29-03-2019, 05:49 PM
Night Brings the Hunter Pt. 02
"Things got hot in El Salvador, CIA got caught, couldn't do no more.
He's got diplomatic immunity. He's got a lethal weapon that nobody sees.
Looks like another threat to world peace for the envoy.
Send the envoy. Send the envoy."
-Warren Zevon, "The Envoy"
"Is your roll," Propappou said to Helena, walking over to turn off the kettle on the hot plate. When his back was turned, Helena palmed two of the white stones from the backgammon board and slipped them in her home tray, then picked up the dice cup.
They were in Troy's parents' garage, which had been converted into a small rec room. A foosball table and a pool table also graced the room, and an old Doctor Who pinball game stood against the wall by the workbench, where Propappou fixed the cocoa before bringing it back to the table. Helena had rolled a 2 and a 3, but lightly nudged the 2 to get double-threes.
"Here yours," Propappou said, handing the cup across the game board to her. With his other hand, he slid a couple of black stones up the sleeve of his red velvet smoking jacket. As he picked up his own cup, he casually slid the stones into his own home area. Helena smiled and ignored the obvious cheat; partially because she'd been cheating too, but mostly because it wouldn't be a proper Greek game of backgammon without it.
"Efharisto, Propappou," she said before sipping and finishing her turn.
"Perikala, Petalouda," he replied. "You Greek always been good, you do fine there. Meet good Greek boy like Troy. Hey, he got cousins there, you want I call them, meet up with you and Julie?"
"No, thanks. I had the perfect Greek boyfriend and I couldn't make it work."
The old man tried for a moment to get up, but he'd just sat down and his old joints weren't ready for effort again so soon, so he opened his arms and said "Hey, elah tho." Helena got up and walked around the table and into a big hug with him, nuzzling his long bushy beard.
"I'm sorry you and Troilus no stay together. You two was cute, and I would be proud to have you as my diesngoni OR my kori."
"I wanted that so much too. I know his heart isn't with me, though. And those fucking adoption people!"
"Eh, them malakas don't know what make REAL family like you and me." Helena bristled at the word "family." Propappou felt it holding her. "Hey, hey, you got every reason to think family bad word, but this is not it. Of not to cry."
"I'm not. I don't anymore. Sometimes, I think my dad beat all the tears out of me."
"Well, this you special night, you graduated the high college and it's your Name Day too. You and Julie got you trip after summer; you should be out partying with boys over at their place, not sitting in garage playing backgammon with old man."
She squeezed him tighter. "I'm right where I want to be, Proppapou. It's St. Helena's Day, I get to do what I want, remember?"
"Neh, this is for that," he said patting her head as she let go and went back to her side of the table. "Well hey, I got you something." Propappou reached into the pockets of his smoking jacket, searching for it.
"I don't need anything, Propappou. You and Troy are the only ones who really care about Name Days."
"Hey, you kids give me little things all the time. I no ask how you get money all the time, I figure you or Julie or Troilus knows a guy. Or maybe not; Troy, he good with money; get good maths grades. Like I tell him: Presidents, Congress, lawyers; all just be looking to steal. If you really want to steer the world, steer the money. Eh? Make them come to YOU for PERMISSION to steal! Here, Happy Name Day."
He found the item he'd been searching for and tossed it into the middle of the backgammon set. The small, black leather drawstring pouch landed with a rattling thump. Helena picked it up and opened it, pulling out the loop of coral beads on a string. Helena's eyes widened as a big smile spread across her face. She picked up the worry beads and started fiddling with them. Propappou pulled a string of his own from off of his left wrist.
"Ok, Helena, you see me use these for years. Now Propappou show you how to do it."
* * *
"Things got hot in El Salvador, CIA got caught, couldn't do no more.
He's got diplomatic immunity. He's got a lethal weapon that nobody sees.
Looks like another threat to world peace for the envoy.
Send the envoy. Send the envoy."
-Warren Zevon, "The Envoy"
"Is your roll," Propappou said to Helena, walking over to turn off the kettle on the hot plate. When his back was turned, Helena palmed two of the white stones from the backgammon board and slipped them in her home tray, then picked up the dice cup.
They were in Troy's parents' garage, which had been converted into a small rec room. A foosball table and a pool table also graced the room, and an old Doctor Who pinball game stood against the wall by the workbench, where Propappou fixed the cocoa before bringing it back to the table. Helena had rolled a 2 and a 3, but lightly nudged the 2 to get double-threes.
"Here yours," Propappou said, handing the cup across the game board to her. With his other hand, he slid a couple of black stones up the sleeve of his red velvet smoking jacket. As he picked up his own cup, he casually slid the stones into his own home area. Helena smiled and ignored the obvious cheat; partially because she'd been cheating too, but mostly because it wouldn't be a proper Greek game of backgammon without it.
"Efharisto, Propappou," she said before sipping and finishing her turn.
"Perikala, Petalouda," he replied. "You Greek always been good, you do fine there. Meet good Greek boy like Troy. Hey, he got cousins there, you want I call them, meet up with you and Julie?"
"No, thanks. I had the perfect Greek boyfriend and I couldn't make it work."
The old man tried for a moment to get up, but he'd just sat down and his old joints weren't ready for effort again so soon, so he opened his arms and said "Hey, elah tho." Helena got up and walked around the table and into a big hug with him, nuzzling his long bushy beard.
"I'm sorry you and Troilus no stay together. You two was cute, and I would be proud to have you as my diesngoni OR my kori."
"I wanted that so much too. I know his heart isn't with me, though. And those fucking adoption people!"
"Eh, them malakas don't know what make REAL family like you and me." Helena bristled at the word "family." Propappou felt it holding her. "Hey, hey, you got every reason to think family bad word, but this is not it. Of not to cry."
"I'm not. I don't anymore. Sometimes, I think my dad beat all the tears out of me."
"Well, this you special night, you graduated the high college and it's your Name Day too. You and Julie got you trip after summer; you should be out partying with boys over at their place, not sitting in garage playing backgammon with old man."
She squeezed him tighter. "I'm right where I want to be, Proppapou. It's St. Helena's Day, I get to do what I want, remember?"
"Neh, this is for that," he said patting her head as she let go and went back to her side of the table. "Well hey, I got you something." Propappou reached into the pockets of his smoking jacket, searching for it.
"I don't need anything, Propappou. You and Troy are the only ones who really care about Name Days."
"Hey, you kids give me little things all the time. I no ask how you get money all the time, I figure you or Julie or Troilus knows a guy. Or maybe not; Troy, he good with money; get good maths grades. Like I tell him: Presidents, Congress, lawyers; all just be looking to steal. If you really want to steer the world, steer the money. Eh? Make them come to YOU for PERMISSION to steal! Here, Happy Name Day."
He found the item he'd been searching for and tossed it into the middle of the backgammon set. The small, black leather drawstring pouch landed with a rattling thump. Helena picked it up and opened it, pulling out the loop of coral beads on a string. Helena's eyes widened as a big smile spread across her face. She picked up the worry beads and started fiddling with them. Propappou pulled a string of his own from off of his left wrist.
"Ok, Helena, you see me use these for years. Now Propappou show you how to do it."
* * *
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