by Jerry L
Now most people would have asked how Skip was able to get around and maybe why he chose to come have a beer with Wilbur; but, Wilbur just figured all that would come out in time if Skip wished to share it. In the meantime, the night air was comfortable and the outdoors had that heavy night smell that Wilbur really liked, besides, Wilbur thought, the cemetery was just across the road behind the single-wide; it wasn’t as if Skip had far to go to get home.
The young man looked to Wilbur and in the same low, raspy voice asked: “Say Dude, would you mind if a couple of friends joined us?”
“Friends?” Wilbur asked, more by reflex than curiosity, but the truth be told Wilbur was real curious to know how Skip happened to acquire friends over the past twenty-four hours.
“Uh. Sure Skip. You bet. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine, you know that.”
As soon as Wilbur spoke, three figures slowly moved out of the surrounding shadows, and because Wilbur was naturally a courteous man, he stood as if to receive guests; guests from he knew not where; but, after friends of a friend were OK in Wilbur’s book; even if the original friend was dead.
The first figure was more like an apparition, dressed in a suit of an older cut that hung over an empty-collared shirt, which was in turn draped over the skeletal remains of a tall man.
Skip made the introductions, “Dad, you remember Wilbur. Wilbur, you know Dad.” Wilbur remembered Skip’s earlier words, “My old man never expected to see me wind up there. Can you imagine his surprise?”
Wilbur nodded. Skip’s Dad nodded. Wilbur didn’t try to shake the ghoul’s hand following the introduction. Wilbur remembered that Skip’s dad didn’t like to touch people or for them to touch him; instead Wilbur just handed the tall cadaver a beer and a lit cigarette and motioned to a chair.
A quiet “Thank You” rumbled from somewhere within the tall frame as it seated itself in a lawn chair across from Wilbur. Skip’s dad sat and poured some beer over his teeth. The beer promptly spilled out of the bottom of the skull; but the apparition didn’t seem to notice. The smoke went in and then down and out. It looked as if his moldering burial suit was smoldering.
Before Wilbur could really take stock of his latest unusual guests, a second figure closed in on the table. Wilbur was puzzled by the figure’s shape until he noticed that instead of being a solitary figure, this apparition was actually two; a woman and a young man who held to her elbow and steered her along.
As before, Skip made the introductions, “Aunt Beale, may I present my friend Wilbur? Wilbur, my Great Aunt Beale.”
A small-framed skeleton curtsied to Wilbur and he delivered a small bow in return and pulled a chair over for the woman, for the figure appeared to be a woman, judging by a once-beautiful gown hanging in tatters and providing glimpses of undergarment from a more-elegant age. The being’s hair had been styled in the old days, but now it was gone in patches.
As Wilbur twisted the top off a beer and handed it to the woman, Skip continued. “This other skin and bones Yahoo is my cousin, Harold. I don’t think you’ve ever met em. He was the one that tried to out run the train, you remember me telling you about him?”
“No, I don’t think so… I probably would have remembered that.” replied Wilbur and He handed a beer to the small man.
It was almost three hours later, and Wilbur was still laughing at Skip’s latest remark, when Wilbur stood and told the gathered group that he’d go get another six pack, the third. The tall cadaver that was Skip’s father, stood and shook his head from side to side, and then he pointed a bony finger east.
“It’s almost Sunrise, Wilbur.” Skip spoke, “We have to get back.”
Wilbur nodded… in a macabre way he had enjoyed the visit, but he was glad it was over! Dead people were so freeking ‘Dead’! And they stunk like dirt and formaldehyde, “Thanks Dude. We should do this more often!”
Skip was almost whispering now, he seemed surprised at Wilbur’s answer, “Would you mind if we came back some time?”
“No Man.” Wilbur replied. “A friend of a friend, you know.”
