man put the lid back over the cake.âHere. You make this cake disappear, then Iâll be impressed.â
Simmons got up from the table, motioning as though shoveling food into his mouth. âGive him three minutes and we know he could make it disappear.â
âYou got that right, Lieutenant,â said Terrell.
âAll right,âWayne said. âGive me the cake dish.â
âNo, no, no. Stand over there and do it. I ainât lettinâ you touch it.â
âYou canât do that, man. I gotta have room to work.â
âIf you canât work from there, you ainât the real deal.â Terrellâs left hand remained on the cake dish, while his right lifted a slice to his own mouth.
âTerrell,â Caleb urged, âI say let him try.â
âSure, Capân, but I ainât giving him the cake. Heâs always brag-ginâ about what he can do, and how well he can do it. I been trying for years to be impressed with Wayne, and Iâm just sayinâ . . . Itâs been a long wait.â
As Terrell spoke, Lieutenant Simmons slipped behind him unseen, from the other entry into the kitchen, and motioned to Caleb.
Caleb took his cue.âWayne,â he said, punching the driver in the arm, âTerrellâs right. The only thing you can do better than him is dance.â
Terrell almost choked on his bite of cake. âExcuse me?â
Caleb turned on the stereo.
The light came on in Wayneâs eyes as he noticed Simmons still in hiding. Realizing his opportunity, he jumped in with both feetâquite literally. âThatâs right,â he taunted. âThatâs what I been talkinâ about. Everyone here knows I can lay it down better than you, Terrell.â
âGive us all a sample,â Caleb said.
Wayne started dancing to the music as Terrell stared in disgusted disbelief. The rookie was laughing, and Caleb couldnât conceal his own wide grin.
âAre you kiddinâme?âTerrell waved a hand, shooing away this disgrace to people of rhythm everywhere. âThereâs no way you could be serious. He moves like a drunk hippopotamus.â
The hippopotamus continued, unfettered.
Eric and Caleb egged him on.
Terrell let go of the cake lid, still unaware of Simmons just behind him. He stepped toward the center of the room, ready to throw it down. âLook, man. You gotta flow with the music, like this.â He started dancing. âItâs gotta be smooth,Wayne, and soulful . You canât just lumber around like that.â
Wayneâs gyrations came to a slow halt as he turned his attention to the suave movements of his fellow fireman.
Caleb gave Simmons a slight nod. The lieutenant gently lifted the cake lid and removed the entire dessert. He retreated back the way heâd come, disappearing from view.
âWayne, I hate to break it to you,âCaleb said.âBut it looks like Terrellâs got you beat. The man can dance.â
â Thank you.â Terrellâs face made clear his disdain of the competition.
âBut Terrell, I still think Wayne can make that cake disappear.â
âI know I can,âWayne said. âStand back and watch some real talent.â
Caleb joined his driver in the center of the room.âDo it,Wayne. Do it. Câmon, just like I taught you.â
âAre you serious?â Terrell was confused. He took a step back, blocking the counter with his wide body, and returning his hand to the lid to guard the object in question. âShow me whatchu got, big guy.â
âIâve been holdinâ back on you, man. But itâs time,âWayne said with a flourish of his hands and a wild-eyed look, âfor the master to work. Hold the music, please.â
Eric turned off the stereo. Wayne stared toward the counter, putting his face through a variety of facial contortions that were more slapstick than mysterious. Terrell watched him as if he
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