The Witching Snakes pt. 5

Paul eats lunch with his brother and his dad. Talks about Agatha with his sister-in-law.

Read Part 4

“What's this?” said his brother, holding the guitar in his lap.

“Give me that.”

“It's eleven. You were supposed to meet us at ten.”

Paul was still in his boxer shorts and the blankets were bunched around him. He did not remember waking up. One moment he was dreaming. The next saw Tommy on his chair, holding his guitar and glaring. Paul knew the look well.

“I'm sorry," said Paul.

“Did you forget?”

“No, I did not forget.”

Paul sat up and put the blanket around him and wished that Tommy would have worn anything besides the plaid shirt, black sweater or the blue jeans. Paul didn't know if Tommy was trying to look like a fake lumberjack. Tommy's black dress shoes didn't make any sense.

“You can afford a new guitar and you keep asking Dad for money?”

“It was a gift.”

“Someone gave you a new guitar just like that?”

“Yeah,” said Paul and grinned. Tommy was properly antagonized.

“You can't keep it,” said Tommy.

“Yes," said Paul. "Yes, I can."

“What are you going to tell Dad when you can't pay him back?”

“I will pay him back.”

“You don't even play guitar.”

“I can learn.”