Something heavy was on Stu’s chest, he opened his eyes expecting one of the girls. He was face to face with Tom. The cat said, “Guess what?”

  Groggy Stu asked, “What?”

  Tom said, “You have an extremely comfortable chest.”

  Groggy Stu asked, “Guess what?”

  Curios Tom asked, “What?”

  Now showing how annoyed he was, Stu said, “I eat Pussy..”

  Tom jumped off his chest and Stu sat up. Tom said, “I feel very uneasy about that st comment honestly.”

  Stu gred, “That was the point..” Sitting up he saw the girls cheesing at his comment. “Shit, you were both listening too. Alright, I’m awake! What is it Tom? What wonderful thing do you have pnned for us today? Maybe swimming with hungry sharks, or swimming ps while holding things that are plugged in? Wow us…”

  Tom asked, “Is he always a ball of sunshine in the morning or is this a special treat?”

  Prosperity said, “Hot…”

  Everyone looked at her like she was weird. Stu said, “Great, now my bad mood is ruined too..”

  Prosperity made an odd sound with her hands pressed firmly over her mouth. She blushed heavily. Stu said, “At least someone had a good morning. So, what’s up cat?”

  Tom said, “Did she just..”

  Stu yelled, “Focus cat! Why’d you ruin my sleep!”

  Tom shook his head then looked back at Stu saying, “I’m here because I’d like to…”

  Stu threw his arms up in defeat, “Who do you want me to murder now?”

  Chaos jumped in now saying, “He doesn’t mean murder, he wants us to sanction another fight!”

  Stu looked at Tom and said, “They both don’t get sarcasm or something, I don’t know..”

  Tom looked at the girls then back at Stu and asked, “Really? Both of them?”

  Stu shrugged, “I know, right? It’s like, what are the fucking odds of that happening? The thing is though they py it cool all the time, and I can’t get a read on whether they know and are fuckin with me, or they are so oblivious that they just come off as pying it cool. It’s a complete and total mind fuck…”

  Tom sounding sincere said, “That’s rough, I’m sorry to hear things have been so difficult for you. Maybe your gods will mature someday, there’s always hope for the future. Don’t give up on their sense of humor yet!”

  Stu looked appreciative saying, “Thanks Tom, that really helps, I think I just needed to tell someone that understands.”

  Meanwhile the girls sat there watching the conversation. Chaos asked, “Do they know we are right here and can hear the whole conversation?”

  Prosperity asked, “The better question is what’s happening? Don’t they hate each other?”

  Chaos shrugged, “Who cares? They are talking about our sense of humor, I think. We have perfect senses of humor.”

  Prosperity pointed asking, “Are we witnessing a bromance being born?”

  Stu yelled at Prosperity, “Yeah, you get the concept of that too. Of course you do.. Why not Sarcasm?”

  Tom said, “Come on man, it’s not her fault. She can’t help it.”

  Chaos said, “Alright, we get it. You think we spend too much time doing our own things. Fine, we’ll spend twice as much time with you. Does that make you feel better?”

  Stu turned to Tom, “Is today’s fight a suicide mission?”

  He answered, “No?”

  Stu looked at the girls and smiled saying yes I feel better thank you.”

  Tom asked, “Why are you acting that way.

  Stu whispered, “If I don’t just agree, they will kill me trying to make me feel better..”

  Prosperity asked, “What was that?”

  Stu smiled saying, “I just told Tom that you both look extra pretty today! Notice I said both!”

  Tom said, “Oh, yes. He did just say that to me, extra beautiful both of you!”

  The girls smiled wide and started talking to each other. Stu breathed a sigh of relief,

  “Okay I’ll help you. You helped me navigate the minefield well enough, what’s the request?”

  Tom said. “Palindrome, but this isn’t a low-level god, this is like a boss in your local culture. This is a tough one.”

  Stu looked at him questioningly, he said “Prosperity!”

