#ghote

[basicallyanotherwitchesthing]

H.R.F. Keating - Inspector Ghote Hunts the Peacock - Dutton - 1968 (jacket design by Edward F. Barbini)

[penig]

"So, you want to go somewhere - do something?" "I'm fine where I am, but I'd be finer if you hugged me."

"What, like this?" "Yes, please...okay, now I need to breathe." "Your wish is my et cetera."

"So, after hugging -" "William. Let's skip the preliminaries and make out." "What, in the driveway?" "No, silly. Whatever the best makeout spot in your house is."

"I can't believe how beautiful you are." "Likewise."

"I always envied -" "Shh. You have no reason to envy anyone!"

Mary Ann's in college, presumably dating college boys.

Deborah is right here, right now. And she's not interested in doing things by halves.

[penig]

Buying groceries was another thing Luz always did. She never came home with half this many cans and frozen boxes, either. But he wouldn't know what to do with the stuff she would buy, the fresh fruit and the meat in little white packages --

He’s not going to break down in the middle of the grocery store. He’s just not. So he thinks about Lucy. One more date ought to seal the deal...

[penig]

"So, you want to go out with me sometime?"

"Maybe. Do you want me to go out with you sometime?"

Tri: "Great. I'm stuck pairing up with the lesbian and you're stuck pairing up with a guy." Frieda: "We could go girlwatching together." Tri: "I've heard worse ideas."

"I would be honored if you'd come to my place after school tomorrow." "Maybe I will - oh, sorry!" "S'okay, I didn't need that eye anyhow."

[penig]

Ghote

Billy likes to start off the morning with a little bit of music. He times it to reach maximum soulfulness as the cleaning service’s van arrives.

"I'm starting senior year, Mohair! Pretty soon there'll only be you around to look after the old man. Think you're up to it?"

"Now, you know that's my job, Mr. G!" "But I am the boss and may do as I like, am I not? You would not deny an old man the small pleasure of assisting you?"

"You are a treasure of a housekeeper, and yet your hands are as soft and beautiful as a queen's!" "Oh, Mr. G!"

[penig]

"Sometimes I still feel sad about her." "I know, my sweet. I know."

"But Mary hated for people to be sad. The only thing we can do for the dead, she told me, is to be happy. Let me make you happy, Lucy."

"Wow, I'd be afraid to touch that!" "Mary wanted it to be used. What is a guitar that stands idle and unplayed? Only a hunk of wood and silence."

The MMMMC should be the best possible place to impress her, but there's that Casa fellow, distracting her, trying to cut him out! Billy happens to know he's got a wife and five children at home - he has no business here. If anybody's going to seduce Lucy, it'll be him, not some other slick jerk. 

"Let me take you home, my sweet! You look tired!"

[penig]

"Someday you must let me see you without that uniform dimming your loveliness!" "Oh, Mr. G, you're so naughty!" "Maybe, but I'm not Mr. G here! When you're off duty I must be Billy. And you must be Lucy. And everything else is inconsequential."

"I love the way you talk." "What way is that, my sweet?" "Oh, you know - the accent, and the big words, and you always say the sweetest things -"

"Ahem?" "What's the matter?" "What kind of a girl do you think I am?" "The beautiful kind."

"Just because I agreed to go out with you doesn't mean I'm easy!" It doesn't? Damn. "I'm sorry, my sweet - the shape of your back felt so good, I couldn't help myself. But perhaps we should eat now."

"A lady like you should wear pearl necklaces and silk. Perhaps a jewel in your belly button."

"I hope you'll forgive my - rudeness - and not cut our evening short." "Well...what else did you have in mind?"

"Of the few venues left to us, only the Hot Spot and the MMMMC are worthy of your presence; and I'm at the Hot Spot every day. If you will do me the favor of accompanying me -"

[penig]

"Sorry, this is all we have. We keep forgetting to stop at the store." "This is fine. I'm starving." "After the way you exerted yourself in the tub, I'm not surprised." "You weren't any slouch yourself, buster!"

It's not like with Mary Ann, who was always looking forward, thinking about the future. Deborah had existed pretty much in her shadow, as far as William was concerned. But now - now she shines. He can practically see the electric sparks shooting off her skin.

"So, I don't think you've ever seen my room -" "Mom'd kill me if she found she went up to a boy's room."

"Hey kids. I'm on my way out. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Billy winks broadly on his way out the door.

"What was that about?" "That? Just that, since Mom died, I don't think there's much Dad wouldn't do."

"Your Mom wouldn't be mad about sitting with a boy in his living room, would she?" "Nope!"

She's a little bit younger than him...younger enough for him to draw a line and not cross it. But oh, the space along the edge of that line is sweet!