purple’s cool. He wasn’t going to bring the subject up. She had her reasons. Instead he decides to talk about the girls.
“Venus is working hard on her novella.” He could hear her typing all the way over here.
“Novel,” corrected Eyela in a sweet but stern voice. “And Mistress is helping with it too.”
“Sure, sure.” He looks over at the townhouse on the northern edge of the property, (the girls’) home away from home. “I’d like to read it.”
“Well they don’t want you to.”
“*You* can.”
“*I’m* different.” That seemed to be a dead end subject too. Maybe switch back to the hair. He pointed.
“I thought –”
“Don’t start with the hair,” she requested, knowing what he was doing. “I — didn’t like the way it, ahem, set my eyes.”
He didn’t ask for explanation of this cryptic reply. Was there another subject he could broach while they sat in their hot tub, waiting for the guests to arrive? Tonight was the big night! He decided to talk about that.
“Tonight’s the big–”
“Don’t,” she cut him off. “Just don’t.”
—–
He was reminded when he walked back into the house after their long vacation that they had too many servants, perhaps way too many. But, to their credit, they were all still hard at work, manning their various posts. Gregg the Greeter in the foyer, now waiting for the first guests to arrive.
Sam the Scrubber up on the second level, still trying to get the last of those blood stains out of the wooden floor. Almost got it.
David the Duster as well. If only those damn dogs all about the house would stop shedding, he constantly thinks.
And Cookie the Cook, waiting for the tea to boil. Guests start showing up in about 30 minutes. Tea had to be hot but not too hot. Water might have to be reboiled but he’s ready if so. Bags just in that cabinet over there. He measures the steps to reach it. 7 he’s counting. And 5 bags for each pot. And 8 guests due to arrive. Two pots, then. Better put on a second kettle.
And, closest to them presently, Willie the, um, Watcher. Waiting for his wife to get out of the tub so he can slip a robe on her. He probably needs to go first. But that was also her special request, the last one hired. Don’t think he can then be the first to go. Can he?
(to be continued)
Sunklands 