Page 81 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
The janitor shifted restlessly. “I’m going to need you to bemore specific.”
A wave of shyness caught Joe by surprise. “Umm … are youreally Mr. Black?”
Ash’s eyes widened.
Joe fumbled for something else to explain how much Kip hadrevealed. “I like his tail. And the claws aren’t so bad. And when he’s asquirrel, he’s … cute.”
Incredulity faded into exasperation on Ash’s face. “Okay,yeah. I think that’s most of it. Did you get him drunk or something?”
“He stopped at two beers.” Joe shuffled forward anotherstep. “Are you here to get him?”
Rubbing at the side of his face, Ash asked, “How safe ishe?”
“Umm … he put sigils everywhere in my room.”
Ash eased closer. “That alone means he’s safe. And Jiminy’swards don’t hurt. What about your sister?”
“She doesn’t know. I won’t tell.”
Joe searched the young man’s face, looking for traces of theold man he remembered from his childhood. The eyes. His build. Something in theset of his mouth. It was as if time rolled backward, revealing a stranger whowas—and wasn’t—his childhood friend.
“Warding this place must have taken it out of him. Kip will probablysleep for a day or two.” Ash asked, “Are you willing to keep an eye on him forme?”
“You could come in,” Joe offered. “Nobody else is in thehouse right now.”
Ash shook his head. “Did Doon-wen see you like this?”
“Like what?” Joe rubbed uneasily at his chest. Weren’t Kip’ssigils supposed to be invisible?
“Do me a favor and take a long, hot shower before joiningany song circles.”
He hadn’t washed. Did he smell like Kip? Joe admitted, “Iwas petting him. His squirrel. Him in squirrel form.”
“I’ll bet he loved the attention.” Ash slowly reached out totouch Joe’s arm. “And it’s not the end of the world if the wolves find out. Butit might get awkward if someone says something in front of Tami.”
Joe asked, “Is it the end of the world if Tami finds out?”
Ash’s hand fell away. “How much did Kip say about me?”
“Not much. Only that you and my sister really need to talk.”
“We do.”
“Come up to the house,” Joe offered. “She’ll be home soon.You can talk.”
Ash retreated a step. “I can’t justbehere.”
“Yes, you can.” This was his old friend. This was the personTami loved. This was the right thing to do. In a cautious echo, Joe reached forAsh. “Be here and tell her.”
For a long while, they just stood there, Joe holding Ashback with a firm grip.
Finally, Ash muttered, “You know what it means … if I’m Mr.Black.”
Joe said, “You’re not human. Maybe you’re like Kip?”
“And that doesn’t bother you?”
“When I was little, I had friends because Tami made them.But you weremyfriend.” Joe mumbled, “Thank you for being my friend.”
