Page 83 of Flirtasaurus
“Yes. She’s actually a Volvo, though. When my little sister was really young, she couldn’t say Volvo. She called it The Family Vulva, and I guess it stuck. What time is dinner?”
My head is spinning.
“Uh… six? Though we usually all arrive around five.”
“Great. Pick you up at four.”
“Are you sure, Ralph? Because I can almost guarantee this is going to be—”
“Pick you up at four,” he repeats, then gives me a quick peck on the cheek and starts walking down the street.
I watch him for a long time until he’s completely out of sight.
“Miss FitzGerald? Earth to Miss FitzGerald,” a smooth voice says a few feet away from me.
I snap out of whatever trance I was just in.
“Dr. Knowles, hi! I didn’t see you walk up. I was just… I was, um…”
“No need to explain,” she says with the subtlest of smiles. She can’t actually be smiling at me, though, can she? Nah. She probably has gas or something. Or is it babies who smile when they have gas? Hell if I know.
“How was your sleepover?” she asks.
“My sleepover?” I squeak.
“You chaperoned the museum sleepover for us, yes?”
“Yes. Yes! It was fantastic. Yes.”
“Good. I really appreciate you doing that on your night off. And thank you for getting us those extra volunteers too.”
“Of course. Anything to help!”
“I’ll send an email with particulars, but I was thinking… I could use your assistance with a special segment on the night of the gala. I think you’re just the right person to ask.”
“Sure! Yes. Whatever you need.”
“Great. I’ll see you at the staff meeting tomorrow afternoon then.”
“You will indeed!”
Dr. Knowles heads up the steps, and just before entering the revolving doors, she calls over her shoulder. “Oh, and Calliope?”
“Yes, Dr. Knowles?”
“Are you still open to traveling to South Dakota this summer?”
“What? Where? Yes! Why? Why, do you…?”
“Well… it seems that my assistant won’t be able to join me after all, due to a family situation, so… I was curious if you’d be interested in taking her spot?”
I’m pretty sure the world stops spinning for a moment.
“Yes,” I breathe. “That would be… I would be… I mean, I don’t think I can adequately express how much that would mean for me to—”
“Excellent. I’ll have Maria draw up the paperwork tomorrow.”
“Excellent! Wonderful! Oh my gosh, thank you! Can I hug you?”
