“…but climate change is an existential threat!”

Maddy came down from her room headed towards the kitchen where she was supposed to meet Bobby. Kitty’s voice was easily heard as soon as she opened her door. She heard Bobby answer but, as he was speaking at a much more reasonable volume, she couldn’t make out what he said. Whatever it was, it didn’t seem to mollify Kitty.

“But we spend much too much on the military! All of that money should be used elsewhere!” Kitty said, impassioned.

She could make out what Bobby was saying as she got closer.

“Kitty, I’m not disagreeing with you about climate change. We need to get a handle on how to live with the situation as it is and prevent it getting worse, but frankly much of the work in that space has been smoke and mirrors, and I don’t work in that industry so there’s not much I can personally do about that. My company is trying to make a combat vehicle that does a better job at protecting its crew while still being mission oriented. I’m sorry you disagree but I’m pretty proud of that.”

“But it only exists to kill others! We need to, like outgrow that as a species!”

“Again, I agree, but until everyone is ready to do that we need to be able to protect ourselves and our interests. Might I point out what’s going on over in Ukraine as a reason why?”

“That’s different! That would never happen here!”

“Never say never, but yes, you’re right. We don't have a super-aggressive, expansionist neighbor like Russia, but where do you think Ukraine is getting the equipment they’re using to defend themselves?”

“But…”

“Hey, good morning,” Madison interrupted.

“Hi Maddy,” Bobby said, smiling. He was dressed and ready to go with a pair of jeans and a polo. “You ready to go?”

“Are you guys going someplace?” Kitty asked.

“We’re going into town,” Madison replied.

“Gee that sounds like fun, when are you going?” Kitty was wearing an oversized teeshirt that she had slept in and her hair was a mess.

“We’re leaving now, sorry,” Madison said.

“Oh, Ok, but…”

“You ready, Bobby?” Madison asked brightly.

“Let’s go,” he agreed.

They walked out to the garage.

“You OK if I drive?” Madison asked.

“If that Stingray is yours, then yes, I’m more than OK, the other choice would be my bike.”

“I’ll drive,” she smiled. “I would love to ride your bike but I put too much time into my hair and makeup this morning.”

“You look great,” he smiled.

They got into her car.

“Nice,” Bobby said, buckling in.

“Sounds like Kitty was going at you,” Madison observed.

“And before my coffee too,” Bobby agreed.

“In that case you showed considerable restraint,” Madison giggled.

“Yes I did,” Bobby joked. “Seriously though, it’s nothing I haven’t heard before. I actually agree with a lot of what she says, but her take is over-simplified. If geo-politics were easy, everyone would do it.”

Madison snorted. A second later the car snorted as she started the engine.

“Woah,” Bobby said.

“Fair warning, I drive fast,” Madison said, backing out.

She showed off a little, hitting the gas as she put it in drive and used the pedal shifters to let the car really wind up. In seconds they were going sixty.

Bobby tried to look nonchalant, but it was a narrow country road with curves.

“Am I making you nervous?” Madison asked, grinning.

“You always did, why change now,” he replied.

Madison laughed, delighted.

She had to slow down as the approached the downtown and traffic picked up.

“Wow, this is a lot more crowded than I remember,” Madison observed.

They parked in the municipal lot and walked to Church St where many shops and restaurants congregated.

“I don’t recognize any of these places,” Madison said a little sadly. “I don’t know why I would think everything would be the same as it was ten years ago, but...”

“Yeah I know,” Bobby agreed. “Though look, there’s Strong’s Steak House.”

“You took me there,” she said, taking his arm.

“Yup. Spent an entire week’s paycheck,” he laughed. “Hey looks like a bakery café over there. Want to check it out?”

“Sure.”

The bakery was new but it smelled like a bakery should. It was counter service so they stopped at the counter.

“What can I get you?” the woman behind the counter asked.

“Coffee,” Bobby said emphatically.

Madison laughed. “Make that two…aaaand how about two croissants with the,” she looked at Bobby, “Strawberry?”

He nodded.

“Strawberry preserves.”

