WARNING: There is nothing to state here because this story does not need a warning. Nothing bad happens. Nothing offensive. There are a few profane words but nothing you haven't heard before if you have brothers or ever walked by a construction site. Enjoy.

RED SOX: Believe

FEEDBACK: is appreciated at @ p.phair@comcast.net or visit http://www.phair1.com/

BRIGHT DAY

by

phair

Chapter 1

Sunny shook out the top sheet with two firm snaps before letting it settle back on the bed. She pulled it taunt to smooth it before folding the top portion back a few inches. Grabbing the pillows from the chair behind her, she fluffed them then set each in their usual spot at the head of the bed.

A sleek gray cat jumped from the bureau to land dead center on the neatly made up bed. He stretched and extended his claws to kneed a perfect place to sleep. Sunny put her hands on her hips and puffed out an indignant breath. The cat was undisturbed by the woman's emotion.

"You know Ichabod, I didn't make up a fresh bed for you to snooze the day away on."

The cat stopped with a paw in mid air. He looked up at Sunny with what appeared to be a smirk due to his fang overbite.

"I know, I know," Sunny relented under his scrutiny. "Nobody else sleeps with me so why not you. You'd think being a bisexual would increase my chances of finding a soul mate. It doesn't. It just increases the number of rejections I get."

The soft melody of High Hopes interrupted Sunny's bellyaching. She hurried out to the living room in order to find her cell phone. Ichabod turned his attention back to pawing the soft silk sheets.

"Good Morning!" Sunny chirped when she flipped open her phone.

"Good morning Sunshine, I'm sorry to start your day before you even get into the office. This seemed important enough to violate Rule 1," a husky voice said.

"If it's a customer service issue then you've done the right thing, Oran ."

He cleared his throat with some measure of relief. "It's customer service alrighty. Digger Braveman called six times this morning. He's desperate for us to help him. Money's no object…,"

"It never is when there's trouble," Sunny observed.

"I hear you. I've emailed you an Agreement form to take with you should you want to go directly to his office this morning. It will save you from coming across town during rush hour just to turn around and drive all the way back to Roxbury." The line was quiet before he added, "That is, if you think we should take the contract."

"I'll go out and talk to him. If he has the same negative attitude as the last time we spoke then I won't sign him up."

"Do you want Enrique to pull his financials again? His liquidity might have tanked even further since we last looked at it."

Sunny nodded as she spoke, "Good idea, Oran . If he's in seven figure negatives then call me immediately. There'll be no pulling his operation back from the brink if things have gotten that dire."

"You've got it. I'll text you the numbers if he's under the cut off." Oran paused, "And, again, I'm sorry to invade your personal time."

"It was worth the call to save me an hour drive time." Sunny grinned while she warned, "But, don't make a habit of it."

"Oh, I won't," the reply was slightly stuttered. "Bye."

"Good bye, Oran . You be sure to have a wonderful and rewarding day."

Sunny snapped her phone shut before heading down a cheery hallway with pictures covering the walls to her home office. The office was sparsely furnished. It was a stark contrast to the rest of her vibrant home. Sunny deliberately chose to keep the space austere so she wouldn't be tempted to spend too much time working at home. She was a firm believer in the principle of work at work and live at home. It was the number one rule of her company; Bright Day Management Services.

Sitting in the straight back, hard wood chair, Sunny reached for the mouse to shake her ancient computer awake. The device croaked to life and the screen flipped a few times, lightening and fading, before flashing a picture. She typed in her access code and pulled up the documents Oran sent to her.

"Directions, contact info, Agreement form," she muttered as she hit the print button for each item. "Oooh, second quarter '08 financials. Six hundred thousand in the red. Bad news. He's got to be at least a mil in the hole by now," she shook her head sadly. "No saving him from that."

Sunny half considered just calling the man to inform him there was nothing she could do to help him. She dismissed the notion as bad for the company's image. Besides, she might be able to assist him in obtaining a liquidator for his real property assets.

"Okay Ichabod, I'm off to work. See you at six pm on the dot."

* * *

Sunny steered her Prius over the crumbling tar parking lot. She hoped her tires would be able to withstand the dangerously unstable surface. Calling Mr. Braveman now seemed like it would have been the better choice. She parked next to the rickety stairs leading into a dilapidated trailer. It appeared to be the base of the operation as it was the center structure surrounded by greasy, broken, hulking machinery. A handwritten sign over the trailer's door indicated Sunny was, at least, in the right place; WRECKERS.

"Hey there! You with the toy car. Move that friggin' thing or I'll flatten it for ya," a foul looking man approached Sunny when she exited her vehicle.

"Exscuse me?" Sunny was taken aback by his language and mannerism.

"I said…,"

"Buttman, leave her alone. She's looking for me," a rotund man who was sweating profusely emerged from the trailer to interrupt the workman. "Ms. Day? You don't look nothing like on TV. I mean your tape…,"

"It's a DVD, Digger! Don't be an idiot!" A hacking female voice shouted from inside the trailer.

"Buttman, get you ass back to work. And, leave the matchbox car alone. It belongs to the girl," Digger growled and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. "I'm sorry for all the chaos, ma'am. I got that tape of yours' months ago and I watch it every night. Great ideas. Important ideas. We started usin' 'em here too. But, it is a slow slog to get everybody up to where I'm at."

"Shocking! I never would have guessed anybody would be lagging behind you in your operation."

Sunny was horrified the man believed he was implementing her copyrighted business techniques. She quickly thought about offering a refund if he promised not to tell people he ever saw her taped seminar.

"Please Ms. Day, come into the office and meet the wife. We'll get you a cup of joe while we hash out an arrangement."

"Mr. Braveman, I'm sorry but I wasn't really planning on a meeting with you today. In fact, I have a vital call I must take in just a few minutes. I drove by to tell you…,"

Sunny's phone began to vibrate on her hip. She shrugged and pointed to the object before she snatched it free of its clip. Under ordinary circumstances, Sunny would never take a call when speaking with a client. But, this was not ordinary by any stretch of the imagination and she was not planning on doing business with Mr. Braveman's Wreckers.

The big man in the trailer's door way nodded his understanding of her need to take the call. He used the lull to try to clear his throat of a wad of phlegm. He snorted and hacked as he struggled to bring it up.

Sunny was happy to have the distraction of a text message. She would read it and tell Mr. Braveman she had to hurry along. Of course, she'd say she regretted not being able to do business before she climbed into her car. All of it would be very civil.

"1.3 mil liquid, 4 mil gross profits, 1st Q '09."

Sunny read the words. Then she re-read the words. It was not possible for such a turn around in under a year. Oran had to have meant Wreckers was in the red for one point three million dollars. Or, perhaps, he wasn't using US funds for the calculations.

"I, um, I need to make a quick call. Is that okay with you, Mr. Braveman?"

"Of course, Ms. Day, no problem at all. I'm just busting at the seams you came by to see me what with your busy schedule and all."

Sunny was connected with Oran 's phone before Braveman finished his sentence. "That was red, correct?"

"No, ma'am, it is cash in the bank and no outstanding loans on any of his equipment. I doubled checked with the bank."

"Not possible."

"I know. But, it's true. Talk with Walt Floyd. Wreckers is booked solid for the next year. They've got every major demo job in the city."

"How?" Sunny was stunned with the change in Braveman's fortune.

Oran took a deep breath, "I don't know how he's doing it but he is coming in on time or early and under budget with every job! And, Walt said the work is pristine. Not as much as a shattered window in an adjacent building."

"Keep checking. Be absolutely sure of all the facts. I'll be in the office at ten on the button."

Sunny snapped her phone shut. She was completely confused. A company on the brink of collapse came to her for help and she refused to work with them. Less than a year later, the same company was rising like a phoenix from the ash heap and contacted her again.

"Maybe he wants to rub my nose in my arrogance," Sunny considered. "Might as well find out for certain seeing as I'm here." She called up to the man wiping his nose with a grimy gray handkerchief, "My meeting's been cancelled. I could use that cup of joe, my friend."

The heavy man beamed and waved her inside.

Sunny thought she might actually vomit. The dark interior of the trailer was a mixed blessing. It hid the debris and dirt but, she imagined, it hid the bugs as well. The chair she was sitting on rocked if she shifted in the least. And, the smell of the place was something she doubted she'd ever forget.

"Rotting chicken, I think," the thought ran through her head unbidden.

"So, I've been trying out the stuff you said in your tape…,"

"It's a DVD, you old fool," the woman chain smoking at the desk behind Sunny interjected.

"…right, DVD. I don't know how to use the GD thing but the grand kids help me out. Good kids. Hate this business so I have to look for new blood. I did what you said and it worked great."

"What did I say?" Sunny racked her brain trying to figure out what in her seminar applied to this particular situation.

"Find raw talent and develop it!" Digger said proudly. "I found a gal who's a cracker jack at demolition. There ain't a building she can't drop and she knows where every brink is gonna fall. The girl's some kind of savant."

Sunny was finally clear on the secret of Braveman's success. He found a talented explosive expert. There is nothing amazing about recruiting skilled labor. Sunny began to quickly lose interest in the project.

"Well, I'm glad it has all worked out so well for you. My program has help hundreds of companies just like your's…,"

The ringing phone was answered by the chain smoker. "Hello, Wreckers, if you can build it up then we can knock it down. What do you want?"

Digger pumped up his chest proudly, "See, I got the office staff using the skits like you said to answer the phone."

"No, no, I didn't say skits. I said scripts. You know, prepared messages which provide vital contact information as well as state the mission of your organization." Sunny was irritated but the complete bastardization of her program. "Knock it down is not a mission statement and what do you want is not proper phone etiquette!"

"Oh, I know we have a ways to go to be at your level but you should have heard what she used to say."

Sunny wanted to scream but she refused to lose her patience with this ignoramus. "If you have my DVD and my book and you're implementing the techniques then why did you call my office?"

Digger's face grew somber. "My savant demo girl is a problem. She don't have no people skills. She scares the customers and some of the crew guys too. But, she's so great at what she does that I can't just toss her away. I need you to work with her Ms. Day. I just know you can turn her around. The kid is an absolute genius with dynamite but she can't say good morning without fuckin' it up something aweful."

"Mr. Braveman…,"

"Please, call me Digger," the man gushed.

"Mr. Braveman," Sunny continued, "I do not do employee grooming. My company provides support for businesses which want to provide the very best in services to their customers. Impeccable Quality is the gold standard we strive to achieve. Having seen a small portion of your current operation, I do not believe I will be able to assist you in achieving our gold standard."

"He'd settle for a bronze," the woman at the desk behind her coughed out the remark.

Digger frowned a little. "I'm disappointed in you, Ms. Day. Your tape goes on and on about how anybody willing to put the effort into being the best can be the best. Me and my crew, we are on our way to being the best damn demo guys in the state. Hell, we have potential to be the best in New England . But, we can only do that with Animal pushing the plunger."

"Animal?"

Digger scrubbed his face before explaining. "It's a rough business. We all got nicknames which make us sound like tough guys. My demo girl goes by Animal. Nothing more to it than a nickname."

The woman manning the phone laughed before being reduced to a hacking coughing fit.

"Animal is just a little rough around the edges. You should meet her. You'd understand what I'm talking about." The big man grinned, "I know, you can come out to the job we're doing tomorrow to meet her. It'll be swell having you see her in action. I'll pick you up and drop you home after. Door to door service, little lady."

Sunny was ready to decline the invitation when Digger continued.

"I'll pay your regular fee and all your expenses, of course. And, for a bonus, I'll give you five percent of all our jobs for the next two years if you can straighten out my demo girl."

Sunny's eyes flashed with excitement. "You talking gross or net?"

"Gross, ma'am."

"What time will you pick me up tomorrow?"

"Four am, little lady!"

Chapter 2

At exactly 3:45 am, Sunny checked her outfit in her walk in closet's full length mirror. Mr. Braveman told her they would be going out to the docks this morning. She dressed accordingly; Sperry Top-Siders, cropped khaki cargo pants, a heavy aran wool sweater, and finished off brilliantly with a black naval pea coat.

"It might be early, Ichabod, but one must always look one's best in business." She gave a small, sad sigh at the silence which answered her. "Okay, I'm going down to street level to catch my ride. Being late is never acceptable."

By 4:44 am, Sunny was annoyed and damp from the misty April morning. She tried calling Mr. Braveman to find out his ETA but each time his phone merely rang and rang. She was seriously considering calling the whole thing off and heading to her office when an enormous Cadillac Fleetwood cut across three lanes of traffic to pull up and over the curb in front of her building. Noxious bluish smoke spewed from the muffler. She could see Braveman behind the wheel but he laid on the horn anyway.

"Morning, little lady," he greeted her when she pulled open the car door. A stubby cigar was stuffed in the corner of his mouth. "We got just enough time to make the tide so hop in."

"Mr. Braveman," Sunny was furious when she sat in the springless seat, "you are late! It is unprofessional to be late. And, smoking? You can't be serious?"

The big man smiled and gunned the engine. "Oh, it ain't lit. I just use it like a pacifier. Now, give that door a hard slam and we'll be off."

Against her better judgment, Sunny shut the door. The weight of it made her wonder if she needed to increase her work out regime at the gym. The car lurched into traffic and Sunny grabbed for the seat belt. There was none.

"I…um, I can't seem to find the seat belt."

"Not to worry. I cut those things out years ago. Managed to disconnect that stupid alarm too. So, just sit back and relax and leave the driving to me."

Sunny didn't like the idea of careening through the city streets without restraints. It was reckless and dangerous. Sunny never engaged in reckless or dangerous behavior. But, there was potential for a great deal of money to be gained by working with Braveman and his company. She decided she would increase her risk taking just this once in order to secure the account. In the long run, she could serve the great good as well as be adequately reimbursed. She would be able to help him address his more flagrant conduct which would make the entire community a safer place. At least, that's what she told herself.

The docks were as desolate as she expected for the early hour. This part of the harbor usually catered to day cruises and whale watchers. Activity didn't really gear up until after sun rise.

"This is the one you'll be shoving off on," Digger said when he stopped in the no parking zone next to the ramp to the moorings.

Sunny gasped before she could contain her surprise. "We're going out on a boat? I thought you said the job was at the wharf. Why are we going out in that? It doesn't even look safe."

The vessel was a converted lobster boat. It belched smoke from it's engine almost as liberally as the Cadillac's muffler. The hull rode low in the water with the stern dipping toward the water line. Several seedy looking men were milling about the deck.

"The Dew Mi is plenty sea worthy, little lady. So, you just ease your mind and let the crew handle navigation. You're gonna see my demo girl sink a really big boat. I mean the thing is huge. She's been out there all night laying charges." Braveman said with a broad smile, "It's gonna be a real treat for you, I think."

"Me? Wait. You say 'me' like it's not 'we' on this trip," Sunny stated with her suspicion rising.

Braveman answered quickly, "I'm not going out there. Are you kidding? I get seasick something fierce. Shits, pukes, and the works, nobody in their right mind wants me on a boat taking a dump."

Sunny was frustrated. She didn't want to give up on such a lucrative contract before she actually started it. But, Braveman was not creating a trustful working relationship. Still, there was a lot of money on the line. As successful as she was, Sunny was not prepared to just walk away from millions of dollars.

"Okay, who should I ask for? Animal?"

"Nope, she's already out on the boat to be scuttled. You need to ask for Snotty. He's in charge of the operation until you get out to the site."

"Snotty?"

"Yep, great guy. Little bit of a coke head but that's his business, right? As long as he doesn't get arrested on the job more than once a quarter, he's okay with me."

"I'm going to make a guess you don't have an employee assistance program," silence and a blank look answered her. "I'll include it in my recommendations."

Sunny was not entirely sure she should get out of the car but staying next to Mr. Braveman any longer was not a great option either. He's begun to pass gas, she was certain of that much.

"How bad can a boat ride be?" She asked herself.

Sunny was considering writing her will on the back of her hand. The boat ride was beyond a nightmare. Rough seas tossed and churned around them. Ocean water poured over the sides only to drain back out leaving all imaginable debris on the deck. Sunny would not have been shocked if a bloated body got hurled in while they steamed along to the middle of the Atlantic . Or, perhaps, they were actually taking her to the North Sea or the Indian Ocean . The trip was becoming entirely too long for her liking.

Mr. Braveman's crew was of no help in alleviating her fears. Snotty was a short, wiry, mid forties white guy. He could not say one sentence without his nose dripping. He was, at least, pleasant. The same could not be said for the other three men on board. Skippy, the guy steering the boat, was a muscular black man with a shaved head and permanent sneer on his lips. When he walked, he needed to hip hike his left leg to move it forward.

"Don't think he got shot or something and that's why he got a bum leg," Mixer, the very chatty Asian man, had explained soon after they set sail. "He took a shock! Really, like when he was fifteen. Instead of being old he had his stroke when he was a kid. Amazing, isn't it?"

