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Benny froze. “What? What is it? Do I have something—”
Chong whacked him on the head with his open palm.
“Ow! What was it? Was it a bee?”
“No. I just wanted to see if I could slap some of the stupid out of you.”
“Hey!”
“Jeez, Benny, we made that oath when we were nine.”
“It was a blood oath.”
“We’d cut our fingers baiting fishhooks. That oath was spur of the moment, immature—and dumb. Mind you, we’ve both had dumber moments. You more than me, of course …”
“Hey!”
“But it didn’t really matter much then, and it doesn’t matter at all now.”
They walked about a hundred paces in silence. “We gave our words, Chong,” said Benny.
Chong grunted. “You never cease to amaze me,” he said. “Though seldom in a good way.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, if you’re so wise and insightful, O Mighty Chong, then how come you’ve never told Lilah that you have a crush on her?”
“Ah. I’m wise and insightful, but not brave.”
“Have you tried?”
Chong colored. “I … wrote a note.”
“What did it say?”
“It … um … had some poetry. And some other stuff,” Chong said evasively.
“Did she read it?”
“I left it where she could find it. Next day I found it in the trash.”
“Ouch.”
“Maybe she misunderstood. After all, it’s not like she’s been around the dating scene. All she knows about romance is what she’s read in books.”
“Maybe, but why not just cowboy up and ask her? Worst she can do is say no.”
Chong gave him a withering stare. “Really? That’s the worst you think she can do?” He sighed. “Besides, it doesn’t much matter anymore. You guys are leaving tomorrow and I’ll never see her again.”
“Yeah,” Benny said softly. “Sorry, man.”
They looked covertly over their shoulders to where Lilah padded along like a fierce hunting cat. She caught them looking at her and growled, “Pay attention to the woods before something bites you!”
They snapped their heads around forward, but Benny was laughing quietly. Chong made a pained face.
“You see what I mean? She lived with us. You should see her before she’s had her morning coffee.”
“Mmm … does that mean that if you two crazy kids had managed to make a go of it, you’d have been the girl in the relationship?”
“How about you go stick a baseball bat up your—”
