Tales of the City 04 - Babycakes

Drink your cider.”
Michael obeyed, acknowledging the kid’s coup by lifting his mug.
Wilfred returned his salute, but remained deadpan. “I’m going to make someone a lovely husband.”
The skies had cleared completely by dusk. They walked to the edge of the village until they found a meadow bordered by a dense thicket of beech trees. Wilfred set Dingo’s box down with ceremonious dignity and untaped one end.
The fox emerged, looking slightly dazed, and stood perfectly still observing his captor.
“Go on,” said Wilfred. “Get out of here.”
The fox scampered several feet, wobbling somewhat. Then he stopped again.
“He doesn’t want to go,” said the kid.
“Yes he does. It’s just new to him.”
Dingo waited a moment longer, considered his options again, and bounded toward the shadowy freedom of the trees.

The Rock Widow Awaits
B RIAN WAS SURE THE WEEKEND WOULD BE FATTENING, so he made a point of running two extra miles on Saturday morning. On the way home, he stopped by the Russian Hill fire station and picked up one of the red-and-silver “Tot Finder” stickers he had seen in windows all over North Beach.
The sticker was designed to show firemen which window to break in order to rescue your child. There was a fireman on it, stalwart beyond belief, and he was holding a little girl in his arms.
Corny, maybe, but practical.
And not nearly so corny as the bumper slicker that Chip Hardesty had slapped on his Saab: HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR CHILD TODAY ? That one drove him crazy every time he passed Hardesty’s house.
When he reached the courtyard, Mrs. Madrigal was scrubbing the mossy slime off the steps leading to the house. “It’s getting so slippery,” she explained, looking up. “I was afraid someone might have a nasty spill.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” he said.
She stood up, wiping her hands on her apron. “I’ve got to worry about something. It’s so quiet around here. Doesn’t anyone have any problems?”
He grinned at her. “If you’re really pressed, I’m sure we could cook up a disaster or two.”
“That’s quite all right.” She eyed the “Tot Kinder” decal. “What have we here?”
“Oh.” He could already feel his face burning. “It’s just … kind of a joke, really.”
“Look at you,” she teased, recognizing his embarrassment. “What’s the matter? Did I catch you counting chickens?”
There was nothing he could do but laugh. “Do you have to ask?”
“No,” she answered, fussing with her hair. “You’re quite right. Well …” She put on a chipper face as she changed the subject. “You’ll be up bright and early in the morning.”
He wasn’t sure what she meant.
“For the sunrise service,” she added.
“Oh … no, that’s Mary Ann. I’m going to Hillsborough for the weekend.”
“Ah.” Despite her tone of voice, she still looked vaguely confused.
He began to wonder if he’d gotten his wires crossed. “You mean … she told you I was going?”
“No … no.”
“Then how did you …?”
“Well, Simon mentioned the service, actually … and I just assumed that the three of you …” She tapped her forehead and looked annoyed with herself. “Don’t mind the old lady. She’s getting senile. What’s happening in Hillsborough?”
“Uh … what?” He lost his train of thought for a moment, then recovered it. “Oh … a house party. Theresa Cross. Remember her? From the Cadillac?”
“Very well.” Her expression said it all.
“You don’t approve?”
“Well … I don’t really know her.”
“I’m going for the pool, really.”
The landlady ducked her eyes.
“I’m a big boy, you know.”
“Oh, my dear … I know. ” She gave him a playful look, then signaled the end of their conversation by searching for her scrub brush.
When he reached the apartment, he could hear Mary Ann inside, so he stuffed the “Tot Finder” into the pocket of his Canterbury shorts. He didn’t want her to regard it as a pressure tactic. Her moods were too variable these days.
“Don’t get near me,” she said, seeing his coating of sweat.
He pretended to be hurt. “I thought you liked me pitted out.”
“At certain moments, my love. This isn’t one of them. Shouldn’t you be packing?”
“Packing what? I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”
“Well … a bathing suit, at least.”
He shrugged. “I’ll wear one under my jeans.”
She thought for a moment. “The Speedos, huh?”
He nodded. “The others are too baggy. Why?”
“Just