Blue Forest Banshee Part 5

Lunch didn't turn out quite as I had planned.

Duo shied from the restaurant I usually take people to, indicating instead that he would prefer the fast food place across the street. I couldn't very well play gracious host, pump him for personal information or seduce him in such a crowded, noisy place, but I shrugged and acquiesced.

Standing in line to order, I remarked that I didn't think a hamburger could compare with chicken Marseilles or beef burgundy. He gave me a wide-eyed stare, and replied that he had never heard of either one.

The fragile non-Human male ordered three of the largest cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, a large soda, a chocolate shake, a salad and two pieces of cherry cheesecake. I came very close to dropping my jaw.

"You can eat all that?" I asked in astonishment as we stood at the soda machine. I had ordered a cheeseburger, a salad and a drink. I was sure he was putting me on.

"High metabolism," he muttered. "Besides," he turned to look up at me. "I'm hungry. It was a two-day trip and I didn't eat on the train."

"Why not?" I love puzzles and I had an idea that Duo Maxwell could keep me entertained for some time.

We were sitting down by then. He fiddled with his cup and the straw, before looking at me. On his cheekbones were two spots of color.

"I don't do money very well. I don't like to spend it unless someone is with me." Duo was definitely embarrassed.

I frowned. "I don't understand."

"Neither do I," he sighed. "That's my problem." He reached into the pocket of his cloak and withdrew a handful of local bills, coins and some small shiny rocks. "This is everything I have. I don't know if it's a little or a lot." He looked up and fluttered his long lashes at me; no pheromones this time. "They tried to teach me in Warrington, but it doesn't make sense."

I thought I understood then. Some non-Human races never deal with "money", using barter instead. My own people use both, moving as they do among Humans. I gathered the paper and began counting it. I had just finished when our food arrived. Duo dived immediately into his cheeseburgers.

I conjured up a small pouch and stuffed the bills inside, then scooped the coins and nuggets (both gold and silver) into it and handed it back to him.

"Duo, you have $445.62 in cash, and approximate $900 in stones." He just looked at me, his mouth full. I indicated the tray of food on the table. "The paper alone would buy fifteen meals like this."

"Oh. That's good, right?" I nodded, smiling. "Thank you." He tucked the pouch into his cloak.

That was the end of conversation for the duration. Duo worked his way steadily through the food, refilling his soda twice. Common sense said he would be making a comfort stop before long. I have never seen anyone eat like that, and I have seen some very strange things, even at that young an age.

I tried again when we were bussing our table.

"I've never seen anything like your hair; it's very beautiful."

When he flashed those purple eyes at me, it was accompanied by a radiant smile. "Thank you," he said softly, without a trace of sarcasm. "I'm very proud of it. It's just like my mother's."

"Then she must be a beauty," I offered gallantly. His smile faded.

"I've never seen her. She died when I was born. People told me about her."

We left it there.

TBC...

 

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