Page 14 of The Sebastian Guarantee
It wasn’t a lie—exactly. Regrettably, his neglected business plan wasn’t looking too hot, and he hadn’t decided what he would present to the investors. Still, his dream had been abundantly clear. He had to start somewhere, and that began at home.
“Do you promise that you’re okay, Sebby?” The worry in Tula’s voice twisted the knife in his heart.
“Big Foot always lands on his feet, kid,” he answered with as much reassurance as he could muster.
“Will you take me to get ice cream when I get back from Rickety Rock?”
If Phoebe’s vices were hot dogs and cookies, Tula’s was the ice-cold dairy delicacy.
He grinned. “We can get double scoops.”
“Triple scoops,” she countered. His smart cookie of a sister clearly knew she held all the cards.
“Done. Triple scoops.”
“Want to see something?” Tula asked, excitement threaded through the question.
The tightness in his shoulders loosened. “Sure, I’d love to.”
“Look inside your closet.”
He walked over to the door, turned the knob, then paused. “Wait a second. If I open this door, I won’t find a pile of your dirty socks in there, will I?” he joked, feeling more like himself.
“No,” she giggled.
“Or a bunch of moldy, brown banana peels?”
“Ew!” the girl squealed. “Just open the door, Sebby.”
He did as his sister asked, then raised an eyebrow. “Is this what I think it is?”
“It’s a hot dog costume,” she announced.
That it was.
With a hole in the top of the hot dog portion for the wearer’s face to peek out, the costume sported a stuffed spandex hot dog nestled in a bun with red and yellow fabric squiggles racing down a painted frankfurter. He ran his hand down the puffy fabric making up the bun portion. “It’s huge. It looks like it could fit me.”
“They had a zillion of them at the store but only in adult sizes,” Tula replied. “But that’s how I like it. It goes to my ankles. I saved up my allowance and bought it. It’s my Halloween costume. I think Phoebe’s gonna love it.”
He could hear the joy in her voice. “I agree. Phoebe had hot dog headbands and shirts growing up, but she never dressed up as an actual hot dog, which is fascinating.”
“Don’t tell Phoebe when you see her. I want it to be a surprise.”
Would he see Phoebe?
He wasn’t even sure how long he’d be in town.
“I’ll—” he began but stopped.
Tula cut him off with a gasp.
“Everything all right, T?” He could hear her fumbling with the phone.
“What did you do to the Tech Tweens?”
Tech Tweens?
He racked his brain. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
