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Living History Illinois Flockify, Famous People Channel
NotOprah Sunday 07:14 PM
Oo fun. I’ve got one too. What happens when you touch Dwayne Johnson’s butt? You hit rock bottom. ROFL
AlCaponesGhost25 Sunday 07:42 PM
@NotOprah You’re not supposed to answer your own riddle. Watch and learn—What’s the difference between Al Capone and Anakin Skywalker driving an Uber?
NotOprah Sunday 07:45 PM
I dunno what?
AlCaponesGhost25 Sunday 07:47 PM
No you’re supposed to think about it.
NotOprah Sunday 07:50 PM
Fuck off
SingerQueen Sunday 10:20 PM
@AlCaponesGhost25 Making fast friends, I see.
AlCaponesGhost25 Monday 05:32 AM
They weren’t following the rules
SingerQueen Monday 10:02 AM
I don’t disagree
AlCaponesGhost25 Monday 12:10 PM
We need to maintain some riddle standards imo
SingerQueen Monday 12:45 PM
Yes, sir, Mr. Moderator!
M y neck is shot, but I have two huge bags of costumes to bring in, having spent my days off sewing. The Scarlett O’Haras turned out amazing. I made three different sizes, and I know exactly how to display them. Literary scenes in the windows should catch people’s attention. And in other good news, User4549 has requested a quote for a Cleopatra getup for Halloween in response to my post. It’s an easy enough commission and hopefully just the beginning.
“Morning, Pop,” I call, pushing open the door with my hip. “How was your weekend?” We still call it our weekend, even though, technically, we’re closed Sundays and Mondays. I glance across the street and spot a faint outline of a ladder in Leo’s store. The lights are on so he must be up and at it already. I shrug to rid myself of the annoyance that immediately bubbles up my chest. Couldn’t he at least be a slacker?
“Morning, kiddo!” Harvey hollers from upstairs.
“Want me to put the costumes in the back?”
“You know it.”
It’s a good morning—three customers in the first hour, all of whom actually make purchases. Before lunch, while Harvey schmoozes a woman he knows from the senior center, I talk to a mom and her daughter about the Halloween costumes. They’re specifically looking for something dragon-like for their golden to complement the girl’s Sleeping Beauty dress.
“Good choice,” I tell the girl. “Princesses are always a hit. I’m going to be Belle, and my dogs are going as Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, and Cogsworth.”
She giggles, showing a gap-toothed grin.
“I can absolutely make you something,” I tell the mom. “I’ll just need measurements.”
They leave, promising to bring their pooch in later in the week. Score!
No sooner have they left before the back door slams closed and Micki hollers, “I hope you fine people are in the mood for chili! Jaz made a huge batch yesterday.” She rounds the corner holding up a container.
“Michaela!” Harvey greets her with a hug.
Micki never knew her grandparents, so she adopted Harvey as her own the first time they met. He didn’t mind. I think he was always secretly sad my parents only had me, though he’d never say so to my face.
“Upstairs?” Micki asks me.
“Yes, let me put the sign up, and I’ll be right there.” At the door, I pause, distracted by movement across the street.
I hide behind the doorjamb and watch as Leo steps outside dressed in dark jeans, a gray button-down, and a tailored vest, cutting a figure GQ would be proud to feature. He looks up and down the street before adjusting the offending A-frame, making me wonder if he’s had any takers on the whole “unmet needs” front. Before my blood starts to boil again, I turn on my heel. “Let’s eat,” I call upstairs.
Harvey and Micki have already dug in by the time I sit down.
“And it’s very stylish, don’t you think?” Harvey asks, tapping something on the table between them with a finger.
“Very,” Micki agrees.
I pull out a chair. “What are we talking about?”
Micki slides a glossy card in gold and graphite in front of me. “Free drinks,” she says, one eyebrow raised. “You should go.”
“What is this?” I blow on a spoonful of chili and skim the cursive writing.
“Leo dropped it off,” Harvey says. “It’s for the launch on Friday. We need it to get in.”
I stare at them both for a moment. “We need it to get in?” I repeat. “What?”
Harvey wipes his mouth. “Because it’s not open to the public. An exclusive event. It sounds very fancy.” He smiles. “Should be fun.”
“Fun?” I turn to Micki, hoping for backup but getting none.