The fat policeman watched as the old man in the wrinkled suit bent over the heavy-set man sprawled half-dressed across the disheveled bed. The policeman looked around the shabby room; clothes were strewn about and a small TV sat atop a five-drawer dresser that had seen better days. The coat hanger antenna precariously leaned over the TV as if it expected to dive off the dresser into an overflowing pink plastic laundry basket. Some motor parts were piled in a corner and the sobbing of a woman came from the front of the single-wide mobile home.
“What happened Doc…? Drugs… Did she shoot him, or maybe poison him? There was a small pill bottle on the nightstand.” The fat cop leaned forward, extended a pencil, and hooked a brassiere that was peeping from under the bed. He was critically examining the undergarment when the old man stood and arched his back in an attempt to afford some comfort after having bent over to examine the body. The fat policeman was trying to determine if the woman out front was actually as big-breasted as was evident by the bra when the old man spoke.
“Heart attack would be my guess.” The old man offered, “Them pills is Nitroglycerine. They’re used by people with heart problems. Besides, his wife said they did a good bit of drinking last night. Did you see the area outsides? Must be twenty empty cans and a whole damn pack of cigarette butts out there!”
4: The Stalker
Toni was stopped at the light when she first noticed him in the car next to her. The guy was nothing special. She glanced at him and as quickly looked away. The light turned and he turned right. She continued straight ahead towards work.
At one o’clock he brought in a sheaf of papers for Margarite to notarize. At least Toni thought that he was the same guy from this morning. She couldn’t be sure. So when Margarite went to lunch Toni quickly scanned the woman’s ledger and saw the man’s name, Joseph Layton.
Joseph Layton? She didn’t recognize the name and she wondered why she even cared what the man’s name was. Going home from work, he passed her twice before turning into a gas station. For some reason she wrote down his license plate number NOX- 311. He hadn’t even glanced in her direction.
An hour later, Hally, Toni’s youngest daughter ran Toni’s shopping cart broadside into Mr. Layton’s. He looked up from his shopping list and smiled as Toni berated her daughter. The man smiled at the woman and then Hally, then said, “No harm done... No fault!” He continued down the aisle until he stopped at the teas… exactly where Toni had been headed.
He glanced at Hally, but she went by without stopping. Hally asked, “Hey Mom! How come you aren’t getting tea? That’s why we came... Mom... Mom.. You said....” They turned the corner. The huge store was obviously not big enough for Toni and Mr. Layton. He was at the CD aisle, the Garden aisle, and in front of her at the checkout. His sports car was parked next to hers and Hally put a ding in his door when the wind caught hers.
The man’s face turned red but he waved Toni’s apologies away, He said, “I have kids... It was not her fault. It was the wind. Let it go please.” He was not smiling as he backed out and drove away.
The next day it was her turn to pass him at the light. At Angelo’s Bistro he and an older woman were having lunch across the room from Toni and Mitchel. Layton had his back to Toni and he never looked her way. He and the woman were arguing about something when Toni and Mitchel left. His car NOX-311 was parked next to Toni’s. She realized that her car needed washed. Between the dog and the kids her windows looked like crap!
The next morning her husband told her that he was moving out. He slept in the guest room that night and took the kids to the sitter. For the first time Joseph Layton waved at her as he passed her going to work. It was only a small wave, but Toni found herself thinking about it all day. She took a different way home after picking up the kids and still met NOX-311 pulling out of the Burger Bear as she and the children were turning in. He gave her a small wave and she gave him a small wave back. When sh
e and the children got home her husband was gone.
The next day Joseph Layton was first in line at the bank and gave her a nod and a smile as he passed her. At the athletic club he was sweating on the treadmill and never even looked up when she passed him on her way to the sauna. For some reason she became creeped out, changed directions, gathered her stuff, and left the club. At least, she had washed her van.
She and Layton still passed each on the road. Now they both waved. The separation from her husband degraded into divorce. Joseph Layton sat across from her in the Lawyer’s waiting room. He glanced up as she entered. He looked as miserable as she felt. A small smile of recognition crossed his face. ”You too...!” He said. She nodded and the secretary called for: “Joseph Layton”. He got up and followed her through the door on the right. The woman returned and called Toni’s name. Toni went into the door on the left. When she came out he was already gone.