"Fucking shut your yap and do some work, you freaking lazy shit!" Sam, the angry Samoan, had ended the conversation almost as quickly as it started.

Sunny was left sitting on a cooler and holding onto the railing bolted to the wall for dear life. She accepted this was her worst business decision ever and was plotting out how she would end her relationship with Digger Braveman as soon as they got back to port. The engines cut out and brought her out of her cocoon.

"What's happening?" She shouted over the howling wind to Mixer.
He pointed over the starboard side. Sunny stood but still clutched the railing. She was able to see a mammoth ship less than a mile away. Between the two boats a motor powered dingy raced toward the Dew Mi.

Sunny was relieved to see only two people on the dingy. She was worried about the number of surly men already on board. Another four or five might have resulted in physical confrontations. While the possibility was not out of the question, a mob mentality might be harder to form with fewer than a dozen people. At least, she hoped this would be the case.

"Who's she?"

The man who had steered the dingy questioned Sunny's presence once he climbed aboard the converted lobster boat. The man was mid fifties. He was moderate height with a growing beer belly and ruddy cheeks. His head sported an atrocious toupee which was bulky but flat on top and furry with pork chop side burns.

Mixer was quick with an answer. "Digger found her to help us with Animal."

"Really? That'll be fun to watch," the man laughed. "I'm Dick Weed."

Sunny accepted his extended hand and gave a firm shake. "My, all you men have such colorful nicknames."

The man pulled his hand back and snarled, "My name is Richard Weed. It's not a nickname."

Sunny blushed. "I'm sorry. Please, forgive me. I'm not at my best today."

The guy glared at her before turning his back. He reached over the side of the boat and pulled somebody else on board. He dropped the body like a sack of potatoes. The woman scrambled to her feet and pushed her way to the boat rail.

Sunny stepped a little closer to get a good look at the one she assumed was Animal. Animal paid no attention to anybody or anything except the box in her hand. It had a flashing red button in the middle. Her hands seemed to tremble while she stared at it. In spite of the cold, she was wearing only jeans and a tee-shirt. Goose bumps covered the exposed skin of her arms. Her feet had a slight bluish quality to them.

"Great! A Goth," Sunny thought to herself when she saw the dog collar around the woman's throat.

Although, it was different than the traditional studded collars she'd seen teens wearing. This one had a thick plastic box fitted on the side of it.

"You call it, Animal," Mixer said and pulled out a stop watch.

"One minute, forty seven seconds."

"From the boom boom or from the first sign of smoke?"

Animal thought for a moment but never took her eyes off the ship anchored across from them. "Make it two minutes, thirty three seconds from me pushing the boom boom box."

The men had gathered around her. There was an uneasy murmur in the group. Sam took out a paper and pencil and started to scribble some numbers. He erased and re-wrote something.

"No fuckin' way. No way, no how, never!"

Dick Weed shook his head, "You talking or putting money down?"

"Forty says it'll take at least ten minutes."

More mumbles followed but nobody spoke up.

"I'll take that action. Forty says Animal's within twenty seconds either way," Dick Weed said.

"You're on, asshole!" The angry Samoan shouted.

Dick smiled. "Your show, Animal."

Animal continued to stare at the boat across from them. She acted as if she had not heard a word. The look on her face was similar to a child on Christmas Eve. Only, there was an element of arousal in the way her nostrils flared.

She allowed her thumb to caress the red button. Her lips began to tremble. A small moan escaped from her throat as she pressed the flashing button.

Sunny was aware of the ticking stop watch. Muffled thuds echoed across the water heartbeats before the ship appeared to drop several feet lower into the water. A large wave pushed away from the stricken boat's hull. The Dew Mi rocked on the rippling effect. Animal's cheeks flushed. Sunny kept turning her head left to right in order to see Animal's features change with her growing excitement and to see the ship sinking. Unlike any movie sinking Sunny ever saw, the ship across from them was sinking like some giant, invisible hand was pushing it below the surface. It went down in one even, straight line of destruction instead of the traditional dipping bow.

The more the ship disappeared from the horizon, the more Animal shook. Sweat formed on her forehead. Her eyes squinted. Nostrils flared and occasionally snorted. The tips of her ears were bright red. And, much to Sunny's shock, Animal's nipples were hard points sticking out through her thread bare tee-shirt. Animal was making very guttural noises in her throat by the time Sunny realized what was happening to the woman.

"Oh my God, she's having an orgasm!"

Animal stiffened. Her eyes snapped shut. A gasping whimper escaped her lips before she collapsed backward to the deck.

"Two minutes, forty seconds." Mixer announced.

"Fuckin' A!" Sam shouted and stormed away.

Sunny was left staring at the woman passed out on the deck while the rest of the crew congratulated each other. Animal was oblivious to their high fives. The woman with a mass of stringy, black hair was about Sunny's height but painfully thin. She looked malnourished. She also looked young. Very young! Sunny worried this girl was in more trouble than she was actually trouble herself.

"Mr. Weed, may I have a word?" She didn't wait for him to agree. "What is the story? Don't try to tell me she's the savant of blowing things up either. There's something fishy here and it isn't the ocean."

Weed studied Sunny for a few moments before speaking. "I don't know what Digger told you but this kid is sick. Mental. Dangerously so. Did he tell you where he 'found' her? She was setting fire to our tool shed."

"Oh no," Sunny stomach flipped, "she's an arsonist?"

"Among other things. She's been homeless since she was eighteen. That's when she was released from juvenile hall. She did time for blowing up the science lab at her high school. Mind you, it was one of those diversional schools so they were use to nut jobs but she still shuttered the place." He kicked Animal's thigh and the woman rolled over and started to suck her thumb. "As you saw, she gets off on destroying things. I mean, really gets her rocks off. I've never had a broad come so hard under me that she passed out but this kid freakin' drops every time something goes boom boom. And, she talks like she was raised by wolves. She makes Sam sound eloquent."

"Fuck you, Dick!" The angry Samoan shouted from the boat house.

"Oh my," Sunny was feeling sick to her stomach.

Dick continued, "Not one guy here would turn their back on her. What do you think's gonna happen when she gets tired of sinking boats and dropping buildings? You think she's gonna find a nice fella and raise a family? Look at her. She look like the next president of the PTA to you?"

Sunny studied the woman snoring on the deck. If not for the sound of her breathing, Sunny could imagine a white chalk outline around the slumbering body. It was clear the girl had seen better days. But, it was also clear the girl was young.

"Mr. Weed, I appreciate the information. I understand your reservations about Animal. It would be foolish not to put a great deal of stock into her history…,"

"Here comes the 'but,'"

"…but she's young. Her life doesn't need to follow the path she started on for whatever reasons she was started on it."
"Society failed her?" Weed taunted.

"Yes, it has." Sunny gave a broad smile before stating her intentions, "I know I can help this young woman turn her life around. Given the proper support and counseling and educational opportunities, I'm sure some day Animal could be the president of the PTA or even the president of the USA …,"

The boat load of men burst into gales of laughter they steamed back to port.

Chapter 3

Sunny was attempting a deep breathing relaxation exercise she learned in her Thursday night Non-denominational American Buddhism for Busy Executives class. She kept her head between her knees while she was sitting on a cooler and clinging to the rail. Her eyes were squeezed shut. All her efforts did little to alleviate the distress in her belly. The pitching of the boat along with the uncertainty of making it back to shore in one piece had already cost her two less than dignified moments hanging over the side. She was suspicious some of Mr. Braveman's crew were wagering in whether or not there would be a third or fourth round of hanging over the side for her. Sunny loathed being mocked so she was eager to deny them their sport.

Moaning at her feet distracted her enough from her own pain to open her eyes. Animal was lying there flat on her back but finally rousing. The crew had dragged her out of their way shortly after they started for home. What she was in the way of, Sunny had no idea. All the men, except Skippy who was driving the boat, spent the trip either playing cards or taunting each other. Sam was doing both. Sunny made a mental note to discuss correct worker to work ratios with Mr. Braveman as part of his Cost Containment Plan.

"Beautiful."
The murmured word from Animal, who was blinking to wakefulness, brought a smile to Sunny's pasty face.

"She's not too far gone then," Sunny thought to herself. "She can still appreciate a beautiful woman like me. Her spirit must still be pure and true." She graced Animal with a generous smile.

"Wasn't it a thing of beauty?" Animal asked.

"IT?" Sunny questioned.

"The explosion. Wasn't it just friggin' awesome? Did you see how the mother fucker went down? Whooosh! Down she blows!"

Animal sat up abruptly almost knocking heads with Sunny. The young woman leapt to her feet and started to shout for Mixer.

"How long, man? How effin' long did it take?"

"Two four zero," Mixer replied without looking up from his poker hand.

"Balls!" Animal seemed very unhappy with the response. "I knew I should have used six more sticks. It would have been a really, really big fall down."

Dick Weed stepped up close to Animal before he began to speak in a very calm and clear voice. "It was plenty big enough, don't worry about it. The tub's down on the bottom and that's all that matters to the guys paying us. Now, you need to listen to me 'cause the boss got something else for you to do."

"Oooh, tell me it's a sky rise. Please, one of those friggin' huge fuckers in town!" Animal begged.

"No." Dick stated in a no nonsense voice which caused Animal to flinch. "Digger sent this nice lady over here to help you."

Animal's eyebrows drew together in angry disappointment. "Mutha Fucker! He's sending me to the hatch? I'm doing all the shit he tells me to do and he's still locking me up. Son of a bitch! Come on, Dick, you gotta give me a head start. Two minutes is all I need. Please! I can't go back to those hellhole hospitals. Shitty food, cold handed docs, smelly floor cleaner, all those stupid rules; no running, no jumping, no matches, you gotta wear clothes all the time…,"

"Relax! She ain't no doctor. She a…a…hey, what the hell are you anyway?" Dick asked in confusion.

Sunny stood and approached the pair. After hearing the conversation, Sunny was truly unsure where to begin or whether she should begin at all. She decided decorum should rule the hour regardless of her final decision on the contract and extended her hand toward Animal.

"I'm Sunshine Bright-Day. I'm a business consultant Mr. Braveman has engaged to assess your particular needs, Ms. Animal. He believes you are very valuable to the company and wants you to try to smooth over some of your rougher edges."

Animal was going to accept the offered handshake when Dick pulled a small remote out of his jacket pocket. Animal flinched then hesitated and drew back slightly.

"Mind your manners," Dick warned the young woman.

Animal thought about the statement. She gave a short nod of her head before reaching for Sunny's hand again.

"Nice to meet you," Animal said in an over rehearsed manner. "It's a pleasure doin' business with you." She paused as if she was finished but then quickly added, "I must say, you have a smokin' hot ass…,"

The comment was interrupted by Dick pressing the remote and Animal wincing in pain.

"NO!" Dick shouted. "How many times do we have to go over this shit? Just two stupid lines then shut the fuck up. Why is that so friggin' hard to remember?"

"You didn't just shock her?" Sunny asked in horror. "Don't even tell me that's a shock dog collar. Have you lost your mind?"

Dick gave a heavy sigh. He spoke as if explaining something basic to somebody fairly simple. Animal nodded agreement to every word the man spoke.

"The kid is completely out of control. She doesn't listen to anybody. She acts then thinks. In our line of work, shit like that will get you killed and probably kill any asshole standing within ten feet of you. She's smart enough to know it too. She wants me to stop her before she blows her head off. Hell, the collar was her idea."

"It was, lady. I love getting to blow shit up. And, they pay me too. But, none of the other guys will work with me unless I'm kept on a short leash…,"

"…literally." Dick finished Animal's sentence.

Sunny's head was throbbing. Animal appeared quite happy with the current arrangements. Dick, obviously the job foreman, believed he was doing the right thing in physically disciplining an employee. Braveman knew what he was sending Sunny out to sea to see and didn't think to mention anything other than Animal's improper demeanor with clients. How could this kind of an employment situation exist in Boston ? In the United States ? In the new millennium? And, more important, what could Sunny do about any of it?
"Unless I've been sucked into an alternate universe, the shock collar is assault and battery. Animal, take it off. Dick, give me the remote," she commanded in her most serious tone.

"Oh shit! Animal's loose. Dump the dynamite overboard," Snotty sounded panicked.

Animal's cheeks flushed moments after she removed the collar. "Seriously, we still have some? How many sticks? Let's light 'em and toss the bitches over the side."

Sunny took the collar and remote before addressing the group. "There'll be no dumping of unused supplies. And, there certainly will be no lighting sticks of dynamite and hurling them into the air. Mr. Weed and Mr. Mixer, I suggest you both secure the hazardous materials. Mr. Snotty and Mr. Sam, go prepare any other equipment we'll need to unload at port. Ms. Animal, sit on the cooler and do not move. I mean it. Not one inch!" Sunny waited a moment as the crew scowled her, "Gentlemen and Animal, it is in your best interest to do the tasks as I've instructed if you wish to continue in secure employment."

The group straggled away from her. They grumbled as they went. There was no enthusiasm in their movements but they did, indeed, attend to the work as she outlined it.

"Mr. Skippy, how long until we dock?"

"How the fuck should I know?"

Sunny closed her eyes and counted to three. "You should know because you sailed us out to where we were and now you're sailing us back. So, give it your best guess, if you would be so kind."

"Twenty minutes," he shrugged, "give or take."

"Thank you." Sunny allowed herself a satisfied smile at her management skills.

Sunny stood over Animal during the rest of their boat ride. As soon as the harbor came into view, Sunny pulled out her blackberry. She entered in a cursory schedule of contacts she'd need to make over the next twenty four hours and set alerting signals accordingly. If she had any hope of salvaging Wreckers from imminent disaster then she needed to be at the top of her game. She was already speed dialing the first number when the signal alerted her to do just that.

"A very good morning to you! You've reached Bright Day Management Services. I am Oran , the Executive's Chief Assistant. How may I be of service to you?"

"Good Morning, Oran ," Sunny was grateful for the small semblance of corporate stability Oran 's greeting provided her. "There is much to do this lovely morning. I hope you're at your computer."

"Of course, Sunny, I've been here and waiting for you to call for several hours. Where shall we begin?"

"I'll email you new specs for the contract. Merge them with our standard format. Forward a copy to me for review and then I'll reply with the usual changes. Make sure Patrick reviews the rough draft himself. I pay him too much to be turfed to paralegal. I want a hard copy ready for signing in thirty minutes."

"Re-write contract, check."

"Find every OSHA reg applicable to de-construction operations. I mean every reg; hard hats to port-a-potty waste removal. Include as a sub heading for all state and fed rules covering hourly, at will employees. Be detailed here. I want everything from physicals to personal protective equipment fit testing. Oh, include a sub sub heading for employee assistance programs."

"Safety, labor laws, and addictions," Oran said softly over the clicking of his key board.

"Third, call Mr. Braveman and schedule an appointment at his earliest convenience. I'm going to hit him with the Corrective Agenda right after he signs on the dotted line."

Oran reminded her, "Your earliest available appointment is two weeks from Thursday at four pm."

"No, two weeks is far too long to wait. I need to wrap him up sooner. Find me something, Oran ."

A moment of silence passed. "If you are willing to schedule into our daily Friday Morning Quarterbacking then you could see him at six thirty am tomorrow."

"No, we will never interrupt Quarterbacking. Some things in life must be sacrosanct. I'll see him at five am in my office. Make sure he picks that time, Oran . It needs to be his idea. And, don't let him even think he needs to bring his lawyer."

"Consider it written in stone."

"Call in LaShawna and Hilda. Show them the two hour edition of my three and a half hour tutorial, Post Reaganomics and the Reinvention of Trickle Down. I need them versed in the Funny Pages account and watching the presentation will ramp them up. Oh, and give them the extended, five hundred page handbook instead of the abbreviated version. They absolutely must be ready to take the lead from me first thing Wednesday morning. I need to carve out several big blocks of time for myself. I want to handle Wreckers' contract on my own."

"LaShawna, Hilda, Reagan, Funny Pages, tomorrow, check."

"Dr. Wiseman must see a new patient for me at ten today. Check up from head to foot with all appropriate referrals. I'll follow up with insurance information when it's available. Just in case, tell him any unpaid balance will be handled by Bright Day." Sunny looked down at Animal and noticed the woman was scratching at her hair. "Have a cab ready to meet me at the docks. My ETA is five minutes. Ask Dr. Wiseman's office to have an antiseptic bath prepped and a set of medium scrubs available."

"Dr. Wiseman, the usual."

"Get Song Bird on the phone. Tell her she has to drop everything for a home visit. Seven tonight should give me enough time deal with the rest of this morning, this afternoon, and any unscheduled late day chaos."

"Intuitive at seven."

"I'll be in the office at twelve thirty on the button. Have lunch ready from the Costa Rican place on Milk Street . Oh, and send dinner to my place for six thirty. Surprise me. Something comforting. I feel I'll need a little extra support by evening."

