19-04-2019, 11:01 PM
Facebook also had a little headline about phone and internet difficulties in Seattle, but when I went to check it, my connection dropped.
When we got to a light, Helen got up and sat next to me.
"How're you doing, Susan?" She asked. "I know this has been a lot already, and it's only going to get bigger as the day goes on."
"I know it's going to be weird at the mall." I told her. "I know you won't bat an eye at whatever I get. It's only been since I moved in with Troy & Julie that I've really had 'stuff,' you know? The occasional nice thing I got for myself would vanish to the pawn shop whenever Chad was low on beer."
"To be honest, it's a little much for me sometimes, too. I still think of myself as the girl who, despite what Wade said when he was drunk, had to shoplift her college clothes or get hand-me-downs from Julie; which I was always grateful for, but they were her size, of course. If he ever remembered my birthday or Christmas, he'd steal me a Barbie. No Ken, no accessories, no car; just a Barbie he could stuff in his coat if the house he'd just robbed had any girls with dolls. I had eight Barbies, and nothing for them to play with but each other unless I took 'em over to Julie's. I think it explains a lot about my sexuality.
"And Troy used to invest for me, too, but I tended to blow through it. Hey, I could always get more out of the next Eurotrash asshole. I've always thought of the money and everything that I have now as Vincenzo's, rather than mine, so I don't do a lot of these 'shopping benders.' And still, when I see something I really want, try to figure out how I can walk out of there with it before remembering that I can afford the entire store and The Thing takes all the sport out of it, anyway."
I nodded.
"Maybe Whyte's whole 'Miss Helen Parker' bit got to you a bit more than you want to admit." I told her. "Not the way he'd hoped, but the dredging up your past could have taken a little nibble from your confidence back there." I took her hand, and saw Julie smiling out of the corner of my eye. "He wanted you thinking about who you used to be, rather than who you are. Because he might've been a match for Helen Parker; but he knows he doesn't stand a fucking chance against Contessa Helena de San Finzione."
Helen hugged me.
"I really do think that supporting others might be your thing, Susan. Like how Troy can do miracles with money and if you put any artist's tool in Julie's hands, you'll get back a masterpiece. When you're helping someone, it seems you can do anything, too."
I smiled at that. So did Julie. Mander was in Bodyguard Mode now, so his lips only curled a little.
"So, when we're in there," Helen told me. "And you see something you want, don't hesitate. I know you probably feel weird taking my money, Susan; but remember, you'll be helping me. Helping all of us. Whyte's next step after outing me can only be making sure the world learns Troy & Julie's names, and then we'll have those reporters on your doorstep that none of us want. Unless we can make the public so tired of hearing about me by then, that they change the channel at the mention of my name."
"Well," I said with a smile. "I can think of some stuff I know Troy would like."
Helen smiled, and we continued to the mall.
* * *
Troy Equals was alone in his kitchen, making himself a sandwich while Luc and Carlito discussed things on Skype, when his business line rang.
Troy had been investing for himself and others from an early age. While he was working on his doctorate in Economics, he'd come up with a side-business; helping people get out of debt and finding investment or savings plans that they could afford and stick to. Troy found workable plans, and Doing What They Do insured the customers would stick to them.
"Troy Equals Financial Planning." He said, answering the phone. An unintended consequence of the last name that he and Julie had chosen was that it made for a good business name. Julie's business was called "Julie Equals Graphic Design," and both their customers often found it clever that "Equals" was the owner's last name. It also gave them a natural excuse to help each other's business by being able to work into the conversation that "my husband's/wife's business is called..." quite organically.
When we got to a light, Helen got up and sat next to me.
"How're you doing, Susan?" She asked. "I know this has been a lot already, and it's only going to get bigger as the day goes on."
"I know it's going to be weird at the mall." I told her. "I know you won't bat an eye at whatever I get. It's only been since I moved in with Troy & Julie that I've really had 'stuff,' you know? The occasional nice thing I got for myself would vanish to the pawn shop whenever Chad was low on beer."
"To be honest, it's a little much for me sometimes, too. I still think of myself as the girl who, despite what Wade said when he was drunk, had to shoplift her college clothes or get hand-me-downs from Julie; which I was always grateful for, but they were her size, of course. If he ever remembered my birthday or Christmas, he'd steal me a Barbie. No Ken, no accessories, no car; just a Barbie he could stuff in his coat if the house he'd just robbed had any girls with dolls. I had eight Barbies, and nothing for them to play with but each other unless I took 'em over to Julie's. I think it explains a lot about my sexuality.
"And Troy used to invest for me, too, but I tended to blow through it. Hey, I could always get more out of the next Eurotrash asshole. I've always thought of the money and everything that I have now as Vincenzo's, rather than mine, so I don't do a lot of these 'shopping benders.' And still, when I see something I really want, try to figure out how I can walk out of there with it before remembering that I can afford the entire store and The Thing takes all the sport out of it, anyway."
I nodded.
"Maybe Whyte's whole 'Miss Helen Parker' bit got to you a bit more than you want to admit." I told her. "Not the way he'd hoped, but the dredging up your past could have taken a little nibble from your confidence back there." I took her hand, and saw Julie smiling out of the corner of my eye. "He wanted you thinking about who you used to be, rather than who you are. Because he might've been a match for Helen Parker; but he knows he doesn't stand a fucking chance against Contessa Helena de San Finzione."
Helen hugged me.
"I really do think that supporting others might be your thing, Susan. Like how Troy can do miracles with money and if you put any artist's tool in Julie's hands, you'll get back a masterpiece. When you're helping someone, it seems you can do anything, too."
I smiled at that. So did Julie. Mander was in Bodyguard Mode now, so his lips only curled a little.
"So, when we're in there," Helen told me. "And you see something you want, don't hesitate. I know you probably feel weird taking my money, Susan; but remember, you'll be helping me. Helping all of us. Whyte's next step after outing me can only be making sure the world learns Troy & Julie's names, and then we'll have those reporters on your doorstep that none of us want. Unless we can make the public so tired of hearing about me by then, that they change the channel at the mention of my name."
"Well," I said with a smile. "I can think of some stuff I know Troy would like."
Helen smiled, and we continued to the mall.
* * *
Troy Equals was alone in his kitchen, making himself a sandwich while Luc and Carlito discussed things on Skype, when his business line rang.
Troy had been investing for himself and others from an early age. While he was working on his doctorate in Economics, he'd come up with a side-business; helping people get out of debt and finding investment or savings plans that they could afford and stick to. Troy found workable plans, and Doing What They Do insured the customers would stick to them.
"Troy Equals Financial Planning." He said, answering the phone. An unintended consequence of the last name that he and Julie had chosen was that it made for a good business name. Julie's business was called "Julie Equals Graphic Design," and both their customers often found it clever that "Equals" was the owner's last name. It also gave them a natural excuse to help each other's business by being able to work into the conversation that "my husband's/wife's business is called..." quite organically.
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