Go on his own to Aunt Lucy

As much as Xabar would like to have Hager put in a good word for him, he realizes his only real option is to make his own way to Aunt Lucy’s.

“I’m sorry you can’t come along,” he says to his friend. “I’ll try my best to convince Aunt Lucy that you’re not the ungrateful friend I’m sure she will think you are.”

“Forget trying to guilt trip me, Xabar. I’m not falling for that again. I wish you luck, but you are on your own for this. Besides, what would my mom say, knowing how much she despises the woman?”

“I’m sure she’d want her son to help the guy is like a second son to her.”

“A second son who wanks off to thoughts of her in her nightgown?”

“Don’t be silly,” replied Xabar, picking up his bag and heading to the door. “Every time I wank off as I think about your mom, she’s long since lost the nightgown.”

Hager thrusts his hands over his ears and says, “Enough! Now get out of here! And Xabar ... I really do wish you well. Stay in touch, will you?”

“Don’t worry, Hager. Heck, for all you know, Aunt Lucy and I will hit it off so well that I’ll end up as your uncle!”

With that parting thought, Xabar left his friend and set out on the journey across town. He had Aunt Lucy’s address, but that was pretty much the extent of what he knew about her. As he neared her house, his doubts began to rise. “What if she’s a hag? What if she hates me? What will I do if she turns me away?”

As he considered this, he suddenly brightened. “What am I saying? How could she dislike me? She hates Hager’s mom, and Hager’s mom hates me. What’s that old saying: ‘The enemy of my enemy gets to stay at my house, eat my food, and be waited on in leisure’?”

Xabar turns a corner and comes to the sought-after address. He was expecting a modest home, much like Hager’s, but what he sees is a large, well-kept home that would be fit for a lord. Double-checking the address, Xabar confirms he is at the right place.

Gulping, he tries to decide how to approach this opportunity.