“So after you accidentally caused him to sprain his ankle, shatter his pelvis, AND go into anaphylactic shock, he still gave you his autograph?”, Robert was holding the faded jeans in front of his face in disbelief as his eyes darted from the scrap of clothing to Edwin.
     “Sure,”, Edwin said enthusiastically, “he said it was the least he could do.  These are even the pants the EMT’s had to cut off of him as they took him to hospital.  You can still see the mud stains on it, I’ve never even tried to wash them out.”.
     Robert shook his head, and asked, “So how did you meet him?”.
     “Well, it was three a.m., and I was out looking for a bowl of miso soup…”, Edwin began.
     Owen’s watch beeped suddenly, reminding him that he had to get ready for work.  Excusing himself from the lounge, he made his way up to his apartment.
     Turning the handle on the unlocked door, he was greeted with music coming from the A/V room, and singing from the kitchen.  He rounded the corner and saw Kenrick standing over the stove, which was covered in various pots.  He was singing “The Joker” loudly while cooking something Owen was completely unable to place by smell.
     “First question, what is that?”, he asked.
     Kenrick stopped singing to answer, “Supper.  I’m making a Belfar speciality.”.
     Owen walked closer, grabbing a spoon from the dish rack.  He reached for the closest pot, but Kenrick grabbed his wrist before the spoon could enter the pot.
     “Umm, I wouldn’t do that.”, he said, and pushed Owen’s hand away.
     “It’s not cooked yet?”.
     “Oh, it’s safe to eat, unless you’re not from Belfar.  Then eating it can be, umm, unpleasant.”.
     “Okay, second question, why are, were, you singing?”.
     “I’m practising.”.
     Owen opened his mouth to follow up the question, but instead said, “I don’t want to know.”.
     He left the kitchen and went to his room to change into his work clothes.  He quickly got ready, wanting to get away from the temptation of asking Kenrick what he was practising for.  As he was picking up his shoes, a knock sounded on his door, and he ran to open it.
     Avrianus stood waiting, her hands behind her back, stretched up as tall as her short frame would allow.
     “Hi, Owen.  Are you doing anything tomorrow night?”, she asked, smiling innocently.
     “No,”, Owen said slowly, unsure of her motive, “I have the night off, but I didn’t make any plans.”.
     Avrianus held up what she was holding behind her back, saying “Good” as she presented it.
     Owen took the sheet of paper, advertising a karaoke night Robert was planning for the next evening at seven.
     “Absolutely not.”, Owen stated.
     Avrianus crossed her arms over her chest, and said, “You promised me you’d take me to meet everyone.”.
     “I did?”, he sighed, “Of course I did, but not karaoke.  Anything but that.”.
     “Even I can get Beth to go?”.
     Owen gave in, saying, “Okay, if you can get Beth to go, I’ll take you to the karaoke night.”.
     Avrianus’s smile grew even wider, and she reached into the purse she was carrying to pull out a mini-cassette recorder.  She pressed play, and the sound of Beth’s voice came out of it.
     “Yes, Avrianus, I’ll go tomorrow night, but why is this so important to you?”.
     Avrianus’s voice followed, “If you don’t go, Owen won’t go.”.
     Her finger pressed down on the stop button, and she looked Owen in the eyes, daring him to back out of his promise.
     “I’ll meet you here at 6:30, then?”, he surrendered.
     Avrianus nodded her head, then threw her arms around Owen before running back up the stairs to her apartment.
     Owen finished putting his shoes and jacket on, and left for work.

     Julie waved to Owen from the back of the store as he came in to work.  Owen didn’t pause from stop to return a greeting before he grabbed the phone and dialled the manager’s number.
     “Pick up, pick up…”, he prompted, but it went unanswered.
     He finally hung up, and asked Julie, “Do you know where Will is?”.
     “Quebec.”, she answered without hesitation.
     “Quebec?”.
     “Quebec.”.
     Owen paused and thought before asking, “Was his cousin’s wedding this month?”.
     “His flight left this morning.  Weren’t you paying attention at the staff meeting, Mr. Acting Manager?”.
     “Obviously not.”.
     “What do you need him for?”.
     “I was blackmailed into going to a karaoke night tomorrow, and I need to be called in for seven.”.
     “Wait.  You.”, Julie said, pointing at Owen, and continued, “Karaoke.  I’ll see what I can do.  At seven you said?”.
     “That’s right.”.
     Julie went into the small office and came out a moment later holding a small day planner.
     “This is good.”, she said, writing something in it.
     “You can get me out of it?”, Owen asked hopefully.
     “No, I’m not working tomorrow.”, she explained, “I can go and watch you embarrass yourself.”.
     “You know I’m acting manager, and can make the next two weeks hell for you, right?”.
     “You can, but you won’t.”.
     “What makes you say that?”.
     “You’re too nice of a guy to do something so petty.  Besides, I have to meet whoever was able to blackmail you into karaoke.”.

