The Squeaky Clean Skeleton by R A Muth

Author:R A Muth [Muth, R A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sweet Promise Press
Published: 2020-04-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

I reached across the table to hand him a fork. "A formal dance. Like, a ball or cotillion except without the debutantes."

"Aye, lass. I see. Continue?"

"Sven is great on paper. He sends gifts at the right time. They take day trips out to Caraway Island. Hazel never, ever complains about him. She never mentions if they argue, which is kind of weird. Who doesn't argue? And how can you have make-up, uh, well, you know? Anyway, at our last high school reunion, those catty she-devils from the pep squad were still whispering behind Hazel's back that Sven's reason for marrying her was to secure citizenship but whatever. If Hazel and Sven are happy, people should be happy for them. Am I right?"

Despite the confused expression crossing his features, Rune agreed, "Of course, lass."

I held my chopsticks in my fingers and nodded at the food. "Which would you like to try first?"

"Ye eat with wooden sticks in such modern times?"

"Only certain foods and I've had a lot of practice. As this is your first time, you'll find it easier to use a fork because, well, then." As I was talking, Rune unwrapped his chopsticks, mimicked how I held mine, and used them to lift a piece of chicken from his plate.

A second before I could praise his efforts, however, his bottom lip bumped the morsel, dislodging it so that it escaped the chopsticks. Rune used his cat-like reflexes to catch it in his free hand before it could land on his white silk shirt, and his expression revealed a sheepish smile. "Missed by a gee hair."

I had no idea what it meant, but after the very long day, I was content with not overthinking his odd way of speaking. Laying one stick across the edge of my plate, I took the other and stabbed a piece of orange beef before holding it in the air. "Here's a pro tip. If you have a particularly tricky piece, use one chopstick instead of two."

Our laughter filled the kitchen, and it was great to have someone to share a meal with, especially someone who wasn't Duffy. Even if Rune's story sounded more like an Irish fairytale than a fact, it was a welcome change from my past, and it certainly beat eating alone.

As we enjoyed sampling the contents of the takeout containers, I filled Rune in on mine and Hazel's meeting with Marci and told him about the séance, including my doubts about it.

"Are ye sure ye wish to involve yourself in this?" He peered at me over the half-empty takeout containers. "I'd advise ye to keep yer nose out of it. What if ye dredge up an actual spirit?"

"You're not serious."

"Look at me! Whenever anyone besides ye comes near, I change into a bloody cat!"

I laid my chopsticks across my plate and rested my elbows on the table. "Yes, Rune, I'm sure, and I'm willing to take the risk. Hazel and I need to do this to get paid, and I need that money to pay my bills.

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