Extricating himself from the situation wasn’t easy, but somehow he managed. He took care of morning necessities and made his way to the kitchen. Lenny was out as well, it seemed. Dan dug around and started gathering ingredients. He had an idea.
He’d learned that Larry had convinced Runt to be closed one Sunday out of the month. Natchez was understanding of things like that. They thought it was a religious thing. The goblins all just needed a day where they could unwind.
The goblins, including Lenny, woke up that morning to a breakfast prepared by Dan. He’d made then corned beef and hash using tater tots he’d found in the large chest freezer. He fried an unholy amount of eggs. He made peanut butter and jelly waffles just for Mitzi and Viv. He finished the last batch surrounded by a sea of green.
Lenny had come walking up with his odd, bow-legged gait and stared at Dan with large, unblinking orange eyes. Dan felt nervous. Lenny and he hadn’t interacted much and he was afraid he may have stepped on the cook’s toes with this. He was extremely hard to read since his expression never changed from gleeful surprise.
“Hi.” Dan said, feeling a bit on edge.
“Y’did good.” Was all the goblin said with rough, southern accent. He patted Dan on the elbow, took a plate, and ambled off to eat somewhere.
Dan found a spot had been saved for him on the couch, which had been refolded for him. Mitzi and Viv sat with him, and Bandy gave him a toothy piranha smile from the floor in front of him. He realized that this was the first time he’d communally been with the entire brood. There were spots of conversation and Dan found himself relaxing as he looked around.
“You didn’t do this because of the ceremony tonight, did you?” Mitzi asked him. “You’ve already done more than enough for us.”
Dan felt a bit embarrassed. He hadn’t actually thought about that.
“Nah.” He said between mouthfuls of hash. “I figured Lenny needed a morning off.”
The strange goblin waved and grunted at him from by the TV.
He looked at Mitzi. There was a complex series of emotions coming through from her.
“I didn’t do something wrong, did I?” He asked.
“No, Dan.” She said quietly. “You just keep surprising me. I mean, you suffered two major losses in as many days and this morning you’re taking care of my family.”
She grabbed his chin and stared deeply into his eyes. He couldn’t look away.
“I mean this in the nicest way possible, my dearest. Don’t ever think of yourself as broken.”
He felt a desperation from her. He could sense her need for him to accept that. His phone buzzed in his pocket but he ignored it.
“I want you to keep helping me to accept it.” He said. “I. . . I want to believe you, Mitzi. Badly.”
She smiled sadly at him.
“I’d almost think the bitch left this behind as a present for you.” She said.
“Language.” He said, tapping her nose. “Viv is right there.”
Mitzi rolled her eyes, but finally nodded.
“Sorry.” She said. “But I WILL help you. I’m glad you’re willing to try.” She smiled. It was a good feeling. All he could do was try, right?
Viv hopped up and took their plates and Dan thanked her. He grabbed his laptop and a lap desk and passed them both to Mitzi, who’s eyes grew wide. She carefully opened the computer and looked at him.
“What do I do?” She asked. No fear, no worry she might break the computer. She wanted this and he could feel it coming through the bond.
Dan talked her through turning the thing on. He’d set her up with her own profile the previous day, so he showed her how to log in. He showed her his office suite and how to start a word doc. Unlike the canvas, she immediately began typing. He smiled and leaned back. He decided not to watch her work. He’d read when she asked him to.
Remembering his phone from earlier, Dan pulled it out and checked his messages. He froze. Vicki. His sister. He hadn’t seen Vicki since before the unpleasantness. She, and his other sisters, had written him off as a leftist and a socialist. They wanted nothing to do with him. He almost didn’t open the text. But he did.
Vicki: Not that you’re going to care, but Sally insists that we needed to make the effort. Mom died yesterday. It’s handled. You don’t have to come up here and pretend like you’ll miss her. Bye.
Dan just kept reading it. His mother was dead. He looked at Mitzi. She was still writing. He realized she didn’t realize anything was wrong because he was in shock. He was numb. He read it again. And again. And again. Then the emotions started. Slowly at first. But faster and harder. Mitzi finally looked up at him.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
“I need to be alone.” God. His voice sounded so numb. Mitzi grabbed his arm, alarm clear on her face.
