The Truth of Past and Present

Chapter 17: We are terrible actors and I pay with pies

The next day, while I was making my 124th Ganerian monaboar roll before the cantina opened, I found the opportunity to talk with Wadser.

"I need tomorrow off." I started.

He looked at me. "What for?"

"Um..." I had no clue what to say next. Turns out I didn't have to say anything.

"She agreed to go on a date with me," Daniel answered for me, strolling into the room and rolling up his sleeves. I stared at him, but he just calmly reached into the wash bucket, pulled out a cloth, and began cleaning the bar, as nonchalant as the roll I had in my hands.

"Really!" Wadser exclaimed. For a second I thought he wasn't going to buy it, but then he laughed aloud and slapped Daniel on the back, leaving a huge flour print on Daniel's shirt. "Well, it's about time! I was wondering when you were ever going to ask, boyo! And she said yes? Heh! Good for you both!"

I ducked my head, pretending to form the roll just right. In reality, my cheeks were burning red, and I was trying not to yell at Daniel. It was a good, convincing cover, but I hadn't agreed to anything. Plus, Wadser seemed sincerely overjoyed about this. He thought Daniel should have asked me out a long time ago? I didn't know how to take that.

Once Daniel had finished cleaning and had exited the main room, Wadser grasped my elbow. "You two are going to have to be more convincing than that if you want to fool anybody out there." he murmured to me.

I started. "How-"

"For one thing, you have to look happy about it. Secondly, I know you both too well. Ye're planning something." He looked at me firmly.

I sighed, then nodded. "It's a rescue," I told him. 

He nodded, understanding. "You can have the day off tomorrow, but I expect you to come to work, same time as always, the day after. Got it?"

"Got it," I answered, relieved that he wasn't going to turn us in. 

"One more thing," he said before he unlocked the front doors. 

"Yes?"

"When you go out there, keep both your eyes open, your brain working, and your steps light. Trust your friend, he's a good lad with a level head on his shoulders. If you two trust each other, you'll survive."

With that, he opened the doors, and the work began.

**********************************

It was maybe mid-afternoon when the man came through the door.

Or rather, the Marusian.

He was about 3 feet tall, but that was only his body. His neck extended another foot above him, and attached to that was his flat, round head with his antennae-like eyes poking out of the top. I thought he would be top-heavy, but what he lacked in height he made for in roundness. His arms were about 2 feet long, almost like tentacles except for the three-fingered hands on the ends. 

I had never seen a Marusian this close before. He strode directly towards the bar and took a seat.

"Wadser!" he bellowed. I almost laughed. His voice sounded like a cross between a bullfrog's croak and a mouse's squeak. I must have made some sort of sound because he turned towards me and winked, which was quite odd to see on extended eyes.

"Ain't you the pretty one, eh? Yes, it's me, breathe it in."

Automatically I opened my mouth. "Can I take your order?"

"Hmmm..." he mused. "A small gringa juice, plus a piece of Arentile pie, and is it too much to ask for a kiss on the side?" he puckered up.

I was saved from having to smack him by Wadser emerging from the kitchen and apparently recognizing the guy.