The Princess Diaries Plot Bunny - courtesy of Mother Funky Bat Summary: Justin can’t face Pittsburgh and his extended family after his break up with Ethan - so he leaves - with no destination in mind - other than to live his life without being under a microscope. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day one The Greyhound Bus pulled away from the Pittsburgh terminal in a cloud of vapor. It was only six thirty in the morning and the streets were just now beginning to wake up to the usual busy bustle of activity. Justin closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat. As far as he was concerned there was no looking back. His life would move forward from here on in. He was traveling light. One suitcase on wheels, one back pack and a lap top computer. His cell phone was tucked into the backpack in case of an emergency, but it was turned off. He had no desire to talk to anyone should they call. He had twenty dollars in his wallet and his ATM card. In the bank was every cent he could get his hands on after selling everything he owned other than what he was traveling with. As well as his whole life savings of less than five thousand dollars, but he didn’t care. He’d find a job at the first town that looked interesting. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Safety First Brian, this is a strange request - but you are really the only person I trust with it. I’ve left Pittsburgh - and no I’m not running away from things - well maybe a little - but I need to do this for myself - ever since the night we met my life has been one roller coaster ride after another - some times good and sometimes not. The thing is - I’m traveling around the country, no I’m not hitching - I’m not stupid - well maybe it seems that way - I just want to send you kind of a running diary of where I am and what I’m doing just in case I have a problem or if some mad gang of white slavers picks me up and no one hears from me - you’ll at least know where to start looking (just kidding). I took a leave of absence from PIFA - my work was shit anyway - long story - and trust me you don’t want to hear it. But if I hear another fucking violin I’ll scream. I will still repay the tuition you lent me - it just might take a little longer. You don’t really have to read these emails - just file them away and if you don’t get one every other day or so, could you make a few inquires. I took the bus out of town, and for some reason I’m in Cleveland. For no other reason other than I’ve maybe watched too many episodes of Drew Carey. The bus drove through the Flats and it looked like a fun place so I had the bus driver drop me off. He was pretty good about it being that it wasn’t the depot. Score another for these baby blues. I lucked out right away and found an apartment to sit for two months, which is long enough I’m sure to spend in Cleveland. This is a good thing because the hotels are expensive and my money wouldn’t last long. The guy I’m apartment sitting for has to go to New York on business for two months, he’s really hot, it might have been interesting had he stayed - we met at Starbucks - I think he was trying to pick me up - eat your heart out Ethan Gold - anyway, we got to talking and the next thing I know I have a great place to stay and I get a hundred bucks a month to stay there and best yet, he’s given me a letter of introduction to a restaurant that might hire me. He says November and December are busy times for the place with Christmas parties and one thing or another. If the job works out, I won’t need to touch my savings. I’ll keep you posted. And hey Brian, thanks for being there for me, no matter what any one else says I know that I can always count on you. I won’t forget that. J ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Justin pulled his coat close; the wind was strong and cold. He hoped his nose wasn’t as red as it felt, nothing like making a good first impression. The restaurant was empty; waiters bustled around setting up for lunch. “Excuse me” Justin said, raising his voice over the loud music and laughter. “We’re closed, we don’t open for half an hour.” One of the waiters said. “I’m here to see Conrad.” Justin replied. “Connie is in the back. Is it about the waiter position?” Justin nodded. “Yes.” “Cool, we could use a blond around here.” The tall slim waiter held out his hand to shake hands. “I’m Jeri by the way.” “Justin.” Justin said as he shook the man’s hand. “I’ll get Uncle Connie.” He turned and headed toward what had to be the kitchen. “Uncle Connie, come out front.” He called. “Jeri, Jeri, Jeri, how many times do I have to tell you not to yell? We are a classy joint here.” The short man with snow white hair reached up and patted his nephew’s cheek. “Justin is here to see you about the waiter’s job.” Jeri said as he nodded his head toward Justin who stood in the center of the room. “Ahh, Justin, my friend Albert called about you.” the man beamed. “It was nice that he finally found someone for his apartment. I dreaded the thought of attempting to keep his fish and his plants alive for the next two months.” He looked closely at Justin. “He tells me you have restaurant experience.” “Yes, I’ve worked in Pittsburgh at the same place since I was eighteen. I’m twenty now. It was part time because I attended school, but it was a pretty busy place.” “Wonderful” come on into my office, we’ll talk there. Jeri, you get back to work, the lunch crowd will be in anytime now.” Justin followed the restaurant owner into the rear of the building and down a short corridor to his office. It wasn’t long before Justin emerged, he’d been measured for his uniform and the paper work had been filled out and a schedule decided upon. He would be spending the next almost two months working. He walked back down the corridor to find Jeri lurking in the area. Justin grinned at him and Jeri gave him the thumbs up. It was going to be nice working for such friendly people Justin thought. On the walk back to his apartment, Justin barely noticed the cold. He