Page 58 of Crystal Iris
“Fennel. When you said you’d help, did you mean…?”
“Spreading something onto bread?” I finish, reaching for the ingredients on the counter.
“Why don’t you two take a seat?” He gestures toward the table by the window.
“Fine by me,” Akira says, making herself comfortable. “Cowboy by day, businessman by night, and still has time to… cook?” Her directness makes me uncomfortable, but Hoyt laughs.
“We all need hobbies,” he says. “Not all of us can be geniuses.” He points his knife at both of us.
“How much is the rent?” Akira asks, taking a bite of her sandwich.
I agree—it’s that good.
“What’s in this?” I ask, trying to figure out the flavors.
“A bunch of stuff... and bacon,” he answers.
“I could eat this every day,” I say, wiping my mouth.
“Of course you can. You can’t cook anything.” Akira winks at me.
“True,” I tell Hoyt. “I’m a horrible cook.”
“I know,” he says with a smile.
We both look at him.
“You didn’t even know what fennel is,” he says, explaining.
“Nobody does,” Akira replies.
“I just… didn’t think you could put it in sandwiches,” I admit.
“Anything tastes good with bacon,” he says, taking another bite.
Fifteen
“The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.” – Paul Strand
“Nice boots,” Hoyt says when I come downstairs after changing. I’m wearing my new outfit, a perfect replica of the mannequin from the store where I bought it. I just hope my shoes don’t need breaking in.
“I hope they’re the right kind,” I reply.
“They’ll do,” he says with a quick smile.
Akira somehow is wearing an old pair. “You had boots?” I ask her. I completely forgot to tell her to bring some.
“No, I borrowed them from the closet in my room,” she says, like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
“Your closet has… clothes?”
“Yeah, doesn’t yours?”
“No, it was empty.”
Hoyt is already waiting for us outside and doesn’t hear our last exchange. I don’t want to think about why there aregirl thingsin a room in his house.
The barn is at least a mile away, and with the ground wet, I get mud all over me. My new clothes quickly blend in.
