Page 48 of Worst in Show

Dawn waves it away. “He’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Leo sees me through the small windowpanes and straightens. He says something to Diane and opens the door. “I’ll be right there. Ready to head out?”

“I’m ready.”

He shoves whatever Diane gave him in his back pocket and kisses his aunt on the cheek. “I’ll handle it,” he says.

“Handle what?” I ask, innocently, when he joins me.

“Just some, um, paperwork. Nothing important.”

Hmm… I believe I’ve found a new task for Jaz.

Living History Illinois Flockify DM, Sunday 11:10 PM

SingerQueen: Feeling philosophical. Do you think people deserve second chances?

AlCaponesGhost25: Is this a historical question? In that case no. I can think of a number of horrid megalomaniacs who shouldn’t have gotten even a first chance.

SingerQueen: No, more like friends and family.

AlCaponesGhost25: Hmm. I guess it would depend on what they did. There are deal breakers.

SingerQueen: Such as?

AlCaponesGhost25: Well, there’s the obvious triad—cheating, murder, and putting an empty milk carton back in the fridge.

SingerQueen: Ha!

AlCaponesGhost25: Where’s this coming from?

I nibble at my lip as I try to think of how to explain my confusion about today’s events while keeping up my half-truth about working as a designer.

SingerQueen: Remember that guy at my work we were going to haunt?

AlCaponesGhost25: The showoff?

SingerQueen: Yeah.

AlCaponesGhost25: Is he still being annoying?

I think of the spider in the mailbox, Tilly and Cho getting us kicked out of agility, and Leo’s irritatingly self-assured ways. But the image is shifting even as I do.

SingerQueen: He’s a pain in my ass for sure, but the problem is, now he’s sharing his portfolio with me, which is actually really helpful. It might even lead to a promotion if things work out.

AlCaponesGhost25: Hence your question.

SingerQueen: Maybe I judged him unfairly.

AlCaponesGhost25: You sound a bit like me. I tend to assume the worst of people.

SingerQueen: You do?

AlCaponesGhost25: Trying to do better.

SingerQueen: So I should give him a second chance?

AlCaponesGhost25: If he’s worthy. How is his riddle game?

---