“You should give him a chance, kiddo,” Pop continues. “The man is making big changes in his life from what I understand. He seems perfectly pleasant to me.”
“That’s what he wants you to think, and you’re walking straight into his trap.”
“But free drinks.” Micki points to the invite.
“You, my friend, need to raise your standards.”
“He is single,” Harvey says, unprompted.
That shuts up both Micki and me.
“What’s that got to do with anything?” I ask, eventually.
“Oh, nothing.” Harvey’s eyes widen with innocence. “Just saying.”
Next to me, Micki giggles, so I kick her in the shin. “Don’t,” I warn her.
“What?”
“Did you know he also went to Batavia High?” Pop asks.
“I do, but since when do you?” In fact, my grandpa seems to know an awful lot about Leo Salinger all of a sudden.
“Met him at the park. We had a nice chat. Apparently, his grandma and my Martha knew each other. How about that? Small world. So, I thought…” He shrugs. “He’s easy on the eyes—ask if he’s single.”
“Pop.” I sigh. “This guy is currently conspiring with the forces of the universe to bring ruin to Happy Paws. It doesn’t matter how hot he is, or if he’s single, or filthy rich, or the last man on the planet. We should all steer clear of him.”
Micki considers me for a long moment. “So, you do think he’s hot. Gotcha.”
I groan and dig back into my food.
“Well, I think we should go,” Harvey says after a minute.
I scoff. “Yeah, right.”
“You should listen to your elders,” Micki says. “Maybe you can get some tips from him.”
“You’re a smart girl, Michaela.” Harvey nods. “Leo does seem to have his act together.”
“And we don’t? No, don’t answer that.” Are they right? The invite to his soft launch is better put together than any promo material we’ve ever created.
Harvey scrapes a last spoonful from his bowl before standing. “That’s it for me, but please tell your sister thank you. It was delicious. I’ll open up. You ladies take your time.”
Once Pop has descended the stairs, Micki turns in her chair so she’s fully facing me. “You know I love you both, but you guys don’t even have a website, not to mention any social media accounts.” She squints. “Marketing 101—I suspect Fancy Pants over there is in the know.” She jerks her head toward Canine King.
“Yeah?” I finish chewing and swallow.
“Yeah, babe. And it doesn’t have to be for fun. You’ll essentially be spying on him. There are trade secrets to be uncovered.” She lowers her voice. “Fine men to bed…”
I roll my eyes. “If I go, will you give it a rest already?”
Micki just laughs, shoveling another piece of bread into her mouth. “No promises.”
That evening, I have two DMs. One is from User4549 agreeing to my price, and the other from my new friend who seems to still be online.
AlCaponesGhost25: So riddle me this—what’s a sharp Freddie Mercury fan like yourself doing in an Illinois history forum?
I frown at the monitor as if it’s a trick question. He must not remember me posting about costume commissions.
SingerQueen: Freddie Mercury?
AlCaponesGhost25: Your username.
It takes me a moment to figure out what he means. When I do, I don’t correct him.
SingerQueen: Maybe I’m just looking to connect with fellow hotdog obsessed Lincoln fans
AlCaponesGhost25: You’re obsessed with hotdogs?
SingerQueen: Sans ketchup.
AlCaponesGhost25: A true Chicagoan then.
SingerQueen: You?
AlCaponesGhost25: No I definitely need ketchup.
SingerQueen: Touché. I assume you’re here for the mob channel.
AlCaponesGhost25: Possibly.
SingerQueen: And to force riddles down the throat of unsuspecting strangers of course.
AlCaponesGhost25: Of course. Can’t help myself.
SingerQueen: I have the answer by the way.
AlCaponesGhost25: To life?!?! *surprised face emoji*
A laugh bubbles up my chest.
SingerQueen: I wish. No your Uber riddle. Al Capone = tax evader Anakin Skywalker = taxi Vader.
AlCaponesGhost25: *standing ovation*
SingerQueen: *takes a bow*
AlCaponesGhost25: I have met my match.
My face warms. I know it’s stupid, but that just made my day. I start a message to tell him so but erase it. Too personal. Then I start typing a good night but erase that too. Finally, I just send a smiley face before I close my laptop and set it aside. I should get to sleep anyway.