"Lunch, on time, Central American Delights, dinner, Mom's Soul Kitchen."

"Let's make things happen, Oran !" Sunny commanded with enthusiasm.

"We'll make magic the Bright Day Way," Oran responded as expected with the sound of clicking keys in the background.

Sunny's blackberry sounded a small blip. "I must run. I've got a million calls to make. Have a wonderful and rewarding day, Oran ."

She flipped to the next call before he could respond.

Sunny couldn't believe how badly her head was throbbing. Perhaps, Dr. Wiseman would prescribe something for her once he finished with Animal. Sunny was still incensed at the woman's grudging acceptance of the check up. It took almost twenty minutes to convince Animal to submit to the examination. It took another ten minutes to get her to agree to wash up.

"She's putting me way behind schedule." Sunny fumed to herself. "Such an ungrateful…well, animal."

"Ms. Bright-Day, would you please step into my office?" Dr. Wiseman waved her in from the reception area.

His office was stacked with books and journals but Animal was not waiting in one of the bulky leather chairs. The doctor pointed to a chair opposite his desk indicating Sunny should sit.

"Your friend…,"

"…client…," Sunny corrected.

"…has allowed me to speak with you regarding her medical status while my nurse helps her cut some of the snarls out of her hair. It seems she's been living on the streets for some time."

"Actually, they told me she was living under a trailer at Wreckers' lot."

"Yes, well, she's been without adequate shelter for some time. Just about all the health ramifications you'd expect see from such an existence are currently present."

"Specifics," Sunny wanted to move the conversation along even though the elderly doctor liked to dawdle.

"Lice, mites, fungal infections, malnutrition, dehydration," he gave a heavy sigh. "But, there are a few problems I didn't anticipate."

"Like?"

"Burns, second degree, on three of her finger tips, a nasty little burn on her neck, and a black and blue ringing her neck."

Sunny looked away embarrassed to know what caused the bruising.

"However, her pyromania was truly a shock. I was prepared for a mental illness with, more than likely, a substance abuse. But, pyromania? Ms. Bright-Day, I believe this young woman may be a danger to herself and others. Ordinarily, I recommend getting homeless individuals accommodations in a shelter but in her present state she would most likely set her mattress on fire. We should be thinking commitment."

Sunny frowned. The doctor's assessment was correct and time consuming. She needed to act and act quickly.

"Dr. Wiseman, Animal…,"

"Dear God, do you call her Animal?"

Sunny sputtered in exasperation. "It's her name. It was her name when I met her. Okay, maybe not her given name but it's what they call her and she answers to it. At the moment, it's the least of her problems. Dr. Wiseman, Animal has found a channel for her explosive tendencies. She's working with a de-construction company. She's excellent at what she does which is blowing things up."

"You are, quite literally, playing with fire, Sunshine."

"Okay, I'm open to any and all recommendations Doctor. Make them practical and possible," Sunny stated as she took her blackberry out and began furiously texting.

"I would think intensive in-patient hospitalization with pharmacologic therapy as well as psychoanalysis and perhaps a little EZT would be the best route to address her mental health issues."

"How long?"

"How long what?"

"How long would she need to be in-patient to get well?" Sunny asked without looking up from her phone.

The doctor rubbed his chin before he made a ballpark guess. "I would think two or three months to get started. Then transition to a supervised living situation. From there, she should be stable enough to fend for herself with outpatient support and social services. Her need for treatment, of course, will be life long."

"Seven days."

"What?" The doctor was completely confused by Sunny's statement.

Sunny turned her phone over to the doctor so he could read the text message. "An acquaintance of mine at the state office for Medicaid just emailed me what Animal's benefit would be. Oh, but she doesn't even have Medicaid, yet. It's about two to four months for the applications to process. She'd still be entitled to services, of course. Seven whole days of in-patient treatment and twelve outpatient visits per calendar year. So, we can bring her to an ER and they'll send her off to McLean and she'll be out in seven days unless she sets the psychiatrist on fire during her counseling session. By the way, she won't do anything crazy in the hospital because she's so desperate not to be in a hospital. So Dr. Wiseman, give me another suggestion. And before you answer, please remember just how much money my company pays your practice each quarter to be helpful in exactly these kinds of situations. Then consider how rarely I actually need to utilize your services. Good pay for very little work, I'd say. So, it really behooves you to do your absolute best right now."

Sunny walked out of the doctor's office with a patient belongings bag filled with medications, creams, referrals, and brochures. Animal was sitting in the reception area reading a magazine while she waited. Her physical state had greatly improved over the past hour. Her dark hair was freshly washed and clipped short, close to her head but not shaved. Her skin also looked well washed. She was wearing clean green scrubs and red no skid socks on her feet.

"Are you ready to go?" Sunny asked.

"What's in the bag?"

"Stuff for you."

Animal grinned, "Matches?"

"You're not funny. Come on, I've got a lot to do. And, you've got medicine to take."

"No thanks," Animal shook her head and got to her feet. "Medicine doesn't agree with me. Makes me feel weird. You know, fuckin' dopey."

Sunny used her most serious tone of voice, "Going forward, you are not allowed to profane in my presence again. I'm trying to assist Mr. Braveman in his efforts to help you. The very least you can do to show you appreciate the work being done on your behalf is to stop profaning."

"Sure, no problem. Anything you say. I really do appreciate what Digger and you are doing for me. You're both fuckin' fabulous."

"Ms. Animal!"

"Shit, what the fuck did I do now?" A stunned Animal asked.

"You are profaning!"

"No freakin' way." Animal began to look around her feet. She lifted one foot then the other to check the soles. "Where the frig did I profane?"

Sunny silently counted to three. She counted a second time. She found she had to count a third time before she could speak reasonably.

"Ms. Animal, profane or profanity refers to your use of vulgarities or curse words."

Animal's eyes lit up as she finally understood. "Swearing? You want me to stop effin' swearing? No problem! I'll fu…I mean I can keep it clean."

"I would be grateful."

Animal smiled. "Where are we going now?"

"I'm going to my office. You are going back to Wreckers."

Animal's face changed. The joy present only moments before drained away. Sunny was alarmed at how instantaneously Animal's features shifted from a happy woman to something a kin to a frightened child.

"How old are you anyway?"

Animal answered without brightening. "Twenty one or maybe twenty two. Depends. What year is it?"

"It's two thousand and nine."

"Oh, then I'm twenty three." Animal shrugged, "Happy birthday to me, I guess."

Sunny didn't know what to say. She suddenly felt under the trailer in Wreckers' lot might not be the best place to leave the suddenly sad and vulnerable woman who was so unstable she was unsure of her own age. Add in Animal's fondness for blowing things up and the heavy duty equipment lot filled with oil drums, leaving her alone at the trailer seemed like a very bad idea.

"If you take all the medicine the doctor gave me for you and use the creams he wants you to use and you promise not to light any fires then I might be persuaded to take you back to my office for lunch."

Animal grinned again. "I won't even say the word fire."

"What about the meds?"

"Can I look at the names of them first?"

Sunny started to think she'd be forced to drop an uncooperative Animal off at the lot. "Why?"

"I'm allergic to penicillin."

"Okay, you can look at the names first."

"Effin'…I mean, sweet deal!"

Sunny took out her blackberry. " Oran , no time for pleasantries we are way behind schedule. My ETA has been pushed back by thirty minutes. Make sure we have enough lunch for one more. Also, set up the wall monitor in my office and dig out the DVD of the Yule Log from last years' End of the Year Multicultural Holiday In-service." Sunny ended the call without Oran getting out one word. "Alright, Ms. Animal, we need a quick side trip to WearGuard for you then back to my headquarters for the Strategic Planning phase. Or, as I like to call it, Alpha Foundation One."

"What are you strategically planning?" Animal questioned as she hopped stepped to keep up with the rushing executive.

Sunny kept her quick pace while she replied, "You, Ms. Animal. We are strategically planning your entry into stability."

"Oh," Animal sounded unconvinced.

Chapter 4

Animal was transfixed. Her meal sat on her lap barely touched. If anyone looked closely enough they would have noted a bit of drool forming at the corner of her mouth.

Mounted to the wall before her was a forty two inch monitor. The crystal clear picture displayed a crackling fire in a well built fireplace. Its satisfying burn never actually consumed the logs feeding what appeared to be an eternal flame. Obviously, it would continue to blaze for as long as the monitor remained on and the DVD loop played.

For all practical purposes, Animal was hypnotized by the program. It appeared she would remain so for as long as the monitor remained on and the DVD loop played.

Sunny was exceedingly grateful for the respite. Animal was, indeed, a handful. During their shopping excursion, Sunny ended up hold the young woman by the hand to keep her from following people passing them with lit cigarettes. In one heart stopping moment, a fire truck raced down the street and Animal began to run after it. Sunny was very happy she chose track and field in high school otherwise she might not have been able to tackle the younger woman after a two block dash.

The entire shopping spree, at times, barely felt worth the effort. In fact, had she not been so desperate to get Animal dressed properly then Sunny would have abandoned the whole idea in favor of getting to her lunch while there was still hope of having it hot. For one brief second, Sunny seriously considered abandoning Animal but a three count cooled her emotions.

"Getting the clothes does make cold, fried plantains palatable," Sunny thought to herself when she looked over the top of her reading glasses to see Animal still sitting across from her desk.

An oblivious Animal was dressed in a light pink, long sleeved tee shirt with faded blue denim bib overalls. Her feet were clad in heavy duty light brown work boots. The entire ensemble was functional for blowing up buildings yet presentable enough to be a uniform. In fact, Sunny was going to recommend the outfit as Wreckers new daily work wear.

"Pink really plays nicely against the rough and tumble image of a deconstruction company," Sunny justified to herself.

"Sunny," a deep male voice spoke after a light rap on the office door, "I have the preliminary MSDS binder for Wreckers."

"Excellent Millicent, please put it over on my completed work table," Sunny said and turned to her lap top's hot task list to cross off another accomplished line item.

As Millicent entered the room, Animal's eyes wandered from the monitor screen for the first time all afternoon. Her jaw dropped slightly at the sight. Millicent was about six feet, five inches tall with broad shoulders and thick, hairy forearms. However, Millicent was wearing a black with white swirl Laura Ashley knock off and rather large black pumps. The top of Millicent's head was bald but the hair growing from ear to ear around the back was long and combed forward. Lipstick, eye liner, and earrings were understated and tasteful.

"Um, Millicent," Sunny spoke with a nervous edge to her voice. "Could you ask Oran to come into see me ASAP?"

"Of course," Millicent replied and quickly left the office.

Sunny got up from her desk and strode across the room. She was very angry. Several counts to three had not managed to calm her by the time she reached Animal.

"Ms. Animal, staring is rude and unprofessional," Sunny whispered.

Animal was craning her neck to look around Sunny. "Was that guy wearing a dress? Seriously, a dress?"

Sunny stepped into Animal's line of vision before answering. "Millicent is a pre-surgical transsexual."

"He likes to dress up like girls?"

"Ms. Animal, Millicent is not a he. At the moment, we are using ze and hir as our pronouns of choice. Millicent is still in the very early stages of gender reassignment and not entirely sure how far ze will proceed. All the Bright Day Management Service staff is supportive of Millicent and we are prepared to facilitate a respectful work environment for hir during this process." Sunny took a small breath before adding, "As required by law in the commonwealth."

Animal asked, "So, he's a girl?"

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Sure. I just don't understand a lot of the bigger words like 'resignment.'"

Sunny counted to three before clarifying. "Reassignment, the word is reassignment. It means, Millicent has always felt like a woman trapped in a man's body. Ze is going to change hir body to reflect outside how ze feels inside."

Animal's mouth opened in a silent O. "He's getting his shhlong sliced off?" Ye-ouch! That's gonna hurt. Do you think pissing will make him pass out or scream or something afterwards?"

Sunny was silent. She stared at Animal while she tried to figure out if the statements were an act or indications of limited cultural exposure. Sunny decided to believe the later until she had more evidence of the former.

"How about this, Ms. Animal? You will only refer to Millicent as Millicent. You will not say anything to hir except, hello, goodbye, and thank you. You will not stare at hir anymore. Okay? Do you think you can do that?"

"Oh sure. No problem. Just like not swearing. No problem. I can do it," Animal stated with certainty. "Can you do something for me?"

Sunny arched an eyebrow waiting for the request.

"Can you put my show in hold? I really got to pee and I don't want to miss anything."

Sunny looked at the screen with the fire place. She looked back to Animal who was staring up at her expectantly. Sunny found herself bewildered by the request.

"It's a loop. It never changes. The fire just keeps burning," Sunny tried to explain the concept of the DVD.

"I know! Isn't it great? Do you think they have other shows like this one? Maybe a house burning or a school? Oh, a tire fire with all that thick smoke would be great."

Sunny didn't answer. She grabbed the remote from the completed work table and pressed the pause button. Animal grinned at her before hurrying off to the office bathroom.

"You wanted me, Sunny?" Oran asked as he knocked and entered the office.

"I need Nevada Smithe on the phone immediately. She's got to Animal sit tonight. Book the usual room at the Back Bay Inn." Sunny clarified, "Be sure it's a non-smoking room."

Oran was already speed dialing his blue tooth. "Ms. Smithe? This is Oran at Bright Day Management Services. Please hold for Ms Bright-Day."

* * *

Sunny sat slouched in the comfort of her soft sofa with her eyes closed. For the first time all day, she felt at ease. Her feet were high heel free and elevated. Her body luxuriated in the soft cotton tee shirt and shorts. Her belly was full from a wonderful supper of collard soup, fried yams, candied sweet potatoes, and fried corn. Of course, two glasses of wine had not hurt her efforts to relax.

The living room was dimly lit. Salty smells from burning incense wafted through the air. Sunny was content to let the moment just be. She had spilled the day's trials and tribulations to Song Bird, a professional Intuitive. The woman instructed Sunny to meditate and try to find her center while she thought about the situation.

"Who did you leave Animal with tonight?" Song Bird asked.

Sunny answered without opening her eyes. " Nevada Smithe. She's an independent Private Security Consultant."

"Like a private detective?"

"Sort of," Sunny hedged. " Nevada provides some distinct advantages over local private detectives due to her citizenship in an indigenous nation within the United States which is not subject to state or federal jurisdictions."

"She's a hired gun who runs back to a reservation to hide out until the heat lets up?" Song Bird asked.

Sunny opened her eyes with a heavy sigh. "She's more like a hired leg breaker but the rest of your guess is pretty accurate. I figured she'd be more than capable of restraining Animal if it becomes necessary."

Sunny watched Song Bird for a reaction. It was not forthcoming. The woman just sat there staring back at Sunny.

The intuitive was slightly older than middle age. Her frizzy hair at one time might have been auburn but dying had reduced it to an unnatural orange. She wore huge round eye glasses which were popular for a month or so in the early 1970's. Mercifully, good taste prevailed and the rest of the population ditched the ugly spectacles for more understated eye wear. Song Bird's long flowing dress, which was pooled around her as she sat on the floor, was more of a throwback to the 1960's with its obnoxious bright colors and sickening spinning designs.

"What do you want me to say? It's wrong of me to employ somebody like Nevada . It's wrong that I even know somebody like Nevada . I left Animal in a dangerous situation."

"There's potential you left Nevada in a dangerous situation," Song Bird interjected.

"You can say that again."

"As for what is wrong, I'd ask you what is the nature of wrong?"

"Huh?"

"Sunny only you can define your right and wrong for yourself. Is it right to earn a good living by working smart?"

Sunny nodded.

"Is it wrong to leave cash on the table because some required actions might slightly cross the arbitrary lines of man made rules and regulations?"

"I…I…don't know," Sunny was not expecting this line of logic.

"I'd say it was more wrong to leave that poor, confused girl living under a trailer. And, of course, not helping a company flourish in this starved economy is unconscionable. Success on such a venture has many levels. This could be a huge leap for your own company, Sunny. The potential financial gains for Bright Day far out weight the miniscule risk of getting caught doing something which may or may not be entirely legal."
"Do you think?"

"Absolutely! Why with the amount of revenue Wreckers would bring in, you could significantly expand. You could add staff. Not just associates but resource staff like on site massage therapy, yoga instruction, intuitive services, florist…your company could become the model of post recession business; financial, physical, and emotional wellbeing in the workplace."

"Bright Day a model for modern corporations? I hadn't thought of it that way."

"That's why you invite me over once a week, dear. I help you think above, below, and beside the box. However, it is getting late and I do need to run. If you could just write me a check…,"

"Oh, sure," Sunny said and sat up to grab her check book.

While she wrote, Song Bird stood with a few joints popping. "Sunny, this Nevada woman. She sounds a bit…tough."

"I'll say," Sunny laughed. She handed the check to Song Bird and explained, "She's six one or six two and about a hundred and seventy pounds. All of it muscle, I think. Her hands are like baseball mitts. When she talks it sounds like a freight train whistle."