was still on his high from being hired at Connie’s Bistro. He raced up the stairs two at a time full of energy. There was still some good light available, he’d sketch for awhile and then see what there was to offer in Cleveland on the television. He’d left his lap top on and he noticed he had a mail pop up so he figured he check it out first. BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND??????? Justin At least you had the sense to let me know what you are up to. I suppose that’s some consolation. I gather I’m not supposed to let anyone know your whereabouts. I can do that. At least send me an email daily. I don’t care if it’s one word. I just want to know that you are alive or I’ll come and kill you myself. Brian Justin laughed when he read Brian’s email. It was so like his former lover to take that tone - he could only imagine how he looked when he’d read the first email. Justin was about to sit down and reply when he realized that if he had to write an email a day, he should save his news about his job until tomorrow - it would save him trying to think of something to say. Tomorrow he would have some time to explore one of the parks along the Cuyahoga River, it wasn’t far from his apartment and if he didn’t freeze to death it would be a fun place to check out. Justin was beginning to think he should have headed south instead of north. Maybe once he left Cleveland he’d head south. It would be early January and he would definitely want to be warmer. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 2 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Don’t Queen Out Brian - I got the job - I’ll be a waiter at Connie’s Bistro which is about a thousand times up the restaurant level from the diner. I get to wear tuxedo pants and shirt with a lavender cummerbund and lavender bow tie. I love the color. About this daily email thing - maybe every other day - it’s not like you are even interested in what I do - I mean I’ll be working and sketching - pretty boring - though there are some good clubs not far from where I live. I might check them out. At least I can walk home. I walked down to a park today and tried to sketch, but it’s too freaking cold probably because of the river. I met a couple of old ladies in the park who don’t live too far from here. They invited me over for tea tomorrow. I wonder what the old lady visiting protocol is? I mean you can’t really take them a bottle of wine, maybe I’ll make some cookies. Maybe they’ll have a hot grandson. (grin) Wish me luck - I’m going to get ready for my first day of work. J Before going to bed that night, Justin showered and then thought he’d check his email. BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: Responsibilities Justin - you have involved me by starting this diary of your travels - though Cleveland is a strange place to travel to. I insist you write daily - oddly enough I do worry about you. Of course the guy hired you right away, he’d be crazy not to. You have the experience and you aren’t all that bad looking. Emmett was asking about you this morning at the diner - are you planning on letting anyone know what you’re up to. I just ignored him, which is pretty much what I do anyway. About the old ladies - watch yourself - con artists grow old too - these old ladies could be out to take you. Brian ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 3 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Cynics Hi Brian, just wanted to let you know that I escaped unscathed from the vicious gang of old ladies here in Cleveland. We exchanged cookie recipes. Should I email you the ones I got so you can have them checked out for lethal ingredients? Work went fast both yesterday and today - yeah sorry, I didn’t send this earlier, but I was baking cookies for the old lady gang and then I had work right after I met with them. Jeri, one of the guys I work with invited me out clubbing with him tomorrow after work. I think I’ll go and see what Cleveland has for a night life. Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 4 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Life Made more than a hundred bucks in tips last night - beats the diner - still haven’t had to touch my savings - yeah me - heading out with Jeri - can’t write anymore - yes I have condoms - you taught me well Oh Master. J ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 5 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Brian - great club - bigger than Babylon and a lot wilder - the dancing was out of this world - no back room though - you have to go outside - which is like not going to happen until spring at least - thankfully I won’t be here then - I wish now I hadn’t agreed to two months of apartment sitting - Note to self - when running - or in my case bussing away - head south if it’s November. J ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 6 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Death Brian - shit one of the fish died - a great big guy - like big enough to eat - did I mention I’m fish sitting too? Now what do I do? He’s like too big to flush and he could be a friend of apartment guy - he was all blue and now he’s like upside down and not a great color. J BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: Death Justin, put him in a plastic bag and stick him in the freezer - make sure you label it - you don’t want apartment guy to get any supper surprises - that way he can decide how to dispose of the body. I’m not sure if fish can be pets - they’re had(HARD) to pat and they don’t purr. Brian PS - I would suggest maybe you feed them once in awhile - they’ll live longer. