Woah. Wait. You saw a roach in here? Shit. You know what they say about those? See one then there's more of em. For what we pay in this place.
[He shakes his head. Oh. Hey again, Sam. The guy's been chummy. Must have really missed them the times they've been apart. That'll show him to be so ornery.
There's the box now in the kid's hand.]
Pretty big then.
[Real casual like he leans crossing his arms. Should the denial start now? Larry's opting for wordless surprise. That in of itself isn't a lie, he is surprised to see it in the kid's hands.]
[Freddy explains while getting up off the floor, box still in hand. Hey there's a broken seal on it too. The kid resists the urge to open the box...for now.]
Are you keepin' a girlfriend in a closet or something?
[Can we talk about roaches more? No? He would have thought that the kid would take it and run. Looks like he's stuck on the box.]
You seen it. [A laugh, short and not too loud. Don't look nervous now.] Might have been left here. I can't remember cleanin' out the bottom of the sink.
What're you tryin' to say? No ladies get in here. No guests period.
[That is an issue that should be squared away instantly. Freddy must know that. This is their home. Their safety depends on their secrecy. The old man pushes off from the wall to stand closer. He braces himself on the counter as he leans down.]
[Wow. It really bothers the old man. So why are you pressing the issue, Newendyke?! So sue the kid, now he wants to know what's got his man worked up about dying his hair and what made him want to dye it in the first place. Did Freddy do something wrong? Say something wrong?]
[To Larry's credit, his jaw doesn't jaw. ON the inside though he feels like oneof those cartoon characters with his mouth gaping right to the floor and his eyes the size of hubcaps.]
How long?
[He repeats in case the kid backs off on his own. And to buy more time the old man wets his lips.]
[Does he have to tell Larry he's not gonna make jokes? Not gonna poke fun? There's a fine line between being a joker and being a rotten Newendyke; the latter's more harmless like Edward Nigma.]
You still look great so I mean I guess I ain't noticed a change.
[Oh wait maybe that's the wrong thing to say cause that'd imply the hairdye isn't working. But Freddy didn't notice a need in the first place, peppered or not.]
[Caught and there is no damn way out. They've built a good line of trust. To lie right in the kid's face that's more than an insult, that's telling him he doesn't trust him.]
...about three weeks I guess?
[Not too many words to the answer but it's dead honest. He didn't notice which was the effect he wanted. Kind of.]
It was once.
[Because there isn't too much hair on the old man that'd need it. Enough to bother him. Enough to show he's longer in tooth. Freddy wasn't supposed to find out though. The old man clenches his jaw.]
[Freddy steps forward now to go around Larry then stand between the bear and the door. No way out now, Dimick. Green eyes start inspecting that still full head of mature man hair. Seriously, is it that big a deal? He can see Larry clenching his jaw from here.]
Anything I oughta know about?
[Not that he doesn't trust the old man but his old man memory may have casually forgotten something or other that started this coloring business.
[Freddy remarks before those candy apple eyes are indeed inspecting his hair for those patches, for any signs of coverage. Details like this happen to interest the kid, there's nothing he's actually hoping to find or anything. Fortunately for Larry, Freddy here isn't exactly tall enough to get a good look at his crown.]
Well I think you're fine as you are but if you wanna keep colorin' it's no thing by me.
[He gives a shrug. Why does it need to be so dead serious? Relax old man.] ...You sure there's nothin' you wanna tell me? Did I make a shit joke?
[But Freddy this is the old man's ego! Thick fingers rub on through his hair.]
I don't want you feeling like I'm not on the same level.
[Physically though there was that day that he stayed in bed at least 80% of the day. (As though it was oh so long ago.) Larry now rubs his chin remembering not to bring too much focus to his head.]
Stupid, right?
[Maybe he'll feel a little flattered that Larry considers him to be a big enough deal to go through a peculiar hoop.]
[He said he wouldn't bug but now he's bugging because he wants to know. Does Freddy do something that indirectly makes Larry feel old? He's more than aware he makes jokes now and then but most of them are in endearing good taste. Right? ...Right??]
It ain't stupid. Bein' two different colors is kinda weird anyway.
[A bombshell brunette or a silver fox, but being half and half is just bizarre unless you're in a comic book. In any case, Freddy's not fully convinced.]
I can't quit being forty three. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna keep graying out completely. By the time you even start to show anything chances are I could start thinning out.
[Is that superficial? Uh. Let's try something else.]
Baby, how does it make you feel when someone says some shit like 'oh nice that you and your pop are out' or something?
You're older than me. You can't slow down and I can't catch up, not really.
[Freddy offers with another shrug. Oh he's starting to get the idea but trying to downplay the severity. Maybe it's just hard for a kid because...he's a kid, he's not there yet, although sometimes brats on their bicycles look at him like he's the old uncool fart.
