Children cluster around Klempner. His eyes dart, one way and the other, his expression is… hunted… Close by, foot tapping, Mitch watches him.
hunted… “"lo.”
Klempner looks around, then down, to where a small figure of indeterminate s*x tugs at his trouser leg. It could be a girl. “Paulie sez you was with a maggoty lady and I sez that int true. So, is it true? She was all maggoty?”
isPain flits across his face. “Yes, it"s true.”
Her mouth opens to an O. “Wicked!” She rushes off, arms waving. “It IS true.”
Do I take pity on him?
Making my way through the throng of wedding guests, I stand close by him. My voice low. “What are you looking for?”
His lips barely move. “A legitimate reason to not be here.”
I run that through my social translators… “Legitimate meaning, acceptable to Mitch?
