Who Loves You, Pretty Baby

Attention Getter

It had turned into a most gorgeous and pleasant early evening in the new harbor. After waking up slowly, Roger and I had decided to take the yacht to different harbor from which we originally departed. It had different boats, and different people whom we didn’t know. It was actually more crowded than the Southbury Harbor but more suited for a swim. We were docked horizontally, long side of the boat against the massively long line of dock. There were three other boats docked in a similar fashion but not any room for anymore vessels that weren’t already in the harbor. Two other yachts were docked opposite us.

 Veronica was flipping through a magazine in our lovely kitchen, surrounded by chestnut cabinets and ivory ceramic tile all the while sipping her tea. Freddie, Mary, John, Brian, myself and Roger were all clad in our swimwear best…except for John and Roger. Roger loved these stupid swim shorts. Why he loved them so I will never know. They were black and worn as hell and…John had a pair exactly like them. I was brewing another pot of tea as Roger came into the kitchen. I looked up to him and saw the expression on his face. I knew this look. I’d seen this look before. It was obvious in the way he nervously flipped his fingers in and out of a fist, the way he was biting his lower lip, and the way he was practically crossing his legs as if he were about to piss himself. I shoved the teabags aside for a moment, sighing.

 “Where is it?” I said to him.

 “It’s in our bedroom on the baseboard. It’s really, huge Lyd.

 “Please, Roger. We all know it’s not really huge.” Freddie simply had to add as he came inside from the sliding glass door. I left Veronica in charge of watching the teapot. Freddie was talking about something but I couldn’t acknowledge him. I had a spider to go kill so Roger could rest peacefully knowing he wouldn’t get eaten in his sleep.

 “Oh my god! Are you reading the article about the album release?” John asked as he walked over to Veronica. Veronica did a double take because there was a special package delivery in her face that she wasn’t expecting.

 “One step back, honey.” She said putting her hand on John’s stomach and pushing him backward, thus pushing other…things…back with John. “Yes, it’s the article about the US release of News of the World.” Veronica explained.

 “What does it say?” Roger asked, approaching Veronica from the opposite side, practically repeating John’s actions inadvertently. It was hard not to shove everything in Veronica’s face to in shorts that short. Veronica looked over her opposite shoulder.

 “Take a step back and I’ll tell you.” she said, picking up her cup of tea and holding a hand up in front of Roger. Roger stepped back and Veronica began to scan the article. “Oh! It talks about the premiere of the new album from Queen.” Veronica read on “…Entitled News of the World and already released in the United Kingdom; the album will be released in the United States come October with a grand celebration at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Los Angeles, California.”

 “Let me see that! Does it show a date?” John asked leaning in farther this time.

 “Behind the grout line, John! Get this out of my ear.” Veronica protested, shoving John and his ‘special delivery’ back again.

 “Does it have a picture?” Roger asked leaning over Veronica’s back. She sighed.

 “Roger, get behind the grout line! I can feel everything you have in my shoulder!” Veronica said.

 “Oh, sorry! Sorry!” Roger stepped back behind the tan grout line in the tile.

 “Yes! There’s a picture of the album right here!” Veronica pointed. John moved in against her at nearly the same time Roger did to see what picture had been used. She sighed.