Chapter 70

“Saw?”

“Yeah,” he said. “The kit comes with 20 f00t balks of cedar ... you cut your own strips. The thinner the saw blade the more strips per balk. I had my blades made from twenty thousandths shim stock. The same stock they make quality handsaws from.”

Alice said, “Build my own? Tyche, do we have enough time? School starts in a week. How long from order to ship? Where does it ship from?” And she continued in the same vein, her voice raising in pitch and volume until she squeaked ... and stopped. She looked horrified. She cleared her throat ... several times ... hummed for pitch ... and sang, “Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do” Hemmed, cleared her throat again. “Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do” by half steps up and down ... grinned at the attention and said, “I’d rather just buy.

“Bud ... where can I buy a decent kayak?”

“That’s quite the voice, Alice,” he said. “Training?”

“Thank you,” Alice said, “Mother ... and Massimiliano, my voice instructor ... and Italy, three summers, while the family explored the Med ... the rats. I’m not supposed to sing in public until my debut in Rome.

“Tyche, don’t look so shocked. I’m just me.”

“Debut?” I asked, “In Rome?”

“Orchestra I Virtuosi dell’opera di Roma, it’s kind of small but it is a start.”

“When?”

“Christmas.”

“This year?”

“Uh huh.”

“What?”

“Umh ... The Barber of Seville.”

“Who do you play?”

“Berta.”

“It’s in Italian.”

“Yes ... it’s a pain in the ass too.”

“You speak Italian?”

“No ... I sing it. Can’t speak a word.”

“Alice ... you’re just plain weird.” I said.

“Me? What about you ... Miss Warbird Pilot.”

Bud ... and Two were watching us like a tennis audience.

Beep

Bud said, “Two ... let’s go.”

“Go?” I said, “What about my kit. Where do I go to get one?”

“Tyche, you can’t haul it on your Volvo. You could call and see if they have it in stock.”

“Who?”

“Austin Area Canoe.”

555-4386

“Austin Canoe and Kayak.”

“Bud at Bud Field says you sold him a cedar strip kit.”

“We did.”

“Do you have another?”

“Yes.”

“Will you deliver?”

“For a fee ... depends on how far.”

“Bud Field. Today.”

“Fifty bucks.”

“Visa?”

“Sure.”

I spouted off my card number, expiration date and security code.

“Got it ... before noon?”

“Wait ... we’re not done. Hold on.”

I handed my phone to Alice.

“Hello.”

“Absolutely a different girl. How can we help?”

“I don’t want to build my own ... what do you have in stock?”

“What style?”

“Damned if I know ... beginner. Something that won’t shame the homebuilt.”

“Got a brand new never been used, used cedar strip we bought at an auction ... pretty thing. The builder used fiberglass lace curtains to cover it ... very fancy. Good build ... knew what he was doing. Heart attack day after he finished it.”

“How much?”

“25 hundred. Paddles, rack and safety equipment.”

“Deliver it when you bring the kit?”

“Sure. No delivery fee.”

“What?”

“We’re coming out there anyway.”

Alice giggled. Then she gave her MasterCard number.

She hung up ... her phone rang ... my phone rang.

“Hello.” Both of us.

Visa checking for me and MasterCard for Alice.

We both confirmed.

“We should walk over to the Water School and see what’s what.”