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 7 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Advice Brian - I took your advice and froze Fred the fish - now all the other fish are looking at me kind of funny - I think they believe I murdered him or something. It’s really creepy, they follow me when I walk through the room. I did feed them by the way. I think I maybe fed them too much. I’m going to check out fish on the internet after I send this. I got asked out on my first date today by one of the restaurant customers. He’s kind of cute but I said no. He drives a black Mercedes - it’s too mobster like. I’m waiting for someone with a hotter car (grin). Plus he wanted me to go to the Symphony - like that is NOT going to happen. I hear they have violins there. Maybe I’ll find someone to take me to wrestling. Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 8 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Strange Happenings Brian - one of the other fish committed suicide late last night. It was the yellow one. I found him on the floor this morning - now the rest of them are really looking at me funny. I froze this guy with Fred - maybe they were lovers and wanted to stay together. And for some reason I had four phone calls last night with only breathing on the other end. Talk about weird. I unplugged the phones - I figure no one that I know knows the number so why keep them plugged in. Work was good. I’m getting lots of shifts and the tips are amazing. I guess my wiggle opens their wallets (grin) Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 9 BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: Watch your back Justin, I don’t like hearing about the phone calls. Unplugging the phone is hardly going to solve the problem. Maybe you should report it to the police. As for the fish - not being a fish person I have no idea why they are committing Hari Kari - phone a fish store and ask what you’re doing wrong. Your mother called me today and asked if I’d heard from you. I don’t like lying to your mother Justin. I avoided the question, maybe you should email her or call or something. Brian princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Mothers Brian - I don’t want to talk to her - she’ll only try and make me come home - I’m not avoiding her - well, I’m sort of avoiding her. The thing is if I email or something, she’ll tell Debbie and the next thing you know all of Liberty will know about it and then they’ll be emailing me and I might as well be back there. Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 10 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: men Brian - I’ve decided to give up men - they are completely not worth the effort - I cannot believe the day I’ve had today at work. This all male staffing thing is driving me nuts. Talk about drama queens - they must have all been PMSing today - and date guy was there again, only this time he brought me flowers and asked me out to the fucking Opera. Do I look like an opera kind of guy - I always thought I looked more like a Rufus Wainwright kind of guy. To make my day complete, the stupid tree apartment guy has by the front door just shed all its freaking leaves. The thing is bald - not a leaf on a branch and this tree reached the ceiling. It was like some kind of tornado had snatched all the leaves off or something. Do you think I should maybe glue them back on - he probably wouldn’t notice at first and he’ll never find me ‘cause I am sooooo heading south. Justin. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 11 BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: shaking my head Justin, no don’t glue on the leaves - maybe it was supposed to drop the damn things - it’s a tree, don’t they do that in the fall? You might try watering his plants, I’ve heard it’s rather effective in keeping them alive. Brian princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: sarcasm doesn’t email well Brian - I do water the plants - besides I haven’t been here long enough to kill a plant. I solved the mother problem - I waited until she was at work and I phoned from a pay phone and left a message saying I was alive and well. That should get her off your back. Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 12 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Twilight Zone Stuff Brian - don’t freak on me here - but have you ever heard of fish multiplying in different colors? I know this sounds more than weird - but I went to work this morning and I was sure that all the regular guys were in the tank swimming around - they still glare at me - this is a damn big fish tank BTW - it takes up almost a whole wall and you can see through from the bedroom to the living room - which is why when they’re mad at me it’s unnerving - and we aren’t talking goldfish here - we’re talking serious big ass salt water tropical fish - Anyway when I got home I was tired and I went right to bed - I think I’m getting a cold - and I was kind of making fish faces at the guys when I noticed that there were three bright red ones in the tank and there were no red ones before - I mean red is kind of hard to hide - do you think they change color - like when you boil lobsters - I mean they change from greeny color to red? Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 13 BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: Fish Justin - You did receive 1500 on your SAT’s didn’t you? Are you letting your buddy Jeri give you any pills or smoking anything off a street corner? Fish don’t change color - I think you are becoming obsessed with these fish - find a hobby - take up knitting. Brian (who can’t imagine anyone ‘making fish faces’ over the age of 2) princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Asshole Brian - if you are going to be your normal charming self - I won’t tell you what is happening in my life - I thought you wanted to know - BTW - the red ones have teeth. I made a fifty buck tip today off of one table - and got asked out yet again by my not so secret admirer - if he didn’t totally creep me out - I might even consider going - but he’s seriously strange - I mean the guy is cute - a total hunk - sort of like Ben only even cuter if that’s possible - he’s got a lot of tattoos - I saw some kind of peeking out of his shirt - Jeri says that he has tattoos all over his whole body - Jeri saw him once at the gym change room. He says they have weird eyes. Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 14 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Telephone Brian - I think there is a serious possibility I’m losing my mind - I was sure that I had unplugged all of the phones - yet last night when Jeri and I were watching a movie - the phone rang five different times - no one was there - I only remembered about the phone being unplugged the last time. Jeri checked - it was plugged in again. And the fish are looking at me funny again - Jeri says I should cover the tank with a sheet. We watched the Creature from the Black Lagoon - it wasn’t as much fun watching it with Jeri as it was when we used to watch it. Justin BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: telephone Justin, maybe the cleaning lady plugged the phone in - they do that. I’m glad you’re making friends - I agree about watching movies at home - it was more fun watching them together. Brian ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 15 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: days off Brian - tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day and I have it off - I think I’m going to rent a car and check out the area more - it’s too depressing to stay in the apartment and the fish are getting more aggressive, they are actually charging the glass walls of the tank - I think they hate me. Oh yeah, one of the red ones committed suicide today while I was at work. I wrapped him up and added him to the freezer with his buddies, though I guess he never met the two that are there now - unless he was hiding before or unless he did change color. I have to use the credit card you gave me for ID at the car rental place - but they won’t put a charge through if I pay cash when I bring the car back - they just use it to see if I’m responsible - I hope you didn’t cancel it. Sorry about not giving it back but I found it in the secret compartment of my wallet. I was looking for my birth certificate. Did I leave my passport in the locked box at the loft? Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 16 BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: Thanksgiving Justin, you know I’m not one to give a shit about holidays - but you should call your mother - she phoned me at work to tell me about the message you left on her answering machine - I don’t think she’s very happy with you. Yes your passport is in the locked box. Why? Make sure if you rent a car to get the insurance - the roads aren’t great this time of year in Cleveland - no I didn’t cancel you from the card - use it if you need it - I know you’ll pay me back when you can. I guess any idea I had of buying you some fish for your birthday should be scratched (grin) Brian. princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: oops I almost missed today Brian - check the time - this email was sent two minutes before midnight - that has to count for today - maybe even tomorrow - I had a great day - rented a cool little SUV - drove all over the place - did some not too bad sketching - I did stay away from any large bodies of water in case fish communicate telepathically - I didn’t want to take any chances (just kidding) Though I have to admit I did feel like I was being followed all day - I even did all the James Bond evasive maneuvers - Pierce Bronson would be so proud of me - but I still had that creepy feeling - I am having serious doubts whether I’m going to last another month here in Cleveland - between the homicidal fish ready to attack - and the phone and now this - I think I may cut out early. I’m going to check out on the net someplace warm for my next stop and head there. Justin PS - thanks for checking about my passport - I might need it - I’ll let you know ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 17 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: finding things Brian - this is a story - be patient - I was walking home from work tonight - had a good day BTW - and this kind of big dog was coming toward me - he was sort of smiling and he dropped what he had in his mouth when I said hi to him. I picked it up and it was this tiny little kitty, so tiny its eyes aren’t even hardly open. It was all covered in dog slime. The little guy was still breathing, so what was I going to do - I mean I couldn’t just leave him there. I looked around a few of the alleys to see if I could find his mother but no luck - so I stopped in the drugstore and got an eyedropper and some kitten milk - did you know they sell kitten milk? - how cool was that - the pharmacist said I should just flush it - but that’s cruel - so I’m kind of nursing him - he’s grey BTW - I think he’s a he - but who knows - I looked up on the net how to look after him - parts are kind of gross - you probably don’t want to know. I haven’t named him yet - maybe he’ll protect me from the fish (hehe) Justin BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: finding things If I were you I’d call him TC - Brian ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 18 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: TC Brian, It’s been twenty hours and TC is still alive - he’s even starting to look a bit better - he’s too young to wash off the dog slobber - but he’s eating good. I bought a kitten bottle to feed him - it’s so cute - looks like something Molly used to have when she played with dolls. I took today off to kitten sit. BTW - why TC? Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 19 BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: TC Temporary Cat Brian princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Asshole TC is still alive - Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 20 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Fish of the Month Club Brian - I’m working split shifts so I don’t have to leave TC alone too long - he needs to eat a lot - so I was at the apartment when someone knocked on the door - how he got up to my floor I don’t know - maybe the front entrance was blocked open again - I think I surprised the delivery guy when I opened the door to see who what there - it was a guy with a kind of big plastic bag with a fish in it - he said it was the ‘Fish of the Month Club’ delivery for apartment guy - maybe that’s where the red ones came from. Though this guy didn’t seem to know what I was talking about. The fish looks weird kind of familiar, not that I’m up on fish, so I dumped him in the tank, he just swims around and around - no one is making fish friends with him - in fact they’re all kind of hiding - I’m glad he scares them. Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 21 BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: Fish of the Month Club Are you nuts? Brian princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: your bad attitude Brian - really you could try and be nice - It won’t hurt you. TC’s eyes are open and he kind of walks wobbly legged, but he walks pretty good. I took him to the vet and she said that it was a miracle that he’s even alive. I bought him a fluffy teddy bear to keep him company when I’m not home - the vet said to put an old fashioned ticking watch in it - it will sound like his mom’s heartbeat. He sleeps on my pillow with his nose in my neck - I’m afraid of rolling on him so I haven’t been sleeping much plus he needs to eat every couple of hours, maybe he’ll sleep with his bear now. Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 22 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: disappearing fish Brian - I know you probably don’t want to hear about the fish anymore - but some of them are missing - all the yellow ones are gone and most of the blue ones and nobody is on the carpet. I told the Mercedes man (his name BTW is Clarence) that I couldn’t go out with him because I had to look after a family member who requires intensive care giving - I don’t think he was very happy. He didn’t finish his lunch, but he did leave me a twenty dollar tip. Apartment guy had (you notice the past tense here) a big ass Christmas cactus - it had red buds all over it - when I got home from the lunch shift - every one of the cactus arms were on the floor - all that was left was a kind of stump - I called Connie and he said to stick them back in the dirt so I did - but how weird is that. Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 23 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Persistent Creeps Brian - had to tell Clarence that I am totally not interested - I told him I was in a committed relationship - (well TC and I are very close - he could even be gay - too young to tell) I told him I was waiting for my partner to grow up - and until then I’d vowed to be faithful (channeling Emmett for a moment) Clarence said he understood. He too was in love with someone who needed to grow up. I’m thinking - than why bug me you creep - but I just kind of smiled and said good luck. Oh, I had a scare today - I was at the corner waiting for the light to change when someone accidentally shoved me and I ended up in the street right when a car was going to turn. Luckily the guy had good reflexes or TC would be motherless again. Note to self: make sure you stand away from the curb (grin) Justin ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 24 BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: Clarence Justin - I’m not getting a good feeling about this guy. Ask your boss what he knows about him. BTW - the gang has finally figured out that you aren’t in Pittsburgh any longer. I don’t know who noticed first - I think it was Emmett - I’m getting lots of sympathetic looks for some reason. Brian princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: Sympathy Brian - play it for all it’s worth - you might as well have some fun - you could look sadly poignant whenever someone mentions my name or kind of sigh and look sad. Maybe they’ll treat you to a drink. I asked Connie about the creepy guy - he says he’s been a customer for a few years - he used to be with another guy a lot, but then the other guy stopped coming with him. No one knows what happened. They probably broke up. As you know - shit happens. TC is doing really good - he even plays a little bit - but he gets tired fast - I guess he is still a baby. Justin PS - I’m sure the fish are disappearing - the red ones are missing ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 25 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: weirdness Brian - today when I went in to work - Connie was surprised to see me. He said that my boyfriend had called me in sick. How fucking strange - as my boyfriend is non existent and TC can’t use my cell phone. Justin BAKinney@Vanguard.com princessj@hotmail.com Subject: time to move on Justin - don’t get all in a huff - I’m not trying to tell you how to run your life - God knows I can barely run my own - but I really think you should seriously consider heading south or wherever you want to go next - Take the cat to the SPCA and get your ass on a bus. I have a bad feeling about Cleveland. Brian. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Day 26 princessj@hotmail.com BAKinney@Vanguard.com Subject: moving on Brian - if you don’t hear from me for a couple of days don’t worry - I have to leave in a hurry - too many things have been happening that are all starting to add up to someone stalking me - I nominate creepy Clarence for stalker of the week - but I don’t have any proof - I found out his last boyfriend died - he was riding his bike and someone hit him - it was a hit and run. I can’t send TC to the SPCA - I’m his mother for fuck’s sake - my name isn’t Joan Kinney - (I know - low blow - but she isn’t very nice) I bought a car with some of my savings - it was only a thousand bucks and that included everything - great deal - it’ll give TC some room - and I can save money on bus charges and motel rooms - I can sleep in the car - they even threw in a map - so I’m heading south in about 10 minutes - Justin PS - the Fish of the Month Club - sent a fucking shark - he ate everybody