The Jet Chapter 7

                                    

                                          
I stretch slightly as I shift in my seat on the plane. I'm kinda bored. We've been on here for hours. I've been thinking about the robbery we pulled off. Man, we were good. I have to say that. 
                          
I hid as a teenager walking with Jack while Henley and Daniel hid in the truck transporting the money. Merritt was a construction worker. We pulled it off quickly and quietly. Just like it was planned. 
                          
" When I was down, I was your clown. " I sing softly to the window. " Whoohoo! Nobody knows it. Right form the start, I gave you my heart. Oooh! I gave you my heart. So don't go breaking my heart. Don't go breaking my heart! " 
                          

                            
                              
                                
                                
                              
                            
                            
                          
                          
I tap my fingers on the window seal. " Right from the start! I gave you my heart. Oooh! I gave you my heart. Don't go breaking my heart. I won't go breaking your heart. " 
                          
" You love to sing, don't ya? " Jack asks. 
                          
I nod and blush slightly. " Yeah. I always have. And, I'm bored. "
                          
" Hey, Daniel. I wanted to talk to you about my role in the show real quick? " Jack turns to Daniel who walks past him with a quick pat on the head. 
                          
" Yeah yeah yeah. Sure. Hey guys. " He leans on the door frame and talks to Henley and Merritt. " We got a show to prepare for. " 
                          
" Do we now? " Merritt asks as he plays dumb. 
                          
" No no no. Don't do that. " Daniel backs away from Merritt as he walks towards him, trying to read his mind. " You are not doing that thing to me. No. " 
                          
" What thing? I'm just looking at you. " Merritt says in a confused voice. 
                          
" No, you're not. I've been watching you for a year. I know all of your little tricks. " 
                          
" That what they are to you? Tricks? " Merritt asks with a small grin. 
                          
" Yes. It's gimmicks. It's Barnum statements. It's reading the eyes. Body language. I get it. " 
                          
" If it's such an easy thing, why don't you do it on Henley? Or Taryn? " 
                          
" Yeah Dan the Man. " I say with a tongue click. " Why don't you do it on me? " 
                          
" Nah. You two are too easy. I'll do Jasmine. " He puts his hand on Jasmine's shoulder. 
                          
" No.  " Arthur says with a head shake. Do me. " 
                          
" Oh yeah. Yeah. Do Art. " Merritt nods in agreement as he talks. 
                          
" Okay. Even better. " Daniel sits across from Arthur. " Art. " 
                          
" Yeah? But I warn you. I can be difficult to read, when I want to be. " 
                          
I move towards the guys with Jack. 
                          
" Just stay with me, okay? " Daniel concentrates on Arthur. " So Art, you were a tough kid. You know, ind of a real rapscallion. " Daniel makes fists to add to the dramatics. " You had a dog. A real tough dog. A brutish breed. Like a real.... I want to say, Ben the bulldog. " 
                          
" Actually, I was a prissy little tot. " Arthur smirks as he talks. " I had a fluffy white cat called Snuffles. " 
                          
I laugh and shake my head, some of my curls hitting Jack's arm on accident. 
                          
" Sorry. " Daniel looks up at the wall. 
                          
" Wait. " Jack looks at Arthur. " Let me try one. I can do way better than that. " 
                          
" Let him do it. " Henley points to Jack. 
                          
" Come on. Give me one more time. One more time. " He looks back at Art. 
                          
" He can do way better than that. " Henley points at Jack. 
                          
" Let's do family. " Daniel returns his attention to Arthur. " You had an uncle on your mother's side. " He had a real kind of....A real masculine name. A real, Kind of, salt-of-the-earth....you know, a real stick-it-to-you....Like it was some kind of Paul. Thompson? Was it a Paul....Okay. You know what? I got nothing. " Daniel clasps his hands together as he gives up. 
                          
" Nearly though. " Arthur smiles. 
                          
" Was I? " 
                          
" Yeah. My uncle's name was Cushman Armitage. " 
                          
I bite my lip and smile at the name. 
                          
" Really? Snuffles and Cushman Armitage? That was your childhood? " 
                          
I chuckle softly and shake my head as Daniel talks. 
                          
" I certainly hope tonight's show is gonna be better than this. " Arthur says as he looks at us. 
                          
" Don't worry. " Merritt says as he puts on his fedora. " Just you wait. " 
                          
Yeah. Just wait. 
                          
We're gonna rob again. 
                          
This time, 
                          
it's gonna be you.