This time he and a younger man were having lunch at “Mexican Jacks”, he smiled and said “Hello” as Toni passed.
She smiled and said, “Hello Mr. Layton”.
They met formally in the check-out line at Home Depot. He leaned the plywood panel against the counter and held out his hand, “You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”
She gathered the toilet plunger, wax ring, and bolts into one hand and shook his hand, “Toni... My name is Toni... I heard yours at the lawyer’s office the other day... Sorry for being snoopy.”
He shrugged, “Well, Toni I still have to hang this plywood today. But it was nice meeting you... Finally!” Toni waved and scurried to catch a register that had just opened. Her check was not accepted and her credit card was declined. Mr. Layton saw her dilemma and placed her purchases with his. Against her protests he made the clerk run both purchases as his. Mr. Layton handed her the bag, “We divorcees have to stick together. Have a nice day Toni.”
She followed him to his pickup, which was parked next to her van. She didn’t even know that he had a pickup! The pickup was there when she had pulled in, so she wondered who was maybe stalking whom. She said, “Joe, I’ll pay you back when I get paid.” He waved her off and tied the plywood down. He got into the truck and left.
Toni got the $12.50 that she owed Joseph Layton and put it into an envelope. She stuck the envelope in her purse. She had no doubt that she would run across him sooner or later. She almost caught him at Donut Heaven, but she was in the drive-through and he was ordering at the counter. They waved at each other on the way home. The next morning she was running late and missed him. The fact that she missed him bothered her somehow.
Two days later, after work, Mr. Layton parked NOX-311 in front of her house. Toni was frantic. She said out loud to herself, “How in the hell had he found her house!” The man gathered two brown bags from the passenger seat and locked the doors. Toni ran to the bedroom and cursed when she saw herself in the mirror. She was covered with muck and dirt after cleaning the gutters. She and the girls had then gotten in a water fight. Her blouse was stuck to her upper body and her bra was clearly visible.
She stripped of the blouse and pulled a sweater over her head, tugged it down, jammed a hat on her head, and went to answer the door. Joseph Layton was not standing there waiting patiently with a bottle of French wine and an exotic supper- to-go, as she expected. He was across the street going into, what Snoopy Toni discovered later, was his sister’s house. A part of Toni was relived, while a part of her was disappointed. NOX-311 was gone when she got out of the shower. She had Ramen noodles and Kool-Aid with the kids as they had planned.
A week later Toni was in San Francisco; the sales pitch to Bigelow was not going well... Not well at all! Not until Mr. Layton came out of Bigelow’s office. He shook hands with Bigelow and Bigelow slapped Layton on the back saying, “Joe you just saved us a bundle! Keep in touch!”
Joe turned and glanced at Toni, “Uh... Toni is that you?”
Toni’s mouth fell open. She stood and said, “Mr. Layton?”
Joe turned to Bigelow, “Walter, whatever Toni is selling, buy it! Folks, I have to go. Have a nice day.” With that, he was gone.
Bigelow said, “Toni let’s have another look at those figures. We were leaning towards Garrett Corp., but if Joe say’s you people are Okay, I’ll go with his recommendation.”
Toni stepped into the opportunity, “We can beat Garrett’s offer, and I can guarantee that! Let me show you the spread sheets.”
Toni landed the contract. That night she called the front desk and asked to be put through to Mr. Layton’s room. She had no doubts that he was staying at the hotel. Probably next door to her if things were still going the way that they seemed to be lately. The desk clerk came on the line, “I’m sorry... Mr. Layton checked out this afternoon.”
Toni was the Belle of the Ball when she got back to work and The Employee of The Month. A week later she was sitting in the Court House on the wood bench waiting for her divorce case to be called. Down the hall her soon-to-be ex-husband was sitting with a blonde dressed to The Nines. Toni figured that the woman was her replacement. Toni was dressed casually and didn’t really give a damn what anyone thought!
