"Home?"
"Blind drunk, with a blonde on his knee."
I tramped so hard on the accelerator that it must have scraped the
ground all the way home. Ashe didn't hear me pull up to the house
because the radio was going full blast. I hit the light switch in the
hallway and the brightness flared against the lengthening afternoon
shadows, spotting him and the blonde on the living room couch.
The blonde looked as if she'd come from a burlesque runway. Ashe dumped
her on the floor and staggered to his feet. He'd changed his appearance
again. Now he looked a strikingly handsome twenty-five. He came forward
to throw a heavy arm around my shoulder.
"Glad to see you, Ted," he mouthed. "Ran out of money. Must have more.
Small loan...."
I put both hands on his chest and pushed. He stumbled back and thudded
against the wall. "The police have picked up Tommy," I said flatly.
"He's been charged with the shoplifting you did today."
He sobered instantly. He jerked the blonde to her feet, booted her out,
slammed the door and came back to me. "Ted, I'm shocked to hear this.
Tell me about it quickly. We must do something right away."
The blonde had begun to howl and scream curses. I could hear doors and
windows opening all the way down the street. "You monster!" Nan spat,
and hurried outside. Presently the girl quieted down.
"Ted," Ashe whispered, "I'm ashamed of myself. Here you befriended me
and all I've done is get you and your family in trouble." He held a
cupped hand over his eyes as if he were shading tears. "Can you possibly
find it in your heart to forgive me?"
I was moved. After all, a poor, homeless alien being couldn't very well
be expected to understand our manners and feelings. Yet this one did.
All because he'd been touched by my friendship.
"Ashe," I said, feeling the the warmth of good will, "I'm happy to hear
you say that. Bygones are bygones. The important thing is springing
Tommy."
"Exactly," he said. "We'll go and explain everything to the police. But
we'll do it in grand style. This is your big show. We must have Jones
and the Mayor. We must have photographers, reporters, television,
radio--everything!"
* * * * *