“No. Please. Stay here. Talk to me.” She said. The grip on his arm tightened. She wasn’t going to let him go.
He handed her his phone and she took it in one hand, keeping a firm grip on him with the other.
“Oh Dan. I’m so sorry.” She said and for some reason that got the room’s attention. The rest of the brood was suddenly interested.
“What is it?” Geraldine. She’d come in from her room.
Dan realized he couldn’t speak. He couldn’t get it started. It was like if he said it, then it would suddenly be true. Mitzi, bless the girl, knew exactly what was happening. She turned to Geraldine and now Runt was behind her.
“He lost his mother.” Mitzi said quietly to the room at large. He found something he could say, finally.
“They don’t want me at the funeral. My sister said-” his voice cracked and he had to stop.
Mitzi was suddenly under his arm and holding him tightly. He just put a hand on her back. He just stared straight ahead without seeing anything. Viv walked in front of him and he managed to look at her face. She reached out and hugged him.
And then, he was surrounded. Gentle hands and soft sounds of comfort. He felt everyone, all of them, take turns embracing him. He held onto Viv and Mitzi as they did. He began to weep. He allowed himself to feel the pain. The more he wept, the more he was embraced. He felt a gnarled hand rubbing his back and knew it was Geraldine.
These goblins, these people, allowed him to mourn. They gave him no promises of lessened pain. There were no platitudes. They allowed him to feel his grief and loss. They simply wouldn’t make him face it alone. Someone in the room began singing. Dan couldn’t understand the words, but it was low and somber. The meaning was clear. It was a dirge for the dead.
Dan wouldn’t stop to think about and process everything until later. When he did he would realize that there, in the moment he had lost the last thing he truly could, he found his family.
The goblins eventually all scattered. Everyone was off, and everyone had something they wanted to do, but not before checking that Dan was all right. He’d assured them he’d be ok. Dan had just sat with Mitzi, who had begun writing again. Dan had hugged her and asked her to continue writing.
“What do you need me to do?” She’d asked with a hand on his knee. He’d just smiled at her.
“Just be here.” He’d said.
Now, Dan sat quietly and looked out the open front door as the broodlings played outside. He thought of his mother and his family.
“You know,” he finally said, causing Mitzi to look up at him, “I don’t know that it’s the loss of my mom that’s getting me.”
“What do you mean?” She asked.
“All of them, my mother and my siblings, had written me off. It’s the good times I miss. There was a part of me that hoped, deep down, that they’d remember they loved me.” He sniffed. “I think that’s the thing that’s tearing me up now.”
Mitzi took his hand and squeezed.
“I’m sorry.” She said, and he looked at her then. Sympathy, sadness, and pride came to him from the bond. He kissed her forehead.
Dan was about to say something when Bandy came stomping into the living room and planted herself in front of the both of them.
“Get up.” She said. “We’re going out. The three of us.”
“Bandy,” Mitzi started, but Bandy didn’t let her finish.
“I know what you’re going to say, but sitting around isn’t going to fix anything. Besides. He’s joining the “tribe” tonight. He needs new clothes.” She said, hands on her hips and looking surprisingly serious for her.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Dan looked at Mitzi who was genuinely surprised by her sister’s insistence. Dan looked between the two of them.
“Bandy is making that up. We wore rags at our ceremony.”
Bandy rolled her eyes.
“Damn it, Mitz, let the guy distract himself then.”
Mitzi looked at him again.
“Would you be ok with going out?” She asked him.
Dan thought about that for a short time and realized that sitting here was going to drive him insane.
“Let’s go.” He said, and gave her a smile.
Before they left, Dan found Geraldine in the backyard. She watched him come down the steps and he had to smile.
“First off, thank you for earlier.” Dan said. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of you.”
Geraldine smiled at him.
“You are so damned polite. A girl could get used to that.” Dan scratched the back of his head at that. “But you’re welcome, boy. You’re going to be one of us. We look out for our own. You’ve already shown you intend to do that.”
Dan felt a bit embarrassed, but it was true.
