Page 65 of Ondine: Vol. 2

“Oh, well, all my sisters got their ears pierced at 8 years old, and I wasn’t about to be left out. My dad told me that men don’t have pierced ears and I didn’t let them prevent me from things not being fair among my siblings. I don’t think much about it except every few years I want to add another one. I like going to the shop. Picking out jewelry. The pain. The recovery.”

“Maybe I’ll get one, too.”

I go still. She can’t know that’s a fantasy of mine. I have to move all my parts deliberately.

“I could do it for you. If you’d like,” I croak out.

She nods and looks over the water.

And we just talk.

We talk about movies that came out this last year. TV shows we like to follow. Celebrities we like. She tells me about work. How she likes all her gigs except the piano bar. She can’t deal with drunks very well, and she has to wear too much scent blocker. I tell her more about the neighborhood kids who exploit me for bike mechanic work and sodas. I tell her how I’ve organized my department at work. I have 30 security agents, so I had to come up with a system where I’m not hearing 30 people tell me their daily gripes. She tells me about her audition in a few weeks with the Cash City Symphony Orchestra.

“I’ll take you. When it’s time.”

“Thank you, Sabbies.”

The sun shines down a little harshly so I plop my hat on Ondine’s head and am rewarded with the cutest smile.

I catch four fish and release them all. None are big enough to justify taking them home.

We eat all my snacks.

After that it’s time to go. I head back and we are both smiling while I tie up the boat and unpack my things.

She turns and kisses me on the cheek before she darts off into the house.

Ondine wants to keep me.

20

Audition

Ondine

High from the best date of my life I skip up to the house.

Arnold comes out the door looking like he’s got something important for me. I stop on the steps.

“Your phone rang a few times. It’s the symphony.”

Oh shit. Shit. Why would they be calling? My audition isn’t until well after my heat. Did I lose track of time? What day is it? Oh my god.

I take my phone from him and don’t even listen to the voicemail.

“Hello yes, this is Ondine. Did you recently call me?”

“Ondine! Perfect. We have folks in town here for a gala tonight. We thought instead of missing them for your audition in a few weeks, we move it to today, to accommodate their schedule. It’s totally ok if you want to keep the original date. Butthis would be in your best interest to have all the staff here. What do you say?”

“Yes!” I blurt out before I even think about it. Fuck. Why did it do that?

“Great! Can you be here by 3:00 pm?”

I look at Arnie who doesn’t know what’s going on.

“Yes, that will work.”

She gives me a bunch of details I’m definitely going to forget and ends the call.