Wrestling the Kraken

Lanz

Lanz

Lanz arrived at his friend's house. A row of narrow cookie cutter houses, he knew his friend's house right away by the flag pole out front in the small square patch that could be considered lawn.

He rang the doorbell, hearing a barking dog, steadfast telling his owner there was someone at the door. Then he heard heavy footsteps and creaking. The door opened and his friend stood there with one hand behind the wall, his face grim.

"Oh, it's you. Come in." He said, his face lighting up upon recognizing him. He put away his shotgun, as Lanz walked inside and closed the door behind him, drowning out the sound of an ambulance nearby. "What brings you by again? Did your friend like the rig?"

"She loved it. Thanks Singe, it was perfect." He said and followed him into the kitchen.

Handing him a glass and pouring whiskey into the cup, they sat down at the table. "That's good. First time building one of those."

"Well, that's kind of what I'm here about. See we're getting together a group and starting our own company, our own circus. We could really use your hand in this." Lanz asked and took a sip from his glass.

Singe rubbed his chin, considering his offering. "You really like her don't you?"

Lanz straightened up, flustering. "What? I, uh, I mean she's been great and all -"

"It's good." Singe said, sitting back in his chair. "I'm happy for you. You need this. She just better be worth it."

Lanz smiled, not responding, but Singe laughed, seeing the answer in it. "So am I going to build you a house too, you know, to go along with this circus?"

"A house?"

"Yeah, dummy, a house. You gonna live in that tent forever? You gonna get married and raise kids in a tent?"

"Whoa, whoa, moving a little fast there aren't you?" Lanz laughed.

"When am I gonna get some grandkids from you, huh? You gonna wait until I'm too old to play with them, chasing them around in my wheelchair?"

"We're not related. You're not much older than me. If anything, you'd be the crazy uncle."

"See you do want kids." Singe smiled.

"Possibly... in the future... far future." Lanz took a drink. "So are you in?"

"I'm in." Singe answered. "So, when do I get to meet the wifey?"

Lanz shook his head.