Wait what? Freddy stares at Larry.]
Who said that? Who the fuck said that cause it's the first time I'm hearing it.
Concepcion y Manuela. At first I thought it was funny but the more we go to the taco stand the more I'm dead certain they believe we're related. Not everybody says it out loud.
[But he knows a look. Shaggy at the guitar store for one. Fuck when it's out in the open out loud it sounds ridiculous but this is what he has been wrestling with.]
Don't get for a second I'm ashamed of you, of us. I'm not.
What? That's bullshit. We're there like every motherfuckin' week man. If I saw a guy hanging out with his dad so much either he works for the old man--[Like Freddy did once upon a time.]--or he's a shitbag and has no fuckin' friends.
[And Freddy wonders why his dad's not his best buddy.]
Come on, we don't even look alike.
[A flappy hand flaps out onto a thick arm to bring Larry over side by side in front of the mirror. Nope, not alike at all. Which doesn't mean one's better looking than the other or anything.]
[Sigh. Larry looks in the mirror, he's a meat and potatoes fella. Freddy? He's lean. His hair is longer and lays wherever it damn well pleases. The old man's has a volume even when damp. Here, he'll move behind Freddy and put his arms around him.
Should he even start to explain how South American families work with and stick around family frequently? Naw. Best let it go.]
[Hey now he knows how Mexican families work, gosh. He just doesn't think to think they might apply the same principles to him and Larry or something such. Fff. Thick bear arms around him are a nice touch and when they're like this Freddy can see just how well they fit together, one wrapped by the other. And here he is worrying about being forty-three and aging.]
If anyone asks I'm tellin'em mom's black.
[Freddy says this like he might actually be serious about it. Hey one day he might do it to someone bugging them about the age thing just to see how they react. It's not unbelievable that Larry would knock up some brown sugar either so it all works out. He turns in those arms to face the older man now, hands on his hips, closer to his ass.]
And it ain't like your back's gonna throw out any second.
[Mama brown sugar? Man oh man, does the kid know his appetites. Nosing his ear more he laughs. The undertones of it all, a Pop fucking his good looking kid. It ain't right.]
No. It ain't.
[Not while he's been generous with the Icy Hot and a hot water bottle. Those flappy hands are dangerous. Larry tilts his hips forward to press against him.]
[Freddy busts bad guys like that, if anyone knows it ain't right it's Freddy Newendyke. They're nothing like that. And the age thing? Fuck the number, this man guided him up to the heist and kept holding his hand even as he was bleeding all over the fucking place.]
Am I---[Huff for the forward motion. Now they're really close.]--workin' you too hard? Should I lay off the rough stuff?
[He would do it all again in a heartbeat. Even if he didn't find the kid attractive. It was the right thing to do while breaking the law. Kids should be protected, even ones old enough to wield guns and know better.]
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[He shakes his head. Oh. Hey again, Sam. The guy's been chummy. Must have really missed them the times they've been apart. That'll show him to be so ornery.
There's the box now in the kid's hand.]
Pretty big then.
[Real casual like he leans crossing his arms. Should the denial start now? Larry's opting for wordless surprise. That in of itself isn't a lie, he is surprised to see it in the kid's hands.]
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[Freddy explains while getting up off the floor, box still in hand. Hey there's a broken seal on it too. The kid resists the urge to open the box...for now.]
Are you keepin' a girlfriend in a closet or something?
[Yeah, he'll take it slow if he has to.]
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[Can we talk about roaches more? No? He would have thought that the kid would take it and run. Looks like he's stuck on the box.]
You seen it. [A laugh, short and not too loud. Don't look nervous now.] Might have been left here. I can't remember cleanin' out the bottom of the sink.
[Shrug.]
It's not for me or you so we can throw it out.
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[No Newendyke, Blanche isn't even really a brunette, stupid. Look he's just trying to get Larry to own up to...whatever this hairdye implies.]
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[That is an issue that should be squared away instantly. Freddy must know that. This is their home. Their safety depends on their secrecy. The old man pushes off from the wall to stand closer. He braces himself on the counter as he leans down.]
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[Yes he will, but the kids trying. Honestly he is. Freddy puts the box down on the counter and doesn't budge an inch.]
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He should have tried to find a barber that could do it. Though then another living being would directly bear witness to the old man's secret.]
Anything else that's interesting down there?
[Anything. Anything at all. Fuck fuck fuck.]
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[Wow. It really bothers the old man. So why are you pressing the issue, Newendyke?! So sue the kid, now he wants to know what's got his man worked up about dying his hair and what made him want to dye it in the first place. Did Freddy do something wrong? Say something wrong?]
How long have you been doin' it?
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How long?
