Read The Pike: Ships In The Night for Free Online

“Fuckin' probie.”
    He nodded his unrepentant agreement and said, “I'll let him know.”  Then he added, “Oh and I already sort of told him you agreed to be at the company barbecue next Sunday.”
    I blurted, “What the hell man?”
    He just gave me a truly evil look. “Too late to back out, the whole company knows.”
    I growled at him.  I didn't want to be around them, but on the flip side of that coin, I missed them all so much.  Trip and Old Man Porter are the only guys from the Station who saw me in the goddamn wheelchair, and I had reservations about being around any of the others with my cane.
    I exhaled in defeat and then pushed away from the wall. “Fine, whatever, you're lucky I love you, or I'd slap that shit eating grin off your face.”
    He shrugged. “I'm too pretty to slap.”
    I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.  “There, first base.  Farthest you've got with a woman since Shaylynn.”
    He grumbled as he started walking off toward the Five.  “I would have scored with her if you hadn't stolen her away.”
    I chuckled. “I didn't steal her away, she was transmitting on all lesbian frequencies.  You were just too drunk to notice.”
    He waved me off with his middle finger and gave me a beaming smile.  I watched him go then stood there for a minute.  Feeling suddenly alone.  I looked around then exhaled and started back toward the docks for the ferry ride home.
    Maybe I could put off going home a bit by hitting a matinee at the theater, then I could stop by the Pike on the way, to drop off the mug in my bag.  The sisters were always up for some banter and distraction before the Market's closing bell at four pm, and keeping my mind off the fact I had no place to be.  They'd get the evening rush after that until they closed their doors at six.
    I hit a screening of Heartsong Warriors Three – Off Key In the Void.  I may or may have not been snorting and snickering my way through the movie.  There were only a handful of other people at the one o'clock showing, and they were laughing louder than me.  Babette Stevenson is a comic genius.
    True to form, Zoey and Eve kept me well entertained after the movie.  They had an easy way about them.  I sat past the closing bell and then went to catch my ferry when the late rush of market vendors passed through on their way home.
    I was almost to the door when Eve called out, “Hey, Sparky, got a sec?”
    I glanced back, and she had a pleading look on her face as she stood halfway out the kitchen door, making a muscle with her arm.  I smiled and nodded and headed back with her and chuckled at Zoey who was grunting and groaning at the dishwasher.
    She stopped struggling when I went up the lever.  I winked and reached over and with a grunt of effort and the slight squeal of metal dragging on metal, opened the doors.  She blushed and said, “Thanks, Allie.  Ash promised to be here first thing tomorrow morning to fix the vexing machine.”
    I smiled and said, “No problem. Anytime.”  Then I turned to the door. “I better get a move on if I'm going to catch the ferry, or I'll be stuck in the Emerald City another hour.”
    They both gave me cute waves. “Thanks.  See you tomorrow.”
    I nodded then paused at the door when I looked at the wall.  I hadn't seen it this morning when I came into the kitchen because the door was open with Eve standing there.  Most of the entire wall was covered with old polaroid photos.
    Most were of the prior owner of the Pike, Mrs. Zatta with all sorts of people.  I blinked as I recognized a good majority of them.  Most were famous people like Mandy Fay Harris or Roberta Valentine.
    Then I smiled, as around the only area not covered in photos, were photos of either Zoey, or Eve, with rock stars, or local heroes.  I smiled back at them. “What's this?”
    Zoey shrugged and joined me as she smiled fondly at the wall.  “Mrs. Z had a tradition of putting up this wall of memories to remind her of her