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I managed to find a package of them under the sink. The box was old and faded, so I figured it likely was bought by the former owner’s late wife. I took it to him, tossing the package his way, surprised that he had caught it.
I left to try to clean more of the kitchen and didn’t hear another word from him for a long time. When I left the kitchen again, I was shocked to see the floors shining up the stairs.
There was a knock on the door, and I turned around to answer it, seeing two young men there, one bulky and short, the other overly thin and tall. They reminded me of the old movies I’d watch with my mother sometimes, with the comedians Laurel and Hardy.
“Hey, mister, you the new owner?” the shorter one asked while his buddy hung a couple of feet behind him.
“Close enough. Are you the two that’ll be in charge of the pigs?”
“Yessir, I’m Dale Penn; this here’s Tucker Falon.”
I thought of a movie I’d seen a few years back. Tucker and Dale Versus Evil. It was so…them. Both wore denim overalls, Tucker’s with one strap loose, and both wore trucker hats. I was ready to scream with laughter but didn’t want to hurt their feelings. “Dale, Tucker, I’m Hud. The owner’s upstairs, but you can deal with me for the near future.”
I shook their hands in turn, and Dale asked, “You all never took care o’ pigs?”
“No, we haven’t. We wanted the land, the home, but the pigs came with it. The owner’s interested in selling them, but we haven’t talked much about it.”
“Nobody ‘round here knows much about raisin’ ‘em. If you don’t mind, we’ll keep workin’ for ya.”
I saw then that they were worried they were losing their jobs. “It’s no problem, then. I’m sure it won’t be soon even if they’re sold.”
They both sighed heavily like they’d been holding their collective breath. “Thank ya,” Dale said.
They rushed off to get to the pigs, and I jumped as Theo came to stand by me. “Who is that?” he asked with his face all pinched.
“Your employees.”
“Mine?”
“You own the place, or your family does, but you’re the…manager of sorts unless you like it here and can convince your family to give it to you. Which they might.”
“Why would I want it? It’s vile here, no one around except…people like that.”
My manners lessons were finished for the day, along with my patience. I did notice he was freshly showered.
“The water pressure, it’s okay?”
“It’s fine, but that shower? One head, small, the tub is stained, and if I must keep showering there, I’ll vomit.”
There were three bathrooms, one full near the room Theo was using, another in the middle of the upstairs hallway, and another off the kitchen. That one only had a sink and toilet. The only one with a tub was the one that Theo was using. The other upstairs bathroom had a shower, sink, and toilet.
“Let’s get some cleanser and see if we can’t make it nicer. If you like, I can grab another showerhead for you and help you install it.”
“Install it? Don’t they have people for that?”
“Sure. But Javi is spending your money while you’re here. If you want to throw it away on plumbers, that’s up to you. They’re expensive.”
“He’s using my money? Why? He’s the one that forced me here!”
It was easy to get angry with him until I looked closely at him. He was so beautiful; it was difficult not to remember he was such a shitty person inside. Or at least what I’d seen.
His eyes were clouded heavily, like a deep storm was always brewing there, and his jaw was so squared, but surprisingly, it didn’t square his face. No, his face was relatively narrow and long, tiny nose, perfectly shaped, pouty red lips…
“What are you staring at?”
Honest to a fault at times, I answered, “You. You’re very handsome.”
He preened a little, though even the preening was arrogant, chin rising, eyes narrowing. “Thank you.”
