“What do you think, Hucka Doobie? It’s the Red Umbrella in NWES.”
“I see.” Hucka shuffles her feet. “I thought we were, er, done with this town. Splitsville and all.”
“Well… decided to give it one more try. The rent was so cheap. Thus (he indicates with his hands), voila.”
“Should we go inside, then?”
“Sure, we can do that Hucka Doobie. It’s all the art in the Red Umbrella in 7 Stones, though. You know all the works.”
“Have I interpreted them yet?” Hucka Doobie truly couldn’t remember.
“I — think so. Most of them anyhow.”
“Hmm. Let’s go inside anyway.”
“*Actually*, I wanted to show you something in particular. Jar your memory a bit, perhaps.”
“Alright.”
—–
“Before I forget, Baker Bloch, I wanted to tell you that ‘Humanvillians’ has returned to Fal Mouth Moon (in 7 Stones). Herbert Gold and April Mae Flowers’ story must be resolved; Uncle Joe and Aunt Zoe entrapped in a 2-dimensional realm once more.”
“Cool, Hucka Doobie. Good to know. I wonder if (we should allow) Danny to come back to the Fal Mouth Moon as janitor/receptionist, then?”
“Oh no,” replies the bee being firmly. “Tronesisia *specifically* said: that couldn’t happen. Besides, he’s pretty happy in his Metal castle in Dewey. Herbert Gold and April Mae are still there too. The Irish Village over in the Fi sim didn’t work as an alternative for them. Rent too high.” Hucka Doobie looks up at the Red Umbrella and its trademark sign. “Unlike here, it seems.”
“Very cheap,” Baker Bloch reinforces. “Especially for an urban area. I even bought the building online, thinking I could just move this whole new version of the Red Umbrella over to 7 Stones to replace the one there. Didn’t work out. Not yet.”
“Hmmm, sir, I say to that.”
“Hmmm,” Baker Bloch mimicked back, thinking Hucka Doobie knows something that he doesn’t know (once again). He stares into her dilated pupils. “We better get inside. The night progresses…”
“Sure. Thank you for the AO, by the way.” states an upright Hucka. They walk forward in their different ways.
—–
“Here, Hucka Doobie. The very first piece (of the gallery). See the jigsaw pieces?” The male Baker points.
“I see. You’re say that…”
“… I’m saying that this is NWES, the city itself. N equals North and green…”
“Blue,” Hucka Doobie corrects quickly.”
“Blue, right. Then *W* equals West: green; E equals East, which is red; and then, lastly, S: South: yellow.”
“Tile, then.”
“Right. The city *has* a center. Just needs to be found still.”
“I doubt it, Baker Bloch,” opines Hucka Doobie, shaking her bee head. She then rubs her neck.
“Neck still bothering you, Hucka?” asks Baker Bloch, truly concerned about his friend’s health.
“Nah, I’m okay. As long as I don’t walk on cement or pavement much, or hard ground,” she adds. “Just leaves. Soft, cushiony leaves.”
“Well… don’t let your *head* break off from your body.” Baker Bloch immediately regretted the attempt at a joke. Hucka Doobie looked over with those eyes.
ART=center?