"She'll be a negative influence on Animal."

"You think?" Sunny was surprised by Song Bird's pronouncement.
"No, I feel it. You must protect Animal at all costs. Get over there first thing in the morning and take Animal with you. You mustn't let the gold goose out of your sight. Both companies are depending on her skills."

Song Bird turned with a flourish and headed for the front door. Sunny trailed after her. The cat jumped from the book case to land directly in front of Song Bird blocking the woman's exit. The cat reared up and hissed long and hard before fleeing to the safety of Sunny's bedroom.

"I wonder why Ichabod hasn't warmed up to you yet," Sunny said.

Song Bird bit her lip trying to hold her temper. "As I've said before, Sunshine, cats and dogs are negative energy beings. They drain from most humans but they are unable to penetrate my aura. Hence, the cat's continued anger at me. You really should get rid of the creature. A bird or a fish would be much more beneficial to your spiritual path."

Sunny felt tears forming. "Please don't ask me to do that. I love Ichabod. He's been with me since I started Bright Day. He was the only one who believed in me at the beginning."

Song Bird stood at the front door and shrugged. "Cats only believe in cats. But, if you want to invite trouble then keep him. I won't say another word about it." She thought a moment. "However, if you are going to keep him then I'm going to need to raise my fee for house visits to four hundred an hour."

Sunny nodded in relief. "Four hundred it is. At least, that way I get to keep both of you."

"Suit yourself." Song Bird shook her head as she left.

If Sunny hadn't shut the door so quickly then she might have heard Song Bird mutter, "Idiot."

Chapter 5

Sunny hurried down the carpeted hallway of the Back Bay Inn. It was barely 4:15 Wednesday morning. She was grateful the carpet masked the click of her high heels. Sunny did not want to raise a commotion at the modest but elegant hotel.

She was heading toward room 1243. Bright Day Management Services always reserved that particular room for clients. It was a corner room which meant it was slightly bigger and had a better view of the city. The cost was the same as all the other rooms but most of her clients believed it was upper tiered. Sunny was more than happy not to clarify the misconception.

"Clients think they got a perk and I don't have to pay perk money is a win win, in my book," Sunny thought to herself before rapping on the door. "Animal will probably think she died and went to Heaven after a night in the comfort of a hotel room."

A few moments passed without an answer. Sunny rapped a little louder on the wood. No response. Sunny felt her heart rate pick up a bit. Her knuckles connected solidly with the door in a firm rat-ta-tat-tat. She leaned in closer and heard some muffled voices.

"At least they're in there," Sunny thought with a small amount of relief.

Once the door swung open, any sense of relief race out of Sunny's system as adrenalin broke loose from her shock. Nevada Smithe stood before her stark naked. Her dark and tattooed skin glistened with sweat. Her hair was free of its usual braid and plastered to her head. The smell of women's hot bodies wafted from the room.

"Oh hey, didn't expect to see you this early. Thought you were just gonna call and tell me where to dump the Animal," Nevada mumbled.

"Obviously," Sunny regained herself enough to get angry.

She pushed her way passed Nevada . Hitting the wall switch flooded the room with light and groaning. Animal was huddled in the center of a king size bed under thoroughly tossed sheets.

"Bright light, bright light," Animal squeaked.

Sunny waited until Nevada had enough sense to shut the door. She didn't turn around to speak to the contractor. Nevada 's lecture would need to wait. Animal had to get up and moving or Sunny would be late for her appointment with Digger Braveman.

"Ms. Animal, if you would be so kind, please vacate the bed and get into the shower. We must be on our way in ten minutes or I'll be late."

"Um, I could drive her over to the office, if you have to hurry along," Nevada offered in a hoarse morning after voice.

Sunny glared at the woman over her shoulder. "No, I think you've done quite enough already." Sunny turned her attention back to Animal who was still in bed. "Ms. Animal, get out of that bed this instant! Your job depends on us getting out of here in nine minutes."

"Oh come on, that wasn't even a whole minute," Animal complained as she poked her head out from under the blankets.

"Now, Ms. Animal, now!"

Animal crawled out of the bed pulling free of bedding as she went. She emerged as naked as Nevada . Her pale skin was peppered with red blotches and scratch marks. Oblivious to the two sets of eyes studying her, Animal stretched then rubbed her ass.

"A little sore," she giggled before gathering her clothes and heading off to the shower.

Sunny followed slowly hoping the bathroom door would shut. When it did, she called in after Animal.

"Be sure to wash everywhere, shampoo your hair, and brush your teeth. You only have eight minutes so hurry!"

"Oh man," was muttered before the water blasted on.

Sunny turned her full attention to Nevada . The woman was still standing by the door. She was still naked. However, she had the sense to keep her eyes on some fascinating stain on the wall above the headboard. Sunny followed the line of vision and frowned.

"Is that from the two of you?"

"Maybe," Nevada shrugged.

"Damages? Wonderful. Five years of booking this room and not so much as a burnt out light bulb. Now, I have torn sheets," Sunny lifted the rent cloth from the bed, "stains on the wall paper, and Higher Being only knows what else."

Sunny used her knee to shove the mattress back several inches from where it drifted off the box spring. Something solid bounced from the bed after the mattress connected with the head board. Sunny looked down at her feet to see a well used vibrator lying on the toe of her shoe. Nevada made the mistake of smirking.

"You think this if funny?" Sunny questioned and kicked the toy across the room. "Well, I've got something even funnier for you. You violated your contract with Bright Day Management Services."

Nevada 's jaw dropped.

"That would mean a pay back of your annual retainer plus a penalty. Should put you about 100K in the hole, I figure. How funny is that?" Sunny wasn't laughing.

"Look, this got nothing to do with you or the contract. Me and the kid…,"

"Yes, let's consider that aspect of this situation as well. My client is young and mentally unstable. This is why I retained you to sit with her. Note what I said, sit with her. The verb was not lay with her or sleep with her…,"

Nevada snorted a short laugh, "We weren't sleeping."

"Again, you think this is funny? I don't. You betrayed my trust, Nevada . We will no longer be able to do business. My lawyer will be contacting you regarding the penalties clearly spelled out in your contract." Sunny took a breath and heard the water shut off. "If you need a repayment plan then discuss it with Patrick. I can be reasonable."

Nevada groused back, "Then be reasonable, Sunny. The kid and me had a little toss. Nothing earth shattering. She put the moves on me not the other way around. So, I'm human. I screwed the punk. Big deal."

Sunny was grim faced. "I hope the little toss was worth it because it has cost you an awful lot of money never mind my respect."

"Hey Mrs. Sun, don't go blaming her. I wanted to fuck…I mean screw, you know what I mean. That movie you showed me got me all excited and kind of wet and I had to work it off somehow." Animal was full dressed and anxious to explain.

"What kind of movies were you showing our impressionable little girl, Sunshine?" Nevada questioned with a hint of smug humor.

Sunny turned a withering glare at the contractor. It wiped the smile from Nevada 's face.

"She watched The Yule Log for three hours before you picked her up. Sexy enough viewing for you?" Sunny's voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Animal interrupted, "It was sexy enough for me; all those flames licking the logs, flashing orange and red, the wood snapping from the heat, the smoke fluttering up the chimney like a dancer at a strip club."

Sunny and Nevada stared at Animal while she detailed her favorite parts of the DVD. Animal's cheeks were flushed and her eyes wide as she described the fireside scene.

"See, there? She's just a fucking nut," Nevada noted.
Animal fell silent. She ducked her head and sniffed a little. Sunny didn't know who to be angrier with. She picked the one she was paying.

"How nice? Is this supposed to be your version of morning after sweet talk? It's no wonder you have to sleep with the clients when you have such limited social skills. I'm surprised you didn't shackle her to the bed!"

Animal's cheeks flushed a deeper red.

"Oh for the love of…," Sunny was going to lose it entirely if she didn't get moving. "Forget it. Let's go, Ms. Animal. Mr. Braveman is waiting."

Sunny took the young woman's hand and gently led her to the door. Animal turned back and mouthed to Nevada , "Call me."

* * *

Sunny sat at her desk watching Digger Braveman sweat. She was amazed at the way drops of sweat beaded on his forehead before racing down his puffy red face. It was almost unbelievable a human body would need to perspire in her optimal temperature controlled office. The setting was seventy four degrees Fahrenheit which she was told would provide a physically comfortable work environment for most people. Apparently, Digger Braveman was not most people.

Digger licked his thumb and index finger to turn the page of the proposal in his hand. The twenty five page proposal outlined Bright Day Management Service's ninety day plan for Wreckers. It covered everything from uniforms to OSHA regulations.

More importantly, two entire pages bullet pointed the steps necessary to assist Animal in her conversion to a responsible and productive member of society. In Sunshine's mind, this represented a promotion for Animal from her current socioeconomic position of firebug. Sunny spared the young woman a sideways glance. Animal was sitting in the same chair as the day before. Only today, she was reading through a stack of articles about tragic fires which Oran had the forethought to gather. She emitted an occasional horrified gasp at some distasteful story but was otherwise quiet and still.

"Well, it's one big job you plan on doing for me," Digger said when he closed the folder.

Sunshine answered his statement with one of her own. "Wreckers needs me to do a very big job if it is going to succeed."

"I was sort of hoping you could just fix Animal and leave the rest of us be. We're okay in our own way. It's her that needs changing." He glanced over at Animal and wrinkled his nose in distaste. "And, the pink shirts ain't gonna fly with the crew. Nope. We don't go for them faggie colors. We don't go for dressin' alike either. It's the girl you gotta take care of. Get her straight and I'll be all set."

Sunshine extended her hand to Digger. He passed her back the proposal. Sunny dumped it into the wastepaper basket next to her desk.

"What're you doin' Ms. Bright-Day?" Digger was alarmed by her action.

Sunny folded her hands over her flat stomach. "We've finished our business, Mr. Braveman. It has been an interesting experience meeting you and your team. We at Bright Day Management Services wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Now, if you check with Oran on your way out he'll validate your parking for you. Consider the clothes for Ms. Animal a charitable donation. Good day, Sir."

"Hold on, a minute," Digger really started to sweat. "I still want you to work on Animal. She has to get some help."

"Mr. Braveman, I have spent the last forty eight hours developing an intervention to assist you with the variety of deficit areas in your current business plan. Ms. Animal represents only one piece of your operation which must be addressed." Sunny gave a small shake of her head. "I do not do half measures. My consultations are all or nothing and not cafeteria selections. I will not put myself or my company in a position where we will fail because a client refuses to utilize our recommendations." Sunny frowned a bit. "None of this should be a surprise for you if you really did watch my seminar."

"OH NO!" Animal cried out before Digger could reply to Sunny. "His mom must have burned to death. No, no, no…,"

Animal began to cry as she clutched several sheets of paper to her chest. Sunny and Digger looked at each then to Animal then back to each other.

"You want to handle this?" Digger asked.

"…why would anybody set a fire there…," Animal continued to sob.

"Why me?" Sunny asked.

"cuz you're a girl and she's a girl and she's cryin' and I don't know what to say," Digger offered and wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

Sunny decided to ask Animal what was wrong in order to move the meeting to a prompt conclusion. "Ms. Animal, what is the matter? Why are you crying?"
Animal got up, swatting tears from her eyes, and hurried over to Sunshine's side of the desk. "Look at him. He's just a little baby and he got all burned. They found him in a tree tryin' to hide from the fire. His Mom must've died, don't ya think?"

Sunny stared at the news story. If Animal wasn't so upset then the moment might have been funny. It was from more than fifty years ago. The story of a little black bear found in a forest fire. They named him Smokey Bear after the cartoon mascot for the forest service. He went on to become the living version of the mascot and spent the rest of his life at the national zoo.

"Ms. Animal, this bear is dead," Sunny began to explain.

Animal dropped to her knees and cried even harder. "He was burned that bad? The story didn't say he died. Stupid people! You can't start fires in the woods! Everything burns up. You can't stop it then. You always got to be able to stop it. Can't let it get ahead of you. It's no fun when it gets out of control, when animals get hurt, when Animal gets hurt."

Sunny heard the subtle change. She was able to see a small portion of Animal's suffering. Animal was obsessed with something which terrified her.

"Ms. Bright-Day," Digger's voice was somber, "could we take another look at that plan of yours?"

"Why?"

Sunny wanted to force the man to make a decision. It was very clear to the executive that more than a business was at stake. Animal needed a lot of help and if Digger wasn't going to see to it then Sunny would.

"I want to sign it," Digger sighed in defeat. "Pink tee shirts and all; let's do everything you said we should. But, you better be right about getting Animal's head screwed back on because I think we only got one shot at takin' care of her."

Sunny could see worry etched on Digger's face. Her respect for the man ratcheted up several notches.

"We will. Don't worry, Digger. We'll help Animal get well."

Chapter 6

Sunny hung up the phone after a productive call with an industrial cleaning service. Turning to her computer, she checked off another item on her hot task list. She was making great strides tackling the 'to do' jobs for Wreckers' account during the last four hours of peace and quiet. Another twelve to twenty four hours of this type of focused work effort should enable her to complete the Strategic Implementation Phase: Beta Structure Two. Muted voices from her reception area indicated she might have some increased difficulty maintaining her peace and quiet.

The knock at her office door required a prompt response. Sunny hesitated. She knew what was on the other side. She'd rather work non-stop for the next three days than reply. The knock sounded again but this time with more urgency.

"Come in," Sunny reluctantly acquiesced.

Oran pushed open the door with one hand and dragged Animal over the threshold with the other.

"That was so cool! Can we go again? This time maybe from the bottom all the way to the top? Does it go all that way? All at once like that? That was so fun, Mr. Ran! Let's do it again!" Animal was jabbering.

She practically skipped into the office. Under one arm she clutched a nearly full large brown grocery bag. The top had been thoughtfully taped shut. The other hand clutched Oran 's hand so hard the finger tips were nearly bloodless.

"Oh Ms. Sun, that was fuckin' awesome! I mean, freakin' awesome." Animal turned her enthusiasm to the young executive. "We went on an elevator that went super fast to the top of the building! No floors between here and the roof! The view up there is sweet! Wasn't it pissa, Mr. Ran?"

Oran sounded exhausted when he replied. "It was only an express elevator. It, unfortunately, is a private access vehicle for the tenants of the upper floors. You should not have run onto it. We are not supposed to use that access. Ms. Bright-Day could face a surcharge from her landlord for your violation of the lease." Oran paused before finishing off with his most important point. "And, my name is Oran . ORAN ! Not O or Ran or Ann or Orville! Do you think you could remember it? Just once? It's only my name!"

Animal looked a little concerned as the man shook off the hold her hand had on his. She gave a bit of a swallow before nodding agreement.

"Sure Mr. Oran, I can remember your name now since you said it clear enough this time. Should've said something sooner. It's just a little weird. Not like Joe or Jim. Not many people named Oran , you know?"

"It's my grandfather's name!" Oran was furious. "It's a fine family name! And, what are you talking about anyway? How many people are named ANIMAL?"

"Lots."

"Name one!"

Animal smiled happily believing she won the argument. "Kermit's drummer."

"Who?" Both Oran and Sunshine questioned simultaneously.

Animal looked at them like they were ignorant. "You know, the drummer on the Muppets; AN-NI-MAL."

Oran ground his teeth. He flashed an angry look to Sunshine. She gave a sheepish shoulder shrug.

"Next paycheck, you'll have a time and a half bonus for four hours. If you want to head home a little early then I can close up here tonight."

"Oh thanks," Oran sounded uncharacteristically sarcastic. "I'll get to hurry out a whole twenty minutes early. That'll be just swell."

Sunny was stunned by his answer; she was unable to speak before he stormed out of the office. Her door slammed closed with such force a picture fell from the wall.

"Whoa, his pissed," Animal observed.

Sunny began to tidy up her desk. Work would need to end for the day. She had to get the young woman situated for the evening. Nevada Smithe would not be Animal sitting tonight or any other night for which Sunshine was responsible.

"Okay, Ms. Animal, I did a little research. You have a mother in the South End…,"

"No."

Sunny expected as much. "No to Mom's place, check. You have a Father in East Boston ."

"Ain't my Dad. He was married to her but they took a test after I got hurt 'cause his blood didn't match mine. I wasn't his. I'm the guy's in Walpole or the guy's in New York . Never met them. The guy in Eastie doesn't like me much anymore."

Animal sat on the chair across from Sunshine's desk. She settled in for a session of questions and answers. It appeared she'd gone through this type of activity before. She positioned the brown bag on her lap and hugged it close to her chest.

Sunshine pulled another option from the list in front of her. "You have a brother in Squantum."

Animal shook her head no. "Not my brother. He was the guy's in Eastie kid."

"You Mom's son too?" Sunshine asked but Animal shook her head no again. "Sorry about that. My researcher got a little careless apparently."

"No problem," Animal replied.

