Natural Magick (3 page)

“
May I have a quick word with Pete for a second, please?” Sara pulled the kid over to the corner and looked up into the sunglasses that had not been removed when they came inside. “Will you take off the sunglasses? I’d like to see who I’m talking with.” When Pete complied, Sara could only stare.

“
Do you need to wear them for protection or something else? Your eyes are quite handsome. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen silver eyes before.”

“
Both. What did you want? And just for the record, I don’t care if you think they’re nice or not.”

Sara wanted to say more, but held her tongue, for now, at least. “I believe as you can tell, we know squat about computers, but if you think by bringing us to your friend and soaking us for a lot of money is going to work then you’re barking up the wrong bush.”

“
It’s tree, not bush, and for the second time this week, I’m not a thief. Toby is a friend of mine, yes. When I can I steer business his way, I do it. When someone tells me that they want to best, he is also the man I go to. If you’d rather go elsewhere, fine with me. There isn’t a computer store around the state that doesn’t know who I am. I’m helping you shop on my own time, Mrs. MacManus. I could care less if you like me or not. If it’s a matter of you trusting me, then that’s okay too. I’m sure there is any number of people who’d be happy to help you.”

Sara started to snap back when she looked at Pete. Really looked. Pete had a smooth face, button nose, full, sensual lips, and no Adam’s apple. Sara stepped back, shocked. “Oh my God, you’re a woman! I assumed...well, we all assumed really, what with the butch clothes and bike. And what’s with your name?”

Sara immediately felt terrible. She watched as the woman’s face flamed with embarrassment as Pete looked around the store to see if anyone had heard what Sara had said. A few of the other customers glanced their direction, but not too many.

“
It’s none of your business what kind of name it is, it’s mine. Now if we could get this friggin’ show on the road, I’d really be happy.” She hissed at her, turned away, and headed toward the laptops that Toby had on display. Pete had been short and snappy with her, but Sara felt as if she deserved it. She had humiliated the bo…girl, and she felt terrible for it.

~~~

No one had ever reacted that way when they realized their mistake about her gender. Pete never corrected them. It wasn’t really such a big deal and she let them assume anything they wanted about her. She did wonder what she would think if she told her that her first name was Piccadilly. Christ, what the hell had her mother been thinking?

Her birth certificate claimed she was Piccadilly Fresno Bartholomew. Her mother had said that Pete had been conceived in a Fresno hotel called the Piccadilly Inn, thus her name. Her brothers, all six of them, had equally ridiculous names. She knew also that unlike her, they loved theirs. She changed hers to “Pete,” and hadn’t ever told anyone anything different.

She hadn’t seen her mother or her brothers for nearly eight years now. Not since she had turned seventeen and left in the middle of the night without a word to any of them. She wasn’t even sure if they were still alive. They had all been living in a trailer in a dank park since she could remember, all seven of them living in a two-bedroom, worn out piece of crap. Pete had three older brothers and two younger ones when she had left home, and all of them were the scum of the earth.

They had been on welfare since she could remember, and they had gotten their phone and electricity shut off at least seven or eight times a year due to non-payment. The town’s people where they had grown up were merciless, always turning their noses up at them, making fun of their clothes. Pete had had to grow a very tough skin or she would never have made it through high school.

College was out of the question because she didn’t have the money to even apply for the grants so she could go for free. Then there were the fees to apply to the college itself. Pete was smart, very smart, actually. Had she applied herself more in high school, she would have gotten a good scholarship to any college she wanted, but being born on the wrong side of the track and the sheets, plus smart, she would not have stood a chance in the world of ivy leaguers.

Her computer skills had come naturally to her. She had made herself a nuisance at Toby’s computer store the summer she turned eighteen and he had let her work for him selling computers. He also let her fiddle with the returns, more often than not fixing them. When he offered to pay for her to take a night class a couple of times a week, then she would pay him back, she jumped at the chance. It was not long before she had earned a reputation for being the best at what she did. Toby had started having people call her directly if they needed something major done and she became an independent geek. She never forgot what he had done for her and brought in as much business as she could. But she was also right in that she was not a thief. She brought customers to him, but she didn’t receive or take anything more than good service from him when she needed it.

After a few minutes of calming herself down, Pete moved over behind the women who were going nuts over the “pretty” laptops.

“
Have you decided what you will need them for? That will determine how much memory, or storage area you’ll need. Say, for example, you were using this one in the kitchen, I’d recommend a desk top. They’re stationary and do take up a little more room, but they have more bang for your buck. You can surf the web, or search for things, keep track of a budget, plan menus and file all of your favorite recipes on it. Also, you can download movies and programs, plus watch a DVD on it.” Pete pointed to the desk tops just behind her.

“
The office computers can be either, but again, I’d go with desk for all the same reasons. With a desk, you can also put in more memory and the parts can be replaced cheaper than on a lap. If the lap gets messed up, then replacement is usually the only option. I can tear into a desk and fix most anything for less than a hundred bucks, sometimes a little more, but not much.”

Pete went over every option with them, recommending some, nixing others. She always made sure they knew what they were looking at, and the price it would cost to replace it, or add in later.

When Mel wandered over to the game systems with Pete in tow, she showed the woman which ones had better games versus the ones that were backward compatible. She also showed Mel the display unit of one of the larger gaming systems and how to work the controller to it. After thirty minutes of playing against Pete and losing, Mel had been hooked and purchased one. When Pete told her that she could play online with anyone else who had a like system and the game, Mel bullied the others into buying one as well.

Finally, they went up to the checkout lane, where Toby started checking them out. It had been five hours and Pete was exhausted. It had been fun, she thought. The women all seemed to get along and had been friends forever. Duncan was a hoot and she loved talking with him. She wondered several times just how he fit into the dynamics of the household.

“
You’ve been enormously helpful. Thank you. We couldn’t have done with without you, Pete. You have to let us pay you something, anything.”

Sara was reaching into her purse as she spoke. Oh yeah, Pete thought, I’m a charity case.

