Revoltingly Young (37 page)

The main course was poached salmon with lobster sauce. While we ate, Nick talked a lot with Nerea and Miren about life in the circus. He said he’s thinking seriously about buying a trailer and going on the road with them next year. Ada smiled graciously at this news, but even I could sense she was thinking “over my very dead body.”

Glamorous Trent Preston gave by far the best speech. He said he was thrilled to be here at Nick’s wedding, since Nick had single-handedly engineered his first marriage and also had played a major role in his subsequent divorce. This drew a much bigger laugh than my lame toast, but then I’m not a suave movie star who makes $18 million per picture. The less said about my effort the better.

Then there was more music, more dancing, and more champagne. I remember a big wedding cake being rolled in and Nick juggling some more cutlery. No, Uma didn’t catch the bridal bouquet. It went to a surprised waitress in a low-cut sailor’s suit. Then things got a little hazy; I remember spending a good deal of time in the lavish nautical-theme restroom throwing up. It was either a nervous stomach from my traumatic toast, a gut-wrenching LSD flashback, or too much champagne.

SUNDAY, October 16 – On the bus to Winnemucca. Since my brother isn’t leaving on his honeymoon until tomorrow, Ada roped me into her dental chair this morning to deal with my dead tooth. I think it embarrassed her professionally to have such a trailer-trash smile in the family. She yanked it out, stuck in a fake one that’s a perfect match to my other choppers, and–while my jaw was numb–filled two cavities and cleaned out the excess gunk.

While she worked, she told me more about how she met my brother. She noticed him in the skydiving class because he was the only student who proved too chicken to jump out of the plane. She thought that was rather endearing and also indicated that he was a guy with both feet on the ground. She also was attracted by his excellent oral hygiene. The irony is that Nick was attending that class because his philosophy is “When life gets dull, try something new.”

Although Ada is a high-priced dental surgeon, she didn’t charge me one cent. Nor would she accept a tip. She did make me promise on my sacred honor as her brother-in-law that I will floss faithfully from now on. I had to agree because by then the Novocain was wearing off, and she was still poking around with sharp instruments.

All in all, I’m glad Nick took my advice and married the dentist.

We had to clear out of Nick’s house by noon today because his real estate agent was preparing for an open house. My brother claims he’s selling his pad so he and Ada can get their own place, but Veeva speculates the sale was motivated by his bride’s refusal to live in the same house where Nick did the ugly with Reina. Could be, but I will always regard it as Ground Zero of my burgeoning sex life.

Nick took us all out to lunch, then came another round of hugs and sad farewells (plus the obligatory $100 hug payout from Nick). Damn, it’s tough suddenly having a family that you keep saying good-bye to. I’d like to hang around those guys some more, although I suppose that impulse wears off.

Uma says she had a good time and enjoyed meeting all those Twisps. She also thinks we should use some of our profits to buy a nice gift for the newlyweds. I suppose, but what could they possibly use that I don’t need more?

Traveling with Uma was great. I love her so much I can barely stand it. I suppose the odds aren’t very good that we’ll wind up together in the future. Uma thinks teen romances are just practice for the real thing when we get to be adults. Could be, except you do hear about people who marry their high-school sweethearts and live happily ever after.

Well, we’ll just have to see what happens.

Can’t write any more. I see the bus restroom is free now. Time to duck back there again to check out my great new smile.

See you all down the road!

[To be continued in the future Book 7:
Son of Youth in Revolt: The Continued Twisp Journals
]