Part 40 (1/2)
”For what?”
”For us coming to town. I'll bring the wife and kids. We'll rent out a couple hotel rooms and spend a week there. It'll be a blast.”
”Tomorrow?”
”We could get the morning flight and be there for breakfast. You got a good hotel? Not a coffin hotel, not with the kids.”
Perry's heart beat faster. He did miss these two, and they were so punchy, so gleeful. He'd love to see them. He muted his phone.
”Hey, Francis? That guesthouse down the road, is it still running?”
”Lulu's? Sure. They just built another storey and took over the top floor of the place next door.”
”Perfect.” He unmuted. ”How'd you like to stay in a squatter guesthouse in the shantytown?”
”Um,” Kettlewell said, but Suzanne laughed.
”Oh h.e.l.l *yes*,” she said. ”Get that look off your face, Kettlewell, this is an *adventure*.”
”We'd love it,” Kettlewell said.
”Great, I'll make you a reservation. How long are you staying?”
”Until we leave,” Suzanne said.
”Right,” Perry said and laughed himself. They were different people, these two, from the people he remembered, but they were also old friends. And they were coming to see him tomorrow. ”OK, lemme go make your reservations.”
Francis walked him over and the landlord fussed over the two of them like they were visiting dignitaries. Perry looked the place over and it was completely charming. He spotted what he thought was probably a hooker and a trick taking a room for the night, but you got that at the Hilton, too.
By the time he got home he was sure that he'd sleep like a log. He could barely keep his eyes open on the drive. But after he climbed into bed and closed his eyes, he found that he couldn't sleep at all. Something about being back in his own room in his own bed felt alien and exciting. He got up and paced the apartment and then Lester came home from his date with the fatkins nympho, full of improbable stories and covered in little hickeys.
”You won't believe who's coming for a visit,” Perry said.
”Steve Jobs. He's come down from the lamasery and renounced Buddhism. He wants to give a free computer to every visitor.”
”Close,” Perry said. ”Kettlebelly and Suzanne Church. Coming *tomorrow* for a stay of unspecified duration. It's a reunion. It's a *reunion* you big sonofab.i.t.c.h! Woot! Woot!” Perry did a little two-step. ”A reunion!”
Lester looked confused for a second, and then for another second he looked, what, upset? and then he was grinning and jumping up and down with Perry. ”Reunion!”
He felt like he'd barely gotten to sleep when his phone rang. The clock showed six AM, and it was Kettlebelly and Suzanne, bleary, jet-lagged and grouchy from their one-hour post-flight security processing.
”We want breakfast,” Suzanne said.
”We've gotta open the ride, Suzanne.”
”At six in the morning? Come on, you've got hours yet before you have to be at work. How about you and Lester meet us at the IHOP?”
”Jesus,” he said.
”Come *on*! Kettlebelly's kids are dying for something to eat and his wife looks like she's ready to eat *him*. It's been years, dude! Get your a.s.s in the shower and down to the International House of Pancakes!”