Dee Dee Banks (F)

For JW

Dee Dee Banks balanced herself on her left foot and with her right reached back behind her to stab at the pedestrian walk button at the corner of Hudson and State streets. Her left hand held the leash connected to Zeus, one of her two Dobermans. 

"Zeus is no girl dog name, Dee Dee."

"I like it just the same."

Her right, leashed to "Horus". 

"What kind of name is that?"

"Egyptian god."

"I thought those dogs were German. Is that a girl name?"

"Oh, Bubba. Just a name I like."

"You read too much, Dee Dee."

The older waitresses at Bucky's say the same thing. "Got her nose in the books again."

"Watcha reading, girl?"

"The Notebook."

Lori smiled. "I saw that one. Mandy, you see the notebook movie?"

"Yep. Saw that one. We got pecan pie today?"

What was it Tony fussed about, told Dee Dee what her problem was. "You need to think about people, too, Dee Dee. Always this book, that book."

"I like to read."

"I know, Dee Dee. I know. Everybody knows, you like to read. And those stupid dogs of yours."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Just think about some time with me, think about going more places, seeing some stuff."

"You want me to stop reading?"

"No--not exactly. Just, just not all the time. Like eating with a book on the table. Stuff like that."

"And since when did you stop liking Zeus and Horus?"

"I like them fine. They're dogs."

"I like them."

"No, you love them. 

"They're my dogs."

"I know, Dee Dee."

"I'm taking them to the park--yes, I'm coming back. Hour or so."

"Don't--"

"Horus! Zeus!"

Lyman 2024