  She looked up and asked “Yes?”

  Stu held out his hand, “Hankey!”

  She brought her handkerchief over and he blew his nose. Blue… “Goddammit Miracle! I’m going to fuck you up!”

  Miracle said, “How do you figure it out so quickly? Every time? It is impressive.. Even without your name that st one was good. You shouldn’t have noticed a difference between real and fake.”

  Stu was furious, “Because I watched my TV regurly and I recognize shit story craft. The st one was all, Saturday afternoon special; this one was too, st starfighter. Your tricks must have all come from watching TV and movies for the st 100 years.”

  Miracle said, “Well fuck me! You are on it. Do I have time to get lube or are we going for it dry?”

  Rolling his neck he said, “Big talk from a god that cowered st time you talked to one of my gods wrong.”

  She smiled, “A little forepy is nice though, right?”

  Stu was steaming barely keeping his cool, he wanted her still beating heart in his hand. “What are you talking about? I don’t have anything to say to you other than, die.. uh, die.. Oh! Don’t forget fucking die! Hmm… Yeah, that’s all I have to say to you.”

  Miracle said, “What if I need a favor? What’s it worth to you?”

  Stu spit on the ground, “Not even that. You know I’ll kill you, why are you here and acting confident? I know I can take you right now, by myself. I already know.”

  Miracle shivered, “I’ll give you that, you are getting good at the god talk, and yes, you’d kill me right now.. If you wanted to, that is, but you don’t, and I know why.”

  Stu hated this smug bitch so much right now, this was obviously a trap. He yelled. “This better be the best forepy ever! You have twenty words, and I kill you!”

  Laughing Miracle held up four fingers and as she spoke she counted down. Dropping her middle finger on the st word, “I’ve, got, the, kids…”

  He hit his brakes mentally, what kids? Wait! “The kids from the railyard?”

  “Damn! You are fast! I can’t believe we already finished!” she ughed maniacally.

  Stu, completely calm now, asked, “Where are they?”

  Miracle said, “Which one do you like more? The little girl or boy? That one I’ll use for leverage, and the other I’ll kill to prove I’m serious.”

  Stu asked, “How did you get them?”

  Miracle said, “Proxy did it for me after you humiliated her. They walked right out of the house for Mr. Monster…”

  Stu said, “I’ll tell the judges.”    Miracle said, “Three-day suspension unsanctioned fight and nothing for the kids. Rule 3, remember?”

  “God damn you Miracle, I’m going to kill you if even one hair is hurt on those kids, and I’ll kill you as many times as it takes.”

  Miracle gave a shiver again, “You do it like no one else. Tell you what, I’ll keep both of them for now. If I need it I’ll have two to sacrifice. “

  Stu said, “If you hurt one, I’ll take the risk of the other dying to kill you again and again. I’ll eat your heart.”

  Miracle went to leave out of the front door saying, “You already have, tiger. I don’t care how you do it, but I need palindrome out of the picture. Tom will know where she is, you have 48 hours, and I kill them. After that I guess you kill me! Hmm, I get what Prosperity sees in this. Bye tiger!”

  As soon as she shut the door, Stu ran through it behind her running into his living room. The girls sat there staring at him wide eyed. Stu kicked the TV shattering the screen, “Fuck! Fuck!” Stomping the TV into dust, he finally stopped to catch his breath. The girls looked too terrified to say anything. “Miracle, she took those kids I saved, and she’s threatening to kill them, unless I kill another god.” He was holding his head and breathing heavily. Almost having a panic attack.

  Prosperity asked, “Who?”

  Stu said, “Palindrome.”

  Chaos said, “Rule 3 Stu, this is why that rule exists.”

  Stu pointed at her, “Say another thing about rule 3, and even you won’t be safe from what happens. Goddammit!” He punched the wall again and again.