Joe Layton entered the double doors, glanced around the hallway and recognized Toni. He gave her a tight smile and sat down beside her, “We meet again Toni. Are they hearing your case today?” She was not surprised by his showing up... Not surprised at all!
She frowned, “Finally! I’ll be glad when it’s over and I can get on with my life... You too huh?”
He nodded to the blonde woman, “My ex... I never knew she was a vampire! I don’t know who the asshole with her is though.”
Toni chuckled, “The asshole is my ex. I guess that makes me his vampire. ”Joe stared at her dumbfounded. The Bailiff called Joe Layton and his wife’s name and they both stood. Toni’s husband hugged the woman. Toni suddenly had the desire to hug Joe, although she controlled it. She wished him good luck instead. Joe and his ex-wife must have left by a different exit, because Toni never saw them when her own case was called.
Two days later she was putting the bag of groceries in the passenger seat of her van when the man with the knife jumped her, “I finally got ya bitch!” He slammed his fist into the side of her head, tied her crossed hands behind her back with electrical wire, and shoved her into the passenger seat, “You didn’t get away this time bitch!”
The whole thing took at most ten seconds. Toni could not get her bearings as they sped from the parking lot. The store cameras caught the attack and abduction, but no one was watching the monitors.
He turned down the last street of a suburb on the edge of town. Unable to wait he slowed down, reached over, and tried to pull her blouse open. Toni turned in the seat and tried to kick him. The man screamed at her and began punching her.
Joe was pruning the hedge when the green van turned the corner and stopped. He watched as the driver pummeled the van’s passenger. The van began to move towards Joe’s house at the end of the dead end street. Joe recognized the license number XON-662 as Toni’s.
It wasn’t Toni driving though. It was a scruffy long haired man wearing an army coat. Toni’s terrified eyes met Joe’s for just a second as the van passed by. Joe stepped behind the hedge and let the van pass. It slewed onto the dirt road that passed behind the ball fields and ended at the river.
Joe shut off the hedge clippers and picked up an aluminum baseball bat that the kids had left lying on the lawn. He sprinted down the tree shaded track and cut across the Little League infield. The van was stopped just short of the river and a woman was screaming. Joe approached the driver’s side and jerked the door open. The driver was clawing at Toni’s blouse. One of her breasts was exposed.
Joe grabbed at the man’s coat and jerked him off of the woman. The man cursed and slashed Joe’s wrist with the knife. Joe rammed the end of the bat into the man’s open mouth. The man cut Joe’s arm again. Toni got her legs up in the seat, placed the soles of both her feet in the middle of the man’s b
ack, and propelled him towards Joe. Joe rammed the end of the bat into the bridge of the man’s nose. Toni could hear the bones break. The man screamed out a strangled curse and swung the bloody knife at Joe. Joe swung the bat and crushed the screaming man’s right kneecap. He swung the gore-covered bat two more times breaking the man’s right wrist and his left kneecap. The man began to beg for mercy. Joe slammed the bat into the side of the man’s head, just for good measure.
Joe freed Toni’s hands and she called 911. Joe said to Toni, “I saw him beating you as you passed my house and I heard the screams. That’s all the cops need to know.” She held the front of her blouse together and nodded. They could hear the sirens coming closer over the man on the ground’s moans. When the police arrived Toni was holding two plastic bags tightly over the cuts on Joe’s arm. He was holding the baseball bat with the other.
Six months later they were having dinner at the neighborhood Chinese Restaurant. Joe asked, “Toni do you believe in fate?”
She reached across the table and took his hand, “”Of course... Or we wouldn’t be here. She motioned around the restaurant. She shivered, “I wouldn’t be anyway.”
He reached into his coat pocket and removed a small box. He placed it on the table in front of her. He said, “It’s probably fate that we should probably start dating before I give you this engagement ring, don’t you think?”
She opened the box, took out the ring, and put it on her finger. Toni admired the ring and nodded, “We probably should... maybe then you will quit stalking me!”