"Your grandfather's in Franklin …,"

"It's a rest home. Don't blame the researcher for that one. It's not actually a legal rest home. Just a bunch of ex-convicts living in a run down converted barn off of 140."

Sunshine made the notation. "We located an aunt in Dedham ."

"Bitch! Sanctimonious, fat, mean, nasty, vicious, old bitch! I hate her, I hate her, I hate her…,"

"I'll take that as a no. Check. How about the cousin in Danvers ?"

Animal stared blankly.

"Your Mom's cousin? Helen? She's a retired banker. Never married, a spinster…,"

"Oh the dyke."

"Ms. Animal," Sunny began in serious tone, "didn't we discuss being respectful?"

"Sorry. But, Helen like girls so what would you call her?"

"How about Helen?"

"Okay, 'Helen,'" Animal made air quotes with her index fingers. "But, I can't stay with her. She's only met me once. I was little. Mom went to borrow money that she never paid back. She used me to make Helen feel bad."

Sunny crossed another name off the list.

"Look," Animal sounded very sad, "I know there's a bunch of names on your paper but none of 'em are gonna work out for me. I've been through the list a hundred million times. Nobody wants me. Who'd you think want me?" Animal was quiet for a moment before she brightened. "I know, maybe, you could talk Digger into letting me put up a tent at the lot? He told me I could sleep in the trailer way back last fall but it's too filthy. Unless, it's really snowing hard or super super cold outside. He won't let me have a tent because he thinks it would be too tempting to light up. But, I don't think I need to do that now. I got pills here in the bag to help with that. And, the shrink you sent me to downstairs said I can come back tomorrow and we'll roll play again. I felt better after playing fireman today. And, he showed me a movie about putting out fires 'stead of startin' 'em. I liked that. Putting them out makes almost as much smoke as starting them. Really cool stuff."

Sunny felt helpless as Animal explained the facts of her life. Sunny didn't like feeling helpless. She liked to find solutions. She needed to believe there were solutions to all problems. The last name on the list of potential safe and supervised havens was a private duty psychiatric nurse but he would not be available until tomorrow night. Sunny needed a more immediate solution.

"Ms. Animal," Sunny ventured, "if you promise to continue to behave in a respectful and legal manner then…I may, perhaps, have another proposal for you."

Animal grinned, " Nevada ?"

Sunny shook her head. "I think you know the answer to that already. No, I was going to offer you the use of my pull out sofa."

"Do you have a fire place?"

Sunny's palms started to sweat with the fear she had miscalculated the young woman's ability to comply with structure.

"No."
"Can we bring the DVD of my show?"

Sunny's worry increased that this was not such a great idea but agreed anyway.

"Sure."

"Sweet!"

* * *

"Wow!" Was all Animal could think to say when she took in the view from Sunshine's sliding balcony door.

Sunshine was pleased with the response. Her home was truly her pride and joy. While it continued to be her aspiration to move up to the penthouse level, her third floor condo on the cliff overlooking the beach served her current needs nicely.

"If you like, we can have dinner out on the balcony."

Animal made a little face. "It's a little cold. I don't have anything but what I got on. Sorry."

Sunny smiled. "I think I can round up a sweatshirt that'll fit you. Plus, I have an outdoor heater which keeps things pretty comfortable until just after sundown this time of year."

"Seriously cool! I'd love to eat out there. It must smell great; nice and salty."

"Usually does," Sunny grinned. "What do you want to have? I've got left over veggie pizza, palmito salad, coconut noddles…,"

"I'll eat anything but do you have any chocolate milk?" Animal asked hopefully. "I haven't had chocolate milk since before I got sent away. School only had milk and water. They said it was 'cause they were tryin' to teach us to eat right but I think it was just cheaper."

Sunny ignored most of what Animal said. She had to think for a minute if she did have coco. She grabbed the step stool to look in the cabinet over the stove. Pushing boxes of dried pasta and cans of beans out of the way; she spotted a flash of yellow. Reaching to the limit of her middle finger, she caught an edge of plastic.

"Got it!" Sunny was very pleased with herself. "We can make chocolate milk with Nestle powder if that's okay."

Animal was a little confused, "How else would you make chocolate milk?"

"Well, you can buy it that way," Sunny absently replied as she got off the stool and put it away.

"Really?"

Sunny looked up to see if Animal was teasing her. The woman's question was quite serious.

"Yes, the stores sell flavored milk. Ms. Animal, have you ever been grocery shopping?"

Animal shook her head no.

"How have you been able to eat all this time? I mean, since you got…well, out."

Animal looked down in shame. "Dumpster diving."

In spite of her disavowal of organized religion, Sunny found herself thanking God for her own parents and the advantages of a stable childhood. She dug deep to try to find something to say which was not condescending or stereotypical.

"It is horrible you had to resort to such means for your very survival."

Animal merely shrugged.

"Ms. Animal, I hope I can give you the tools you need to leave the life you've been forced to endure behind you."

"Me too," Animal mumbled.

The cat jumped from his perch on the bookcase. He landed neatly at Animal's feet. After a small stretch, he stepped lightly over to the stranger in his home. Two little sniffs told him all he needed to know. He rubbed his head against Animal's shin.

"It seems you made a friend," Sunny beamed.

"So I have," Animal replied then picked up the cat to cuddle him close to her heart.

Ichabod purred happily.

Chapter 7

Sunny was annoyed. There was a major delay underway at Wreckers' lot. It was holding up the rolling out of Strategic Action Phase: Gamma Disassembly Three. She slammed her car door shut in an unusual show of anger. Leaving Animal to figure her own way out of the little Prius, Sunny stormed over to the group of men standing in front of the trailer in the pre-dawn gray. She took a deep calming breath somewhat reassured seeing all of the men were dressed in the bib overalls and pink tee shirts she decreed as the new company uniform.

"Here she comes now," the smoke assaulted voice of Wreckers' operator announced before hacking up of mouthful of phlegm.

"Shit!" Cursed Sam the angry Samoan. "It's gonna get a lot uglier a lot faster!"

"Forty says she'll pull it off without cussing, quitting, or firing," Dick Weed muttered to the group.

"I'll take a piece of that action," Digger said as he reached into his pocket to pull out a roll of greenbacks.

"Where's the Animal? Corporate Chick's not just gonna let her off leash to wander around, is she? We'll all be licking the hair burned off our ass cheeks if we don't watch the little maniac," Snotty warned.

Skippy smacked the worried coke head across the face, "Pull it together, Dusty Whitenose. I'll snap that flaming punk's neck before she has a chance to strike a match."

"You'll do no such thing," Sunny cautioned from about twelve feet away. The group of men gasped in surprise she heard their hushed asides. "I have very good hearing gentlemen so I'd stop grumbling if you want to make it to sunset still gainfully employed. And, no gambling is allowed in the Commonwealth, Mr. Braveman, so put your money away."

The men settled into an uneasy quiet. They were respectful but suspicious of the woman new to their midst.

"So, why aren't all of you in the trucks and down at the work site?" Sunny asked.

Animal caught up to her by this time. She was a bit breathless from her struggle with the seat belt. The group of men stepped back a little to put more space between them and the late arrival. Animal noticed the change and shrunk behind Sunny. She twisted her fingers in the hem of Sunny's heavy gray college sweatshirt. Sunny ignored the action for a moment in order to deal with her most pressing dilemma.

"Mr. Braveman, what's the problem here?" Sunny asked.

Digger shook his head gravely and pointed to the trailer to explain. "Buttman is having a shit fest for himself. He took one look at the get-ups you want 'em to wear and flipped out. He locked himself in the trailer, screaming, and yelling and causing a big old ruckus. He simmered down about a half hour ago. Not a peep out of him since."

"Did you knock on the door and see what he's planning on doing with the rest of the day?"

The crew snickered. Wreckers' operator barked out a deep, hacking laugh. Digger tried to hold back his own chuckle.

"That ain't such a good idea, ma'am. Buttman is, well, volatile. He's the only guy in the group who's a Walpole grad."

"High school?" Sunny questioned to hearty laughs from the whole crew even Animal.

Digger winced. "Prison, ma'am. Buttman killed a guy in a bar fight. Totally an accident. Still, got him second degree murder."

"Is he on parole?"

"Nope. He pulled his whole time. Didn't even try for parole. He did the whole fifteen." The crew looked at the operator in disbelief at her comment.

Sunny frowned at the woman and asked, "How do you know this?"

"I'm the business office manager. It's the BOM's job to know the results of the CORI checks." The woman sniffed slightly offended. "Besides, he told me all about it."

"Okay," Sunny said with more confidence than she felt, "all of you wait here. I'm going in to talk to him."

"Bad idea, lady!" Mixer advised. "We call him Buttman because he beat the Hell out of some ass fucker who got all up in his biz in the joint. You don't need that crap. He might be motivated enough to go and hurt you something awful bad."

Sunny noticed real concern in Mixer's warning. She was touched but not enough to allow herself to be swayed from her current course of action. They were already off schedule and she needed to get them back on track. She gave the man a small smile and wink before she approached the steps to the trailer. Tiny tugs on her sweatshirt reminded her of her tail.

"Um, could somebody keep an eye on Ms. Animal for me?"
"Don't go in there," Animal sounded frightened. "He's a bad dude. He'll fuck you up. I mean, awh, I don't know anyway else to say it. He's really dangerous. He might even screw you up the ass."

Sunny blushed at the comment but regained herself enough to reassure Animal. "It'll be okay. If he won't listen to reason then I'll come right back out. I promise I won't let him hurt me."

"Sometimes," Animal said as tears began running down her cheeks, "sometimes you can't stop getting hurt, Ms. Sun. Sometimes they hurt you when you don't even see it coming. Sometimes when you're sleeping it starts up right under your bed."

Sunny felt an icy chill run down her back at Animal's hushed warning. It was heartfelt and seemed to be drawn from experience. She was grateful when Dick Weed grabbed Animal by the back of the neck and pulled her away.

"I'll be right out," Sunny promised.

She turned and mounted the trailer's stairs. Three hard raps on the door went unanswered. Three more were also ignored.

"Mr. Buttman, this is Sunshine Bright-Day. I'm coming into the trailer. I expect you'll be respectful of me as a business colleague."

With that announcement, Sunny pulled the door open and marched into the darkened trailer. Papers and cups were strewn across the floor. The chair she sat in just a few days ago was smashed to bits. The phone beeped endlessly off its hook.

"What the fuck do you want?" Buttman all but growled.

Sunny studied the man briefly. He was sitting in his underwear. His uniform was bunched into a ball on the desk in front of him. But, Sunny was most alarmed by the red rings under the big man's eyes. The man was crying.

"That's funny; I was just going to ask you the same thing. Great minds think alike apparently." Sunny thought for a moment before adding, "I wouldn't have sworn at you though. I respect you too much to diminish you in such a manner."

Buttman seemed unnerved by Sunny's comments. Yet, he remained still and silent. So, she continued.

"Mr. Braveman indicated you are unhappy with your new uniform. I picked out the uniforms so if there is something wrong with them then I'd appreciate it if you tell me what it is. If it is fixable then I'd be more than happy to get the supplier deal with the situation."

"Look," he said pleading and turned the denim bib toward her.

Sunny stepped over to the desk. Several scampering feet sounded across the linoleum reminding her she was right about the unseen creatures inhabiting the trailer. She lifted the material out of the man's hands and turned it toward the hint of light dimly illuminating the grimy window. The embroidery on the cloth spelled out the problem.

"Button," she murmured.

"They're all gonna laugh at me."

Sunshine pulled her phone out of its holder. She hit speed dial and waited. A few rings passed before a live voice answered.

"A very good morning to you! You've reached Bright Day Management Services. I am Oran , the Executive's Chief Assistant. How may I be of service to you?"

"A very good morning to you, Oran . I'm here at Wreckers and there is a rather big problem with Mr. Buttman's uniform. It seems they have misspelled his name."

"Oh dear. Let me just grab the invoice and confirm the proper spelling. I have Buttman, capital B as in boy, u, t, t, m, a, n, Buttman."

"That would be correct. Yet, they sent Button."

"Unbelievable! How do shops stay operational doing such sloppy work. I'll call them at once. It'll be corrected by noon. I'll make sure they send a two uniform refund for our trouble."

"In the mean time…," Sunny began.

"If you find the original packaging," Oran interrupted, "then there should be four extra unembroidered uniforms. Emergency fits for a small, medium, large, and extra large frame. I was trying to plan ahead."

"Hang on," Sunny glanced around and found the box. She dumped it over one handed and pulled out the extra large from the pile. "Got it. Thank you, Oran . You saved the day. Again."

"No problem, Boss. And, about last night, sorry about my behavior."

"No worries, Oran . I understand I can be difficult to work for. You hold up remarkably well. I'm proud to work with you."

"Thank you…so much," Oran 's voice cracked.

"Be sure you have a wonderful and rewarding day, Oran ."

"You as well."

Sunny press the off button on her phone and turned her attention to the man in his underwear. "These should fit. There's no name on the bib but my executive assistant is getting you a new pair with your name spelled correctly. Those will be ready by lunch time. If you would just slip these on then we can head down to the work site."

"I can't, my eyes, my face, its a mess," Buttman blubbered.

Sunny tossed him his overalls. "I'll get some cold water. Five minutes with a wet compress and your eyes will be like a baby's bottom."

Buttman wiped at his eyes. "You think so? Are you sure?"

"Look at this face. Does it look like I know what I'm talking about when it comes to skin care?"
Buttman leaned forward and studied Sunny in the growing morning light. "Beautiful."

Sunny smiled. "Thank you. Now get dressed. We've got a building to knock down."

Chapter 8

Sunny stepped out of her little green car after parking in the middle of a massive empty lot. She waved a greeting to the camera operators in the van pulling in between the faded white lines of the space beside her car. They nodded to her politely but did not lower their windows. Giving a one index finger sign, she indicated she wanted them to wait right where they parked. Sunny then hurried off toward to the very edge of the property and the sand bag bunker behind which most of Wreckers' crew huddled. She scanned the group hoping to find Dick Weed. He tended to be the most organized of the group and would most likely have the answer she needed. He didn't seem to be among them but one member broke from the clutch and headed toward her.

“Where are you running to like your pussy's on fire?” Sam the angry Samoan sneered.

Sunny stopped dead. “Sir, I would appreciate it if you retained an appropriate level of discourse while on the job. If you believe you are incapable of doing so then you should consider saying nothing at all. Another offensive remark will earn you a verbal warning. I'm sure you are aware from that point you will be on a PIP…,”

“Pop?” Sam questioned in confusion.

“PIP; a performance improvement plan. Of course, failure to comply with the PIP in its entirety will result in termination of employment.”

“You talking about firing me? Good. I'll just sit home on my fat ass and collect!” Sam smirked as he continued walking.

Sunny explained, “I'm afraid you will be ineligible for unemployment, Mr. Sam. You'll be fired for cause which means you will not get a dime. Worse, you will not get a good reference. And, still worse, your reputation will suffer irreparable harm.”

“Reference? Reputation? Big deal?” He gave a shrug, “But, I can't risk being without my check so I'll try to tone it down a little. Just don't get on my back when I ain't doin' nothing wrong.”

“A good starting point,” Sunny was satisfied with their small first step to a mutually agreeable work relationship. “Now, tell me where a safe vantage point is for the photography staff so we can get on with the Strategic Recording Phase: Gamma Documentation Three.”

“ Chelsea .”

Sam passed by Sunny without another word. She turned to stare mutely at his retreating form. It took more than a few moments for her to formulate the proper response.

“Mr. Sam, I believed we were making some headway with your attitude. Not five seconds after we reached a compromise, you give me a non-answer to a very important question.”

“I didn't.” The big guy turned to face her but kept walking backwards, “We're just over the line from Chelsea . My earthmover dumper is in that parking lot behind me in Chelsea . That's where I'm gonna be. I'm just hoping it's far enough. ‘Cause when Animal blows this building down, I don't want to be anywhere near it until the dust settles. This is a bitch, I mean, bear of a job. It ain't going down easy.” He thought for a minute before adding, “Or safe.”

“I see,” Sunny mumbled.

She got her cell phone out and hit speed dial. Two rings and she was telling the camera operators to move their vehicle next to the dump truck and document the work from there. Once they were squared away, Sunny turned her attention to the deconstruction job of the day.

Sunny jogged over to the bunker. Wreckers' crew all seemed as nervous at Sam. Two people were missing, Dick Weed and Animal.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” Sunny kept her tone low but clear.

“Morning,” came the muttered and somewhat sullen responses.

The men did not take their eyes of the dilapidated building scheduled for demolition. Sunny understood some of Sam's concern when she studied the target. The six-story brick building was within a hand span of the ten-story building abutting it. In front of the building was the street with fire hydrants and phone poles, although the lines had been removed. Behind the building was the harbor. There was only one space suitable for dropping the structure into and that was the empty lot next to it. Even to Sunny's untrained eye, it seemed like it was going to be a tight fit.

