Part 27 (1/2)
”Why do you call him Evil?”
”Knievel! You know. The famous daredevil.”
”Ohhh... .”
”He's supposed to be part of the show, but I've never met a more scaredy-cat mutt in my whole life. Our last dog, Phoebe, why, she'd jump through a ring of fire or climb poles to get a toy. The crowds loved her.”
”She was a good dog,” Vernon says nodding.
”Yes, she was.”
”What happened to her?”
”Just got old,” Sylvia responds. ”Bad hips. Couldn't jump anymore. Phoebe lives with my mother in a retirement village in Surprise, Arizona.”
”Nice place,” Vernon adds.
Sylvia makes a face. ”If you like golf.”
”There's nothin' wrong with golf.”
”Shoot me in the head, Vern, I swear, if I ever decide I want to golf my life away.”
Vern turns to Kate. ”Y'know, you can drive the golf carts right down the main roads there!”
Sylvia laughs. ”Malls, nothin' but malls, malls, malls. I hate it.”
Vern smiles at Kate. This is obviously a well-worn argument. ”Well, Phoebe sure likes it.”
”Why wouldn't she? Mama cooks steak for her.”
”Well, Sylvia, maybe I'll retire there with your mother and eat steak, too! But until then we've got some road to travel. C'mon, Evel!”
Evel jumps into his spot in the backseat.
Sylvia turns to Kate. ”He complains, but the open road and show business is his life, just like it's mine. Well, Kate. Sure was nice to meet you.”
”You, too.”
Vern calls from the RV. ”C'mon, Sylvia. We have to be in Deming by four o'clock!!”
Sylvia and Vernon fire up the vehicle, which coughs and spits. Evel barks and they are off, leaving a cloud of light-blue smoke in the parking lot. Kate waves good-bye.
F.M. approaches with two coffees. ”Sleep okay?”
”Not bad.”
”Nice folks?”