“Well, I wanted to see if you wanted to go on a day trip today before the ceremony tonight. I’m taking Mitzi and Bandy to a mall.”
Geraldine downed some beer before looking at him and shaking her head.
“Nah. I have no desire to see your human malls. Take Viv. She seems happier when you spend time with her.”
Dan thought that sounded like an excellent idea. He rounded the girls up, loaded them in the car, and set out. No one seemed to notice anything was amiss until Mitzi realized they were on Hwy 61.
“Uh, this isn’t the way to the mall, dearest.”
“I never said we were going to OUR mall.” He said and he didn’t try to hide his smile.
“Where we goin’?” He heard Viv ask from the back seat. A thought struck him.
“Have any of you ever been out of Natchez?” He asked.
“I’ve been to a couple of punk shows in Hattiesburg.” Bandy said.
Dan raised an eyebrow at that. Had he ever seen a goblin at the couple he’d made it to? He wasn’t sure.
“Well, the Natchez mall sucks. We’re gonna take a trip to Baton Rouge.” Bandy started squealing in excitement. Mitzi grabbed his leg and her face lit up.
“Red Stick?” Viv asked.
“Wait, you know french?” Dan asked.
“Lil’ bit.” She said. Dan just shook his head.
They made a quick stop for snacks, drinks, and a bathroom break. Dan made sure to accompany the girls in, and he was glad he had. The old woman behind the counter kept eyeing them like they were going to rob her. Dan tried to keep from getting angry.
Dan took a slight detour to go through downtown Baton Rouge and his favorite part of the trip was seeing Mitzi’s face as they drove by the tallest buildings she’d ever seen. He had to get her to Atlanta or something. She would completely lose her mind. And there was an art gallery there she’d love. He smiled just thinking about it.
“And humans actually built all this?!” Mitzi asked.
“Yep! Just plain old bricks and concrete and stuff. Haven’t you guys seen Tir-Na-Nog? Isn’t that supposed to be a magical tower or something?” He asked.
“That’s magic.” Bandy said. “Magic can do anything. You guys did all this with just stubbornness and engineering.” Dan had never thought about it like that.
The Mall of Louisiana was the exact opposite of almost every mall Dan had ever been too. It wasn’t dying. It was thriving. Even on a Sunday the place was packed. He guessed he had gotten more used to Natchez than he cared to admit. But once inside, Mitzi took his hand and held it tightly. Viv took the other. Bandy stayed ahead of them and started scouting stores.
“I have no idea what I’m meant to wear to a goblin ceremony.” Dan said. They were getting a few looks. Dan didn’t worry about that. There was a part of him still on the lookout for Bethella. He just kept trying to put it out of his head. Strangely, it was easier to think about that than what had happened that morning.
“Burlap.” Viv said, and her face scrunched up when she said it.
“Bandy, don’t you dare find me burlap.” Dan said, and the punk-girl laughed her ass off at that.
“I’ll keep her under control.” Mitzi said. “Besides, I think I’m the one that’s meant to pick something out for you, if I know Bandy.”
“Do I get a say?” Dan asked, but he already knew the answer.
“Hell no!” Bandy said, turning to face him and walking backwards.
They gave the mall a once over before ever picking somewhere to go in, because the girls were just to excited to stop. They wanted to see everything. Then they found the food court and in the center of it, a full sized carousel.
“What in the ever-living fuck is THAT?!” Bandy said, pointing. She looked manic. Dan looked at Viv and her eyes were so wide he thought she could see individual atoms.
“That is a carousel. You can ride the horses and other animals on it.”
Viv’s head turned slowly and looked at him.
“I can ride it?” She asked and there was a look in her eyes that almost broke his heart. This little girl had never seen anything like this. It must be like finding a unicorn and then learning it gave free rides.
Dan knelt down and picked Viv up and started carrying her over to the entrance. There was very little line.
“Absolutely you can, Viv.”
Dan heard Mitzi giggling behind him. Bandy was right there beside him.
“I have to.” Bandy said. “I mean LOOK AT IT!”
There was a security guard leaning against the small entrance used to funnel people into a line.
