Ignoring my protest, the guy continued. "Andshe called my wife a slob."
That did it."I didnotcall her a slob. I thoughtyouwere calling her a slob."
"Yeah, well I wasn't."
"Well neither was I." I whirled back to the other guy. "So, what's being demolished?" I gave him a pleading look. "Just tell me, okay?"
He frowned. "Why would I do that?"
I glanced toward the coffee cup in my hand. I wasn't even sure why I'd grabbed it. Maybe I had hoped to look casual, as if I were strolling down the street or maybe delivering a mocha.
Hey, it wasn'ttotallyimpossible.
I summoned up what I hoped was a smile. "If you tell me, I'll make you the best darn mocha you've ever had – for free."
From somewhere behind me, the neighbor guy grumbled, "It'll still taste like ass."
I whirled to face him. "For the last time, my coffee doesnottaste like ass."
"Fine," he grumbled. "Ashes then."
I sighed. "Whatever." I whirled back to the demolition guy. "So, do we have a deal?"
He eyed me with obvious suspicion. "What's the catch?"
"Thereisno catch," I said. "I just want to know what you're demolishing."
He hesitated. "I'm not sure I should say."
"Fine," I said. "Then just point. That's not so hard, is it?"
He was squinting now. "And you'll give me a mocha?"
"Yes."
"What size?"
Seriously?"The biggest one I have."
His gaze drifted to the cup in my hand. "You don't meanthatone, do you?"
I glanced toward the cup. "No. This is a small. And besides, it's empty."
From behind me, the other guy asked, "Who walks around with an empty cup?"
Once again, I whirled to face him. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"
"No," he said, looking a little glum. "The wife sent me out on a walk, said I needed the exercise."
I stared at the guy. "So how come you're not walking?"
He pointed to the small stretch of sidewalk between us. "Because you're in my way."
"Oh, please. You could just walk around, and you know it."
"Or," he countered, "youcould be polite and move aside."
"Fine." I took a single step sideways. "Go ahead. Walk."
