Little Man
Paulie had a roommate. The roommate’s name was Doyle. Doyle was keeping lookout.
“Oh. My. God! Jerk, your HAIR!” Doyle’s playful catcall echoed down Fourth Street from a half block away. Jerk lowered his head and ran a hand through his hair. Kid had recently touched it up.
“Yeah! Nice hair, brother!” A guy passing them boomed in agreement, giving a thumb-up. He had an oversized Macho Man t-shirt and jean shorts so low they may have qualified as lederhosen, despite the kiss of ice in the air.
“I’m the barber!” Kid said, turning to smile and wave as the guy continued on.
“Right on, little man!” The man yelled back. Kid beamed.
Doyle flounced down the block to meet them, black velvet Cuban heels tapping like a dance revue. He was wearing a black-on-black silk herringbone suit, with a lace cravat like he was hosting a séance after. Paulie walked behind.
“Oh my god, that hair! So you! And you must be Kid. You’re Kid, right?”
Doyle’s powdered face looked back and forth between them.
“Paulie did not tell me what an absolutely adorable couple you two make!”
“I said they were roommates.” Paulie huffed, catching up.
“Adorable couple!” Doyle was emphatic. He offered his hand to Kid. “I’m so rude, I’m Doyle.” He teased out the “Doy-” so it sounded like “toy.”
Kid shook Doyle’s hand, smiling. “I’m Kid. Doyle? From Carmen’s? She mentioned you.”
“Guilty as charged!” Doyle flourished his hands and fanned himself for a moment, turning to show his profile.
Doyle looked at Jerk again and smirked. “Brothers would have knocked you senseless for that haircut.”
“They would have knocked you senseless for that penciled-on mustache, Doyle.” Jerk gave him a mocking half salute. “How have you been, Cadet?”
Doyle rolled his eyes. The subtle eyeliner and blush made him look like a chalk drawing. “Oh you know, just working on my drag act and trying to get Paulie to join me.”
Paulie sighed and rubbed his temples. “Can we talk about this in the car? We’ve got a memorial to go to.”
Doyle pointed at Paulie in theatrical exasperation. “And, he keeps saying things like THAT when I bring it up.”