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How to Seer, Part 9

copyright comidacomida 2020

Although I'd worked hard to make a life for myself in Cherry City, the one thing that I didn't want to leave behind entirely was family. By the time the holidays rolled around I realized that going back home to my parents' place was more than an obligation; it was something I was looking forward to. The one major problem was that I didn't have a reliable car.

It was partly my fault since I barely ever had to go anywhere and, if I did, Cherry City had reasonable public transportation. Aside from not liking the idea of a long distance bus trip or the idea of taking a train, the obvious answer was that I'd have to rent a car. The main problem in my mind was that I'd never rented a car before, so there was that. Plus, by the time I had a chance to get around to going to the rental place it was the morning of the day I planned to head out.

The plan which I put together included getting the basics packed, heading to the rental place, getting the car, heading back to the apartment, loading everything up and doing a final check for anything I missed, and then hit the road. Since I hadn't had a lot of time with Talapus I thought it might be a nice outing to take him with while the rest of the Spirits were getting ready to travel in their own respective ways.

The walk to the rental lot wasn't too bad; Decembers in Cherry City generally didn't get too cold since the winter weather waited until mid-January to hit. My hoodie was more than enough to keep me warm and, beside me, I didn't miss the fact that Talapus had materialized one of his own along with a white t-shirt and jeans beneath it. For as long as I'd known him the Coyote had a strange fluidity in his wardrobe, often shifting back and forth between Native American clothes and more modern ones-- usually when he was making a point of some kind.

His choice got me thinking. "So... what's with the hoodie?"

Talapus glanced toward me as we walked, turning enough toward me that his hood only partially covered his face. The Coyote's tail wagged. "Just figured we could be hoodie bros today. Why? Did I choose a bad color?"

The dark gray was exactly the same color as my own. Knowing the futility of letting a Trickster spirit lead a conversation with questions, I chose instead to continue my own point. "I mean, Spirits don't have to worry about their body temperature and I can't remember the last time any of you were bothered by the weather... except for Mishupishu and rain, but that's something else entirely."

The Coyote shrugged. "Just showing some solidarity. If you want I can change into something else." And, no sooner had he said it, than the Coyote was adorned in his usual buck-skin leggings and shell-and-bone necklace. I didn't miss the fact that his fur was suddenly soaked and dripping wet... despite the fact that there was no rain.

I called him on the visual manipulation. "Laying it on a little thick?"

Chortling, Talapus shook himself out, dry in an instant. As his fur settled back down he was once again clothed in the hoodie and torn jeans. He pulled the hood up over his head, smirking as he announced "You know, there aren't a lot of Humans out there who can be the straight man but still appreciate a good laugh. Don't ever change, Billy."

We finished the trek to the rental lot and I went inside, holding the door open for my Spirit companion. True, the Coyote could easily have just passed through it, but the extra effort on my part was a simple way to provide Talapus with an influx of Spirit Energy. Plus, it was good manners. He waited by the entrance as I stepped up to the counter and hit the little bell on it which sat behind a sign that said RING BELL FOR SERVICE.

The man that came out was a few years older than me-- probably mid-to-late 20s. His brown hair was a little longer than was probably professional, but I really didn't think much of it. What I DID notice though was the smell of some sickly sweet smoke to him; I knew what tobacco smoke smelled like, but his skunky scent was something else entirely. When I didn't speak up he did. "Yeah?"

I glanced down to his nametag. "I... Dave. I wanted to rent a car, please."

His attention completely on me by that point, Dave frowned. "You 25?"

I shook my head. "No... I'll be 19 next week. Why?"

He pulled out a clip board with a form on it. The form consisted of many pages and as he spoke he flipped to page three and then gestured with a pen. "Third page... right here. Cars can only be rented if the renter has a valid Driver's License, valid Credit Card, and must be at least 25 years of age."

I began to explain why getting a car was so important, an was just getting to the point where I was going to ask about an exception, or if I could see the manager, but I slowly trailed off when I realized that he'd stopped looking at me. Although Dave was still standing there and staring in my direction he was actually looking over my shoulder. I followed his gaze and turned around; Talapus was right behind me. The Coyote was standing right there with a poster board attached to a stick, which he held in his paw. The simple black block lettering on the board said HELLO, DAVE.

When it was readily evident that the attendant was able to see Talapus I looked back at him. "You can see him?"

Dave was a bad liar. "S-see.... see who-- what, I mean. See what?"

Talapus' words issued from behind me and I didn't have to look to know that the Coyote was smiling. "Yeah... Dave can see me... can't you Dave?"

I watched Dave, waiting for him to respond. He continued staring, blood-shot eyes focused entirely on the Coyote, as if I wasn't even there. Eventually I spoke up. "Well...?

The man paused. "Well what? I... Wait--" he lowered his voice to a whisper as he leaned forward. "Can you HEAR him? I can't HEAR him."

Talapus, chuckling to himself, moved around to lean against the counter next to me. "He's not a REAL Seer, Billy... he can't hear me, and can only see a 'version' of me."

As I watched, Talapus reached under the counter and pulled up another cartoon-y sign out of nowhere. The words on it read BILLY HERE IS A REALLY GOOD FRIEND.

Dave's eyes flicked back and forth from Talapus to me then back to Talapus. The Coyote then flipped the sign over so the back was visible. HE REALLY NEEDS TO RENT A CAR.

The attendant looked like he was sweating bullets. "I... I can't. I-it's against policy."

Talapus put the sign away. Although I knew I could have interrupted the exchange at any point I couldn't help but wait and watch, wondering where their interaction was going. The Coyote picked up another sign. PRETTY PLEASE?

Dave fidgeted. "I... could get fired."

As I watched, the Spirit winked at me and lowered his paw down behind the counter again. When it came back up it had what looked like a plush Roadrunner from those old cartoons. He set it next to me within Dave's view, and the guy jumped back as if it were a live grenade. Talapus walked through the counter and approached him, causing the man to backpedal until he was up against the wall.

The Coyote had definitely invaded his personal space and stood there for several seconds before drawing another sign out of nowhere. On it was written clearly LET HIM RENT THE CAR. ONE WITH A GOOD HORN.

I saw the back of the sign first, which read BILLY CAN MEEP MEEP OR YOU CAN MEEP MEEP. YOUR CHOICE.

Dave looked like he lost it when Talapus finally turned the sign around. It only took a few minutes to fill out the paperwork and I was on my way with a week long car rental.