  The girls looked at each other, this was new. Stu had never lost it before. Stu punched through into the next room, blue blood stained the wall. He finally stopped when his hand looked like hamburger. Leaning on the wall, He had a revetion, “Even pain doesn’t feel healing like it used to. This tournament is taking everything I have; I’m going to die a monster at the end of this.”

  Prosperity said, “Stu, we can…”

  Walking to the table grabbing his keys, Stu said, “If they want to see me be a monster, fine. I can do that.. If you want to come you can, don’t interfere, no matter what, or I will go through you. My recommendation is to go find a new life; I’m burning this one down. I’m not going to be allowed to continue after this.”

  He ran out the door and the girls followed, they were met by Lois who asked, “Is everything alright? It sounded like a bunch of people just were murdered.”

  Stu said, “Lois you were always a great neighbor, but you gossip way too much. Knock it off and just talk to people!” He walked past her to the car.

  The girls followed again with Prosperity turning and saying, “I’m sorry he’s had a really bad day!”

  Stu shouted, “The kind of day that drives you postal! Let’s go!”

  Prosperity said, “Sorry again, bye!” she ran to the car, as Lois watched in shock.

  Stu drove quickly to Godly Sushi, not even parking in a space, getting out and storming inside. “Cat! Tom! Where the fuck are you?”

  Tom showed up, “I can take it by your tone this isn’t a social call?”

  Stu said, “I want to sanction a fight! Right now, let’s go!”

  Tom was hesitant, this was unusual behavior to the extreme. “With whom?”

  The girls both said, “Palindrome.”

  Tom said, “Palindrome?”

  Stu said, “No!” looking at the girls he said, “Stay out of the way, remember?”

  Tom asked, “Is something going on here a judge should know about?”

  Stu said, “No..” the girls kept their mouths shut. “I want to fight Miracle! Right now!”

  Tom asked, “What’s going on? Even your god looks terrified of you, what happened?”

  Stu said, “She can’t hurt me physically, so she keeps hurting me elsewhere, she took the kids from the other day and is going to kill them if I don’t kill palindrome. She has to show up to the sanctioned fight or lose the chance to compete right? Then let’s do this, I’m going to kill that bitch a thousand times.”

  Tom shook his head, “I hate to remind you but r…”

  Prosperity interrupted clearing her throat and giving Tom the “cut it out” gesture. She said, “Eh-hem, er-erm.” Gesturing frantically.

  Tom squinted asking, “Why is she making all the gestures?”

  Stu said, “Because if someone says one more thing to me about rule 3, I’m going to kill them. that’s what I told my god when she brought it up a few minutes ago. They think you were going to say something about it, but I know better. You weren’t, were you?”

  Tom gulped before saying, “No, I wasn’t.”

  Stu asked, “Are you going to sanction the fight or not?”

  Tom yelled, “Stu I’m trying to protect you!”

  Stu screamed back, “I’m trying to save those kids!”

  Tom said, “You will die if you fight her today. So will the kids. In fact, there is nothing you can do for them. I already know this.”

  Stu said, “I have to try.”

  Tom shook his head trying to talk some sense into Stu. “When you fail, you die. That’s how it will end. Please don’t let all the hard work we’ve done go to waste. Think about the girls, think about yourself..”

  Stu hung his head, “I am. I’m the only fucking participant acting like a fucking person!” Taking off his gsses and throwing his phone down on the counter. Pulling his wallet and keys out, he gave them to prosperity. “I don’t need this stuff anymore it’s yours. If I’m going to die, I’ll die with some god damned humanity.. Make the fucking call cat, you or her. Sanction the fight..”

  Tom said, “Alright, you win! I can’t save your life! South 13th Street, ten minutes, you know the pce.. Now, get the hell out of my restaurant!”

  Stu said, “Thanks.”

  He turned running out of the front door. The girls couldn’t believe he ran past them without a word. Tom said, “He will die today, so will the kids. I tried so hard.” The girls ran out the door after him.