Page 37 of Perfectly Petite Shorts
“Heard about it how?” Burt asked.
Dillon quickly relayed how he and Ruthie had overheard Phil talking to Peaches, along with the house’s role in allowing them to find out.
“Shit, that’s one sneaky house.” Ollie swallowed andappeared uncomfortable. “I’m not sure I’d be comfortable livin’ in a house that manipulative.”
“What does maniputivev mean?” Ruthie asked.
“Quit using big, fancy words the kids don’t understand,” Burt scolded. “It means that the house is doin’ shit to get its own way. Or maybe what it wants.” Burt shrugged. “I’m not sure on the particulars of your house’s feelin’s.”
“I don’t think it was trying to do anything bad.” Dillon defended their home’s actions.
“Didn’t say it was,” Burt agreed. Waving a small, calloused hand in the air, Burt changed the subject. “Moving on from the creepy house…”
Dillon and Ruthie both bristled.
“Phil’s birthday is soon, and he doesn’t want anyone to know?” Burt frowned. “Is he older than I think he is? I mean, is he embarrassed by is age? Is Phil a cougar? Is he a lot older than Mr. Voss?”
Head tilted to the side, Ruthie asked, “What’s a cougar?”
Ollie slapped his hand over his face, running it along his cheek. “Forget you heard that word.” Slapping Burt upside the head, Ollie scolded, “Phil’s not that old, you idiot.”
“I don’t think he’s embarrassed.” Dillon tried steering the conversation back to safer ground. “He said he doesn’t think it’s important.”
“Not important?” Ollie scoffed. “Now that does sound like our Phil.”
“Definitely,” Burt agreed. “It would be nice to know the exact date.”
“We can call and ask Peaches,” Dillon said. “That’s who Phil was talking with, so he must know.”
“That makes sense,” Ollie answered. “Peaches has known Phil longer than the rest of us.” Ollie chuckled. “Sed’s never been happy about that.”
Dillon gave Ruthie a confused look. “Why? Peaches and Mr. Moony are together. Peaches is Mr. Moony’s beloved.”
“He is now,” Burt snickered. “Anyway, that’s neither here nor there. Talking with Peaches sounds like a sound idea. So, what can we help you two with?”
Now they were getting somewhere. Dillon checked the area again, making certain they were still alone. “We want to get Phil a present. Something that will let him know just how important he is. It needs to be something special.”
“Ah…I see.” Ollie sagely nodded. “And you’d like to know what we think.”
“Yes!” Ruthie beamed. “What should we get him? What would make Phil happy?”
“Hmm…that’s a good question.” Ollie’s head lowered as he stared at his boots. “You can never go wrong with a good bottle of booze.”
“Alcohol?” Dillon leaned back, lips pursed. “Phil doesn’t drink much.”
“Not at home,” Ollie answered. “I’ve seen him a few sheets to the wind a time or two at Dusk.”
Burt was in agreeance. “That bartender, Johnny, he’s got a cousin that makes a killer honeysuckle mead. Not that Ollie or I’d know for certain. That’s a pixie drink, to be sure. But Peaches raves about it.”
Dillon stared at Ruthie. Years of reading and interpreting her expression had made him an expert, and right now she appeared just as skeptical as he did. “I’m not sure that’s what Phil would like the most.”
Ollie shrugged. “Eh, maybe, maybe not.”
“Jewels,” Burt offered. “Everybody loves somethin’ sparkly. I hardly ever see Phil without that necklace Mr. Voss game him.”
Dillon’s cheeks flushed. The necklace was platinum with pink diamonds spelling out the word,Sedrick’s. Dillondidn’t think something like that would be the same coming from him and Ruthie. Besides, Phil already had something sparkly.
Not catching on to Dillon and Ruthie’s questioning expressions, Burt pushed forward. “We’ve found some interesting gems while mining. We always give them to Mr. Voss, but he doesn’t always wanna sell them all. I can see what we’ve got. Maybe something in there will catch your eye.”