     Owen sat in the A/V room, watching the clock on his VCR as the display turned to 6:25.  Kenrick was concentrating on the news, staying silent.  He’d assumed his human guise, waiting to leave as soon as everyone had arrived.
     The door buzzer startled Owen, who jumped to his feet and ran to the apartment door.  He pushed the talk button, and said, “Hello?”.
     The voice that came through belonged to Julie, “You forgot to give me your address.  I had to get it from the computer.”.
     Owen pressed the button to unlock the main door, and unlocked and opened the apartment door.  Julie found the apartment, and walked in without waiting for an invitation.
     “So this is your place?”, she said, looking around, “Not bad at all.  What does a place like this run for?”.
     Owen closed the door, and motioned for Julie to sit down on he living room chesterfield.
     “It’s kind of rent controlled.”, he answered haltingly, “I pay $275 a month, plus power.”.
     Julie sat down on the couch, scanning the room even more critically, then asked, “Are there any vacancies?  My lease is up soon.”.
     Owen shrugged his shoulders and replied, “You can ask the owners tonight, if you want.  Robert owns the place with his brother, and he’s footing the bill for the evening.”.
     “While you’re here though, I should introduce you to Kenrick.  Kenrick, do you have a minute?  I want you to meet a friend of mine.”.
     Kenrick shut of the TV, and came out of the A/V room.  He stopped two steps from Julie, and waited for Owen to begin.
     “Julie, this is Kenrick Macinally.”, Owen gave the introduction, “Kenrick, Julie Seir.”.
     “A pleasure to meet you.”, Kenrick said as he gently shook the hand that Julie offered.
     “Same here.  How do you know Owen?  I hope you don’t mind my asking, but you look like you’re at least ten years older than he is.”.
     “A series of strange events, would you agree?”, he turned to Owen as he answered.
     “I’ll agree to that.”, he said.
      A few seconds of silence followed, which was broken by a knock at the door.  Owen excused himself, and opened the door.  Avrianus burst in, throwing her arms around Owen, who returned her hug.  Owen put his arm over her shoulder, and guided her into the living room.  Kenrick, sensing the introductions were over, left for the A/V room.
     “Julie, this is Avrianus.”, Owen introduced her, “A good friend of mine who lives upstairs.  She’s the one who blackmailed me into going tonight.”.
     Avrianus blushed, and Julie laughed.
     “So you’re the one.”, she said, then turned to Owen, “I like her.  Why are you chasing after the blonde?”.
     Avrianus’s eyes grew wide, and she started to step backwards.
     “Avrianus helped set Beth and I up.”, Owen explained, “We’re just friends.”.
     “Oh, not interested in Owen.  There must be a guy in your life already, then?”, Julie asked.
     “N-n-no.”, Avrianus answered nervously.
     “No boyfriend, and you’re not interested in a great guy like Owen.  Okay, that makes sense.  If you’re not seeing anybody, I know this really cute redhead named Lisa…”, she offered.
     Avrianus dropped down under Owen’s arm, and was ready to run.  Owen put his hand on her shoulder and stopped her.
     “You’re not setting up any more of my friends with that psychopath!”, he said to Julie.
     Julie sighed, “Okay, I won’t try and set Avrianus up with anyone.”.
     Avrianus relaxed, and Owen released his hand.
     “I’m sorry, I got a little carried away.  Friends?”, Julie apologised, and offered her hand.
     Avrianus took the hand and shook it vigorously, “Of course!”.
     “I hope you’re not offended about offering to set you up with Lisa?”, Julie probed nervously.
     “No, I’m not.  I’m just not seeing anybody right now.”.
     “Jim won’t be happy to hear that.”, Owen commented under his breath.
     “Your voice sounds really familiar.”, Julie said suddenly, “Owen, where’s that CD you brought to work when we did our first inventory?”.
     “Bat Out of Hell?”, he asked.
     “No, the homemade one.”.
     Owen paused, then found his way into the A/V room.  Kenrick was sitting on the couch watching TV, but turned it off as Owen walked past him.
     “Sorry.”, Owen said to Kenrick, who dismissed it with a wave.
     He found a CD, and put it in the stereo.  “This one?”, he called out to the living room.
     “I think so.  Go to the next song.”, Julie called back.
     Owen skipped to the next track, and Julie told him to go forward again.  At the first few notes, she said, “That’s the one.”, and Owen left the room and rejoined her in the living room.
     “’Pure Snow’, by Yuko Sasaki.”, he said.
     “Just listen.”, Julie said, and Owen fell silent.
     The voice that came from the stereo was the same as Avrianus’s.  Avrianus’s eyes shifted from side to side as Owen and Julie looked at her.
     “I always thought your voice sounded familiar.”, Owen said to her.
     “It is uncanny.”, Julie added.
     “I don’t know how that happened I just sound like her and that’s not strange at all because lots of people sound like other people so it’s not like I chose to sound like her because that’s just impossible.”.