“Coming up,” the woman said brightly.

“Smells good,” Madison said.

“It does,” Bobby agreed.

“Carbs are my kryptonite,” she said. “When I’m shooting I have to completely abstain but we’re on vacation, right?”

“Right. A second on the lips, a lifetime at the gym, or something like that,” he said and she giggled. He always liked her giggle and was glad it hadn’t changed.

“Two coffees and two croissants,” the woman said, “You know, you look a lot like that actress, Madison O’Neil.”

“Yeah I get that a lot,” Madison said, nodding. “I guess everyone has a doppelganger, right?”

“You’re lucky,” Bobby said. “I usually get told I remind people of Steve Buscemi.”

Madison and the woman laughed, “No, you’re cuter than that,” the woman said, winking and smiling. “Enjoy your breakfast.”

They took their food to one of the small tables and sat.

“I thought you were done for there for a minute,” Bobby said.

“Ha. Yeah the first few times I got recognized it was awesome, now I just play it off like I did. You’d be surprised how often people let it go at that.”

“Makes sense,” Bobby nodded. “I mean what the heck would Madison O’Neil be doing in Burlington?”

“Exactly!” she laughed.

“How’s your family?” he asked.

“Well, we lost dad during COVID,” she said.

“Maddy, I didn’t know! I’m so sorry,” Bobby said, pained.

“Thanks. Well, his heart’d been bad for a few years but yeah, it sucked. Mom’s doing OK and so’s Jenn. How’s yours?”

“Oh, same as always. Dad’s slowing down a little. Mom keeps trying to introduce me to women, the usual.”

Madison smiled. “I remember your dad. If he were thirty years younger I would have made a play for him. So, has mom been successful?”

“Hmm?”

“Is there a woman?”

“Oh,” he laughed. “No. Nothing that turned into anything. You?”

“Women? No,” she smiled.

“Well that’s a movie I’d pay to see, but no, I meant guys. You seeing anyone?”

She laughed again. “No. No one serious. I mean I’ve dated, but…I spend a lot of time with actors, and a lot of actors…well…don’t know how to stop acting?”

“I think I understand what you mean,” he agreed.

“And when you date people outside of the industry, it has it’s own set of problems. The hours are crazy, for most of us it’s pretty unstable, you can’t long-term plan, and a lot of people can’t see past the characters I’ve played. Rita Hayworth once said, ‘Men go to bed with Gilda and they wake up with me.’ I get it. I mean I’m no Rita Hayworth, but I’m not the women I play in the movies either, you know?”

“Well I don’t know, Penny in Fireball seemed a lot like…”

“Oh shut up you,” she giggled, punching him on the arm.

“I think that’s why I’ve stayed close with Gina,” Madison went on. “She knew me before I was ‘Madison O’Neil’.”

She made the quotes with her fingers.

“Wait, then who were you when we were friends?”

She shook her head. “I forgot how easily you could make me laugh. Hey, I want to buy a souvenir. Finish your coffee.”

“A souvenir?” Bobby asked, downing his drink in one long pull.

“Yeah, something super tacky and ugly. You in?”

“Let’s get two then,” he agreed.

Bobby left a tip on the table and they stepped back out onto Church St. Madison slipped her hand into his quite naturally as the walked through the more touristy parts. She settled on a pair of crystal birds.

“I love birds,” Madison said. “One for you and one for me.”

“At least this one won’t shit on my bike,” Bobby said.

“Should we head back to the house and see if the children have burned it down yet?” Madison asked.

“That would contribute to Climate Change so that would NEVER happen on Kitty’s watch,” Bobby quipped.

“She means well,” Madison defended her.

“If you say so,” Bobby said. “The ‘I am going to lecture you’ attitude is what annoys me.”

“She’s a teacher, that’s what they do.”

“And that’s another thing. She’s a teacher. She wouldn’t have even graduated if we hadn’t written her papers for her. The idea that she’s some kind of pedagogical expert…” He shook his head.

Madison snorted.

“We have a phrase for that where I work: ‘Drinking her own Koolaid’,” he said.