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I can’t hold back a giggle “So…they startle you?”

“They startle everyone,” he says in righteous tones “Who wants that? So mouse or chiseled wood Pied Piper shit just bounces out and the clock does that loud gong noise Hey, fuck you, it’s eight o’clock, did you just shit your pants?”

I laugh so hard, I roll about and wind up on

“What’s your other thing?” I whisper tightly “You said other than clocks…”

“Nu-uh Now you oweone”

I heave a deep sigh “Only really one big fear here, and I’m afraid I couldn’t share it I’m quite off my rocker, not the funny sort of off Just off”

“Oh, c’mon, you can’t not tell me after that It’s…” He reaches for the watch I keep between us, pressing the light-up button to make its screen turn faintly blue “It’s two fifty-one in thecave—”

“A burrow,” I correct

>

“We’re stuck in a rabbit burrow You’ve got a phobia thatfear of panty hose or terrified of cutlery I want soood here”

He yawns behind his hand, still givingme feel anxious as you speak”

“What is it, Siren? I gave you clocks What do you have for me?”

I squeeze“It’s not the funny sort, nor will you necessarily find it novel You’re going to be sorely disappointed”

“No? Well that’s okay” His voice is soft and kind, and at that h with it I exhale…inhale And I just say it “I’m afraid of water”

“Water, like…”