Chapter 16

“Are you all right?” I asked.

Elvis said, “I’m not going to force you to do this, sweetheart.”

Brandon sobbed, “It’s fine. I’ll do it. But, I’m getting—my period!”

“That I’m not prepared to deal with!” Elvis said, laughing and getting ready to open his door. “The phone’s over there, next to the liquor cabinet. There’s paper towels if that will help…I think my wife said they used rags when they were young. Back in the dark ages.” It was dusky in here but I could see him blushing. “She said they called it falling off the roof.”

With that as his exit line, Elvis left the building.

Brandon and I stared at each other, then toward the phone, then back at each other. “I’m going to tear up rags and go jump off a building.” he moaned.

“There aren’t any buildings,” I replied. “I’ll call first. No excuses, no explanations.” But inside I was scared to death. Death—ha. I took a deep breath, glad I could do so, and reached for the phone.