Charlie Huston - The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death

– Motherfucker! Motherfucking Morton looked us in the eyes and told us he'd agree to a cease-fire and then had one of his fucking peons come over here and rip us off! You were right! You were right on the fucking money, Gabe. That motherfucker cannot be trusted.

The garbage floated down to the floor.

Gabe watched it.

– Not like I'm happy about being right.

Po Sin stood in the middle of the trash.

– We'll have to do something about it.

– OK. Tonight?

Po Sin took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

– Lei has her yoga class tonight. I need to watch the kids.

Gabe nodded.

– OK, but better if we take care of it right away.

And he looked at me.

And Po Sin looked at me.

And I stopped sweeping trash.

– What?

Po Sin slipped his glasses back on.

– Got any plans? A pressing date with your new girl, maybe?

I bent and picked up the wastebasket and looked at the shape it had been twisted into when Po Sin booted it. It occurred to me that it was probably in better shape than my prospects of ever seeing Soledad again after my epic spazmatic display.

– No, I don't think that's gonna be a regular thing.

– All free, then? Not intending on another sleep marathon?

– No. I guess not.

He spread his arms.

– Then it's no problem?

– Urn, no? I mean, what?

– You can help Gabe out tonight.

– I can? Sure. I. To do?

Gabe tugged an earlobe.

– Nothing big. Just business communications.

I shook my head.

– I don't know, man. That sounds. I don't know.

Po Sin turned and looked out the open door and turned back and looked at me.

– Ahem.

I looked at the empty parking spot out there where his van wasn't parked and decided I should shut up and do as I was asked to do.

Gabe observed the silence for a moment, nodded his head.

– OK. So I'll pick you up tonight.

He turned to leave, turned back.

– Wear gloves.

And leave he did.

Po Sin walked through the door into the shop.

– Time to get your hands dirty, Web.

– Got a hug for Daddy?

Po Sin stuck out his index finger.

– Just a little one?

The twelve-year-old boy looked out from under his long bangs, raised a hand, extended his pinkie, and touched it to the tip of his father's finger.

Po Sin smiled.

– I love you.

The boy withdrew his finger and walked to a corner of the room and sat on the floor and wedged himself tight into the angle of the walls and put his backpack in his lap and squeezed it to his chest.

Po Sin pushed himself from his squat and looked at his wife in the doorway.

– What's the matter?

Lei came into the office, ruffling her spiky black hair.

– He lost a piece from his Bat Cave.

– Oh, Christ. At school? Please tell me it was at school.

She shook her head.

– Nope.

– Aw, shit.

She raised her hands.

– And I've already done what I can do about it.

– OK.

– You can take your best shot.

– OK.

– I'm just praying I can find some kind of mellow in yoga class and not fall asleep on my mat as soon as I get there.

– OK. OK.

She took a deep breath, exhaled.

– Sorry. Long one.

She looked at him and smiled.

– How about you, everything OK?

Po Sin scratched his moustache, waved a hand in the air over his head.

– Nothing's blowing up.

She pointed out the open door.

– Where's the van?

He glanced through the shop door at me where I was bleaching the slop sink, looked back at his wife.

– Gabe's out doing some pickups.

She looked where he had glanced, saw me, raised her eyebrows at Po Sin.

He pointed at me.

– Sorry. That's Web. Remember?

Her forehead creased, uncreased.

– Web. Yes, of course, I'm sorry.

She came through the door into the shop, hand held out.

– Nice to finally meet you.

I dropped my sponge in the sink and started to reach for her hand with one of mine, pulled up and stripped the thick rubber glove off.

– Hi. Nice to. Po Sin's said a lot about. Hi.

She took my sweaty hand; hers tiny and strong and cool.

– So he finally got you in here.

– Uh, yeah.

She kept my hand firmly in hers, looking up at me, smiling.

– He's been talking about it forever. Saying how he thinks you should be working.

Po Sin came to the door.

– Lei.

She waved her free hand over her shoulder.

– Shut up, Grandfather Elephant.

She touched the jade necklace that hung down over a loose orange cotton blouse.

– He'd just as soon no one knew he cares about anything, but he does. Of course.

– Lei!

– Ignore his bluster. He thinks I'm not minding my own business. How have you been? Are you feeling better? You're working here, you must be feeling better. Not spending all your time slacking at your friend's tattoo shop. Good, that's good for you.

– Jesus, Lei.

She tugged on my hand, pulled me a step closer, put a hand to her mouth for a stage whisper.

– I'm embarrassing him. Being overly personal with someone I've just met. He hates it.

– He has work to do, Lei.

Still holding my hand, she turned.

– You have work to do.

She tilted her head toward their son tucked in the corner, clutching his bag.

He slapped the back of his neck.

– I know, I know. Where is she?

– She's out in the car.

He started for the door.

– I'll get her. Just let Web do his work, OK? I don't pay him enough to get grilled by you.

He stepped out the door.

– Xing. Xing, over here. Now. Now. No, I will not carry you. Now, I said. No, you are perfectly capable of walking on your own two feet. Now. Now! Damn it.

He walked out of sight.

Lei turned back to me.

– I'm not a Hindu, Web, but I swear I must have done something in a previous life to deserve my daughter.

She nodded her head.

– I know, I know, it's my own fault, our own fault. She's ours after all. She didn't just appear out of thin air. We made love, we made a baby. One baby wasn't enough. We had to go back to the well for more. So we got what we deserved. And with all Yong's problems, beautiful boy that he is, she doesn't get all the attention she maybe deserves.

She leaned close.

– What she deserves is a good whack on the ass from time to time, but Po Sin won't allow it.

She leaned back.

– Of course, I'd be terrified to try it myself. Have you ever seen Demon Seed}

I nodded.

– Sure.

She tapped the tip of her nose.

– That's our Xing.

– But I didn't take it.

We both looked as Po Sin ducked through the door, Xing on his shoulders.

– Honey, don't lie.

– But I'm not lying.

He took her from his shoulders and stood her on his desk and looked her in the eyes.

– Xing, my little lovely apricot, no one likes a liar.

She stomped.

– But I'm not lying.

He put a finger to his lips.

– Shh.

– But I'm noootl

He shook the finger at her.

– Nu-uh. No more. Listen to me. Listen.

– Buuut.

He snapped his fingers, a meaty slap of flesh.

– Shht. Now!

She stopped talking and looked down at her feet in their pink and white sneakers.

Po Sin pointed at her brother.

– Does Yong ever lose his Legos, Xing?

She bit her lip, not looking up.

Po Sin put a finger under her chin and tilted her face to his.

– I asked a question.

She blew out her cheeks.

– You told me to be quiet and listen.

– And now I want you to answer. Does he ever lose his Legos?