“The arabica essence is the only thing that brings out the human in you,” Vince quipped.
“Asshole.” Statler flipped him off, then poured himself a cup.
“None for you, Tonk?” Vince asked.
Tonka, the big, burly muscle-guy of the group, grunted. “Nah. I downed a couple of those energy drinks from the gas station. Means I won’t need another fix for a couple hours.” He then raised his brows as if something had just occurred to him. “Why are you dressed like a clown?”
Right.This was the first time Tonka was seeing him in costume.
“On Fridays and Tuesdays, I visit kids at the hospital while they’re getting their chemo infusions,” he explained. “I do tricks, and make balloon animals.”
“Inez, right?” Tonka responded astutely. “Stat told me you’re looking into foster parenting, and she’s the one you’re trying to get. He didn’t tell me you’ve been visiting her dressed like a clown, though. How does Inez feel about having a foster daddy who’s got a squeaky…nose?”
Tonka guffawed, and it sounded strange.
Had Vince ever heard the man laugh before?
Tonk then did something that was totally out of character. He leaned over and tweaked Vince’s snout-appendage, eliciting a loud honk.
Vince snorted, then answered Tonk. “She thinks I’m cool.”
“Kids these days.” Tonka shook his head, going back to dour. “I hope when you’re out of make-up, your ugly mug doesn’t scare her.”
Vince sat back with a start.
Shit.
He hadn’t thought of that. Inez had never seen hisrealface. She’d only witnessed him in full regalia.
What if she didn’t like who he was without his overlying feathers?
“You know what?” Vince slapped his hands down on the counter, instantly standing up and making a decision. “I’m going to go in my civvies today.”
“Are you sure?” Stat grinned. “And do what? A song and dance?”
“Nope. I’ll do magic tricks. As myself.Andtwist balloons,” he asserted.
Statler responded to that immediately.
“I think it’s a good call,” he agreed. “That way you can see if Inez still likes and trusts you without all the war paint.” He shook his head. “Although… Do kids actually like clowns these days? What with all the shit on the internet and in movies, I’d probably be scared out of my mind. I’ve actuallyneverhad a soft spot for clowns,” he admitted with a shiver.
“Seriously? Do I look dangerous to you?” Vince gave a full, Micheal Jackson spin in his colorful raiments.
“Not really. But Iknowyou, and I’m aware that you’re just a huge, cosplaying dork,” Stat taunted. “Let’s hope Inez can still see that absolute dorkiness once you ditch the camouflage.”
Vince flipped him the bird, then toed off his clown shoes while still defending his position.
“Well, even if she doesn’t warm up to me right away, Iknowshe trusts Lace,” Vince demurred while plucking off his fake nose. He also removed his wig and placed it on the counter, then dropped his robes to the floor, kicking them away.
“Uh, Vince?” Tonka grunted. “I’m not sure bike-shorts are exactly right, either.”
“No duh, Sherlock. I’mgoingto change into my jeans,” Vince informed him. “I…”
His phone rang, deep in one of the pockets of the outfit he’d just discarded on the floor. He dove for it, scrabbling through the reams of material to find the thing.
“Flowers,” he mumbled, jettisoning the fake bouquet as he rummaged. “Rabbit…” He tossed it away by its stuffed ears. “Ahh, phone.” Vince grabbed it and looked at the screen.
He didn’t recognize the number.