Suzie’s House 4: … Or Broken….

When Vin brought his limping taxi into the Capital Cabs garage, the left fender  rubbed the tire, the muffler scraped the ground noisily, and the right rear view mirror hung by a wire.  At least Vin hoped the mirror still hung there.  Considering the way it had flopped around during the worst of it, the mirror might be long gone.  The smell of gasoline and oil assailed him as he got out from behind the wheel. 

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“Vinny, Vinny, Vinny.  What are you doing with my cabs?”  Walter came out of the office to inspect the damage as Vin attempted to close the driver’s side door.  With a metallic screech of protest it popped open two or three times.  “This is the third one this week.”  Vin gave up as Walter glared at him.  “Are you paying for this one too?”  .“My client will.  Relax, Walter.  It’s covered.”  Vin crossed his arms, turned around, and propped his butt on the wayward car door. 

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“It isn’t just the repair bill, Vinny.  Now I have another cab out of commission and the first isn’t back from the shop yet.”  .“It isn’t?”  Drew would have his guts for garters if he couldn’t come up with a cab tomorrow.  Without it they’d never catch the instigator of The Crash Course on video.  He pulled the red beret off his head and shoved it into his back pocket.  “I thought you said the repair guy was almost done.” 

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“Apparently the axle wasn’t good after all.  They have to replace it.  Why don’t you rent a car?”  Walter spaced the words to make the suggestion a heavy-handed hint.  He hadn’t wanted to loan his cabs to Vin to begin with.  .“You’ll have to loan me another one.  It’s important.  Give me the oldest one you’ve got.” 

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“You’re worse than that Straus fellow who got drunk on the job.  Unlike you and the rest of these clowns, he had an excuse for all the accidents.”  Walter’s eyes moved with Vin’s hands as Vin pulled off the black-frame nerd glasses and the little brown mustache. .“Trust me.  In the long run you’ll thank me.”  Vin saw a familiar, feminine shape entering the garage.  He felt like a deer in the headlights – unable to chose between talking Walter around and going to her.  She won, but Walter would understand.   

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Vin stepped around his friend with a wave.  “See you tomorrow.”   .She dressed like a dominatrix today; black leather skirt, thigh-high leather boots, black bustier,  black wig, and a little fringed purse that could double as a whip.  Walter let out a low whistle.  Vin ignored him. 

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“Marvin,” Miranda greeted in a Zsa Zsa Gabor voice.  “I have marvelous news.” .When she gave him an air kiss by either cheek he resisted the urge to show her a real kiss.  He and Miranda had an understanding.  So long as he never crossed the line she would tolerate him.  Every day she tolerated him, he got a little closer to what he really wanted.  So he air kissed her, biding his time. 

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“I can’t wait to tell you,”  Miranda gushed.  “Remember that little problem you were telling me about?”  .“Little problem?”  He quirked an eyebrow at her.  Typical Miranda to make him look bad in front of  the guys. 

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“With your apartment.  Didn’t you say the subletter wanted it back sooner than you expected?”  Clearly oblivious to her slander on his manhood, Miranda gave him an impatient look. .“Yes.”  He took her elbow and guided her out through the garage bay.  After a moment, his mind caught up with her words.   

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He had told her the story of his near homelessness in the hopes she would invite him to move into her apartment with her, or at least let him crash for a few days.  Of course it was completely true.  He was about to lose his Spaight Street apartment when the sublease ran out, but he could afford to buy a house if he wanted.  And as soon as Miranda agreed to be his bride, he’d let her pick one out.  .Now, at last, it appeared she was going to invite him in.  He hadn’t even had to wait until the last, pathetic moment in which to find some other place so she’d take pity on him.  He felt like pumping his fist in the air, but managed to keep it to himself as they turned onto the sidewalk along Brearly and headed toward East  Washington. 

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“What do you have in mind?”  He prompted her. .“Suzie’s house.  She needs renters in order to cover the mortgage.” 

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So much for his hopes and dreams.  “Suzie’s house?”

.  “You don’t have to sound so down about it.  It’ll be great.  She’ll provide meals, and you know what a great cook she is.  And it’s a lot nicer than either of our places.  And it’ll always be clean without our having to worry about it.”. 

“Wait.  You’re moving in too?”

. “I’m moving in this afternoon!”  Miranda grinned.  When Miranda grinned, Vin’s world did a little spin as if it was a merry-go-round and she the central pillar.  He grinned back.  Her smile softened.  “So you’ll do it?  You’ll move in with us?”.

 “Yes.  Sure.  Um… next week end.  I can move in next weekend.”  He made himself stop nodding.  And grinning.

.  “Great!  Only one thing.”  She gave him the sidelong look that always meant trouble.  “We have to get Andrew to move in too.”.

 Vin’s world stopped turning. 

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