Page 38 of Jack of All Trades

He chuckled, but there was little humor there. “I know you. You have loved those cars for over a hundred years. Every time one comes along that catches your eye, you add it to your collection. Most don’t know you bought most of those cars brand new off the lot.”

“Not all. I discovered a few later, and I’ve even restored one. That, however, is rare. The entire time I did it, I was tempted to use my powers when I couldn’t find an original part.”

“I can relate. I do the same with clothes.”

“Being old, like we are, we find something that makes us happy continually and hold onto it tightly.”

“Now you have Jack. I’ll admit, I’m jealous.”

“You’ll find someone if you stop whoring yourself all over the place and settle down.”

“Not a chance,” he smiled and gave with a cheeky wink.

Jack returned to the loft with the book and joined the two on the couch. After he set the book on the coffee table, the three of them stared at it like it would jump up and attack.

Finally, Rodney said, “Shouldn’t you two…open it?”

“Why don’t you?”

Rodney told Maltin, “I’m not the shifter!”

Jack turned to him with soft eyes that pleaded, and Maltin knew it was him who had to make the first move. “Fine, but you two need to read it with me.”

“Again, I’m not a shifter, but being your uncle?”

“And a week younger than me,” Maltin reminded him.

“I will stay and protect you.”

“From a book. How chivalrous of you, Uncle Rodney.”

“I do what I must.”

The book opened, and right away, the three stared at an illustration of a hellhound. While he and Jack simply stared, Rodney could be counted on. “Rather odious creatures, your people.”

“Rodney!”

“Sorry. Read on.”

Chapter Eleven

Jack stared at theillustration. It was hideous, and then again…it wasn’t. Sure, the beast was snarling and bloodthirsty looking, but any animal or human could be.

Ms. Tempest dispelled many myths with her words. Still, Rodney’s reaction told the story of what others would see him and Maltin as.

“It looks like a dragon!”

“We don’t breathe fire, Rodney.” Maltin stopped and turned to Jack. “Do we?”

“No, not that I saw in my dreams. I just…ate someone.”

“Ate them? Is that how you…take them to hell?”

Maltin shook his head and told his uncle, “No. I mean, I don’t know.”

“I didn’t get that far in my dream,” Jack told them in a voice so low he barely heard himself.

The three of them stared at the book some more.

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