“Okay, sure. What do you need?”
“Nothing much. A couple of mops, some towels, a few bottles of Formula 409, and one really large bucket.”
Nora blinked. “A bucket? How large?”
“You’re right. Better make that a garbage can. One of those big rubber outdoor ones. Oh, and sponges, lots and lots of sponges.”
“Jim, are you all right?”
“I’m not hurt, but I’m not quite all right, either. I’ll explain when you get here.”
“Okay, honey, just sit tight. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Wal-Mart had provided everything Jim needed, though they still didn’t understand why he needed it. Nora entered the house through the spare key Jim had given her, toting three mops and a bag of cleaning stuff. Yvonne followed, 32-gallon trash can and backpack in tow.
Nora sniffed the air, using her sharp lupine senses. “Jim’s in his lab, but…”
“But, what?”
She shook her head. “He doesn’t quite smell like himself. I can’t quite place it.”
The girls made tracks to the lab door. Nora knocked twice. “Jim? Are you in there?”
“Yeah. Open the door, but don’t step in just yet. Oh, and brace yourselves.”
Yvonne shrugged as Nora twisted the knob and flung the door open. The lab was a wreck, covered in water and suds and chemicals. Jim sat atop the far counter, smiling weakly.
Yvonne’s eyelids flew open. “Holy…damn!”
Nora stared at her boyfriend. “Jim? What…what’s happened to you?”
Fri May 3 21:47:17 2002