Meyer Lansky thinks I have too many BE journals

[recognize_an_opportunity]

As much as I appreciate your interest in my ventures, mun, I think you're missing the point. The way I see it, you'd be better off expressing your interest in someone else. You've got enough other "characters" for that, anyway.

[A shrug.]

I don't want any problems, here, so if you insist, I guess I have no choice but to try and work with you. It might make an uneasy partnership, though.

Comments

[horseish]

Pleased to meet you. Can I tell you another secret?

[recognize_an_opportunity]

You can tell me anything you want. I'm not in the habit of sharing other peoples' personal business.

[horseish]

Mr Boots was my friend before he was my sister's. I found him in the pasture, and really he's a horse who can turn into a man.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[A slowly raised eyebrow. He's just going to remind himself that children have very active imaginations.]

Is he usually a horse, or usually a man?

[horseish]

Now he is usually a man because he's in love with my sister. Before he only turned into a man when he was in danger.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I've never heard of a werehorse before.

[He's really trying not to laugh, here.]

Can he turn back and forth at will?

[horseish]

Yes. But he won't do it for my father even though he told him he would pay him a lot of money to do it on stage for our magic show.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Maybe he doesn't like your father.

[horseish]

No one likes my father except my Aunt Tilly.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Not even you?

[horseish]

I like him when he's on stage. He's very magical and funny an people love him. But other times he is very very angry.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Does he hurt you?

[Because he is not going to be happy if he hears that he does.]

[horseish]

Sometimes when I make a mistake.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

He shouldn't do that.

[horseish]

Rosie told me she gets whipped sometimes too but it wasn't as bad as mine. I only cried a bit though.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

What did you do to get in trouble?

[horseish]

I opened the box too soon and the audience saw how the trick worked.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I don't think that's worthy of a whipping. A reprimand, maybe.

[horseish]

Aunt Tilly says he just gets very angry and forgets himself. He left me alone for a while after that.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

He should restrain himself. It doesn't do any good to act out of anger.

[horseish]

He always says he never loses his temper but really he loses it more than anyone. Jocelyn was very scared when he turned up again after our mother died but I didn't remember and I wanted to go with him so he could teach me how to throw fire. I thought he could do real magic.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

The angry people who claim that they aren't slaves to their temper are often the worst of all, because they lack self-awareness. You're not like that, though, are you?

[horseish]

I don't think so. But I'm only small, I could be any sort of person when I grow up, can't I?

[recognize_an_opportunity]

How old are you?

[horseish]

Ten.