Jack made his way to what had once been the back door and was now just a big, gaping hole in the building. A dozen different people could be seen scurrying about, shouting orders to one another. Harry was leaning against a half wall, drinking tea.

“I bet you could clear this room in a few seconds if you served those guys some of that shitty tea you’re guzzling,” Jack said by way of a greeting.

“Eat shit, Jack. I only share my shitty tea with those near and dear to my heart. What do you think? Not that I value your opinion or anything. I’m just curious.”

“I love it. So will you when it’s done. Listen, I know a secret. Well, I sort of know a secret that concerns Yoko. Nikki didn’t exactly tell me I couldn’t tell you, so I guess I can. You know me. When I give my word, nothing, not even wild horses, can drag it out of me. I pretended not to be interested so I wouldn’t have to give my word so that I could have a clear conscience when I told you.”

Harry set his cup with no handles down on the half wall. He raised three fingers. Jack knew he had precisely three seconds to tell Harry the secret, or the great master of the martial arts would kill him on the spot.

“Okay, okay. Look, I’m just the messenger, okay, so don’t do something you’re going to regret,” Jack said with a straight face. “That also means you can’t even think about doing something. It seems…Jesus, Harry, I don’t know how to tell you this. I guess I just have to blurt it out. Yoko has had a change of heart. She doesn’t like pink anymore. She’s into…champagne colors. That means you have to get rid of all that pink shit we bought. The bright spot is it was on sale. That should take away some of your pain, and, buddy, I am feeling your pain. I thought it was beautiful, but…it’s champagne from here on in. Nikki said all the girls agreed. It seems pink is now passé. Who knew, Harry? Certainly not me.”

“I paid a thousand dollars for all that pink crap on sale, and now I have to throw it out. Is that what you’re telling me, Jack?”

“Well, yeah, it’s either that or Yoko is going to throw you out. She doesn’t like peonies anymore either. Women are so fickle!” Jack proclaimed dramatically. He looked at Harry and thought he’d never seen a more stupid expression in his life. “After lunch we can go shopping. You want to go to Target or Neiman Marcus? Walmart is also a possibility. Your call.”

“What if all that crap isn’t on sale, and I have to pay full price?”