“Whoa there buddy.” The man said to him. “The hell is that? A goblin?”
Dan decided to not audibly groan at the question.
“Yes.” He said. “Yes it is. Her name is Viv. Right, Viv?”
“’Lo.” She said and waved.
“And Viv has never seen a carousel.” He said.
The man looked skeptical.
“I dunno man. That’s a mob. I don’t think we’re supposed to let mobs in.” He looked at Bandy and Mitzi in confusion. They were both dressed very nicely. He was pretty sure they’d done that on purpose. It seemed to make the man question a few things about mobs.
Dan walked up to the man. He didn’t get in his personal space, but he closed the gap. He was carrying Viv on his right side a bit so he turned her so the man could get a really good look at her young face.
“Look, man. I’m not asking you to let bugbears or a wookalar in the mall. I’m trying to make a little girl’s day. You don’t want her in there? YOU tell her no. Tell her right to her face for me, because I can’t do it.”
It was hard to look at Viv and see anything but a child that had been through too much. She just looked at the man with those giant yellow and brown eyes of hers and waited for him to tell her no. He knew Viv. She wouldn’t cry. She’d just nod and walk away sadly.
But this guy wasn’t an asshole. He was trying to do a job. And if no one had told him specifically no mobs, then. . .
“Aaaaaaaaaah, fine. Go on kid. Sorry. Have fun." Dan set Viv down and she got in, Bandy right behind her. Dan just took Mitzi’s hand and walked to a good spot to watch.
“How did you know that would work?” Mitzi asked. Dan smiled.
“Because people always say they don’t like a people. Then they meet a kid. Or a girl. Or some nice old man. They meet a person. It doesn’t always happen that way, but most people aren’t bad. They just think the way they’ve always thought until something changes them.” Dan nodded to the guard when the man looked at them. The man nodded back and smiled.
“Henry? Mitzi asked. They’d discussed it over dinner with the Saturday Night Thing.
“Me.” He said. Her head snapped up.
“Really?”
“You think like you’ve always thought until something changes you.” He shrugged. “I’m just not built for hate. It took one day in public school for me to realize my mom had been full of shit.”
“What bout your dad?” Mitzi asked.
“Dad was about the friendliest person you could meet. I think he stayed with mom because of us.” Dan turned that over in his head. He felt a bit better about things. He felt something from Mitzi. A sort of pulse. When he looked at her, she was just watching him.
“I love you.” She said.
He put an arm around her and squeezed her.
“I love you too, Mitzi-doodle.”
Mitzi was beginning to feel a bit self conscious sitting outside the changing room. She and Bandy sat in chairs and Viv sat between them. Occasionally a human would come back to use a changing room and would give them a look. Mitzi would smile at them, and that seemed to disarm them a bit. Bandy would smile and rearm them.
“All I’m saying,” Bandy was saying, “is you should have some fun with this!”
Mitzi sighed.
“And all I’M saying, is that this ceremony isn’t a big deal. He looks fine in polos and slacks.”
It was Bandy’s turn to sigh. Viv watched their discussion as if it were a tennis match.
“I’m not doing this for the ceremony, ya boob. I’m trying to get something through your dense-ass head.”
“What?” Mitzi asked. “And watch you’re damned language around Viv.”
Bandy turned to face Mitzi and she lowered her voice.
“You’re lucky, Mitz. You’re really lucky. You’ve got a guy who adores you and he’s a catch. And yes, Dan looks fine the way he is. I know. But he likes seeing you all dolled up in your sun dress with your make-up done, right?”
“Yeah.” Mitzi said. She thought about that for a moment. “He really likes my dressing up like that. And it makes me feel special when he sees me like that.”
Bandy gave her a cheerful smile.
“So why not let him do that for you? AND, you can help him!”
The girl had a point. Dan didn’t have much in the way of clothes anyway.
“This isn’t me.” Dan said from the changing room.
“Prove it!” Bandy shouted.
Poor Dan walked out and was wearing something Bandy had picked out. It was a t-shirt that looked like it had been manufactured old, pre-torn jeans, and leather accessories covered in metal studs.
