Page 66 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“Not very. Unless Biddie gets curious.”
“Okay if I work a little magic?”
“Sure.” Joe watched in growing amazement as Kip’s clawedhands wove through a series of patterns, etching glowing lines inmidair—intricate, beautiful, and humming with purpose. “What’s that for?”
“These are sigils. Some for illusions, some for barriers. Ina sec, we won’t have to whisper.” With a crooked smile, he promised, “You couldjump on the bed and no one would be the wiser.”
Joe just nodded and waited for Kip to finish.
It was kind of pretty, the way shapes spun from hisfingertips, orderly and extraordinary. They gleamed on walls, door, window, andfloor.
“That should do it,” Kip announced at a more normal speakinglevel. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Joe wasn’t sure where to look. Kip’s short, loose pants andfaded T-shirt made him look less like a lumberjack and more like awere-squirrel.
Kip blinked a few times, glanced down at himself, andgroaned. “I always get comfy after work, and I didn’t think. Want me to hidethe strangeness?”
“I’ll … umm … I’ll get used to it.” Joe gestured to thedesk. “Hungry?”
“Starved!”
Then it was easy. Joe felt nothing but relief when Kip saton the rag rug, leaned against the side of the bed, and signaledgimmewith both hands. He ate with appreciative little groans, interspersed withcompliments to the chef.
When Joe unzipped the little six-pack cooler, Kip’s handhesitated over a cola, then grabbed a beer instead. “Might need two,” he saidin an odd voice. “But stop me if I reach for a third.”
“Is something wrong?”
Kip lifted his second sandwich as if making a toast. “Nary acomplaint. You’re a godsend!”
But Joe somehow knew better. “You’re sad. I cantellyou’re sad.”
The forced smile slowly faded, and for one terrible moment,Joe was afraid that the tears shining in Kip’s eyes were his fault.
“Can you keep a secret?” Kip asked softly.
“Another one?”
He laughed a little. “I suppose you do have more than yourfair share.”
Joe felt all awkward about the sudden mood shift, but henodded. “I won’t tell.”
Kip crammed the last of his sandwich in his mouth, chewedslowly, swallowed, and sighed. “Okay. Here’s the thing. My best friend is inlove with your sister.”
“Umm … that’s not really a secret.” Joe quickly explained,“Tami tells me stuff. She loves him back.”
“Yeah. I know.” Kip pulled his tail around. It was hard totell if he was hugging it or hiding behind it. “Head over heels. Hearts anddaisies. Cute as can be. But I didn’t realize it would be this hard, watchinghim make an idiot of himself.”
Joe wasn’t sure what Kip meant, but the way he said it madeit obvious that he and Ash were really good friends. It made him a littlejealous. And then something that should have been obvious finally occurred tohim. “Is Ash like you?”
“Yes and no.” Kip gestured vaguely. “Those tworeallyneed to talk.”
“He’s Rivven?”
“Not my place to say. Also, not really the point.”
Kip was avoiding eye contact, something Joe did all thetime. Strange how something so small could make you feel both understanding andunderstood.
“I’m going to be happy for them … eventually,” Kip said.“But that doesn’t really make my part in this any easier.”