     “Wow, I’ve never heard anyone speak so fast.”, Julie commented, “Are you okay?”.
     Avrianus caught her breath, and nodded.
     “I’m don’t think it’s strange that you sound just like her.  I know it’s just a coincidence.”, Julie continued.
     “She does have a beautiful voice.  I should have placed it earlier.”, Owen comforted her, “Are you maybe related to her?”.
     “Why would you ask that?”, Avrianus said.
     “You do have same accent, and you sound alike.”, Julie said.
     Avrianus shook her head, “No, we’re not related.”.
     “We should get going, or we’ll be late.”, Owen pointed out.
     Kenrick came out of the A/V room, and the quartet left together.  After decending the staircase, Owen led them to Beth’s door and knocked gently.  The door opened and Beth came out, kissing Owen without so much as a hello.
     “Julie,”, Owen said afterwards, “this is Beth.  Beth, this is Julie, one of my best friends.”.
     “It’s nice to finally meet you.  I’m glad you two are finally dating, because I was getting tired of having to hear about this great girl he was too chicken to ask out.”, Julie said.
     “I was waiting for the right moment.”, Owen defended himself, but Julie ignored him.
     “You know that I’m going to have to take you on a girl’s night to find out if you’re good enough for him, right?”, Julie stated.
     “Sure, sounds like fun.”, Beth agreed.
     “Avrianus, are you in?”, Julie asked.
     Avrianus remained silent for a few seconds before she nodded.
     “Great!  We’ll get it all planned tonight.”, Julie said as she turned on her heel towards the main door.
     Beth whispered in Owen’s ear, “She’s certainly straight-forward.”.
     “I know.”, Owen agreed.
     “I think we’ll get along.”, Beth commented with a smile.

     “Okay, Owen.  You’ve got everyone jealous.  You can give some of them up now.”, Murray said as he slid into a seat across the table from Owen.
     “What?”, Owen asked, confused.
     “You’re surrounded by three beauties.  The guys are all jealous, so it’s time for some introductions.”.
     “Murray, you know Avrianus, right?”.
     “Apartment 36.  She’s become a legend already.”, Murray said as shook her hand.  Avrianus blushed, and sunk down into her chair slightly as he finished his comment.
     “This is Julie, one of my best friends.”, Owen continued.
     “Owen and I work together.”, Julie said with a slight wave.
     “I’m going to have to rent movies more often.”, Murray flashed a grin at her.
     “Aren’t you going to introduce Beth?”, Julie asked.
     Owen cleared his throat, and said, “Do you remember what I told you about the second time Beth and I met?”.
     Julie thought for a moment before answering, “You mean the folding chair?”.
     “I’ll leave it at that.”, Owen said with a nod.
     The sound of a microphone turning on stopped the conversation.  Robert was standing on the stage, and began his speech.
     “Hello, everyone.  I can see a few faces in the crowd I don’t recognise, so it’s nice to know that some of you aren’t scared of embarrassing yourselves in front of friends and family.  I know nobody is going to offer to go first, so I’ll start off with…”.
     Avrianus suddenly sat up straight waving her arm in the air, and shouted out, “I’ll go first!”.
     The crowd of four dozen turned to look at her.  Robert looked out to see who had shouted out.
     “This is a first.”, he said as Avrianus walked up to the stage.
     Avrianus reached the stage, followed by a few whistles from some guys in the crowd.  She ignored them as she handed a CD to Robert, who nodded and dutifully placed it in the karaoke machine.
     “Let’s all give a hand to Avrianus from apartment 36.”, he said as he stood to the side.
     Avrianus smiled and waved to Owen from the stage as Robert introduced her.  Owen, Julie and Beth all waved back.  She then turned and gave a nod to Kenrick who was sitting at the back of the room.  Kenrick raised his glass in a salute as the first notes of a piano came from the speakers.
     Avrianus took a deep breath, and began to sing.  Owen doubted that anyone watching knew the song, as she was singing in Japanese.  The room was absolutely still as her song continued, until the last note sounded.
     The applause filled the hall, and Avrianus blushed and rushed off the stage to rejoin Owen.
     Robert took the centre stage again, “Okay, I think that breaks our rule about not letting professional singers start off the evening.  I hope none of you are discouraged to come on up here.”.
     Avrianus reached her seat, and slid in.
     “That was amazing!”, Julie and Beth said in unison, as Avrianus took a sip of her water.
     “What song was that?”, Julie asked.
     “Kaze ni Notte.”, Owen answered.
     “Pardon?”, Julie asked again.
     “Ride the Wind, Yuko Sasaki.”, he said again.
     Avrianus’s eyes darted from side to side, until they fixed on Kenrick at the back of the room.  Robert was still looking for volunteers, so Kenrick put down his glass and called out, “I’ll go.”.
     Owen and company turned to watch the stage again as Kenrick walked up to the microphone.  He looked down the list, and suddenly smiled as he told Robert his selection.
     Owen groaned as the first notes of “The Joker” issued from the speakers.

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