Debbie scrunched up her face. “We know that, dummy!”
“Hey, don’t call my friend a dummy, Dummy!” Mitchell defended.
“Children!” Mrs. Strong clapped her hands. “Stop this instant!”
Mitchell swept up the cards. “I’ll deal,” he said. The players studied their hands wearing their best poker faces.
“Make pairs, Danny, like me.”
“But, I can’t make a match, yet.”
“Don’t worry. You will.”
“Vinnie, you start…”
“No fair! Why should Vinnie start?” Debbie grumbled. “Just because he’s your friend…”
“Because he’s on my right,” Mitchell said. “Play always starts from the dealer’s right.”
The children took turns picking cards from each other’s hands. “Danny,” Mitchell grumbled. “You’re stacking your cards.”
“What’s the difference?”
“I can’t pick from your hand. Here. Fan out your cards, like mine…that’s better.”
Play resumed. The players continued to build melds, except for Danny who had not made a single match. Curiously, whatever Danny selected from Debbie’s hand ultimately helped Mitchell build pairs. All except the Queen of Hearts which stubbornly remained in Danny’s hand.
“Almost done this round,” Vinnie announced.
“It can’t be!” Danny groaned. “I haven’t made a single match!”
“Tough luck, squirt!” Vinnie laughed. “Ow! Debbie, quit kicking me!”
“Sorry, Vincent,” the girl sneered. “It’s a habit…!”
“Just be sure to kick the habit, and not me!”
“Danny!” Mitchell griped. “You’re doing it again!”
“What’d I do?”
“You’re stacking your cards!”
“I am? Sorry…” Danny spread the remaining two cards in his hand.
“Choose wisely, boss,” Vinnie cautioned. “This one’s for the game.”
Mitchell closed his eyes and picked a card from Danny’s hand. “Ta-da!” he trumpeted, opening his eyes. “A match!”
“Ha-ha, ha-ha!” Vinnie rang out. “Danny’s the Old Maid!”
“Oh, who cares?” The child slammed the Queen of Hearts on the table, and another Queen of Hearts appeared from behind. “Huh, and to think I couldn’t make a match the whole game!”
Vinnie’s jaw dropped. “B-b-but, that’s impossible…”
“Hey, the little brat’s cheating!” Mitchell accused.
“Nice detective work, Mitch...” Debbie said. “Cheating to lose?”
“He can’t be cheating…” Mrs. Strong rubbed her eyes. “It’s a brand new deck!”
“Danny…” Debbie whispered in her friend’s ear. “How’d you do that?”
“I dunno,” the boy blushed. “Just lucky, I guess,”
“Looks like someone’s been practicing card tricks,” Mrs. Strong smiled. “…Pie anyone?”
* * *
Gorged, Danny and Debbie sprawled out on the lawn. The sweet smell of fresh cut grass tickled their noses. The air was rich with song. Spring peepers croaked their evening concert accompanied by a lone whippoorwill. The sun sank into a crimson patchwork of mares tails.
“Aaaaaaah!!!” The obsessed child leapt to his feet. “Look at the sky! Do you see her?”
Debbie shot up straight. “Her?” Squinting, she blocked the sun with her hand. “Is it…you know who?”
“Patti?”
“Who? Oh, you mean…from the pool?”
The boy gave a solid nod; his eyes riveted skyward.
“The girl of your dreams, right?”
“Do you see her, too?”
“No…”
“Can’t you see her red hair?” Danny stomped his foot. “Flowing across the sun?”
“I see the sunset—”
“Something’s wrong,” Danny quavered. “I know that look.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She’s mad at me.”
“For once, just once,” she sighed, scanning the sky for a clue. “I wish I could see her...”
“She’s gone again. The wind’s carrying her away.” The child collapsed on the grass and wept. “I-I’m always too late.”
“But, if I can’t see her,” Debbie caressed the boy’s locks. “Are you sure she’s really there?”
No reply. The boy’s inconsolable sobbing chilled her more than the night air. She watched the stars – one by one – outshine the dying embers of twilight. “Hey, Danny…” she whispered in his ear. “Tell me those funny star names again. You know, Ruben is spaghetti,” she giggled. “And, Ruben is macaroni!”
The boy sat up and smiled. Debbie wiped away his tears. “You mean, Zuben El-Shamini and Zuben El-Shamali.”
