Pulpy and Midge. Jessica Westhead

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      ‘I know how it is.’ Dan winked at them and slapped the nylon flank of the inflatable elephant behind him. ‘Beatrice and I used to get up to all sorts of things before leaving for work. Didn’t we, honey?’

      Beatrice rolled her eyes. ‘Notice how he says “used to.”’

      ‘Ho-ho!’ said Dan.

      Midge gaped at them.

      ‘When we first got together people said we acted like we were the only two people in the world,’ said Beatrice.

      ‘And now she says I don’t even know she exists!’ said Dan. ‘Har!’

      ‘There’s something different about you, Pulpy.’ Beatrice pursed her lips. ‘I can’t put my finger on it.’

      ‘He’s wearing new pants,’ said Midge.

      Beatrice put her hands on her hips and ogled Pulpy’s lower half. ‘Oh my, yes, those are sharp. They’re a bit like Dan’s, aren’t they?’

      Pulpy shuffled in place. ‘Shall we go in?’

      ‘Yes, let’s,’ said Beatrice, and turned to Midge. ‘Your man here is full of good ideas, do you know that?’

      ‘Hmm,’ said Midge.

      They walked into the arena, and Midge grabbed Pulpy’s arm and started to breathe faster.

      ‘Is she all right?’ said Dan.

      ‘Ice has an effect on her,’ said Pulpy.

      ‘Well, ice has an effect on me too!’ Beatrice said, and hugged herself in a dramatic way. ‘Brrr! Let’s get to our seats and share some body warmth!’

      Dan clapped his big hands together. ‘Sounds good to me!’

      The four of them made their way to their seats, which were in the front row.

      ‘These are nice seats,’ said Pulpy.

      ‘The best,’ said Dan. ‘They’re company seats.’

      Pulpy looked over at him, and Dan grinned.

      ‘Al never got company seats,’ said Pulpy.

      ‘Not that you knew about, anyway,’ said Dan. ‘I’ll bet he came here all the time. He just didn’t like to share à la yours truly.’

      ‘No, I don’t think so.’ Pulpy shook his head. ‘Al wasn’t really big on events.’

      ‘Then I guess you’d better get used to the new administration, because Beatrice and I love an event. Don’t we, Beatrice?’

      She smiled at him. ‘We love all events.’ She turned to Pulpy and Midge. ‘Now, you two give me your tickets and I’ll figure out where everyone’s sitting.’

      Pulpy and Midge handed her their stubs.

      Beatrice squinted at their seat numbers. ‘Ooh! You’re next to me, Pulpy!’

      ‘And Midge is next to me!’ said Dan.

      Pulpy and Midge glanced at each other. They all sat down and nobody said anything else for a while.

      Then Midge said quietly, mostly to herself, ‘The ice is so pristine.’

      ‘Don’t you just adore her?’ Beatrice said to the men. ‘With her skirt and winter boots?’

      ‘She’s pretty adorable,’ said Dan.

      Pulpy reached over and patted Midge’s knee. Her boots were black and puffy with Velcro straps, and they made her legs look more delicate than normal.

      ‘It’s getting cold,’ said Midge.

      ‘Do you want my coat?’ said Pulpy.

      ‘Yes, please.’

      ‘Excuse me, Dan.’ He took off his coat and reached across Dan to give it to Midge.

      ‘Look at that,’ said Beatrice. ‘He gives her his jacket when she’s cold.’

      ‘Huh,’ said Dan.

      ‘My husband never gives me his jacket.’

      Dan shrugged under his heavy layer of sheepskin. ‘You don’t get cold.’

      ‘Sometimes I do. Sometimes I get very cold. Sometimes I get chilled right to the bone.’

      ‘Well, next time you do you just let me know,’ said Dan.

      ‘I will,’ said Beatrice. ‘Watch me.’

      The rink was spread out below them, with ‘Ice Follies’ written across it in loopy red.

      Pulpy ran his gaze around the big, blue circle once, twice, three times, and then the music started and two of the skaters in their costumes glided into view. One of them was dressed like the model elephant from outside and the other character was a fly, with a fuzzy black body and fast-flapping wings. The fly circled the elephant, and the elephant went down almost immediately.

      ‘Look at that freaky elephant!’ Dan said, and laughed. ‘Is he ever stupid!’

      ‘They’re all stupid,’ said Beatrice. ‘That’s why it’s called the Follies.’

      ‘They’re not stupid,’ said Midge, softly. ‘It’s all very calculated.’

      ‘That’s right,’ said Pulpy. ‘They’re smart enough to pretend to be stupid.’

      ‘Well, I don’t know about that,’ said Dan, ‘but boy, that elephant is funny!’

      ‘Does anyone want any snacks?’ Pulpy asked. ‘I’ll make a run.’

      ‘No thanks,’ said Beatrice.

      ‘Don’t worry,’ said Dan, ‘we’ll keep Midge company!’

      ‘We sure will!’ said Beatrice, and the two of them smiled wide.

      Pulpy looked at Midge in the skirt she’d selected. It was the one with what she said were palm fronds on it, but the skirt was black and the fronds were blue, so Pulpy always thought they looked like knives. ‘I’ll be right back.’

      Midge nodded, not smiling.

      When he returned to his seat, he said, ‘What did I miss?’

      ‘That elephant does not know how to skate,’ said Dan. ‘He just keeps falling!’

      ‘Midge was telling us about her candle business,’ said Beatrice. ‘She said you brought something to show us.’

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