Free London Harmony: Small Fry by Erik Schubach Page B

seemed reticent but finally said okay to experiencing the Brighton... well I guess it is the Brighton-West, Thursday Night ritual.
    It was an important thing to have structure in our lives when we were living on the streets.  That structure helped Vanessa to focus after we ran out of meds for her condition.  The two main things we did, were Thursday Night, watching old movie musicals that were projected in an alley by local artisans, and Friday Night board game night.  They were not only about Van and my only form of entertainment, but they provided an anchor for our little two person family.
    June became an important part of that as she came to hang out with us in the abandoned repair shop which Vannie had worked in, before it went out of business and we wound up on the streets.  June had never once judged us or looked down upon our situation.  I could tell from the moment we met when she tracked us down after Van had stolen her wallet, that she adored my sister.  She became part of our family that day whether she knows it or not.
    That tradition continued when we all moved from New York to London.  Only now, as our family continues to grow, we watch the movies projected onto a huge white sheet in the marina that Tabitha Romanov's houseboat, Water Witch, is moored.
    But Friday Nights still belong to June, Van, and me.  That is only for the three of us to share... family.  It is when we catch up on the goings on in our lives, and I can see how it relieves stress from my sister.  No matter how well the drugs work at keeping her stable, the sense of structure does even better for her. That and the music she says she can see in June's eyes.
    I admit to ulterior motives, it is general public knowledge that Tabby Cat was virtually homeless before she was discovered by London Harmony.  She had lived on a barge, a floating slum that was little better than a cardboard box village.  She uses most of her newfound resources to fund a special project for people who are struggling to find housing in the country's most affluent city.  The Flotilla Project offers affordable or free housing on newly renovated barges with ultra modern cabins and facilities, to help people stand back on their own feet.
    I drove up to the alley behind the Archives on Thursday night, dressed in my familiar and comfortable rocker clothes.  I had drawn a little smiley face sticking out its tongue, on my left shoe with a permanent marker.
    Tash stepped out into the headlights and my breath caught.  She was wearing a simple, slightly wrinkled, blue dress and some cute flats, and a light, black jacket.  I'd never seen her looking so, I don't know, feminine?
    She had her hair done up in a braid that hung down up front, over her left shoulder.  She was looking at her feet, and it was an adorable effect, I wonder if she realized how it made her look.  I wanted to hold her, and protect her, and...
    She looked up and waved cutely.  I hopped out of the car and made sure to speak right away.  “You look amazing tonight Tash.”  I just had to help her into the car.
    She shrugged as I grinned at her while she took in everything about me, her eyes lingering on my shoe as the corners of her mouth quirked up in a smile, before meeting my eyes.  “I didn't know what to wear.  I didn't know how formal this night was and didn't want to embarrass you.”
    I tilted my head to keep our eyes locked as she lowered hers bashfully.  Good lord, I really was attracted to this woman.  I brought one shoulder up and squished up my face a bit to one side.  “I'm the one who's going to embarrass you, dressed like an extra from a Leather and Heels music video.”
    She grinned, not dignifying my self-deprecating remark.  “I love Leather and Heels, and anything retro.”  I squinted an eye.  Our family was friends with Penny Franklin from Leather and Heels herself and she hated hearing her stuff was retro now.  I'd have to tease her about it next time I saw her.