Page 122 of Charlie
“Can I be an investor?” Kit asked.
Lumi wrinkled her nose. “You want to invest in a company we haven’t founded yet?”
“Aye, a hundred percent. Ye two are legit geniuses and I want in on the fortune ye’re goin’ to make.”
Lumi was smiling now. “I’m flattered. How much do you have to invest?”
“Let me see.” Kit picked up her bag and took out her purse. “I have a tenner.”
“Eh, all right then.” Lumi raised her book again.
“Oh, I see.” Kit waved the crumbled money note in her hand. “Are you too laudy daw for my money?”
“No, of course not, but I can’t take it until we have an actual company, can I? And please don’t call me laudy daudy; I’m not a snob.”
“Then how come ye’re too good to party with the Irish?”
“I never said that I was.” Lumi looked hurt. “I wouldn’t party with anyone, no matter their nationality.”
“Damian, come here for a second.” Kit waved her hand for him to see her.
He came jogging over and I couldn’t tell if he was still wet from the pool or his bare chest was sweaty from playing soccer.
“Now, ye listen to me, Lumi. Since my brother saved yer life, I think it’s fair he has a little say in what ye do with it.” Kit turned to Damian, who looked confused. “Can’t ye tell Lumi that she needs to go out more? She’s a book-readin’ hermit and it’s not healthy. Ye have a party gene bigger than anyone that I’ve ever met. Can’t ye give her a motivational speech or somethin’?”
Damian sat down on his sister’s sunbed and his wet shorts made the thick blue cushion darken in color around him. He reached for the glass of lemonade that stood on her side table. She didn’t protest when he emptied it before he addressed Lumi. “Why won’t ye go out? Parties are fun.”
Even with her wearing sunglasses, I could tell Lumi rolled her eyes. “Parties are not fun. They’re boring.”
“Then ye’ve been to the wrong kind of parties.” He leaned over and pushed at her knee. “Go dance and kiss a few lads. I’ll bet ye have a long line of suitors.”
Lumi stiffened and then she lifted her hand to lower her sunglasses and look at him. “Why do you assume that I have suitors?”
“Ehmm… Because ye’re wicked smart and ye’re as pretty as Princess Jasmine from Aladdin.”
Lumi wrinkled her nose up again. “She’s a cartoon character.”
“So?” Damian leaned back and it made Kit push at him because he was taking up too much space on her sunbed. “Cartoons are great. I used to fantasize about Jessica Rabbit when I was younger.”
Kit laughed. “I’ll bet ye still do.”
“Ha.” Damian’s smile grew. “Not for a long time, but maybe I should watch her movie again.”
“And Jasmine, did you fantasize about her too?” Lumi put aside her thick book and sunglasses.
Damian opened his mouth to answer, but closed it again.
“Ye’d better say no.” Kit told him, but he never got a chance to answer because Lumi spoke to me.
“I’ll go tooneparty if you stop bugging me.”
“Three parties.” I held up three fingers. “You’re almost eighteen. Live a little.”
She got up from the sunbed and looked gorgeous in her bright yellow bikini, which complimented her golden tan. Standing in front of us she raised her arms and made a ponytail of her long black hair. “I’ll go to two parties this summer, that’s all I can agree to.”
“I’ll take it.” With a triumphant smile, I mimed “thank you” to Kit and Damian.
Passing me on her way to the pool, Lumi had a satisfied smile on her face and when she stopped by the edge of the water, she looked back over her shoulder. “You forgot to specify how long I needed to stay at the parties. Don’t be surprised if I’m home early.”