“Agreed.” Mitzi said. She looked at Viv, who nodded. She looked at Bandy. She loved her sister, but the look on Bandy’s face was far too appreciative.
“Yo!” Mitzi said, and Bandy turned to look at her.
“RIGHT! Sorry!” Bandy said. “It doesn’t work on you. I guess you dig the music and not the scene.”
Dan sighed with relief and went back into the changing room. Mitzi looked at Bandy.
“He never told you about his musical tastes.” She said. Bandy blushed.
“I might have seen him at a show in Hattiesburg that time I tagged along with someone. . .”
Mitzi didn’t know what to say about that. They’d never had to be circumspect with each other and she decided she wasn’t going to start now.
“Bandy, why didn’t you tell me you had a crush on Dan?” She asked quietly. Viv was suddenly riveted.
Bandy took time before she answered.
“I kinda did.” She finally said. “I told you I’d take second place. I wasn’t picky. I mean, he stood out at the show. Everyone was dressed like me in my trashed out clothes and here’s this clean cut guy in a polo. He stood out. I mean, look at him! Then he disappeared all of a sudden.”
Mitzi just stared at Bandy. She was at a loss.
“Then the doof shows up in our restaurant. And you kissed him.” Bandy finally looked at her. “I love ya, Mitz. The minute I realized this wasn’t just some crush you had on him, it didn’t matter what I wanted anymore.”
Mitzi hopped out of the chair and opened her arms.
“C’mere.” She said, and Bandy did. She hugged her savagely. “Thank you. If I can help you find someone, I will.” She whispered.
Bandy stepped back after a moment.
“Thanks, but I’ll find my own person.” She grinned. “I didn’t stand a chance anyway. Look at ya.”
A moment later, Dan walked back out wearing a nice gray suit.
“You guys ok?” He asked?
Mitzi looked him up and down.
“We’re fine. That suit, isn’t.”
“Fuckin’ square.” Bandy said, and Mitzi elbowed her in the ribs.
“Watch your damned mouth!” Mitzi said. “She’s right though. Give me just a minute. I’ll find you something.”
Mitzi walked back onto the sales floor to put something together she’d seen earlier. She had actually seen someone dressed like what she had in mind once at the tavern and it had stuck in her head as unique. For Natchez, anyway. She didn’t worry about Bandy being with Dan. Partly because Viv was there, but mostly because she trusted her sister with her life.
She gathered what she was looking for and brought it all back to the changing room, shoving them into Dan’s hands.
“What’s this?” He asked, seeming a bit amused.
“It’s something just for me.” She said. “Humor me?”
Dan kissed her on the forehead.
“Anything for you.” He said, and went back into the changing room.
Mitzi looked at Viv.
“You bored?” She asked.
“No.” Viv said simply. “Kinda fun watching.”
They waited patiently and finally, when Dan walked out, Mitzi grinned. She ran up, and pushed his sleeves up to his elbows. She stepped back and took him in. She realized her hands were clasped under her chin. He looked striking to her.
It was a simple outfit. Tight black slacks, a tight t-shirt, white shoes, and a light sport coat with the sleeves pushed up. Exactly what she’d seen. Well, maybe the other guy’s outfit hadn’t been quite this tight, but it fit.
“Is it comfortable?” She asked. He didn’t seem to feel uncomfortable, but sometimes you had to ask.
“Yeah.” He said. “I’ll be honest, I feel like I should be selling drugs in Miami in 1987, but it fits well. You like this?” He asked.
She walked up and looked up at him. He KNEW she liked it. He could feel how much she liked it. She tried not to bounce on her toes. She thought he looked dashing.
“Ok. Silly question. Yes. You do.” He said. He knelt in front of her. “Do you want me to buy it?”
“Please?” He felt embarrassed. She was so worried he was going to say no, but he just looked amazing right now.
“Ok.” He said. “I can’t say no to you. Not on this.” He said smiling to her. “I’m gonna get dressed again and we can check out.
He walked back in the changing room and Mitzi DID hop on her toes then.
“Mitzi, have you ever heard of Miami Vice?” Bandi asked.
“No. Why?”
“No reason.” Bandy said, but her smile said different.