A Snicker of Magic

After dinner, Felicity and Frannie ask Cleo about the Brothers Threadbare. Cleo seems nervous and reluctant to talk about the brothers, but Felicity shifts the topic to the duel. Cleo coughs while smoking her cigarette, and one of the words Felicity sees in the smoke is her mother’s name, Holly.

Cleo describes the duel but also talks about how the brothers were very skilled at other arts. Berry could sew, like Aunt Cleo, and Stone could paint murals that he could walk into. Mama also paints, which is one of the reasons she moves from place to place. She used to work as a traveling artist, but she hasn’t painted in a while. Stone used to paint a mural on the side of a drugstore, called the Gallery. He would change the mural regularly and sometimes he would walk into the mural when he needed a break. The Gallery has long been painted and graffitied over now. Cleo believes the brothers regretted their duel but were both too proud to apologize and mend their relationship.

They discuss Felicity and Frannie’s dad, Roger Pickle and how he r loved to dance with their mom. He also sang and played guitar.