Chris: Things are getting weird.
Amanda: Four more.
Bobby: Laurel’s boyfriend.
Amanda: Three.
Amanda: …
Amanda: Patrick agreed. Two more.
Jon: He doesn’t even live here.
Amanda: Technicality.
In only a few days, our plan had come together. What started as a way to make a couple of bucks had snowballed. When Chris’s agent heard about our efforts,she offered to leak the story to the press. Amanda had already contacted a local reporter to cover the shoot itself. Now, we just had to finish gathering the barrel-chested men of Firefly.
“And then she lived her gorgeous life, happily ever after.”
I had been so engrossed in our progress that I had missed half the story. I sat with the parents in the corner of the loft while the children sat cross-legged, hanging on Mabel’s every word.
“Let’s say thank you to Mabel Syrup,” Tyler said. His eyes darted from the children to Mabel and then to the half-dozen parents. He hid it well, but he was nervous about hosting his first drag story time. Mabel, on the other hand, she fluttered lengthy lashes, not giving a damn.
A boy raised his hand, grunting as he reached for the ceiling. Tyler eyed Mabel, unsure of how to proceed.
“Darling, do you have a question?”
The boy in his tiny overalls hugged a bright orange pillow as he nodded. “Are you a boy or a girl?”
Tyler stiffened and started to stand. Mabel put a hand on his shoulder, pushing him back to the floor. I looked at the boy’s mom, her face a mixture of horror and curiosity. The possible closing of the library had emboldened Tyler, but this was his fear come to life.
Mabel feared nothing.
“Honey, that’s a delicious question.” She rested her chin on her hand, a bright pink fingernail tapping her jeweled lips. “Why decide? Some days, I feel like a boy. Sometimes I feel like a girl. Why choose?” She leaned forward in herrocking chair, hand held to the side of her mouth. “Today… I feel like a queen.”
She stood slowly, striking a pose. I eyed the parents. I could see the smiles breaking out on their faces. “Are you going to strike a pose with me?”
The dozen children jumped to their feet, copying her sass. She pointed past the kids to the parents in the back. “Kings and Queens, to your feet!” There was no point in arguing. Mabel Syrup had spoken. As she tossed her luscious locks back and forth, I got to my feet, mirroring her pose.
“It’s easier to give in,” I said to the parents. The moms found it amusing, but the three dads surprised me as they stood. “Look at your fierce self,” I said, giving one of them an elbow to the side.
“Will you read us another story?” asked a girl.
“Mabel has to make sure the unicorns in her kingdom are behaving,” she said. “But if Mr. Bailey says it’s okay, I bet I can make time to come back.” Tyler smiled at me before nodding. Seeing Tyler light up made me realize how much he needed this win. “Well then, all we have left to do is pick out some books to go home.”
The kids scattered to the bookshelves, eagerly hunting for their next bedtime story. The gentleman standing next to me shook his head. “I wasn’t sure what to expect. Thiswas notit.”
While Tyler and Mabel followed the kids, dragged by the hand, I was left to take the temperature of the parents. “Mabel has that effect on people. You think, here’s a queenwielding sass like a weapon. How could she entertain children?”
He nodded. “Something like that. The body suit with glitter was a bold choice.”
I laughed. “Bold? That’s her conservative business attire.”
The women on the other side were whispering far too loud. “I wish I could walk in heels like that.” And then, “Think she’ll give me the name of her hairdresser?” Mabel had won them over. Tyler would be glad to know ‘The Queen’s Reading Hour’ had been a success. In any other town, this might have been a risk. In Firefly, it was an expected triumph.
The man held out his hand. “Tony. You’re one of Jason’s friends?”
I shook his hand. “Yeah. I’m in town?—”