It was the height of the space age when boys pawned cowboy fantasies for astral adventures. But, Danny did not simply dream of rocket ships and space walks. The stars were his friends, and Danny knew them all by name. With a curiosity nurtured by his parents, he recognized the constellations and memorized their underlying myths. He understood the seasonal shifts, and how to navigate his way around the night sky.
“Huh? Ruben runs a deli?”
The two laughed hysterically. “Someday, I’m gonna go up there,” Danny vowed, pulling the unsuspecting girl onto his lap.
“You know?” Debbie smiled. “I believe you will.”
The happy couple gazed into each other’s eyes. Danny took Debbie’s hand and pointed skyward. “You see that star?” he asked. “That’s Regulus…the brightest star in Leo, the Lion.”
“Oh, sure. I see the star, but where’s the lion?”
“I’ll show you. See how the stars above Regulus make a backward question mark?”
“Oh, yeah. They do, don’t they?”
“That’s the head of the lion.”
“That’s so cool! I can even see his mane.”
“But, there’s no lion…is there?”
“No, I guess not.”
“Still, you saw a lion’s head, right?”
“Heck, I guess I never really noticed before.”
“Well, that’s how I see it!” Danny insisted. “I see it all the time. And, sometimes? I swear, it’s like, like…I can see tomorrow!”
“Geez, that’s really freaky...” Debbie gazed skywards once more, trying to forget those prophetic words. “Ah, a shooting star!”
“Make a wish, Debbie.”
The girl closed her eyes and squeezed both fists. “I wish…”
“What’d you wish for?”
“If I tell you, it won’t come true, silly.”
“Will you tell me if it does come true?”
“Oh, you’ll know, all right.” The star-struck girl gazed into Danny’s eyes. Unabashed, their lips gravitated towards each other. They hugged, tumbling onto the damp grass. “I think my wish just came true!” Debbie smiled.
“Aw-woo! Woof! Woof! Woof!”
“I think Misty doesn’t like being tied up for so long.”
“Ignore her,” Debbie urged, kissing Danny’s cheek.
“Woo-woo-woo! Woof! Woof!”
“Maybe I can calm her down…”
The girl bit her lip. “Danny, I have a feeling you should just let her be.”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll be right back, I promise.” The determined boy took to his feet. He strolled towards Misty, talking to her the whole time. “What’s the matter, girl?” Danny approached, unafraid. “Ya lonely?”
Misty snarled with a deep- throated growl. She fired two solo warning barks and stopped wagging her tail.
“It’s ok, girl.” Danny assured, invading the dog’s territory.
Perhaps Misty was over-excited or spooked by a passing shadow. Whatever the reason, Misty lunged at Danny, biting his cheek where Debbie’s kiss had lingered. The wounded soldier fell to the ground, screaming. He stumbled to the picnic table where Debbie’s parents were chatting.
“Owwwwwwwwwwww!” Dan
ny wailed. “She bit me! She bit me!”
“Looks bad, George. He may need stitches.”
“This would happen now.” Mr. String tossed his hands in the air. “His parents will be here soon!”
Debbie rushed to his side. “Danny, are you ok?”
“What happened?” Mitchell came to investigate. Vinnie peered over his friend’s shoulder.
“Misty bit Danny,” Mr. Strong explained.
“I thought she understood…”
“That’s not like her,” Mitchell insisted, approaching the table. “She’s never bitten anyone.”
“She’s angry with me,” Danny sulked. “She’s jealous…”
“Silly boy!” Debbie laughed. “How can Misty possibly be jealous?”
“Noooooooooo! Not Misty!” The distraught boy shook his head. “I mean…Patti!”
CHAPTER X
Firin’ Ice
Little Danny drifted off to sleep in the comfort of his own bed, once again.
“Here, Danny!” The girl slapped her thigh. “Come on, boy!”
“Woof!” Coming, Patti! Trotting on all fours, his tail fanned the air. Although Patti looked the same, Danny became Patti’s pet – an Irish Setter puppy.
“That’s my good boy!” she said, rubbing the dog behind the ears.
Danny sat on his haunches, panting waves of hot breath. Drooling, he placed a paw on Patti’s knee.
“What’s the matter, boy?” Patti wiped the slobber. “Everything will be fine. Just leave it to me.” The fledging rested at Patti’s feet. “Good dog! Wanna go for a walk?” Patti fastened the leash to his collar.
