Page 95 of Evil Bones
Katy and I looked a question at her.
“Lester can explain it better than I can.”
“We are absolutely nothing unique or interesting. Quite the opposite. We are the embodiment of the world’s oldest cliché.” Meloy chuckled. “Students searching for the meaning of life.”
“The universe, and everything,” Ruthie chirruped, pleased with herself.
All eyes now shifted to her.
“You know,Monty Python? Never mind.”
“I get it,” I said, surprised that my niece was a fan of the irreverent humor I loved.
“So howisit pronounced?” Katy pressed.
“However you like,” Meloy replied.
“What’s the group’s focus?”
“I’m afraid we’re ratherunfocused,” Meloy said. “We’re not political. We don’t back a sports team. We don’t support a cause, like saving the wombat.”
“Whatdoyou do?”
“Not much.”
“Do you have a clubhouse? A secret handshake?”
“No.”
“Do you meet regularly? Connect online?”
“Not really.”
“What’s the mutual interest?”
“Sorry?”
“What attracts group members to each other?”
“Not to sound self-serving, but I think the attraction is me.”
I noticed a narrowing of Katy’s eyes. Knew that she was about to have a field day with that rather egotistical statement.
“Would anyone like more sorbet?” I asked, hoping to avoid confrontation.
Katy ignored me.
“Do your groupies wear tees with your image on the front? Special pins known only to each other?”
“With all respect,” said Meloy, his lips rising in another of his mile-wide grins, “I’m afraid you’ve misinterpreted my meaning.”
A beat, then Katy leaned back in her chair.
“Perhaps I have,” she said, matching Meloy tooth for tooth. “Perhaps I have.”
Meloy left at nine, saying he’d be happy to drive Ruthie home. Katy stayed to help with cleanup.
While scraping and rinsing, Katy asked about Ryan. I told her he was due to arrive on Sunday. She made some ribald recommendations I was glad Ruthie wasn’t present to hear.