~~~

“
Ah, no, no thanks, I gotta go. Toby will take care of you, and if you have any problems, he can...he knows how to reach me. See ya.” And she dashed out the door, leaving the little group staring open-mouthed at her quick departure. Toby cleared his throat and when he had their attention, he began ringing them up and talking.

“
I’ve known Pete for a while. You aren’t gonna find anyone more knowledgeable then her about most anything. She...well, she doesn’t have much...faith in people, I guess. She can be a bit caustic at times, and I’d like to tell you she doesn’t mean it, but she just doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. People are a little uneasy about her eyes. I noticed you looking at her without them glasses. That’s unusual for her. She never takes them off. Anyway, she was right. If you need help, oh I don’t know, setting these up, well I sure wouldn’t mind giving her a call direct like for you. Now if there isn’t anything else, with her employee discount, it comes to seven thousand eight hundred fifty-two dollars and one cent.” Shade burst out laughing.

“
Just how much discount does she get? And why did you give it to us?” Mel asked.

“
I told you, she’s a friend, and its twenty percent. I think you’d probably get the same discount at any of the merchants around here, not just in here. She ‘helps’ out everyone who needs it and some who think they don’t. Like I said, she’s knowledgeable about most anything, and doesn’t mind sharing what she knows or has.”

CHAPTER THREE

The phone was being answered as she was walking by it. And when Bug, one of the people who lived in the building, turned and yelled, “anyone know if Pete’s in the house?” for a second, she thought she might have lost an eardrum.

“
Christ, Bug, I’m right here. What’s wrong with you? Are you stoned again? Give me the friggin’ phone. Pete here,” she said into the phone.

“
Ah, Miss Pete, it is I, Duncan. We were wondering if you could come out to help us set up the equipment?”

“
It’s just Pete. I can’t today. I have two part-timers today, and three tomorrow night. I could come over tomorrow morning to start, but I’d have to bring help with me. I assume you’ll need Internet hauled in too, right? Or have they dropped you yet?”

There was silence at the other end. Pete was wondering if she had lost the connection. Just when she was about to say something, Duncan spoke up.

“
Miss, could you repeat that for me, please?”

Pete had to smile. The man had a way about him that just made you want to tuck him into your pocket and keep him there. She didn’t know why she liked the man, but he did make her want to get to know him.

“
Dunc, if you don’t understand anything I’m saying to you, just say so. It won’t hurt my feelings. I do tend to talk to people like I listen, short and sweet. I’m sorry, okay; let me repeat that in English for you. Have you called your local Internet provider, or would you like for me to do that? It’s usually the cable provider that carries your Internet, but not always. I can have them bring the service to your home, which is where they drop the line from the pole in the yard to your house. It’s called a drop. I can bring it in the house for you. My doing it will save you a bundle and I’ve been certified by the company to do this, so you don’t have to worry about me fuc…messing it up for you. Okay?”

“
Oh yes, that’s much better, much better indeed. Yes, you call the necessary people and we would like for you to bring it into the house. As for help, I will need to clear that with the master or the missus of the house. I’ll leave a message with...err that Bug person.” She could hear the relief in his voice and grinned at that. Poor Dunc.

“
Look, I have a cell...a cell phone, but it’s a drop n’ kick. Just leave a quick message on it. Also, I’ll have someone from the cable place drop off some cables and ties. Hang a sec and let me ask for another phone.”

“
Oh, Miss Pete, wait, a ‘drop n’ kick’ is what, may I inquire?”

“
It’s a pay as you go phone. I have to buy the time I use. Less hassle that way. I figured you weren’t gonna call and ask me for my favorite recipe so you should be all right with it.” Pete laid the phone receiver on top of the pay phone and went to search out another phone to use. She figured this was easier than trying to call him back. “Dunc, Booger wants to know where you live so he can come out and drop stuff off for us to use this morning. He’s at work now. He works for your cable company, and it won’t be any trouble to do that.”

Duncan gave her the address, and had to ask, as she knew he would, “Booger, miss?”

“
Yeah, it was an unfortunate incident with his nose, too gross to go into. Suffice it to say that he earned the nickname.” She shuddered at the memory. She was glad when he did not ask for more details.

Pete rattled off the address to the other phone, and came back several times to ask or relay information to Duncan.

“
So if I may, miss, this unfortunate Booger person is going to drop off a roll of cable at the gate sometime this morning. He will only ring the gate bell, but will not enter. I am to leave a message on your drop it and kick it when it arrives. Is that correct?”

“
Yeah, Dunc, that’s great. Only its drop n’ kick not drop it and kick it. You hang with me and we’ll get you up with the lingo.” She had to laugh. He was trying very hard and he was so proper it was funny to hear him try and loosen up.

“
By the way, miss, what is your favorite recipe, if you don’t mind my asking?”

She stopped for a second and thought about it. “I don’t have one. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever had a home cooked meal before. My mom wasn’t what one would call domestic. If you couldn’t pour it out of a can or a box by yourself and eat it, then you were SOL. And since I’ve left home, I usually eat on the sly, err pick up what I can at a fast food joint. And before you ask, SOL means ‘shit outta luck’ as in, ‘you’re on your own, kiddo.’” Even she could hear the bitterness in her own voice.

“
I’m sorry, miss. I did not mean to...that must have been terrible for you.”

Pete was quiet for a moment or two, then said, “Thanks, Dunc, I appreciate it, but she made me what I am, I guess. Sad but true. I’ll see ya tomorrow then.”