Box. Part 14

I think about Trudy. If I knew for certain she wanted me, I wouldn't even consider entering this woman's bedroom. I suppose I could call Trudy and ask her if she wants me, but that would be rude to Faith.

"Ready to see my horses, cowboy?" Faith says, adjusting her bosoms.

I still can't imagine what she means.

Horses?

In the bedroom?

Weird.

Then again, I suppose it can't hurt to at least find out what she's talking about.

"I'm ready," I say. "I think."

She smiles, takes my hand, helps me to my feet, leads me to her bedroom. When we get close, she says, "Put you ear to the door and listen."

I do, and she says, "You hear it?"

I do hear it. But have no idea what I'm hearing. Some sort of humming or buzzing sound. Like the sound a giant neon sign makes when you're standing beneath it. I'm also detecting an occasional gurgling, bubbling sound. The kind half a dozen stoners might make while smoking water pipes at the same time.

I briefly wonder if she could possibly be running an opium den in her bedroom.

She puts her palm on my cheek and says, "Once you enter this portal, your life will never be the same."

"That sounds rather hyperbolic," I say.

"Just you wait," she says.

Then she opens the door.

And my jaw drops.

IT'S NOT WHAT you think.

Meaning, it's not what I thought.

Nor what anyone would think.

FAITH HEMPHILL HAS seahorses.

Hundreds of them.

In tanks, covering every square inch of wall s.p.a.ce in the room.

The tanks are different shapes, sizes and colors, but all contain seahorses.

"Pick a favorite," she says.

"There are hundreds. It would take me all day."

"Welcome to my world!" she says.

Thena"I s.h.i.+t you nota"she starts introducing them to me, one-at-a-time.

"This one's George," she says. "And this here's Lucas. That's Gracie. And this little guy's Jimmy. Hi, Jimmie!" she says. "There's Lucy, andaandathere's Desi, and Fred."

She focuses harder. "Where's Ethel?"

She searches the tank. "Ethel?"

She looks at me. "Where's Ethel?"

"I don't know. She was here a minute ago," I say, trying to be funny.

"You think that's funny?" she snaps.

I shrug.

"Oh!" she says. "Thank G.o.d! There she is, behind the seaweed. See her?"

"Uh huh."

"Ain't she glorious?"

"Stunning!" I say, though I can't tell one from another.

"This one's Betty, this one'saoh, my goodness!"

"What now?"

"Elizabeth."

She turns to me again.

"Elizabeth hardly ever comes to this neighborhood!"

"Fascinating," I say.

"You know what I think?" she says.

"What's that?"

"I think she likes you."

"How can you tell?"

She smiles, then changes the subject. "Guess how much these tanks and seahorses are worth?"

"I have no idea."

"Guess."

"Five thousand dollars."

She laughs. "I didn't ask you what you think I invested. I asked what you think they're worth. These are all mine. I started with a hundred. Each individual horse was hand-picked from a reputable breeder."

"Hand picked?"

"Yes, of course. They're registered."

"You're joking."

"Not at all. The cheapest horse in these tanks would sell for eighty dollars. And the tanks run a thousand dollars each."

"Are you serious?"

"I am."

"In that case they must be wortha"" I try to do the math. "Seventy-five thousand dollars?"

"Closer to eighty-five."

"So, you raise them and sell them for a profit?"

"I never sell my babies till they die."

"Excuse me?"

"I'll tell you more about that in a minute."

"Are they hard to keep alive? Hard to care for?"

She gives me a look. "Are babies hard to keep alive? Are babies hard to care for?"

"Human babies?"

"Yes, I'm asking you about human babies."

"I'll go out on a limb and say yes, human babies are hard to care for."

"You're d.a.m.n right they are!" she says. "And seahorses are far more fragile than human babies."

"How so?"

"They're susceptible to disease and bacteria. And they can't be left alone, even for a day."

"That sort of describes human babies too, doesn't it?"

"Are you serious? Human babies can be left alone for days in a temperature-controlled environment."

"You know this from personal experience?"

"I do. I used to run a daycare. But that was in a different life. These days I never leave my horses for more than four hours at a time. If you want to take me out, give me notice, and have me back in four hours."

"Glad you told me."

"If I'm gone they won't eat. If they go twenty-four hours without eating, they die."

"Ever thought about getting an automatic feeder?"

She snorts. "You don't know s.h.i.+t about seahorses, do you?"

"Not really."

"Would you use an automatic feeder for a baby?"

"A human baby? My gut reaction is no."

"d.a.m.n right. And automatic feeders don't work for seahorses, either."

"Because?"

She frowns. "Are you for real? Automatic feeders? For seahorses?"

"I feel stupid for suggesting it."

"Well, don't beat yourself up about it. You'll learn. Wait till you start sc.r.a.pin' 'em!"

I look at my watch. "Oh, s.h.i.+t!" I say.

"What's wrong?"