Page 15 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“I talk,” protested Ash.
“Not at any great length.” Kip raised a hand. “That’sprobably my fault, though, not letting you get a word in.”
Ash cracked a smile. “You even talk in your sleep.”
“You would know!”
“Shut up and get comfortable.”
“Gladly.” Kip dropped onto an olive green camp chair thathad been a fixture in the room for eighty years at least. Bending down, heunlaced a boot and eased his foot from its confines. Kip stretched and flexed,wriggling his toes. “Oh, that’s good.”
Ash merely grunted. This was part of the daily routine.
Kip’s feet were long and large, covered in thick red fur,with pink pads and surprisingly sharp claws.
Next, he tackled the snaps and zips of his coveralls. Themoment his arms were free, he was hissing and grunting as he unwound a mass ofmatted fur wrapped three times around his middle. He always looked so pudgy inhis uniform, but there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. Shocking, considering howmuch Kip could eat.
His tail unwound, Kip shed the coveralls entirely andbounced on the balls of his feet. He bent forward, hands pressed to the floor.Straightening, he took advantage of their room’s high ceiling to leap into abackward somersault, landing in a crouch. Then a quick tuck-and-roll, followedby three smart shakes, which was all it took to put the puff back into a tailthat would be the envy of any squirrel.
Kip was furred from the waist down and freckled everywhereelse. When he scratched up under his T-shirt, he partially exposed the blaze onhis belly. “So what’s all this about Tami?”
Ash summed up her quandary and their committee.
Kip chuckled. “She hasn’t changed much. Always leading thecharge.”
“Huh?”
“Tami. I remember her.”
Ash could only repeat, “Huh?”
“She never paid us much attention. Of course, we were acouple of old codgers back then.” He helpfully added, “You were always closerto her twin brother. You know the one—sweet and shy.”
Twins rang a bell, and Ash covered his eyes. “She’sJoe’ssister? I can’t believe I …. I feel like I owe her an apology.”
Kip bounded to his side, grinning rakishly. “Is she yourtype?”
“No!”
“I didn’t know youhada type.”
“I saidno.” Ash hid his misery against a readyshoulder. “That would be horribly wrong.”
Kip’s claws raked through his hair, catching on the ponytailtie and removing it. With long, slow strokes, he spoke softly. “You do realizethat people like us—if we don’t choose people like us—can’t avoid the whole agedifference issue.”
“But she was one of our kids.” Ash hated himself for eventhinking their new principal was interesting.
“And …?”
“They don’t usually come back.”
His friend wrapped his arms around him and chirredsoothingly. “You don’t have to be embarrassed. She grew up. You’re allowed toappreciate the person she’s become.”
Ash muttered, “I never said anything aboutappreciation.”
“Who do you think I am?”
“It’s nothing.”
