KILLER DATE (SCANDALS) by Kathy Clark Page A

you.  Like a sprite or a character in Lord of the Rings .”
    She tilted her head and her eyes twinkled.  “ That sounds interesting.  Being called a sprite is so much more attractive than being called an elf.”
    I laughed out loud.  “You’re perfect, just as you are.”
    Her expression grew solemn.  “My mother used to tell me that, but, of course, I blew it off because mothers have to say things like that.”  She finished her drink, and I could see she was having trouble focusing.
    “I think it’s time we headed out,” I suggested gently.
    “Right,” she agreed as if she suddenly realized the room was starting to spin.  She reached into her purse and pulled out the envelope full of money.
    “ I can’t let you pay for dinner.  It’s too expensive.”
    “I’m not,” she told me with a smile.  “Ang ie is.  And I’m not paying her back.  After what she put me through, she owes me.”
    “ Okay, then let me pay my half.”  I took one of the dark blue water glasses off the unoccupied table next to us.  I held it up and allowed her to inspect it.  “Empty?”
    “Empty,” s he agreed.
    I set the glass on our table and then handed her my butter knife, handle end first.  “Tap the glass and say the magic phrase.”
    “What magic phrase?”
    “Abracadabra.  It’s from the Aramaic, you know, the Arabian Nights story.  It means I create as I speak… roughly. 
    She tapped the side of the glass and said, “Abracadabra ,” then looked at me expectantly.
    “ Pick up the glass.”
    Jenny reached over and slowly picked up the glass.  A folded fifty dollar bill fell to the table.  “How did you do that?”
    “ Maybe I didn’t…maybe you did.”
    “That’s so cool.  If I could learn how to do that, I wouldn’t have to work weekends.”
    “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
    She laughed.  “Trade secrets, huh?”
    “Actually, I heard that everyone should be able to do one card trick, tell two jokes and recite two poems in case you’re ever trapped in an elevator.”
    “ Lemony Snicket, right?”
    I was surprised she knew, but then I shouldn’t have been.  Don’t ever challenge a pre-school teacher on children’s literature.  “Yeah, you got me.  I’m a sucker for the movie A Series of Unfortunate Events .”
    “You identified with the orphans , didn’t you?”
    “Sort of.   Except I didn’t have any brothers or sisters…or at least, I didn’t think I did.”
    “ Your mom’s still alive, isn’t she?”
    I shrugged.  I honestly had no idea.  The night I graduated from high school, I came home and she was passed out on the couch.  I packed my shit, left her a note and hitchhiked to Vegas.   “Probably, but I don’t know. I haven’t heard from her or tried to contact her since.”
    “That’s so sad.  Almost all of my memories of my childhood were wonderful.  How awful for you to be completely alone.”
    Okay, I’d never really considered myself to be alone.  I always thought I was a loner by choice.  She was way off.  Being alone sounded pathetic, but being a loner sounded brave and bold.  I was able to take care of myself…without anyone’s help.  I was proud of that.  It was one of the only things my mother had taught me.
    She must have sensed my lack of enthusiasm with continuing that conversation, so she smoothly switched subjects.  “So, you’ve shown me the trick… ”
    “Illusion…not trick,” I corrected her. “I didn’t really trick you.”
    “Whatever.  So now, tell me two jokes.”
    “ Nope, we’re not trapped in an elevator.  Besides, the only poems I know are dirty.”
    “ Like I’ve never heard a dirty joke.  During the day I hear poop jokes and at the bar guys seem to think dirty jokes are sexy.”
    I pretended to be shocked.  “You mean they’re not?”
    “Nothing turns me off faster.”
    What turn s you on? flashed through my mind, but I bit it back before I actually spoke it out loud.  Jenny was such