“Um Ms. Sunshine,” Buttman broke her concentration. “You need a hard hat. Use this one.”

Sunny looked at the offering. It was the man's own hat with the word ‘Drop' in the front and ‘DEAD' in the back. It was very sweet of him but it was also a filthy hat.

“I couldn't. What would you wear?” She tried.

He smiled and pushed the hat down on her head. He gave it a rough rap with his knuckles. Sunny stumbled a bit from the force but Mixer grabbed her arm and settled her back on her feet.

“Don't you worry about Buttman,” Mixer reassured “he's got back up head gear.”

Sunny watched the man pull a combat helmet out of his duffle bag. He put it on and stepped up the edge of the sand bags. The back of the helmet had the word DIE written on it. Sunny looked at the battle-scarred helmet a bit closer and saw a bullet hole. She shivered when she noticed the dark stain around it. Commotion from the building's entrance dragged her attention away from the back of Buttman's head.

Dick Weed was exiting the building dragging a pallet dolly behind him. Sitting backwards in the center of the wood planks was Animal. She was holding a spool of coaxial wire in each hand. Her arms were spread wide and slightly higher than shoulder level. The only sounds present on the deserted block were the wires unwinding from their spools and Dick Weed grunting with the effort to tug the screeching wheeled dolly over to the bunker. Sunny made a mental note that neither Dick Weed nor Animal was wearing their personal protective equipment. She would have Oran move up the OSHA safety in-service to first thing tomorrow morning.

“Okay, get those bags into place in front of Animal but work around the wires,” Dick Weed directed.

“Gonna go boom boom,” Animal whispered reverently.

“Let ‘em set up first,” Dick Weed told her. “It'll just be another minute or two more.”

“Then boom boom,” Animal's voice had a dreamy quality to it.

Sunny glanced over the woman's shoulder to reassure herself Animal was not stoned. Sunny was almost sorry she checked. Animal was far from intoxicated. Her cheeks were flushed and her breath was coming in short pants. The young woman's lips trembled with her excitement.

“Oh boy,” Sunny mumbled.

Skippy looked to see what Sunny was talking about and started to chuckle. “The girl knows what she likes and she likes when it blows.”

The rest of the crew laughed but not Sunny. She was very worried about Animal. This unnatural obsession with explosions was more than enough cause for concern Sunny believed.

“Okay everybody, hunker down,” Dick Weed ordered when the last sand bag went into place. “Your show now, Animal, let it rip.”

“Ma'am,” Buttman turned to Sunny, “you might want to brace yourself against me. This is rock and roll time.”

Sunny was grateful for the invitation. She felt they were entirely too close to the impending destruction but she did not want to lose face by running away. However, she was also worried about losing her face in the explosion.

“Thank you, Mr. Buttman. I appreciate your offer of support.” Sunny said as she leaned against the solid body.

“Oooooh, ooooh, baby,” Animal moaned while splicing wires together with the detonation box. “Here we go, here we go, here it comes, here…it…comes…ooooooo…”

Sunny heard a small thud just before Animal began to shiver with her orgasm.

“Ooooh, yeah, oooo…my…aching…snatch…,”

A second thud was followed by the groaning of ancient wood pilings.

“Yes…yes…yes…ahhh…mutha…oooo…,”

As if pushed by a breeze, the building tilted. The roof slid from its perch and hit the dirt in the empty lot like pancake batter on a hot griddle. The three upper stories followed suit. Bricks tumbled and crumbled but raised a minimal level of clouded debris over both the falling building and the adjacent lot. With a final gush sounding like an exhaled breath, the three lower floors collapsed down and sideward. Not one brick fell toward the abutting building, the harbor, or the street.

“Un fucking believable!” Snotty announced and sniffed.

Mixer shook his head in amazement, “Not even a broken window in any other building on the street.”

“Not even a BANG,” Buttman mumbled.

Skippy shrugged, “Well, Animal got banged.”

The group looked down on the young woman sprawled on the dolly. Her body still shuddered in the aftermath of her ecstasy. An occasional whimper was uttered but no coherent words were spoken by the barely conscious demolition girl. For this, Sunny was grateful.

“She needs serious help,” Snotty sounded sad.

Dick Weed smirked, “That's what we got Little Miss Motivational Speaker for, now isn't it? So, what bright ideas do you have for our talented but twisted mascot, Ms. Bright-Day?”

Sunny glared at the man taunting her. She knew she should not let him bait her. However, her concern for Animal was distracting Sunny from proper business etiquette. Given the current situation, she decided a small amount of spunk would be useful to reset the situation to her overall advantage.

“Mr. Weed, I should think you'd do better focusing on you own issues than Ms. Animal's obvious and acknowledged mental health disorder.”

He looked at her more than a little confused. That was, until he follow her line of sight to his own crotch. Dick Weed did not realize his spontaneous erection was tenting his overalls.

“Perhaps, if you are going to get wood every time we implode a building then you shouldn't go commando.” Sunny suggested in a very serious tone, “I would recommend tighty whities or maybe a sports cup if you think this is going to be a persistent problem for you.”

Dick Week was so furious he could not immediately answer her. His crewmates started to chuckle softly but were soon belly laughing and pointing at his dilemma.

“Fuck all of you!” He cursed before storming away.

“I'm going to bring my car over, would one of you gentlemen be so kind as to help me get Ms. Animal into the passenger seat. She has an appointment none of us wants her to miss.”

A chorus of volunteers sound an affirmative response as Sunny strolled off to her get her car.

* * *

Sunny ended her conversation when there was a knock on her office door. She knew it was Oran because of his distinctive five quick taps.

“Come in, Oran .”

Her assistant entered more relaxed than the previous afternoon. Once again, he held Animal by the hand as he led her into the suite. For her part, Animal was smiling but not as overly excited as she was returning from her first trip out with Oran . She was still dressed in her work clothes but was also wearing a firefighter's helmet.

“Thank you, Oran . I can close up shop this evening. You go home and have a good night.”

“Your welcome and have a good night as well.” Oran stopped and gave Animal a little wink, “Good night to you, Ms. Animal.”

“Night, Mr. Oran.” Animal smiled back at him and waved goodbye.

“I like your hat, Ms. Animal,” Sunny said. “Did you have a productive meeting with Dr. Goldman?”

Animal nodded as she stepped closer to Sunny's desk. She would have sat down in the chair opposite the desk but there was a man in a cheap gray suit sitting there. His black shoes were heavily scuffed and the heels were worn down. Animal didn't like the look of him when he grinned at her. His coffee stained teeth seemed too big for his crater acne scarred face.

Sunny sensed Animal's reservations and attempted to redirect the young woman's attention. “Did you find your session with Dr. Goldman useful, Ms. Animal?”

“Oh yeah, yeah, he's really great!” Animal regained some of her enthusiasm. “He had Bernie come in and show me a DVD on fire PREVENTION,” she emphasized the word. They said I could keep the DVD. It's kinda like a gift. Bernie's a real live fireman. This is his,” she explained as she pointed to the helmet. “He's letting me borrow it until tomorrow. ‘Cause he's off, I think. I thought I could wear it when I watch the DVD again later tonight. It's an amazing show! You know, Ms. Sun, this putting fires out is super complicated. I'm starting to think it's better not to start them in the first place.”

“You think?” Sunny tried to suppress an amused smile.

Animal nodded again.

“I'm glad you and Dr. Goldman are working well together. Ms. Animal, I have somebody else I want to introduce you to. Please say hello to Mr. Edward.”

Animal smiled and extended her hand to the man.

“Mr. Edward is going to be your chaperon tonight at the hotel. He's a licensed psychiatric nurse.”

“Hotel?” Animal pulled her hand back from the man with the greased back black hair. “I thought, I mean, you said, if I behaved I could use your pull out couch.”

“Oops,” Sunny thought to herself. She did not realize Animal thought the offer was for an extended stay. “Ms. Animal, it is a much more professional approach to have you, my client, afforded the luxury of your own hotel room. Mr. Edward will provide supervision as you adjust to nuisances of indoor living.” Sunny thought quickly to put on a positive spin, “You should consider this to be a gift just like the DVD.”

“Oh,” Animal sounded dubious but did not reject the notion. “I guess if it is what we're supposed to do for the business. I don't want to let Digger down. Will you pick me up tomorrow for the job in Carver?”

“I think,” Mr. Edward interrupted with a cocky shake of his head, “I can get the client to the work site. No problem adding secure delivery services to our agreement, Ms. Bright-Day.”

Sunny did not actually like the way Edward stated his offer. Coupled with her unease about his appearance, Sunny decided to glance over his file again. She flipped the folder open and silently counted the nine references she personally verified. Edward was highly regarded for his one to one care of severely disturbed and violent mentally ill patients. Animal, for all practical purposes, would be his least complicated case. The evening should be a cakewalk for the pair of them.

“Ms. Animal, I think you'll really enjoy your evening relaxing in your own space at the hotel.”

Animal appeared unconvinced but replied, “I'll do whatever you say, Ms. Sun. You know what you're doing, I guess.”

Chapter 9

The melodic sound of ‘High Hopes' toned from her night stand. Sunny reached blindly in her darkened room to find the device disturbing her sleep. She managed to knock the Studer book and a bottle of water to the floor in her search.

“Thank a higher being for screw tops,” she muttered as she dragged herself into a sitting position.

The glow of the LED screen helped her locate the phone. Pressing the key pad, she prepared to answer but instead heard the ongoing commotion on the other end.

“…did she pick up yet…call again…don't argue with me…call her again, damn it…”

A hacking cough punctuated Mrs. Digger's rebuttal to her husband's shouts. “If you don't stop yelling, I won't be able to hear little Miss Broom Handle Up Her Ass. Dig, you got to calm down. You got blood pressure, you know? And, for God's sake keep your eyes on the road!”

“Hello,” Sunny haltingly interrupted the angry voices.

“Um, oh ya, you Sunny? This is Wreckers.” Mrs. Digger was trying to recover from the surprise of getting a live person in order to recite her recently issued script on phone call etiquette. “Please, hold the line, for Digger…I mean, Mr. Braveman…”

Sunny could hear their hushed discussion as the phone was handed from one to the other. She made a mental note to instruct all Wreckers' employees on the necessity of hands free cell phone use while driving.

“Lady, you've got some explainin' to do and I mean right now!” Digger barked into the phone.

“Mr. Braveman, I can hear you are upset. I'm guessing the problem is vitally important otherwise you would not have called me at two in the morning. However, there is never any justification in business for shouting, dehumanizing epitaphs, or humiliating conversation. Please remember the basics of dignified dialog or we will be unable to continue our discussion.”

She heard the man take a deep breath. When Digger continued to speak he was no less upset but much quieter. Sunny was not sure his tone was truly less threatening. She was only sure the volume was reduced.

“You said you'd help me with her. And, now she's gone missing. The cops are out looking for her like she's some kind of psycho. My guys are combing the streets tryin' to find her first. Even Mixer's ninety three year old mother got up and headed down to St. Anthony's to pray we find her. And, what are you, my high paid consultant, doing? You're home snorin' away without a care in the world.”

“What? What are you talking about? Back up,” Sunny babbled as her heart started to race. “Are you talking about Animal?”

He swore under his breath. “Who the fuck does she think I'd call her about?”

“I can hear you,” Sunny grumbled as she got out of bed.

“I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME!” Digger shouted. “That girl is nowhere to be found. We've look everywhere she usually goes; the trailer, under the trailer, the dumpster behind Stop and Steal, the leaky steam pipe on Congress Street …,”

“I sent her to a hotel with a nurse…,”

“He's gonna sue you.”

“What?”

Digger cleared his throat. “Sam the angry Samoan went to the hotel after we heard the report…,”

“What report?” Sunny asked as she grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt from her bureau.

“The report on the police scanner about a missing woman, a dangerous missing woman…,”

“What makes you think they were talking about Animal?” Sunny sat on the edge of her bed hoping this was all a mistake.

“The BOLO was for a mid twenties, white, thin, average height female…,”

“It could be a million different…,”

“…who likes to set fires and blow up buildings…,”

“Oh,” Sunny started to dress again with a renewed sense of urgency. “Why is Mr. Edward going to sue me?”

“Sam pummeled him. Sam went to the hotel just to get info to help us find Animal. Mr. M-urse got mouthy so Sam shut him up.”

“Oh,” Sunny hurried out of her bedroom juggling her phone while pulling on her sweatshirt. “Why's Mr. Edward going to sue me?”

“Sam told Mr. M-urse you ordered the beat down.” Digger snickered, “That's just the kind of bastard Sam is.”

“How bad is Mr. Edward hurt?” Sunny asked resigned to the fact her lawyer would have a busy day tomorrow.

Digger sighed, “The crybaby went to the ER. Sam's in custody. The Mrs. and I are heading to the cop shop to bail him out. I don't care how much it costs you, you better get Mr. M-urse to drop the charges. I can't afford to lose Sammy for ninety days.”

“We'll worry about that part later. Right now, we need to find Animal,” Sunny reminded him while shoving her bare feet into her casual sneakers. She shuddered at the feeling but there was no time for socks. “Where is everybody else so I don't cover territory they're working on already?”

“I'm gonna hand you back to the Mrs. She got the low down on everybody.” He paused a moment and then his voice soften, “Sweet Dumplings, can you tell her where the boys are at?”

“You betcha, Dig. Hello, Ms. Sun, you still there?”

Sunshine rolled her eyes. “Yes, I'm here.”

She walked to the antique serving table in her entry hall so she could grab her keys from their designated spot. Ichabod was sitting on them. She quietly tried to shoe him away but he would not budge. The sleek gray cat with startling yellow eyes gave a deep meow, which he usually reserved for his mealtime. Sunny ignored him and lifted his butt off her keys.

“We got Sam in the joint, Dig and me are going after him,” she stated even though the information was already discussed. “Mixer's doin' the harbor area and North End, Snotty's doin' the emergency rooms ‘cause they all know him so well from OD'ing all the time, Skippy's doing downtown and Chinatown, Buttman's doin' the T stations, the bus terminal, the airport, and Eastie. We haven't been able to raise Dick Weed yet which is no real surprise. His wife shuts his phone off at night.”

“Okay, it sounds like you folks have spread out. You seem to have the city pretty well covered. Where is the next best place to look?”

The phone was quiet for a moment. “We don't know, Lady. That's why we called you. You said you'd take care of her so take care of her!”

Sunny was taken back by the furor in Mrs. Digger's voice. “I only met the woman a few days ago. How do you expect me to know where she'd hide?”

“For the money you're charging us, I expect you to pull a winning lottery ticket out of your ass while dancing an Irish jig, you useless bitch!”

The call ended. Sunny wasn't sure if the signal faded or the battery died or Mrs. Digger hung up. There was a real possibility Sunny herself hung up on Mrs. Digger. Sunny stepped forward and stumbled over her cat.

“Shit! Ichabod, I don't need you tripping me right about now,” she complained as she caught her balance by crashing into the wall.

Ichabod waited long enough for her to straighten up then he bounded across the living room to the sliding glass balcony door. Sunny shook her head at his antics before moving for the front door again. Once more, Ichabod charged her and ran a zig zag back and forth across her path.

“What is wrong with you?” Sunny asked in frustration.

The cat darted toward the balcony door again. This time he traveled over the top of the couch. Sunny never tolerated that one act of insubordination from her furry associate. It was behavior, which always earned Ichabod a time out in his cat carrier or locked in the bathroom.

“That's it,” Sunny hissed.

She stalked after the cat. He calmly sat at the glass door waiting for her. The unusual acceptance of his punishment temporarily distracted Sunny from her pressing mission to find Animal. Once she was within arm's reach of the cat, Sunny understood what Ichabod was trying to tell her.

Animal was sitting huddled in one of the balcony chairs. She was still wearing her work clothes with a DVD sticking out of the bib pocket. In her arms, she was clutching the firefighter's helmet. Her eyes were closed and her skin was ghastly pale. It was difficult to tell if the woman was merely sleeping or if she had, in fact, frozen to death.

Sunny hurried to get her door unlocked. The wind howled by her and buffeted her as she stepped out into the inky black morning. It was biting cold with a light spray of salt water from the sea below.

“Animal, Animal, wake up. Please wake up, honey,” Sunny shouted as she shook the young woman's damp shoulders.

“WHAT?” Animal bolted up from the chair almost toppling the two of them to the stone floor.

“Easy, easy, honey, come inside. You're going to freeze out here. Come on in,” Sunny coaxed the confused young woman.

Animal followed the tugging on her arm. She stepped over the threshold still dazed from her abrupt awakening. After Sunny shut the door behind them, Animal started to shiver. Sunny grabbed the decorative quilt from her grandfather's rocker. She wrapped it around Animal then steered her to the couch. Animal resisted when she realized where she was being guided.

