119
Continued from previous page…
STEVE
Yeah, it was named after a guy
named Lord Stanley of Preston.
He actually didn’t have anything
to do with hockey at first. He was
just this guy…
BELINDA
(cutting him off)
Yeah, yeah, I don’t need to know
that much.
STEVE
Sorry, babe.
BELINDA
You know, it’s cute that you call
me “babe” all the time. That’s
my nickname.
STEVE
What is?
BELINDA
Babe.
STEVE
Babe is your nickname?
Who calls you that?
BELINDA
My band.
STEVE
Your band calls you “babe?”
Why?
BELINDA
I don’t know. I guess it’s cuz’
I’m good looking.
STEVE
But all the girls in your band
are good looking. Especially Jane.
BELINDA
(glaring)
You’re missing the point,
Lord Stanley.
STEVE
Sorry, babe.
BELINDA
This is wonderful. It reminds
me of my childhood.
STEVE
Your parents took you to
amusement parks often?
BELINDA
No, but I ate a lot of sugar…
I had trouble falling asleep
at nights, but I was the fastest
girl in my class.
STEVE
Did you run track
in High School?
BELINDA
No, I played basketball.
STEVE
Oh, really?
Were you any good?
BELINDA
Good enough to play
with the boys.
STEVE
Do you still play basketball?
BELINDA
No, but I still like to
play with the boys.
STEVE
Well, I’m glad you like
to play with me.
They stop walking
and kiss.
BELINDA
Oh, Steve, you’re so above
average. Maybe we should
move in together.
STEVE
Move in?
Geez, I don’t know, babe.
That’s kinda’ sudden,
don’t you think?
BELINDA
I think it would work. We get
along fairly well together..
And you’d be a big help in
moving furniture.
STEVE
That’s what I love about you,
Belinda. You’re not superficial
like the rest of the girls…
I’ll think about, okay?
BELINDA
Don’t think long. I’ll need
an answer soon.
STEVE
Okay, sure… You know, one
thing you’ll have to consider
is that, during the season, I’m
on the road a lot.. I’ll be gone
for days at a time.
BELINDA
That’s perfect! Then I can get
a break from you! And you don’t
have to worry about me being
lonely. The girls and I love to
whoop it up when our boyfriends
are gone… The booze flows from
the tap and the snow falls from the
sky if you know what I mean.
STEVE
Ah, Belinda, you’re just like a poet.
How can I say “no” to you.
Let’s do it!
BELINDA
WOO- HOO!!
Steve and Belinda skip away
down the path. Wouldn’t that
be great if the song
“Georgy Girl” was playing
in the background?
Belinda and Steve spent the next several minutes rejoicing in their newfound, phony love for each other. They walked down the park’s corridors, stopped every once in a while to embrace and kiss, and generally reveled in each other’s company. Steve had a hot dog while Belinda mowed down some nachos with all the goop on them. They both chugged a couple of cold brewskies in the presence of some adolescents, then watched in joyous glee as some 12 year-olds barfed on the Tilt-O-Whirl. The fresh bouquet of regurgitated Elephant Ears made Belinda suddenly develop a hankering for a soft pretzel.
As the two lovebirds headed off to find the appropriate vendor, they came upon a short, Asian man who was selling trinkets and other souvenirs at a display on one of the pathways. It was impossible to tell exactly what nationality he was, but he was wearing one of those pointy hats that made Belinda think he was Vietnamese.
The sight of something exotic caught Belinda’s eye.
“Oh, look, honey!” she exclaimed. “Tiki Dolls!”
“What’s a Tiki Doll?” asked Steve.
“It’s a Polynesian figure that’s supposed to ward off evil spirits. The smaller ones you can wear around your neck for good luck,” Belinda explained.
“You know about this stuff?” Steve wondered.
“Oh, yeah. When Suffy and I would study black magic, we learned about all kinds of stuff,” said Belinda.
“Oh… Okay, cool,” said Steve. “I guess we could all use some good luck, right?”
Belinda picked up one of the dolls that seemed especially interesting to her. Sure enough, he was an ugly, little bastard, with an insidious grin and big, gapped teeth. His eyes were filled with fire and he carried a spear in his right hand.
“How much for this one?” she inquired to the vendor.
The man said nothing.
“Excuse me, sir, how much for this one?” she asked again.
The vendor continued to say nothing. He seemed to be purposely ignoring her.
Belinda looked bewildered as she turned towards Steve. She would try one more time—
“Excuse me, sir! I’m asking you a question!”
The man turned and looked into Belinda’s eyes with a steely glance that sent shivers down her spine.
“For you… I’ll have to think about it,” he stated.