Ships

By Socks O’Connor and Phoenix Calila

“No, Davey! That’s not how it’s supposed to be done! You do it like--”

“Socks! You don’t know what you’re talking about! I know what I’m doing!
 He bent his head down and mumbled something about “summer” and “soon” as he continued to work.

Socks looked over at Phoenix Calila. “Am I right, ‘Nix?” Phoenix raised her arms.  “I’m stayin’ out of this, Socks. It’s your deal.”

“Deal? Someone playin’ cahds?” Racetrack, who had just walked in, asked.

“Nobody’s playin’ cards, Race,” RiffRaff McColley informed him.

“Damnit…” he muttered and wandered away.

“Well, David Jacobs, you’ll see that I was right about this. I mean--”

“Socks! If you would just shut your mouth for one second so that I can finish this last assignment, then we can go out, all right? Just shut up right now!” He ran his hand through his hair frustratedly, and turned back to his paper and calculations.

Socks looked as if she could have clobbered him at that moment.

“Well, fine then, David, if that’s the way you want it! We just won’t go out! Tonight, or ever!” She stormed over to the other side of the room and took a seat next to Swifty. “Hello, there, Swifty.” she grinned coyly at him.

Davey just stared at her for a moment, then gathered up his things hastily and stormed out of the Lodging house.

Swifty smiled at her, then continued conversing with the others around him. Everyone was used to this now. Socks soon tired of her charade and went up to the roof, away from everyone else.

Phoenix was down in the lobby still, chatting with Skitterina, Winter and RiffRaff.

“How long d’ya t’ink it’ll last dis time?” Skitterina asked.

RiffRaff looked at the clock. “30 minutes, tops.”

Phoenix laughed and looked at the clock as well. Ten minutes to six. “Fifteen,” she concluded. The others snickered.

Dutchy walked in the door at that moment alongside Pie Eater, which nearly earned a squeal of delight from Skitterina. Each put a finger to his mouth, though, so she said nothing. Dutchy snuck up behind Phoenix and threw his hands over her eyes. Phoenix stiffened.

“Who is it?” she asked, hoping that one of her devoted friends would help her out.