Chase Banter [02] Marching to a Different Accordion
Page 23
Lacey had a bottle of champagne, a bottle of sparkling cider and five glass flutes. “Congrats!”
Bud was wearing a green suit with black pin-stripes and a black mock turtleneck. Gitana was holding its equivalent in grown-up size.
“We went shopping at Thrift Town. I think it must have been some theatrical costume,” Gitana said.
“Bud wants to go onstage with you,” Lacey said, trying to open the champagne bottle. It wasn’t going as well as it had at the Lesbian Illumination Institute.
“You better let Donna do that before someone loses an eye,” Gitana said.
“We can’t wear shoes, though,” Bud said, climbing on Chase’s lap and snuggling.
“Isn’t she perfectly adorable?” Vulva said to Commercial Endeavor as they watched from the corner of the room.
“So are you,” Commercial Endeavor said, putting her arm around Vulva.
“Where is this awards ceremony, anyway?” Chase asked.
“It’s in San Fran, baby, and we’re all going,” Lacey said, taking a glass of champagne from Donna.
“And there’s a two-story Thrift Town there,” Bud said, her eyes lighting up.
“Well, in that case, count me in,” Chase said as they toasted.
“I thought that might serve as an incentive,” Bud said.
“So since my first plaque of achievement was a Vulva, is this award going to be some kind of gold-plated clitoris?” Chase inquired.
“Let’s hope not,” Gitana said.
Lacey gave her a bone-crushing hug. “See, now you’ll have the perfect credentials to be the writing instructor and vice president of the Institute when it’s up and running. We’re having some plumbing and electrical and roofing issues.”
Chase smiled insincerely and glanced over at Commercial Endeavor, who said, very quietly, “We’ll blow the place up before we let that happen.”
“You can do a lot with fertilizer,” Vulva added.
That was what Chase liked about her muses—they never ran out of ideas. She wondered how they were going to take it when they found out she’d already agreed to help. But if the place went up in smoke…well, just as long as no people or animals were harmed in the process.
Lacey raised her glass, “To the Revolution!”
Chase raised her glass with the others and thought about marching with her accordion to somewhere very far away like the Antarctic until this whole thing blew over, or she could take Bud to the Smithsonian and they could stay until they had explored the entire museum—that would take awhile.
Gitana took her hand and whispered, “I love you and I’m proud of you.”
Chase smiled and knew her travel plans were moot.
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