“No, I'll get it all wet and smelly,” Animal's voice was hoarse.

Sunny wondered if the hoarseness was from fatigue, illness, yelling or tears. When she looked Animal in the eyes under the dim light shining from the entryway, Sunny decided the hoarse voice was most likely a result of all the possible factors. Animal's eyes looked hunted and haunted. Streaks of dried tears marked her cheeks. Her lower lip was split and there was a smudge of blood at the corner of her mouth.

“Please sit down. The upholstery can be cleaned but there is only one you,” Sunny repeated something her mother often said to her.

Animal's jaw dropped at the remark. “Nobody's ever said that about me before.”

Sunny swallowed down her gulp of grief in order to maintain her professionalism. “Then a great number of people missed an opportunity to acknowledge your unique specialness in our world. You are special, Ms. Animal. Never forget that.”

Animal gave a two bob nod as she accepted placement on the couch. She seemed to shrink into the softness and pulled the quilt tighter around herself.

“Let me call Digger so he can tell everybody you're safe,” Sunny said and took out her phone.

Animal sat up and began babbling her objection, “No! I'll go and not trespass no more. They don't need to come and take me away. I'm sorry I got on your balcony without asking. Just thought nobody would look there. ‘Cause the police would need a warrant and there'd be no probable so I climbed up. But, I didn't break nothin' or try to get in. I'm real sorry I bothered you. Please don't turn me in.”

Sunny raised her hands in surrender at Animal's steady stream of begging. “Relax. Nobody is going anywhere tonight. Only three things are going to happen over the next four hours; you are taking a hot shower, I'm calling Digger, and then we are going to bed.” Sunny felt the need to clarify one point, “You can use the pull out sofa until tomorrow morning. After breakfast, you can tell me everything leading up to me finding you on the balcony. Ok?”

Animal thought for a moment with a worried look on her face. Finally, she nodded agreement with the plan. Sunny speed dialed Digger while getting linens and towels for her unexpected visitor. She gave the man the briefest update possible before sending Animal to the shower.

“Um, Ms. Sun,” Animal called out after she shut off the water. “I ain't got no clothes.”

“Slipping, I'm slipping in the hospitality department,” Sunny mumbled. “Check in the closet. I think there's a bathrobe in there. I don't think I have any pajamas that will fit you. How ‘bout a tee shirt and shorts?”

“This'll do,” Animal said as she emerged from the steamy bathroom. “It's real comfy. I usually sleep naked anyway when I sleep in a bed so this'll do.”

Sunny could not hide her blush. “Not a great idea. Let me get you something to wear.”

“Why?” Animal questioned after Sunny hurried off to her bedroom. “You already seen me in the buff. I got nothin' you don't got, anyhow.”

A bit more composed, Sunny returned with several suitable items of clothing. “It would not be appropriate for me to have you sleeping naked on my couch. You are my client and a guest. The least I can do is provide you with something to wear while your clothes dry.”

Animal shrugged and accepted the offering.

“Do I need to worry you will not be here for breakfast?” Sunny asked.

“No, I'll stay put. I promise not to run away. Again.”

“Thank you,” Sunny truly was thankful. “And, good night, Ms. Animal.”

Chapter 10

Sunny never overslept. She set her alarm each night merely as a back up but never needed it to wake her. Until this morning, that is. The incessant buzzing from the iPod station on her bedside table pulled her from the paralyzing depths of deepest sleep. She was hard pressed to remember where she was and who she was for more than a few frightening heartbeats.

“Ouch,” she hissed.

While fumbling to silence the alarm, Sunny felt the painful tug of the stiffest neck she had ever suffered. It sent throbbing shock waves down her back and up her skull. She thought her head might actually fall of if she kept reaching for the annoying reminder of her failure to rise and shine.

Sunny regrouped and rolled over on her back. She managed to push herself up with her elbows while keeping her neck perfectly crooked in the position it settled into the night before. Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, Sunny was able to tap the off button of the nagging device. Her home became blissfully quiet again.

“5 am,” she muttered with regret.

There was no way she would make it into her office by the 6:30 am for the Daily Friday Morning Quarterbacking. Sunny missed every Quarterbacking session during the past week. She had never missed even one meeting prior to taking on Digger Braveman as a client. A bad trend was beginning she feared. The chaos of Wreckers could easily bleed into her company, into her life if she was not very careful.

“Take it one step at a time. Repair the immediate problems first and back burner those which can simmer a little longer without boiling over,” she reminded herself.

Sunny grabbed her cell phone. She typed in a message to Oran explaining her tardiness. Before she hit send, Sunny erased tardy and replaced it with absence. Another first in a series of firsts Sunny spent a career trying to avoid.

“Go forward,” she encouraged herself and eased off the bed.

It would be impossible to put on her bathrobe without tears. Sunny determined her sweat pants and long sleeved tee shirt were adequate for greeting her guest and making breakfast.

“But, I need Motrin before I do another thing,” Sunny muttered as she exited her bedroom.

The living room was silent. If she did not know somebody was sleeping on her pull out sofa then she would not be able to guess it. Animal was face down on the mattress. Her bare arms were up in a surrender position. Blankets bunched around her waist leaving her feet free. She was so still; Sunny watched a moment longer to reassure herself Animal was breathing.

Ichabod lay curled up in the middle of Animal's back. The cat was sleeping so sound, he did not purr or lift his head or acknowledger his owner in anyway. Sunny tried not to be miffed about the snub.

“One disaster after another,” Sunny groused when she entered the kitchen.

Her coffee maker, which usually had a fresh, hot pot ready for her by this time, stood cold and powerless. Sunny hurried her steps over to her stricken appliance's side. Her worst fear was confirmed when she determined it was plugged in and loaded with water and coffee.

“Broken,” she almost wept. “Denied my one vice; is there no end to my suffering today?”

Sunny was only half kidding. Coffee was her indulgence. It was the bad thing she allowed herself to crave. Each cup marked a moment of private rebellion for Sunny. Every sip was relished as a defiant act of joy for joy's sake alone.

“Now what will I do?” Sunny asked softly while cradling her neck with one arm and the broken coffee maker with the other.

“I could make you some chocolate milk.”

The voice behind her was unexpected. She was unprepared for a witness to her disproportionate grief. Sunny screamed as she spun around and knocked the broken coffee maker off the counter top. It dropped to the floor. The crash vibrated across the floor sending Ichabod running for cover. Coffee, water, shattered glass, and pieces of plastic littered the once pristine white tile between Sunny and Animal.

“Okay, how ‘bout some tea?” Animal asked with a hint of confusion in her voice.

Sunny hung her head in despair. The wretched pain in her neck reared up. She whimpered and clutched at the spot that hurt the most.

“Are you hurt?” Animal asked.

She gingerly stepped across the debris to Sunny's side. Wrapping one arm around the suffering woman's waist, Animal guided them both to the pull out sofa.

“No, it'll make it worse if I lay down there,” Sunny cringed at the thought of reclining on the flimsy mattress.

Without a word, Animal steered them to Sunny's bedroom.

“Which side's yours?” Animal asked when they approached the bed.

“Both.”

“Shame,” Animal muttered while she helped Sunny sit at the edge of the bed closest to the window.

“What's that suppose to mean?” Sunny was a bit indignant but let Animal lay her back on a nest of newly fluffed pillows.

Animal shrugged, “Like I said the first time we met, you got a smokin' hot ass. Somebody should be taggin' it.”

Sunny stared mutely at the young woman tucking the blankets around her. Sunny couldn't decide if she should be flattered or angry with Animal's comment. She chose to maintain her professionalism in spite of the unusual circumstances.

“Ms. Animal,” she began, “while your statement might be complimentary in some situations it is entirely inappropriate here.”

Animal scanned the room before replying. “It's inappropriate to give your ass its propers in your bedroom? That's kind of weird even for you. Those are some tough rules you use against yourself.”

Sunny opened her mouth to speak. Words fled. She had nothing to say. Yet, another first.

“You don't look so good,” Animal said. “You better stay put. I'll pick up the mess. You need anything?”

Sunny was only able to shake her head minutely. It was enough for Animal to understand. She left Sunny alone on her big bed in her gorgeous empty bedroom.

Sunny woke. It surprised her. She did not suspect she would fall asleep. She had never gone back to sleep after getting up. Another first. Sunny groaned for the second time in as many hours.

“Oh, you awake?”

Sunny turned her shoulders and head to see the woman sitting on the floor at the foot of her bed. Animal was dressed in her work clothes. She was sitting cross-legged and patting the cat in her lap. Ichabod purred like an outboard motor.

“What are you doing sitting on the floor?”

“Oh,” Animal blushed with embarrassment, “I thought you wanted me to wait for you. You said you expected to see me in the morning. So, I waited but I can go. Sorry, I must have misunderstood.”

Sunny held up her hand to stop the woman's escape and winced in pain.

“You okay?” Animal stepped closer to the bedside.

Sunny ignored the question. “You don't need to leave. I just don't know why you're sitting on the floor. The living room furniture is very comfortable or so I've been told.”

Sunny couldn't really remember the last time she sat in her own living room to entertain company.

“What's the matter with your head?” Animal stepped closer.

“Stiff neck,” Sunny sighed in exasperation.

“Sit up,” Animal instructed.

She shifted Sunny forward and climbed up on the bed behind her. Long, warm fingers smoothed over the tense corded muscles up Sunny's neck and down her back. A shiver ran the length of her when Animal increased the force in her fingertips.

“You don't have to…” Sunny's protest faded to a hum as the muscles relaxed.

“This happens to me all the time. Sleeping on gravel will mess you up,” Animal explained.

“Who taught you to give massages?” Sunny managed to ask without drooling.

Animal was quite.

Sunny had to shift her whole body to see Animal. The woman seemed humiliated. Sunny regretted what she thought was a casual question.

“I'm sorry,” Animal said. “I thought I was doing it right. This is how it looks when they do it on TV. I don't know what I'm doing. Never really touched any girl like this before.”

“You were doing it perfectly,” Sunny reassured. “And, I'm not a girl. I'm a woman.”

Animal seemed to deflate even more than she already was. “Here it comes. You're Digger's contractor. I'm your client. It's inauspicious…,”

“…inappropriate,” Sunny corrected.

“That too,” Animal agreed. “You're too smart, too rich, too much to bother with something like me. I get it. Sorry.”

Sunny felt another first swelling on her immediate horizon. It was the first of her current string of first bad decisions she was actually prepared to welcome with open arms.

“No, you don't get it,” Sunny said and turned to face animal. “I like what you were doing to me. I liked it a lot. I don't want you to stop. Do you want to stop?”

Animal grinned, “Hell, no. I want into your pants something awful. Can I lick your pu…,”

Sunny stopped Animal's stream of consciousness with a finger to the lips. “Honey, talking like that can be a real mood killer. Well, it is for me anyway.”

“Maybe we should get the shock collar back from Dick Weed so you can shut me up before I say something stupid?”

“No,” Sunny chuckled as she closed in for a kiss, “I've got other ways of shutting you up.”

Animal was thrilled to be silenced by Sunny's tongue plunging into her mouth.

“It used to be so simple,” Sunny thought to herself. “Right was right and wrong was wrong. No grays allowed.”

Turning her head toward the slumbering form next to her, Sunny realized the pain in her neck was gone.

“Moved the pain clear out of my neck and into my bed,” Sunny mused with a faint smile.

She took a moment to study Animal. The woman lay curled on her side with her thumb firmly planted in her mouth. Her eyes darted from side to side behind closed lids watching some dream or nightmare play out.

“Wonder what she sets on fire in her dreams?” Sunny frowned with the thought. “I just slept with a client. A mentally ill client. A homeless, mentally ill client with a criminal record and a marketable skill in explosive technology. Dumb, really dumb.” The smile slowly spread across Sunny's face, “But, she was amazing! No wonder they call her Animal.”

As if on cue, Animal opened her eyes. Her thumb released with a sloppy pop. An instant of panic at the unfamiliar surroundings was replaced with a satisfied grin.

“Anything hurt now?”

Sunny shook her head no.

“Want me to make something hurt?” Animal climbed on top of Sunny and planted a long kiss on her willing lips.

Once they broke for a breath, Sunny sighed, “I've betrayed everything I've built my reputation and career on to sleep with you.”

“That's okay,” Animal encourage her with a gentle kiss on the nose. “I'm totally worth it. Ask anybody.”

Sunny's stomach flipped. “Anybody?”

Animal missed her new lover's alarm and began kissing her way down Sunny's body.

“Hold on! Hold it! When you say, ‘anybody' how many bodies are you talking about? And, when were you last tested?”

Animal pulled her mouth away from Sunny's belly button to answer. “Lots of bodies. Nights on the streets get pretty cold. Pretty boring too. I think, after your extensive research last night, you figured out I wasn't a shy young virgin getting on board the Ms. Sun Express to Love Town .”

“For God's sake,” Sunny shifted Animal off her so she could sit up. “When were you tested last?”

“I didn't know they gave tests for this kind of stuff. I'm just guessing ‘cause I don't know what the questions are but if it's a demonstration kind of test like the driving thing then I'll come in the top ten percent for my age group.” Animal grinned and wiggled her eyebrows, “Get it, come?”

“No, stop fooling around. I'm talking HIV, herpes, Chlamydia, STD's, those tests! When were you last tested?”

“Oh, VD. I get you now. That old doc you dragged me to ran them. Called me at the yard the other day. I'm clean so far.”

“So far?”

Animal shrugged, “Well, a couple take a little longer but don't worry. I'm responsible. I go to the clinic and get bloods done every few months. Other than crabs, I was clean in February.”

“Good,” Sunny took a deep cleansing breath to relax. “You need to keep current with testing and you really should use protection if you're going to be so promiscuous.”

Animal sneered. “Promiscuous.”

Sunny began to explain, “It means…,”

“I know what it means, lady! I listen to Nelly Furtado too, you know. And, if I'm promiscuous then what in Hell are you?”

“What are you talking about? I have sex once every six or seven months if I'm lucky,” Sunny blushed at the admission she hadn't intended to make.

“Ya, but you just had sex with something like me so you've slept with everybody I've slept with. So, you're talking triple digits now. And, you're getting paid to be with me so what else does that say about you? Whore!” Animal snarled before scrambling off the bed. “You know, maybe this is why both sides of the bed are your's. You get fucked really great by somebody and then you tell them to fuck off!”

“Wait, Animal, wait!”

Sunny begged as she tried to untangle herself from her sheets. She wanted to stop the argument before it got completely out of control. She needed to stop it before Animal was completely out of her control.

“That's Ms. Animal to you!” Animal screamed while rounding up her clothes and stalking into the hallway.

“Please wait! I'm sorry. I'm an ass! Please, give me a minute to apologize!” Sunny tumbled out of the bed babbling. She hopped naked after Animal into the living room.

Animal tugged her shirt on with her overalls hanging on her hips waiting to be pulled up. Her head popped through the opening and she cursed. She violently twisted the backwards material around her neck.

“I'm sorry. Please don't run away. Talk to me,” Sunny was pleading.

“No!” The answer was petulant.

Sunny was shaking. She was afraid. It was of little consequence to her at that moment she was not afraid of ruining her account with Wreckers or losing her business or destroying her reputation. Sunny was afraid Animal would walk out on her.

“If you're going to leave then at least let me make you breakfast. I've got a breakfast burrito or pumpkin muffins or scrambled tofu…,”

“Eeww,” Animal stopped her frazzled attempt to dress in order to voice her disdain. “What in the name of plastique is scrambled tofu?”

“It's an egg substitute.”

Animal let her pants drop to the floor to focus on Sunny. “Why would anybody want a substitute for eggs? Eggs are perfect just as they are.”

Sunny shrugged a little. “I'm a vegetarian hoping to be a vegan some day.”

Animal sat down on the side of the pull out sofa. She was bewildered by the shift in the direction of the conversation. Sunny took the sudden lull to race into the kitchen and make chocolate milk for Animal. When she returned with the full glass, Animal had recovered enough from her culture shock to begin dressing again. Her overalls were up and fastened and she had one boot on with the other waiting patiently beside her.

“Please, if you won't have anything to eat then at least drink this before you go,” Sunny quietly made the offer.

Animal shook her head. “I don't want nothing from you. You think you're better than me because you don't mess around with hundreds of people and you got money and you don't start fires all the time and…, where's my hat?”

Sunny sat down in the same spot Animal just vacated on the sofa. She took a long drag of the flavored milk. It had been so long since she tasted the cold concoction she'd forgotten how delicious it actually was.

“Thought you made that for me.”

“Thought you were looking for your hat.” Sunny took another gulp of the milk before speaking again. “You know, it's not fair.” Animal stopped her search to glare at her. “I accept that you set fires. I accept the fact you enjoy setting fires. I'm trying to help you channel your unique talent so it's within the bounds of the law. But, you won't forgive me or help me with my character flaw.”

Animal stepped over to the seated woman and looked down at her. “What flaw is that?”