The young Setter cocked his head and stared into the girl’s eyes. I’ll follow you anywhere, Patti…
“We have to see the sergeant today.” She stroked his thick coat. “Don’t be afraid.”
Danny sat up. His mouth hung open a crack – front teeth gleaming, jowls drooping. It was the best smile a dog could muster.
“Oh, look at the time! We don’t want to be late.” Danny obediently followed Patti on foot to an unfamiliar place. She opened a door; his curious snout gave the room the sniff test. Click-click-click-click… Tantalizing aromas wafted in the air rich with popcorn and…cats? Click-click-click-click… The dog paced in circles, winding the leash around his master’s ankles. Patti freed herself and approached the receptionist’s desk. The dog wandered the full extent of the tether, studying the room. A sign on the wall read “Sergeant Zany’s Show Dogs.” Patti tightened the lead and drew the dog near. Danny glanced back. Now, the sign read “No Exit!”
Frantic, the dog leapt up, nuzzling his way under the shelter of Patti’s arms. His forepaws hung over the counter. “Yip. Ymm, ymm, ymm!”
“Quiet!” Patti rapped his snout and pushed the dog to the floor. “…I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”
A bearded lady looked down from her post. “What’s this doggie do?”
“Oh, he’ll do tricks for me!”
“Better take this whip…after all, you’re the boss.”
“Naturally!” The ring leader preened her leotard and adjusted her top hat.
“Take center stage, Patti…right behind this door.”
Patti, wait! “Woooooo! Woooooo, wooooo!” There must be some mistake!
“Aggie, did we get a dog?” Mr. Ormont yawned, awoken from his slumber.
Mrs. Ormont squinted at the clock. “Poppycock!”
“Woof! Grrr-Wooooo! Woof, woof, woof!”
“Bless me soul! Denny…”
“Maybe he wants to go for a walk?”
“I’m a-comin’, love!”
Mrs. Ormont slipped into her housecoat and rushed to find Danny – head buried under the covers, waggling backside in the air.
“Come now, Denny!” Mrs. Ormont pulled back the blankets. Danny howled all the more. “Easy, lad,” Mum rubbed his back. “There, there…” But, his mother’s words could not break the trance.
“It’s show time!” a clown snickered from the dressing room.
Danny went into doggie shut-down. He locked his front legs, planting his rump firmly beneath him. Mum coaxed her son to lie down; Patti tugged on the leash. Danny emitted deep throated growls, glaring at Patti with head slung low.
The sergeant appeared from nowhere. “Muzzle him!”
“Let me do it, Sarge…” Patti grabbed the muzzle, jerking the leash. “Just leave everything to me.” The girl choked the dog with his collar. Danny whimpered. Gasping for air, the dog succumbed to her command. The debutant slipped the muzzle over the dog’s snout with ease and pulled the strap painfully taut.
“Denny, please…”
“Move it, dog!” The ring leader cracked her whip. The frightened pup resisted with a snarl. “Fine! Have it your way.” Patti pulled on the leash. The dog held his ground, but the waxed floor and his fatiguing muscles conspired against him. Danny slid across the frigid floor like an ice sculpture. Ultimately, Patti proved victorious in this canine tug-of-war.
Danny sprang from the covers, rolled off the bed, and flopped on his back.
“It be me. Right here, Denny.” Mum held his hand. “…Beside yea!”
“I’ll be right here beside you,” Patti held his paw. “I promise.” Tobacco breath tickled his nose.
The strong man lifted Danny onto the grooming table; Mum assisted Danny into bed. The diminutive Setter shivered against the metallic surface. Danny quaked under the blankets. Mum tousled Danny’s hair; Patti stroked Danny’s fur.
“…Sure hope Doc isn’t wrong,” Mum muttered.
“…Sure hope nothing goes wrong,” Patti chuckled.
Mum tucked Danny’s blankets, snug and tight; hefty belts girdled forty pounds of pooch in position. Plastic cleats zipped over nylon straps, restraining him – snug and tight.
“This one will have to be trained to cooperate.” The sergeant burped an overloaded syringe before the dog’s eyes. The dog collapsed. The solution burned more than the penetrating sting of the needle.
