Page 65 of Eye on the Ball
“There’s even talk of a TV show!”
“That’s amazing. Truly, I’m so happy for you.”
We settled in for a chat about the new and bizarre encounters he’d been having in L.A. By the time the call ended, I was in a much better mood. My grandad deserved some happiness after what he’d been through. Nobody should spend centuries trapped in a statue.
I texted Tess about something we’d both forgotten about.
Do you want me to go find the teacher and get that perfume bottle for you?
It took a while, but then she texted back:
Nope. She decided it wasn’t enchanted after all, since nobody else has chased her. Eleanor told her that Rick Peabody was attracted to her, not somebody else’s leftover perfume.
Eleanor Wolf, romance counselor.
I shook my head and decided to spend an hour airing out my house and maybe having a snack.
Then I’d pop over to the pawnshop and we’d stow the trophy in the null box.
After that, I’d check in with my new client, Brenda, and see how she was doing.
Finally, I’d head out to Swamp Commandos Airboat Rides with some beer to talk to Lucky. He’d said he wanted to talk, hopefully about anything but Molly.
And during all of those tasks, I’d do my best not to think about how Tess had been so eager to answer her phone and not answer my question about babies.
34
Tess
The rest of the week was, shockingly, normal, although the status quo continued with the mystery of the Truckmans. Nothing new happened, though. It was almost a letdown.
Specifically:
Ace didn’t come out of stasis.
Probie didn’t admit to being involved in Ace’s abduction.
Celine’s alibi for Ace’s disappearance didn’t break.
Tina’s first shift at the shop didn’t turn out badly.
The new chemistry teacher didn’t cause a gargoyle stampede or turn students into Wookies.
Pregnant women in Dead End didn’t need me to deliver their babies.
The racing pigs, who were resting and practicing for Saturday, didn’t break out of their trailer and rampage through the countryside.
The trophy didn’t bust out of its null container and wreak havoc on Dead End Pawn, me, or the entire town.
Life was suspiciously … normal.
But it was Dead End. There was no waythatcould last.
35
Tess
Saturday morning dawned gray and rainy, but the forecast said it would turn into a beautiful, sunny afternoon. Perfect for pig racing and softball, as Shelley had texted me sixteen times.