[He repeats in case the kid backs off on his own. And to buy more time the old man wets his lips.]
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[Does he have to tell Larry he's not gonna make jokes? Not gonna poke fun? There's a fine line between being a joker and being a rotten Newendyke; the latter's more harmless like Edward Nigma.]
You still look great so I mean I guess I ain't noticed a change.
[Oh wait maybe that's the wrong thing to say cause that'd imply the hairdye isn't working. But Freddy didn't notice a need in the first place, peppered or not.]
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...about three weeks I guess?
[Not too many words to the answer but it's dead honest. He didn't notice which was the effect he wanted. Kind of.]
It was once.
[Because there isn't too much hair on the old man that'd need it. Enough to bother him. Enough to show he's longer in tooth. Freddy wasn't supposed to find out though. The old man clenches his jaw.]
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[Freddy steps forward now to go around Larry then stand between the bear and the door. No way out now, Dimick. Green eyes start inspecting that still full head of mature man hair. Seriously, is it that big a deal? He can see Larry clenching his jaw from here.]
Anything I oughta know about?
[Not that he doesn't trust the old man but his old man memory may have casually forgotten something or other that started this coloring business.
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I tried a patch in the back the first week and waited then fixed up some last week. ...so three weeks.
[Don't look too close. Oh fuck. While Larry is a grown man the clearly inspecting candy apple eyes make him feel like he's growing smaller.]
I'm forty three years old, Freddy. I didn't plan on living this long.
[He cracks a sheepish smile trying to take away the dead serious subject matter.]
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[Freddy remarks before those candy apple eyes are indeed inspecting his hair for those patches, for any signs of coverage. Details like this happen to interest the kid, there's nothing he's actually hoping to find or anything. Fortunately for Larry, Freddy here isn't exactly tall enough to get a good look at his crown.]
Well I think you're fine as you are but if you wanna keep colorin' it's no thing by me.
[He gives a shrug. Why does it need to be so dead serious? Relax old man.] ...You sure there's nothin' you wanna tell me? Did I make a shit joke?
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I don't want you feeling like I'm not on the same level.
[Physically though there was that day that he stayed in bed at least 80% of the day. (As though it was oh so long ago.) Larry now rubs his chin remembering not to bring too much focus to his head.]
Stupid, right?
[Maybe he'll feel a little flattered that Larry considers him to be a big enough deal to go through a peculiar hoop.]
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[He said he wouldn't bug but now he's bugging because he wants to know. Does Freddy do something that indirectly makes Larry feel old? He's more than aware he makes jokes now and then but most of them are in endearing good taste. Right? ...Right??]
It ain't stupid. Bein' two different colors is kinda weird anyway.
[A bombshell brunette or a silver fox, but being half and half is just bizarre unless you're in a comic book. In any case, Freddy's not fully convinced.]
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[Is that superficial? Uh. Let's try something else.]
Baby, how does it make you feel when someone says some shit like 'oh nice that you and your pop are out' or something?
[Arms fold.]
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[Freddy offers with another shrug. Oh he's starting to get the idea but trying to downplay the severity. Maybe it's just hard for a kid because...he's a kid, he's not there yet, although sometimes brats on their bicycles look at him like he's the old uncool fart.
Wait what? Freddy stares at Larry.]
Who said that? Who the fuck said that cause it's the first time I'm hearing it.
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[But he knows a look. Shaggy at the guitar store for one. Fuck when it's out in the open out loud it sounds ridiculous but this is what he has been wrestling with.]
Don't get for a second I'm ashamed of you, of us. I'm not.
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[And Freddy wonders why his dad's not his best buddy.]
Come on, we don't even look alike.
[A flappy hand flaps out onto a thick arm to bring Larry over side by side in front of the mirror. Nope, not alike at all. Which doesn't mean one's better looking than the other or anything.]
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Should he even start to explain how South American families work with and stick around family frequently? Naw. Best let it go.]
Maybe they figure you look like Ma.
[Thick arms are around his waist.]
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If anyone asks I'm tellin'em mom's black.
[Freddy says this like he might actually be serious about it. Hey one day he might do it to someone bugging them about the age thing just to see how they react. It's not unbelievable that Larry would knock up some brown sugar either so it all works out. He turns in those arms to face the older man now, hands on his hips, closer to his ass.]
And it ain't like your back's gonna throw out any second.
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No. It ain't.
[Not while he's been generous with the Icy Hot and a hot water bottle. Those flappy hands are dangerous. Larry tilts his hips forward to press against him.]
Though I dunno. Somedays're better than others.
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Am I---[Huff for the forward motion. Now they're really close.]--workin' you too hard? Should I lay off the rough stuff?
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That is the very last thing I want.
[His lips brush over his hairline.]
No talk like that. Ever.
[Really, really close.]
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