Shorts: The Furry Years by John Van Stry Page A

bet. That's why they want you."
    "Shit." I set him down. "Tell Charilldel I'll take the job."
    "Sure," He sighed relieved looking over the edge at the water twenty feet below.
    "But it's gonna cost him."
    "Sure Pen."
    "Up front. And I want to know everything that's going on."
    "You got it Pen."
    "One last thing."
    He turned and looked at me, "What?"
    I smiled, "This is the last time!" and I pushed him over the side.
    "Yaaaa!"
    He made a nice splash.
    By the time I got to my apartment I was whistling.
     
    I headed down to the Silver Moon early next morning. I got there at eleven, it was a long walk. After knocking on the door a while I finally managed to rouse Witnauer, one of the Barkeeps.
    "What's up?" She asked sleepily, fur mussed.
    "I want to talk to Bruce."
    "He's asleep." She yawned, and added pointedly "I was too."
    "So let's wake him!" I laughed and slipped inside.
    "Pen!"
    "Hey, if I'm gonna work here I should be allowed in right?"
    "Act like this and Kera or no, you won't be!" She grumbled.
    "He's doing this for her?" I stopped and turned.
    "Of course! She's a friend, a very good one too."
    "Damn," I sighed whiskers and tail drooping, "I hate charity."
    "It ain't charity Pen, we do need a bouncer." She poked me in the stomach as she walked by. Foxes love to poke it seems. "Crowds have gotten bigger lately and Senshal left last week. Didn't you know?"
    "Not really, I've been too busy job hunting to come down here lately."
    "No luck huh?"
    "Actually yes," I sighed, "But its short term and I really don't like it. So I want to cover my bases with Bruce."
    I followed her rather cute bushy tail to the back. There were stairs by the dressing rooms behind the stage. I went up and followed my nose to Bruce's rooms. Why he lived above the bar I'll never know myself.
    I knocked on his door. After the second try I heard sounds of life inside, a moment later he opened it up.
    "What are you doing here so early?"
    "How much for the Bar Bruce?"
    "Ha, ha, very funny. Gads, a bouncer with a sense of humor."
    "No really," I smiled. "What's a place like this cost? I really want to know."
    "I couldn't tell you off hand, I don't have any plans to sell. But I wouldn't sell it to you, and I sure wouldn't recommend you buy one like it."
    "Why?" I asked curiously.
    "You aren't the type. You'd run a this place right out of business. This isn't just a bar, it's a cabaret. Kera and the others dance and sing here. Bands play and perform."
    "So?"
    "It's a whole different business. Besides where would you get the cash for a place like this?"
    "My Dear old Uncle kicked off last night, I'm due a small fortune."
    He looked down his muzzle at me, Bruce was a brown Bear and stood over a foot taller than I did. "Yeah. Right."
    "Okay, so it's a lie. But I'm in a position to make some cash and I want to do something with it when I'm done. I also want the job here."
    "I don't employ crooks Pen."
    "I'm legal," I growled quietly and flicked my tail in annoyance. Accusations like that always set me off these days.
    "Then what is it?" He growled back.
    "I can't say." This sure wasn't turning out right, suddenly the whole conversation was getting well out of hand. Too many years of honest living I guess. Or at least trying to be.
    "Sure right."
    "If I haven't told Kera, I'm sure as hell not going to tell you Bruce!" I grumped glaring up at him.
    "Then maybe I should have a talk with her about you myself," He growled back. "I promised her Mom I'd make sure she stayed clear of trouble." He looked me over, "And if there's one thing you are Pen, it's trouble.
    "You don't act like any Engineer I've ever seen. And you move too well, more like a fighter even if you are just a middle weight."
    "You cause problems between me and Kera...." I growled, angry now.
    "And you're not afraid of anything either," He interrupted glaring down at me. "Not what I'd expect of somebody growing up in a college. I think you'd better leave Pen."
    I hooked his leg and shoved him back with