Page 33 of Tuesday

“But Miss Davies, itdoesstink!” a little blonde girl with wide set eyes and wonky pigtails joins in.

All the other kids start nodding in earnest now and some of the brothers are sniggering behind their hands. It’s a work day but it seems that the whole MC has come out to watch the tie breaker to find out who is the best grandpa. Or something. I’m actually not sure why Pops and Mad Dog are doing this.

Laney and I make our way over to the couches to get an uninterrupted view.

“Popcorn?” Mira asks, holding out the bowl, eyes on what’s happening in front of us.

“Can Laney eat popcorn?” I ask, brows pinched. I’ve not gotten this far in my research of foods just yet.

“She’ll be fine,kotiro, you’ll just have to watch her,” Mama Debs says, dropping a kiss first on the top of my head then Laney’s.

Well, she’d know, so I grab a handful and then pass Laney some kernels. She gobbles them up and then holds her little hand out for more.

“So ladies, who do we think is going to win?” Blanche asks, sitting gingerly next to me.

I eye her up. It’s only been two days since Tess was born and I figured she’d still be recovering. Instead she’s wearing stretchy pants, looking relaxed. Well, apart from when she stops to bark instructions at three of her older children. Looking around the room my gaze lands on Tav, standing by the bar, Tess strapped to his front. If anyone was made to be a dad, it was that man. Actually, all my brothers were made to be fathers. And I was made to be someone’s mom. That someone has her chunky foot resting on my leg, her damp looking hand open and waiting for more popcorn.

“I think Pops will win. Obviously,” I reply, handing over three big fluffy popcorns.

Vi joins our Ol Lady circle, taking a seat on the floor. “Trust me, neither of them will win. The only winners here are those feral kids of Jazz’s.”

“Vi! They’re only children!” Remy scolds.

“No, they’re not. They’re demons disguised as children. Trust me.”

We all look over, the kids all sitting nicely at the common room tables ready to get started.

“Macaroni Cheese!”

“Everybody freeze!” The kids yell out in reply to Jazz.

“Right, everyone, welcome to the Devil’s Rose Clubhouse! Marx -” Jazz waves to the Pres, “- was nice enough to let us come and draw here, and how exciting! Look around, there is, um, artwork on the walls, and motorcycle parts and things.” Jazz’s hands wave around the room and the kids sit there, unimpressed.

“Hey! I know you! You were my doctor that time!” a little boy in a motorized wheelchair calls out, pointing at Switch.

“That’s right, I remember you, Marcus,” Switch booms. “How’s your mom?”

Marcus’s eyes behind his large glasses narrow, “Why do you want to know? Are you some kind of creep?”

Snorts sound out around the clubhouse while Switch’s jaw drops.

“Marcus! We don’t talk to people like that, especially to doctors,” Jazz scolds. “Right, let me introduce you to our two lovely models who are posing for us today! We have Pops,” Pops steps forward and gives the kids the stink eye, “and Mad Dog.”

“Mad Dog? What sort of name isthat?” Rodney yells out.

“And so it begins,” Vi whispers.”

“That’s a good question, son,” Mad Dog starts.

“I’m not your son, you’re lying!” Rodney shouts.

“Rodney, remember that sometimes people will use other names when they don’t know your real name. Like how some people call me Miss, or people get called Doctor, that sort of thing.” Jazz patiently explains. This is good stuff. I can use this when Laney gets older.

“Your teacher is right, I mean no harm,” Mad Dog smiles. “Mad Dog is a road name. That’s the name bikers go by.”

“Wait, so you’re in a club with other old men and you just give each other nicknames?” Rodney asks, causing the brothers to snicker.

“Well, um, not quite,” Mad Dog mumbles.

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