Confessions of a Curious Bookseller(61)
I digress. This new lodger, who says her name is Rainbow, was seated outside performing card tricks. With a lovely little rabbit at her side that goes by the name of Jellybean, she was able to divine my card eight out of ten times—an impressive percentage! She also pulled dollar bills from behind my ear! As I am gregarious to a fault, we got to talking, and I soon learned that she had been kicked out by her landlord for not paying the rent on time and had nowhere to stay. I then asked her, “Well, if you can pull dollar bills from my ear, why can’t you materialize rent?” But I think the joke was lost on her. Anyway, perhaps the recent tragedy of Butterscotch got the better of me, but I offered that she could stay in my spare room with her sweet little rabbit for the very reasonable price of fifty dollars a month—until she can get back on her feet. She tells me she is saving up to go to Vegas where she will “shock and inspire millions with her illusions.” I would not classify what I’ve seen so far as shocking or inspiring; however, this is perhaps simply an example of my ignorance when it comes to magic.
She will stay with me in my apartment and will keep her things in the kitchen/break room area downstairs, as I simply don’t have room to store her groceries in my small but romantic Victorian kitchen. I gave her permission to do her card tricks outside the store, so if you see her performing please don’t ask her to leave as we’ve done a few times before with others. Also, because she is an artist, she asks that when she is doing her card tricks or otherwise practicing around the store, please let her concentrate and give her the space she needs to perfect her skills for Vegas. Also, you must call her Rainbow and not shorten it to Rain, which she hates.
I am terribly excited to be living in such proximity to a true artist! I know you will give her a warm Curious Cat welcome!
See you tomorrow!
Many thanks,
Fawn, Owner
From: Angela Washington
Sent: Sun, March 24, 2019 at 10:45 PM
To: Fawn Birchill
Re: New Lodger
Wow, okay. Cool.
—A
March 25, 2019
My new lodger is a true gem! Angela, of course, is baffled by her presence, and I often catch her staring at Rainbow in disbelief as she practices her magic on the staircase or by the front door, but I think she’ll come around in time.
I believe it was in the fifteenth century when aristocrats and various wealthy patrons of the arts would take artists under their wing and support them financially so that they would be able to pursue their dreams and hone their craft. I daresay that today, as I watched Rainbow light a cigar and stick it up her nose, I found that our arrangement is not so dissimilar. She is the Botticelli to my Medici, but instead of painting the Madonna, my artist is attempting a straitjacket escape. If both bring joy, I fail to see a great difference.
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Tue, Mar 26, 2019 at 9:18 AM
To: Hank Turo
Subject: Cats for sale
Dear Hank,
I came across your ad in the classifieds regarding the six cats, and since your price is very reasonable, I would like to ask you a few questions:
Are they declawed?
How are they with rabbits?
Are they aloof or friendly?
Are they litter-box trained?
Are they wormed, spayed/neutered, tick-free, flea-free, up to date with shots?
Have they scratched, hissed, bitten?
It is a hobby of mine to feed the strays outside my building, and though I would love to take one of them in, it is far too costly for me to pay for what will certainly be a hefty vet bill getting one neutered/spayed and up to date with shots. Money is tight these days, so please understand that I am only asking for a cat that has already been made suitable for domestic life.
I eagerly await your response.
Many thanks,
Fawn, Owner, The Curious Cat Book Emporium
From: Angela Washington
Sent: Wed, Mar 27, 2019 at 11:01 AM
To: Fawn Birchill
Subject: Rainbow
Rainbow is hanging upside down on the second-floor banister. I don’t know what to do.
—A
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Wed, Mar 27, 2019 at 11:13 AM
To: Angela Washington
Re: Rainbow
Dear Angela,
Please allow Rainbow to express herself however she pleases. She is a professional and no doubt knows exactly what she is doing. We do not ask electricians to cease operations just because they are removing outlets. We do not interrogate plumbers when they cut through pipes. If Rainbow doesn’t feel safe to stretch her limitations in her own (temporary) home, she will never achieve her goal of shocking and inspiring.
Therefore, my advice would be to simply sit back and enjoy the show!
Many thanks,
Fawn, Owner
March 30, 2019
Rainbow and I visited Jane last night with a bottle of red wine. I feel that these days, after the loss of Butterscotch, this is the best way for me to cope: with good company and decent wine. Rainbow performed magic tricks for Jane, which positively thrilled her to the point of nearly spilling her drink all over herself. More than that, Jane loved Jellybean, who cuddled up on her lap as we all turned our attention to Star Trek reruns, per Rainbow’s request. Jane did not seem to mind the show, which is good because it is my default to allow the artist whatever she needs, as every little thing could lead to a great artistic breakthrough or further inspiration for a new act. Often when I am around Rainbow, I feel as if I am watching history in the making.