Frigid Bitch: It's like a 12-step program for assholes.
Lunch Lines: A noontime sentence.
Joseph Campblog: Exploring the books of Joseph Campbell.

« Pitted Olive Finally Says Yes, Part 20 | Main | Pitted Olive Finally Says Yes, Part 22 »

Styg lowered his head and forced his skin back to a hue that was reasonably human, though pallored and pocked with goosebumps. Olive squinted at the boy -- her first motion since the deliriad's appearance.

"Griffin," these are Styg and Olive," said Ferl. "They're here to help with the weeds, so you may thank them for coming to help us. And they both look like humans to me."

"I like the weeds," said Griffin.

The monster was still rumbling at Styg, and Ferl waved a hand at him. "You do know how to calm a deliryad, I hope," said Ferl. "Just give him what he wants." Styg looked around, lost. "Tell him a lie," Ferl said.

"I ... ah ... I'm not afraid of you," Styg whimpered, and the deliryad snapped its teeth at him, smoky particles dusting from its muzzle like the smoke of a gun.

"A better lie, please," said Ferl.

Styg wheezed. "I'm really good at gardening!" He yelled at the ceiling.

The monster paused, then turned and calmly wandered back to Ferl. From somewhere in the vicinity of its face, there was a crunching and swallowing noise.

"That's a bribe. It doesn't mean he likes you now," said the boy at the railing.

"I'm sorry to hear about your gardening skills," said Ferl. "Your mother specifically recommended you for weeding the grounds."

"Oh," said Styg, staring down at his teeth as they gnawed his lip, "I'm not BAD at it." Both he and Ferl sighed. "I wish I hadn't used that lie," he said.

"Make up another one," said the railing boy. "Make one up about her." He pointed straight like a spear into Olive's squint.

The deliryad followed the boy's arm, noticing Olive and taking an interest in her for the first time. It trotted over to her.