When I opened the door the shock made me blink.
Becky had been busy.
Hi, Ruddy, she greeted.
What are you doing?
Whats with all the artwork, and the curtains?
I told you I wanted to spruce the place up, use a warmer color palette.
But this looks ridiculous!
Can you imagine what Dad would say about windows covered withwith lace?
This is the Black Bear.
Next thing I know, youll want to get rid of Bob.
She glanced over at the stuffed bear, then back at me, her eyes unreadable.
She shook her head.
Im not going to get rid of the bear.
But cant you see what youre doing?
Youre changing the, the .
Ambience,Alan suggested.
The ambience of the place!
Her eyes glared at me through her smudged lenses.
But dont you understand that the beauty of this place is that it never changes?
Why, weve got people whove been coming here since we were little kids!
What are they going to think when they see youre playing dollhouse?
Wow, what an asshole it’s possible for you to be,Alan noted.
Becky fixed me with the sort of unhappy, mournful expression she had mastered through a lifetime of practice.
What do you think, that nothing in life will ever change?
Just not the Black Bear, I told her forcefully.
She shook her head slightly, and I found her unwillingness to fight back infuriating.
Its that goddamn Kermit, I stormed, attacking from another direction.
I gestured at her sweater, which was stylish and feminine.
Hes got you all …
I groped for words.Hot,Alan suggested.Sexed up.
I snapped at him.
Ruddy, dont you dare even think of going near him.
I leaned forward almost eagerly, bearing down on her.
She backed away from me.
Ill get an injunction and banish you from the Bear.
Ill get the judge to say you might never come in here again.
She folded her arms.
I sat down on a bar stool as if sucker-punched.
Running numbers, I muttered glumly.
Using our nonswipe account to help another vendor, she agreed.
Would you really do that?
Get a judge to have me banned from a place Ive been coming to since I could crawl?
Would you really hit my boyfriend?
Hush, Becky warned, glancing at our only customersa couple of guys sitting in the corner.
The flush on her cheeks looked less like embarrassment than sheer pleasure.Becky McCann has a boyfriend.
So what else are you going to do around here?
Put in a conveyor belt with sushi on it?
I inquired sullenly, not quite giving up.
Her gaze turned unreadable again.
Youll see, she promised.
He was wearing an apron, the pockets stuffed with a notebook and some napkins.
Youre awaitress?I demanded.
You know, serving food and drinks.
I know what a waiterdoes,Jimmy.
I tromped off and sat under Bob like a soldier determined to give his life to defend his bear.
Id say she pretty much handed you your balls in a paper bag,he observed.
You just dont know.
These changes would drive my father crazy.
A lot of friends of your father still come in here, do they?
All the time, I affirmed.
Last time you were here, big bunch of them come in?
Even one of them show up?
You have a point here, Alan?
Just that maybe your sister should be allowed to make the changes she thinks will bring in more business.
This sure isnt the kind of place Id want to hang out in.
You are welcome to leave any time, I told him frostily.
I decided the soda wasnt working for me and switched to beer.
Night settled, and Jimmy left to go on a date.
No one came in.
By nine oclock Becky and I had the place to ourselves.
I guessed we would no longer be serving wine in old jelly jars.
Kermit showed up around closing time.
Kermit, over here!
I shouted at him.
What was it with everybody?
Kermit came over and stood a little uneasily in front of me.
Sit, I invited, kicking a chair out from the table.
The action was meant to be smooth but instead the chair fell over.
Becky stared at me and I shrugged.
Kermit righted the chair and eased down into it.
You and me, Kermit.
Tomorrow, we are going to go cook the literal goose of a certain Mr. Albert Einstein.
Kermit stared at me.
Einstein Croft,Alan hissed.
I meant Einstein Croft.
What did I say, Albert Einstein?
I noticed I was the only one laughing, and cleared my throat.
Anyway, come pick me up in the tow truck at seven a.m. in the morning.
Were going to take the thing from his job.
That work for you?
Well I hope youre satisfied with yourself,Alan lectured as soon as he had me to himself.
Satisfied, thats the word Ive been looking for.
Im feeling perfectly satisfied, yes.
I cant think straight.
Oh my God, are you telling me youre drunk, too?
Well, there goes my idea of making you designated driver.
I have a voice in my head and hes disgusted!
I shouted out into the Kalkaska night.
I was killed, Ruddy.
We know who did it.
We know where he works.
Yet youve done nothing about it.
And what, exactly, am I supposed to do?
We need to figure out why he did it.
We need to find out who the man with the shovel is.
We need to do something, Ruddy, instead of just sitting around all day reading mystery novels.
Maybe I dont care, did that ever occur to you, Alan?
You got killed by two guys in the woods.
Well Im sorry, but thats not my fault.
I never asked for this, for you to come into my head and start talking to me.
Youre a total strangerwhy should I give a rip about you?
You abuse your sister and you abuse your own body.
Well youredrunk,I sneered.
I stumbled into my house.
Maybe I like it messy!
That was the whole problem.
I changed my mind!
Jake eased off his blanket and padded over to me, concerned.
You are the best dog in the world, I assured him.
I held his face in my hands and smiled into those sorrowful brown eyes.
I shambled into my bedroom and Jake followed me, a question in his eyes.
Want me to sleep on the floor with you?
Would you like that?
