section7mfu | PicFic 5/14 (Reply)

A Branch off the Family Tree

"Is this one of those old tin-type photographs, Napoleon?"

"As a matter of fact, it is, April."

"Quite a resemblance, mate. Relative of yours, I take it?"

"So I was told. My great-uncle, Robert Solo."

"What made him so great?"

"Not great in that way, Illya - great as in he was the brother of my grandfather."

"Quite the snappy dresser. What was his claim to fame?"

"From what I was told, Mark, he made his living as a gambler on the Mississippi riverboats. Also had a bit of a reputation as a rake."

"So he was a gardener as well?"

"Cut that out, Mark - Illya's the only one allowed to get by with pretending to misunderstand everything I say."

"Who is pretending?"

"Russian."

"American. So - to explain for Mark - by rake, you meant that he was known as a ladies' man?"

"Exacly."

"The apple did not fall far from the orchard."

"That's tree."

"Of course. Orchards are full of trees."

"I give up. I tell you about him some time when the comedy troop has moved on, April."

"Probably quite sensible, darling."