To say Mrs. McNeil looked better was putting it mildly. When Barry had left Hilary and her family, they had been stinking, wet, bedraggled and miserable. While the woman before him was still portly, she was clean, she was dressed nicely if modestly, and most importantly she was smiling.
"I appreciate you giving us that extra two weeks to make rent," She continued, a bit more nervous now. Barry suddenly remembered the new reality (While still keeping the old), the McNiels weren't well off, so a high rise probably should have been out of their price range. However, Barry's was a bit more sloppy and thus cheaper. So they managed, even if they were frequently late.
"Uh, no problem," Barry rolled with it. It was weird. Were they now regular tenants just because it was the easiest way to explain them 'suddenly here'? Why didn't they vanish, or end up in their old home instead? Maybe his invitation for them to stay had somehow been oddly recognized by the medallion?
The idea of the medallion having thoughts, or even a mission of its own was vaguely creepy.
"How's the rest of the family handling the place?" Barry asked.
"Oh, just fine," Hilary gestured where her two not identical twin daughters Dolly and Daphne were at a table texting happily. Their slightly younger brother Wilburt was on a second hand X box near the TV.
"We love it here, so much roomier than our old place," Mrs. McNeil lowered her voice, with a side glance at the older woman in a corner chair listening to some classic music "I hope my mother in law hasn't been complaining about the strong LGBT community here? I've met them, they seem very nice and that cafe makes some awesome tasting stuff, but Anetta is very old fashioned, its her generation and all. She's not as openminded, and I know what a big supporter of the LGBT you are so I hope she's not offending."
Barry actually chuckled at that. Mrs. McNeil clearly felt this place was a good thing, and didn't want her mother in law blowing it for the rest of her family, "You can think what you like here, honest, you just can't hassle others about it is all I ask. So you're...okay with this place?" He was surprised. With hookers on the 9th floor, a porn studio on another, doms on the third, and bimbos and sorority sluts roaming the halls, he was expecting more resistance.
"Well, I wouldn't want my family following some examples," She confessed blushing slightly, "But over all, it's still much nicer than where we used to live. And 90% of the folks, whatever I may think of their life styles or clothes, seem nicer. That sweet girl Glori actually brought me a cake. Store bought, but it was nice."
Barry didn't know what to say, this was nice to hear, "Glori is really nice. Where's Chester??" He asked of the husband.
"Oh, he'll be home any minute now. He works late hours," She said, not mentioning that to make rent he probably had to.
Maybe I should never visit these folks again? see if I can avoid changing them? But I worry eventually I might zap em and...
"You look troubled, Barry. Is everything okay?" Hillary asked, kindly putting a hand on Barry's shoulder.
"It's just, I can't promise this place won't change you, Mrs. McNeil. Folks find themselves fitting in..." he didn't know how she'd take that.
Fri Aug 21 15:13:13 2015
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