Craven Danger on the Run - Part Three

“I make ya feel insecure, inadequate and inferior?” said Betty. “I gotta tell ya, Mr. Danger, and please don’t take this too personal. But those three words have been hangin’ around your neck like a hangman’s noose since ya was old enough ta stand on your own two feet. Which, come ta think of it, has been, let's see, never.”

“Hey!" said Craven. “Who’s side are you on?"

“I’m on the side of the fella that knows when ta suck it up and get on with things, instead of whinin’ like a whinge machine on a high wire that’s afraid ta put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes ya just gotta stop lookin’ at the wire and look at what’s ahead.”

“Ah, Betty, don’t be that way,” said Craven. “I was only sayin’ what the head doctor said. Honest.”

“Well, I got my own three words for you and that doctor,” said Betty. “Im-be-ciles!”

“That’s really only one word, Betty,” said Craven.

“Whatever, Mr. Danger!”

“Well, you’re the one that made the appointment, Betty. I was just doin’ what ya told me to do.”

“That’s what I’m talkin’ about, Mr. Danger. Do ya always have ta do everything I tell ya? Can’t you just once tell me to zip it? I won’t bite. Much. And if I do? Well, ya bite back. Then I promise ta tell if ya if I had it comin’. But if I didn’t have it comin’ you can either duck or take your lumps. Don’t go crawlin’ in a bottle or sit there suckin’ ya thumb.”

“Sorry I got ya so sore, Betty,” said Craven. “Let me make it up ta ya. how about a walk in the park?”

“Nah," said Betty. “I know the squirrels make ya nervous. Ya can make it up ta me, Mr. Danger, by gettin’ down ta business. Our business. Tomorrow we’re goin’ out to an open field in New Jersey. The air will do ya good, Mr. Danger. And when we get out there I want you to stand in the middle of that old cow pasture, take a deep breathe and say, ‘I ain’t afraid a nothin’! I can lick the world and anyone in it!' Then ya count ta ten and let it all out. The biggest scream of ya life! 'Look out world! I’m comin’ ta get ya! Me! Craven Danger!’ Then ya take in a another deep breathe so’s ya don’t pass out from all the yellin’. And I guarantee ya can kiss the ol' Craven Danger goodbye and say hello to the new."

“The new Craven Danger?” said Craven.

“Well, not too new,” said Betty. “Just you without the nervous stomach.”

“I’ll do it, Betty!” said Craven. “Ya make a good argument.”

“And while we’re out there in the middle of that old cow pasture we can practice shootin’ our pistols.”

“We?” said Craven.

“We," said Betty. “Twin Dangers. Private Investigators.”