You Could Be Home by Now by Tracy Manaster

location.
    â€œYou’re telling me it was just a glitch.”
    â€œI’m saying I want you to put it out there.”
    Two weeks into each school year, Seth’s students could recite his lecture on fact checking verbatim. He’d flunked a girl once for falsifying quotes; he’d stood firm with a student whom Shipley pressed to reveal sources. Lobel made a satisfied sound. Seth choked down an unsatisfied sound of his own. “You might be better served with a press release from your office.”
    â€œNah,” Lobel clapped Seth’s shoulder. “Let’s keep it in the family. They’re all reading you anyhow. As far as I can tell, that’s how the jackals got the story in the first place.”
    â€œAm I supposed to feel bad about that?” A child’s life was at stake. For all anyone knew that Rosko woman was senile.
    â€œNot at all, son.” Lobel had to be gracious, considering that he was asking what he was asking. “You do your job.”
    â€œOf course I will,” said Seth.
    Lobel beamed as if he’d heard a promise. Seth walked him out. Nicky tried for his attention. “I’ll have your editor back in two shakes,” Lobel said, and something ugly bloomed in Seth’s gut hearing the title. They waited for the elevator. No one ever took the stairs in The Commons. Lobel asked, “You kids settling in all right?”
    â€œWe’re renting a place about ten miles south.”
    â€œRockpoint Townhomes?”
    â€œParklands.” Seth fumbled a little for the development’s name, though he passed it twice a day, spelled out at its entrance in an ornate font. So many places here were like that. Grandly labeled and fenced in, as if the gate itself made what lay beyond worthy of taxonomy and display.
    Lobel nodded. “Nice area. My pool guy put theirs in, too. Though between you and me, it’s a buyer’s market. You and Alison should look into something permanent. Especially if you want children.”
    Seth could rip out that tongue like a fat, wet root.
    â€œNo rush, though. You kids enjoy each other a while first. You’ll miss it after, being just the two of you.” The elevator door opened and Seth wanted it to swallow his boss. Hoagland Lobel stepped on. He held a hand out to stop the sliding doors. “I see Alison now and again. Thought she couldn’t top that old Hollywood stuff she dug up, but this Adah Chalk—I’ve half a mind to rename Centerville Commons Adahstown, seeing as it’s her hundred fiftieth birthday next month. That’ll distract from all this fuss. A little rebranding goes a long way.”
    Adah Chalk came West as a mail-order bride.
    Adah Chalk saved the herd from a flash flood.
    Adah Chalk ran the telegraph office, cured rattler bites with a secret poultice, taught English to migrants, drove the first automobile for a hundred miles, corresponded with Susan B. Anthony, won blue ribbons with her slices of lemon pie. Dear God, was he ever sick of Adah Constance Ragsdale Chalk.
    The elevator door strained against Lobel’s hand. “Adahstown. Or maybe Adahstowne with an E . One or the other. No tofu, now. Which do you think is best?” Lobel was all unweighted affability. Evidently, it had not occurred to him that Seth might have a conscience.
    â€œI’d say check with Ali,” Seth said. “She’ll know what’s in keeping with the period.”
    â€œWill do, partner, and thanks for the talk.”
    Partner. The doors closed.

C U NEXT TUESDAY
    Secanthelpit : mother teresa!
    LilyBee : So very not in the mood.
    Secanthelpit : nah, i kid. it’s genius. like those pageant chickies. philanthropy stops the h8ters dead. This tyson thing’s a gift from the cybergods. mater and paterfamilias will HAVE to let you back. lipsticklil 4eva!
    LilyBee : If you’re going to use words like paterfamilias and philanthropy I suspect you can also use caps