The Trouble with Bliss Page #6

but he loves it.

He wears it all the time.

Ha ha ha!

- George, you remember Morris, right?

- No.

Yes, you do. I had drinks

with him last night.

That's why I came home so late.

- George was upset about that.

- This is the guy.

Yep. This is my little Bliss.

His father's real sick.

Professor! Your dad's sick?

- You didn't tell me that.

- This is the guy.

Georgie, we talked about this.

Um, so, uh, drinks again,

right, and more talk.

Drinks. Right.

And talk.

Don't forget the talk.

Talk. Right.

All right, we've got to run.

Say goodbye, Georgie.

You're the guy.

Mnh! Bloody Eagle, baby!

Heh heh heh!

Bet you gave her a taste

of your talon, huh?

Yeah.

But be careful with

that one, Professor.

I know you're flying

high right now,

but little Georgie,

he looks like he could

clip some wings.

- You know what I'm saying?

- Hello, daddy.

What were you guys looking at?

Um, Stephanie, um, you remember

my good friend Morris.

The Professor.

The Professor.

You teach. I'm having some

trouble in my classes.

Maybe you could tutor me.

You're having trouble in your classes?

Why didn't you tell me, sweetie?

You didn't ask.

What do you teach, Professor?

I'm not really a Professor.

What are you, then?

He's a Bloody Eagle, Stephanie.

I told you all

about him, remember?

I might need a reminder.

We had this gang

in high school.

Oh, right, I remember. You were

best friends in high school.

You did everything

together, everything.

Who is that woman

that you were talking to?

- Nobody.

- Nobody.

Nobody.

She didn't seem

like she was a nobody.

She seemed like she was

probably a somebody.

Sweetie, here. Why don't

you take a few dollars

and go get yourself and your

friends some ice cream,

okay, sweetie?

'Cause the Professor and I,

we have some business

we need to talk about, okay?

Does mom know

you've been drinking?

You know she hates it

when you've been drinking.

Stephanie, I'm the adult here.

Morris.

Morris is also an adult.

Yes, the Professor

is also an adult.

I'm just a child.

You are a child. Correct.

But I won't always be a child.

Stephanie, what's

gotten into you?

Morris...

It's been nice

meeting you.

Christ.

She's my own daughter, and I

don't even understand her.

I mean, she's acting like...

- I don't know.

- A woman?

Exactly. She's

acting like a woman.

And pretty soon, she'll be

going out on dates with boys,

and... God, I don't even

want to think about

what happens after that.

Can you believe she has

a date to the prom?

Some guy.

She's bringing him over

for dinner tomorrow night.

- Really? Tomorrow?

- Yeah, and I will wax his tugboat...

If he even thinks

about touching her.

Right.

I mean...

She's a good-looking

girl, right, Professor?

I mean, you wouldn't kick

her out of bed, would you?

Ah, sweet baby Judas,

what am I sayin'?

You're a Bloody Eagle.

But that would be...

Weird, right?

- Yeah. Weird.

- Yeah.

Look...

Stephen.

Axe. Call me Axe.

Axe.

I've got to get going.

But what about that girl

you were waiting on?

Yeah, well,

Bloody Eagles, right?

Ha ha! Bloody Eagle, baby!

- Stephanie...

- Your place. Now.

Who are you dating,

me or my dad?

And who is the tramp?

Not here. Come on.

Oh, wow, we're going up to your place?

What about daddy?

Morris, have you seen my keys?

Oh. Hi, daddy.

Oh, I see.

Not now.

Ow, you're hurting me.

Sorry.

It's okay. I kind of liked it.

Look, Stephanie,

this isn't working.

What isn't working?

This. Us.

You and me.

Are you breaking up with me?

'Cause it sounds like

you're breaking up with me.

No, I mean, it wasn't...

It's just... it's not...

Did my dad put you up to this?

Jetski? Are you kidding me?

He can never know.

Why not?

It just wouldn't...

I don't think your dad

would understand.

Look, I like you. I do.

You're fun, and...

And what?

Stephanie, it was

a mistake, an oversight.

We had sex.

Two fancy animals

doing what animals do.

An act of nature.

I think...

We should end the relationship

before the emotions get tangled.

Your emotions

are getting tangled?

Well, yeah, kind of.

And when you see me, you can't

control the animal in you?

Something like that.

It's okay.

You know, you remind me

of this puppy I once had.

He'd always whine for me

when I left

and hump my leg

when I came home, but...

I always loved him

until he got ran over by a car.

I don't think you're

understanding what I'm saying.

Oh, no. I understand.

You took your map down.

Yeah, I just... It was time.

Do you remember that

first time we met?

Do you remember

the way I kissed you?

Do you remember

what we did after?

How can I forget?

The sex.

I feel like...

One of those

chocolate Easter Rabbits.

All hollow inside.

It's all part of

growing up, I guess.

"Just two fancy animals

doing what they do. "

Well. What doesn't kill you...

... only makes you stronger.

Nice knowing you, Professor.

Keep the change,

and pop the trunk.

Thanks. Have a safe trip.

Since when do you take cabs?

I don't talk to strangers.

N. J. , come on.

Let me help.

Don't expect a tip, man.

So you're really going out to

the Wild West to herd buffalo?

Buffali, man, I told you.

- Sorry, I forgot.

- Forgot?

How 'bout not believed?

I believed.

Come on, let me buy you a beer.

Let's not leave on a bad note.

Okay, give me a minute.

Uh...

I got it.

Keep the change.

Where the hell

did you get that?

Hattie's dad. Little

walking-around money.

Here.

Five hundred bucks?

You have been keeping

a tab, huh?

Eight hundred dollars.

Don't get greedy on me, man.

There's no way

I owe you more than that.

- This is all real?

- What's real is real, man.

So the guy who was always broke

is now a member of

some big money cult.

Cartel, not cult.

And not broke, just frugal.

It's real. I already told

you what the initiation is.

I gotta prompt a coup in

some third-world country.

If you can't pull it off?

Style counts for a lot.

A guy can get in

strictly on style.

Guy's going for

initiation tonight.

Knocking over Zambia.

Hattie will tell you.

Yeah, when do I get

to meet this Hattie?

You been sending her

checks every month,

or at least your dad has.

She owns your building.

She owns my building?

That and about

Her family's got the kind of

money that other money stops...

And stares at.

I'm calling you out, Bliss!

- Isn't that Jetski?

- Yep.

- He's calling you out, man.

- Thanks. I heard.

I got a score

to settle with you!

You gonna need help on this?

I don't think so.

Got your number,

I'm gonna punch your ticket!

You sure? He seems

pretty pissed,

but then again

I'd be pissed too

if you were screwing

my 15-year-old daughter.

Eighteen.

Hey, Bliss...

Dude, you coming out, or am I

gonna have to drag you out?

Thank you.

One thing I learned

in Calcutta,

if he takes a swing at

you, lean into the punch.

When have you ever

been to Calcutta?

She told me everything, man.

She told me all about

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