“Do it just as we practiced.” The sergeant traded Patti a knife for the whip. The girl walked away, tossing the dagger over her shoulder. The knife landed within inches of Danny’s heart. You’re hurting the wrong guy!
“I might return to this dog and pony show.” The girl lowered a smoldering stick from her mouth and flicked it away. Why is she leaving me? A watery eye peered down the muzzle and followed her off stage. She promised she’d always be there!
The prima donna leapt into the strong man’s arms. Danny was crushed. His eyes, Patti… Look for the truth in his eyes! Why was the strong man’s appearance so unusual? Ah! One facial feature was missing.
The strong man greeted Patti with a long kiss. Danny’s mouth watered, blasted by the mysterious taste of peppermint. His tongue squeezed through the muzzle, licking the leather.
What’s that smell? The canine olfactory went into overdrive, sniffing the unthinkable. The dog panicked, thrashing against the restraints.
“Sarge, do you smell smoke?” the clown asked in a silly voice. The sergeant muttered something inaudible. “I say, Sarge, I distinctly smell smoke!” the clown smirked. “…Smells like cigarettes.”
“Nonsense! That’s not part of my act!”
“But, Sarge! Like I tell all good boys and girls, where there’s smoke, there’s fire!”
The mismatched couple glanced back at Danny. Something glinted in the stage lights. Mirrored lenses concealed the stranger’s eyes. Wait, wait… She can’t see his eyes!
Buzzing clippers drowned his thoughts. “Gee, I wonder what these do?”
The sergeant snatched the grooming sheers. “Quit clownin’ around!”
When she looks into his eyes, all she sees is herself!
The clown coughed, choking on the smoke. “Say, Sarge, something’s burning, I tell ya!”
“So it is, so it is. Still, the show must go on…”
Chortles of laughter enveloped the dog. What was so amusing?
Behind the dog’s b
ack, the funny man squirted a seltzer bottle at the flames. “Oops, that wasn’t water…” the clown shrugged. “Musta been alcohol!”
How did I get into this mess? Danny closed his eyes not wishing to know.
Chaos filled the grooming area. “Let’s get out of here!” the sergeant panicked.
Patti, Patti come back! The helpless canine was surrounded by impinging flames. Danny watched Patti and her companion walk away, hand-in-hand, laughing. No air! There’s no air!
The two ran for safety. “Say, did you free your star performer?” the clown snickered.
Oh, Patti! If you only knew what you’ve done… Asphyxiated, the dog fell unconscious.
“Good night, Mum.” Danny nodded off. “Tell Patti to remember me.”
“Aye, love,” Mum kissed her son on the forehead and backed out of the bedroom. “Sweet dreams.”
* * *
Little Patti’s eyes popped open, spooked by primitive moans from the next room.
“Sh, you’ll wake the kid!”
Deep sighs, maddening screams – a struggle! The innocent child catapulted from the comfort of her bed. Rhythmic grunts guided the concerned girl to the master bedroom.
“Mother?”
“Go back to bed!”
“Mother…are you ok?”
“Don’t come in here!” a gruff voice bossed.
“Go bother your sister!” Mother demanded.
Patti opened the bedroom door a crack. She peered into the room, horrified by an attacker’s silhouette. “Leave my Mommy alone!”
“Please, Patti…” her mother pleaded. “Go back to sleep!”
The frantic girl bolted to the kitchen, pushing a chair against the refrigerator. She grabbed the ice bucket from the freezer. Rattling down the hall, Patti stormed into the master bedroom, closed her eyes, and gave a hefty heave-ho. The bare man moaned like a beached whale, shocked by the ice bath.
“Patti!” Mother scrambled for cover, hiding her nakedness.
The man wrestled Miranda for the blankets. “Get lost, stupid!”
SLAP!!! “Don’t yell at her!” Instantly, Mother turned to her daughter “My, my! Whatever were you thinking, precious?”
“He attacked you!”
“Didn’t Mother ask you to go back to sleep?”
“Yes, but…hey, you’re not Tim!”
“Tim?” The man shot Miranda a searing glance.
“Oh, I forgot…” Patti said. “He’s working late tonight.”
“Randi! You swore you were done with Tim!”
Miranda causally filed her nails. “It’s no big deal…”
“It is to me! What if Tim came home?”
“Well, stupid!” Miranda admired her manicure. “I told you to lock the bedroom door!”
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