“I'm a snob.”

Animal grinned.

“I'm a selfish snob.”

“Don't forget you're bitchy too,” Animal added with a chuckle.

Sunny set her glass on the floor. She reached up and stroked Animal's thighs through the course material of the overalls.

“I don't have to be bitchy. In fact, I can be downright humble.”

Animal quickly unsnapped her suspenders. Her pants flopped to the floor knocking over the chocolate milk. Before she could offer to clean it up, Sunny ripped her underpants off. Animal swallowed hard when Sunny nuzzled into her snatch.

“Uhm, didn't you say something about protection?”

Sunny reluctantly drew away to answer, “We can't get pregnant. I'm on the pill.”

“Why would you be on the pill?” Animal started to lose her focus when Sunny slipped her index finger between her lower lips.

“Just in case,” Sunny hummed as returned to having Animal for breakfast.

Chapter 11

The water from the showerhead pelted Sunny's back. She was oblivious to the sensation. Her mouth was too busy suckling Animal's breast while her fingers explored the warmth between Animal's eagerly parted thighs. Soft grunts of pleasure emanated from the young woman's mouth.

“You like this don't you?” Sunny teased.

Animal nodded her head vigorously. “Uh huh.”

“Bet you didn't know getting clean could be so dirty,” Sunny chuckled as she drove Animal to another orgasm.

They spent the entire weekend fucking each other stupid. Sunny learned a great deal from Animal in their all too brief forty-eight hours together. Prior to this, multiples were just salacious details in adult novels. Fictional details, she believed. But, Monday waits for no being. Work, unfortunately, could not be ignored any longer. That, of course, did not preclude one final shower to get off one final time.

Animal stepped out of the shower first and grabbed the towels. Sunny shut off the water and straightened up the bottles of hair care products they knocked over during their rambunctious romp. Once she stepped out, Animal tossed her a towel before wrapping her own around her waist.

“Want me to pop the tarts?” Animal asked with a sexy growl.

Sunny chuckled. “Why don't you get dressed and I'll think about breakfast?”

Animal shrugged and exited the steamy bathroom. Sunny hurried to her bedroom and pulled on the casual outfight she had prepared the night before. She had a feeling their morning would include another bang or two but she did not want to risk running late for work again.

Sunny put herself together as quickly as she could. When she returned to the living room, she saw a fully dressed Animal studying a plaque on the wall. The woman was wearing her firefighter's hat. The innocence of the image made Sunny smile. Sensing her audience, Animal glanced over her shoulder. She gave a big grin back at Sunny.

“What does this stand for?” Animal asked as she pointed at the plaque.

Sunny closed the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around Animal. The young woman was quick to embrace Sunny in return.

“Love you,” Animal whispered.

Sunny was caught off guard by the statement. She quickly tried to cover her shock at the unexpected and uncalled for comment. Love was not something which would easily fit into her business plan for Wreckers.

“GLBTQ2IA? It stands for ‘gay, lesbian, bi, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, allies.'” Sunny detailed the letters on the sign.

Animal frowned and mumbled, “You'd think perverts would cover it.”

“That's really not appropriate, Ms. Animal.”

“Uh oh, time to go back to work?”

Sunny nodded.

“Can we do this again?”

Sunny nodded again.

“Can we do this again tonight?”

Sunny nodded again.

“Sweet!” Animal proclaimed. “Wait a second, what about breakfast?”

“I'll let you have a granola bar in the car while I drive you over to Wreckers.”

“Okay then. Still sweet.”

Sunny was completing the last unfinished report from the previous week when Oran lightly rapped on her door before entering her office. She managed to get behind her desk a full hour before his arrival. It was not much but it did make Sunny feel slightly better about abandoning him the previous week.

“A very good morning to…,” her greeting was cut off by his scream.

Oran stood transfixed with his forefinger to his lips.

“What?” She was dumbfounded by his behavior.

He pointed at her and blurted out, “You fucked that little firebug!”

“Why would you think…, I mean, what are you talk…, I'm, um, how can you tell…,” Sunny stammered.

He began to list the clues on his fingers, “You're the one that found our mangy menace on Friday night…,”

“Wait! How do you know that?”

“My wife and I listen to the police scanner too, you know!

“Wife?” Sunny muttered with a bit of surprise at the revelation. “Never would have guessed that one.”

He continued unaware of her disbelief. “I called Wreckers and they had me check out the movie theaters. It seems all the local ushers know your girl Sparky!”

“Just ‘cause I found her and let her stay at my place for a couple of nights doesn't mean I engaged in…,”

“Save it,” Oran was disgusted. “You look ‘rested, well rested,' Missy. You're also dressed in your usual ‘morning after rags.' Granted, I haven't seen them in a while but I'd recognize them anywhere. You don't have a lick of make up on, your hair is loose, and,” he said in a halting voice, “you've got hickies all over your neck! Oh, Sunny, how could you? How could you betray me this way?”

“For God's sake,” Sunny groaned.

Oran screamed again.

“What now?” Sunny could not even imagine what crime she had committed while sitting at her desk.

“You invoked ‘G,' ‘o,' ‘d.'” He carefully spelled out her offense. “We do not reference deities at Bright Day. Or, has that changed too? Are we going to become a conservative religious group now? Will I have to wear a burkha during work hours?”

Sunny rolled her eyes. She knew she deserved his anger. However, she did not believe anybody should have to endure Oran 's hysteria.

“Please, try to calm down.”

“Calm down, she says.”

“Yes,” Sunny sighed, “she says calm down.”

He sat in one of the chairs across from her. His glare indicated his expectation for an apology of some sort.

“Fuck it,” Sunny tossed her hands in the air. “For five years, I've been the very model of decorum and proper business behavior. What has it gotten me? Nothing!” She hesitated and clarified, “Well, it's gotten me financial security and respect but my emotionally life has been a very sparse for five long years, if you know what I mean, Oran .”

“I'm quite sure I don't want to know what you mean,” he sneered his reply.

“That is my problem,” Sunny stated with a slumping of her shoulders. “Nobody wants to know what I mean. Not until Animal, that is. She wants to know and she wants me for me not for anything I can get her. I deserve her, Oran .”

He stood shaking his head. “You certainly do deserve her, Ms Bright-Day. You also deserve my notice.”

“No need.” She saw he was going to argue and raised her hand to stop him. “ Ill pay you out a month's notice but pack and leave immediately. If after five years you don't care about my happiness then I don't care about yours.”

“Nothing new there,” Oran snarled and stormed out of the office.

Sunny took two calming breaths before pulling out her cell. She hit speed dial and waited patiently for the connection. If it went directly to voice mail, she planned to keep calling back until she got a live voice on the other end.

“Ms. Bright-Day? It's not even six in the morning, what's wrong?”

“Mr. Harper, you know the offer you got last month for Bright Day? Do you think they're still interested?”

She wasn't exactly sure what she was doing but Sunny was really excited by the uncertainty. Another first.

Chapter 12

Sunny felt butterflies in her stomach. It was years since the last time she did anything to cause such a sensation. It was exciting and terrifying at the same time. She could feel her emotions shifting between giddy as a schoolgirl and shock of puritanical proportions at her own behavior. The oddest part of all was how much she was enjoying living for the moment.

Her entire adult life was spent repairing what happened before or planning for what would happen next. It was an endless assembly line of fixing somebody else's mistakes or steering another's triumphs. None of her effort was directed at her own life. Sunny never stopped to appreciate her own now. A moment devoted entirely to the simple act of breathing in then out was never on her radar. That was the fact of her life until this very second.

She stood on her balcony breathing in the cool sea air and releasing warmed exhalations: freeing a little of herself into the world. The sun was setting like a suitor bowing good night to his fair maiden, the Atlantic . She sighed and felt lighter.

“Perhaps, a little light headed too,” she thought with a smile.

She became aware of her doorbell's persistent chime only after several heavy thuds against the solid wood door. Sunny reluctantly turned away from the view and trudged back into her condo. Ichabod was lounging on the made up but still pulled out couch.

Sunny chuckled, “I think I've lost you to Animal. That's okay; I've lost me to Animal too.”

“IT'S ABOUT TIME,” Song Bird announced in no uncertain terms once Sunny opened the door.

Song Bird, a self-proclaimed intuitive, pushed Sunny out of her way. She stalked purposefully over to the couch. Shaking her head, she pointed at Ichabod.

“I've warned you about cats, Sunshine. If you will not get rid of it then at least be considerate enough to put it in another room when I'm coming over for a house call.”

Ichabod's back was up and he was hissing as soon as Song Bird approached. Sunny hurried to put herself between the pair.

“I'm sorry, Song Bird. I completely forgot about our appointment,” Sunny tried to explain.

Song Bird frowned and replied, “We've had a standing appointment for the last six months and you ‘forgot' about it. You of all people don't just forget meetings. Something is up. I can feel it! Tell me everything…after you put that cat someplace out of my way.”

“I don't want to put Ichabod anyplace. He's comfortable right where he is. Why don't we go out on the balcony? I do want to talk to you but I'd rather do it where I can watch the sunset.”

“Sunset?” Song Bird was alarmed by the statement. “Now I know something's up for sure. Are you feeling alright? You haven't been drinking have you?”

“What? No, of course not.” Sunny thought about the question for a brief moment before asking, “Wait, what would it matter if I did have a drink?”

Song Bird bristled and answered with a sharp retort, “You need to stay clear headed and chemical free to keep focused. Your business is finally coming into greatness. You must be prepared day and night to respond to any and all opportunities for Bright Day.”

Sunny laughed a little and said, “Never was a truer word spoken. I got an offer to sell Bright Day to Solution Corp.”

“Of course, you did!” Song Bird's eyes sparkled at the prospect. “They must have heard about our find at Wreckers and they are scared you'll soon dominate the industry. You'll become the destroyer of corporate consulting agencies. They are trying to cut your legs out from under you before you get a chance to earn a fraction of Wrecker's potential gold mine. In less than a year, you'll be able to buy and sell them, I'll guarantee it. I'm thinking you should make them a counter offer.”

Sunny said, “I did.”
“Excellent strategy! It is a bit premature perhaps but excellent nonetheless. It'll keep them off base.”

“They accepted.”

Song Bird almost drooled as she answered, “Spectacular! Unexpected but spectacular. You'll finally be able to expand your staffing levels to include me on a full time basis. It may be difficult for you to scrimp by the rest of this fiscal year after what must be an enormous outlay of money to buy them but in the long run, this move will make us unstoppable.”

“Us?” Sunny questioned quietly before explaining. “I'm afraid you misunderstood me, Song Bird. They accepted my asking price for Bright Day. I sold the business no more than an hour ago. I'm officially unemployed. Isn't it great?”

“What?” Song Bird was horrified.

Sunny grinned as she answered, “Solution Corp bought Bright Day lock, stock, and barrel. I'm finally free of my 24/7/365 burden.”

“You must be joking! Right, you're joking?” Song Bird asked.

Sunny replied, “No, not at all. I finally found somebody who thinks I'm worth trying to make a life with. I drove away so many people in my life out of fear it would hurt the company by distracting me. I'm not going to risk losing Animal because our relationship isn't in any reasonable business plan. She loves me, Song Bird. Can you believe? She only cares about me for me? Love? I never thought I was good enough for anybody to love but Animal loves me. And, I love her.”

“Idiot! How could you do this to me?” Song Bird shouted. “You were finally on the verge of making REAL money. Not this nickel and dime shit operation you've been dicking around with for years. You could have gone global. Now, you've dropped out of the game just at the big payoff comes rolling in the front door. STUPID!”

“How dare you!” Sunny countered.

Song Bird shouted even louder, “I dare because I'm the one who made you, made your business a success. It was my advice that drove Bright Day to its success.”

“You made Bright Day successful? You made me successful?” It was Sunny's turn to hiss, “Get this straight, Lady, I was successful long before I even met you. I turned to you for advice because…because I had no friends. I spent five years with my nose to the grindstone day and night and lost sight of everything really important in life.”

Song Bird folder her arms across her chest and stated, “You're wrong. You have no friends because you are not a likable person. You're so tedious, you have to pay people to listen to you. Even with cash in hand, it's a struggle for people like me to endure your grueling nature. Nobody likes you, Sunshine! Nobody!”

“I don't think that's true. At least, it ain't true any more if it was even true to begin with,” Animal said as she walked in from the balcony. “I don't think it could have been true ever, though. Sunny's been so nice to me and the guys that I don't think she could be unlikable.” Animal shrugged, “At least, I like her. A lot.”

Song Bird's sour face brightened. “Ah, Ms. Animal, a pleasure to finally meet you in person. And, in the nick of time too, I think. I feel I must caution you about Sunshine. She's merely using you for her own nefarious purposes. She's planning to get rich off your unique skills. We should talk about your future.”

Song Bird made a dramatic turn toward Animal letting her shawl and skirt billow with her exaggerated movements. She extended her hand in order to take hold of Animal.

Ichabod recognized the danger instantly. He saw the evil one attempting to pounce upon his new friend. He would have none of it. It was bad enough he watched passively while his old friend was preyed upon by this parasite. He knew he made a mistake not scratching out the evil one's eyes the first time she entered his den. Ichabod was not about to make the same mistake twice. He leapt from his spot on the sofa and snagged the evil one's swirling material with extended claws.

“You fuckin' fur ball!” Song Bird screamed and tried to kick away Ichabod.

Sunny and Animal moved as one. Sunny managed to grab the polyester curtain of cheap clothing. Animal caught Ichabod under his belly and by the scruff of the neck. Her mind was so intent on pulling him close to protect him that she missed the booted foot striking out. The cloth rent, the boot connected and the three women screamed.

“Mutha fucka,” Animal gasped as she curled over her injured belly but managed to keep hold of Ichabod.

“Fuckin' cat!” Song Bird howled.

“Bitch!”

Sunny was not about to be satisfied with words alone. She shoved the seething intuitive back ward. Song Bird retreated with the force but was not insightful enough to look behind her. In one continuous movement, she flipped over the low coffee table. A resounding crash followed. Song Bird lay on her back with her legs in the air wrapped around the upended furniture coughing and cursing.

“Oh shit!” Animal announced what everybody in the room was thinking.

Everybody, that is, except Ichabod. He was purring in pure contentment while licking Animal's face. His only thoughts were reserved for rewarding his new friend who rescued him from the evil one.

“Don't worry,” Sunny finally was able to speak. “It's only a Chintaly Imports cocktail table. Easy enough to replace. Cheapish too. No worries. No problem.”

“You're an asshole!” Song Bird shrieked. “I'm gonna sue you for every dime you have!”

Before Sunny could answer, Animal was on her feet making a few promises of her own. “You leave Sunny alone. Unless you never want to be able to shut your eyes with any confidence your house won't explode!”

Song Bird pulled herself and her clothing free of the broken table. She climbed up to her knees by bracing her arms on the sofa. With a big push, she was able to stand. She wobbled a little but finally found her balance after a few sways. She shot a nasty glare at the two women and cat standing united before her. This scam was over and she knew it. Better to cut and run and live to flim flam another day.

“Fine! Forget about suing. I'm done with you, Sunshine. You can have each other for all I care. I wouldn't take your corrupted money if you begged me to.”

Song Bird turned indignantly and headed for the door. Seconds after grabbing the door handle, Song Bird remembered one last important point.

“Of course, I will still need to charge you for today's session!”

With that said, Song Bird strode out of Sunshine's life forever.

“What a punk,” Animal remarked as she cuddled Ichabod.

Sunny laughed. It was a full laugh. Such a deep feeling of joy her eyes watered and stung. She could barely get her breath but could not hold back the laughter. A sudden bolt of fear she just might wet herself rattled her senses, which served only to make her laugh harder.

She felt Animal's arms wrap around her before she actually saw the woman up close. Light kisses along her cheeks began to quiet her to giggles. A sweet kiss to her mouth silenced her out loud humor.

“You okay?” Animal asked when they broke for air.

Sunny looked up at Animal's concerned face, “I am now.”

“Good,” Animal stated the obvious.

Sunny said, “Hey, you don't have to climb in through the balcony. I have a front door, you know.”

“Regular people use the front door,” Animal informed her. “I'm not regular.”

“You certainly aren't,” Sunny agreed. “You've changed everything for me; you do know that, don't you? You deconstructed my whole life.” Sunny kissed Animal's trembling lips before the woman could protest her innocence to the accusation. “I can't thank you enough but I'm gonna try everyday show you my gratitude.”

Animal grinned. She stole several lingering kisses from Sunny's willing mouth.

“Let's ride off into the sunset together,” Sunny suggested.

Animal considered the offer for a moment before her eyebrows rose with a sudden understanding. “You mean we're gonna screw on the balcony, don't you?”

“Yes,” Sunny answered.

Sunny tugged Animal after her toward the first of their many setting suns to come.

“Good,” Animal once again stated the obvious.

THE END

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