Asylum Heights

by Austin R. Moody

  Sal began laughing out loud and suddenly Glen began to laugh as well, joining in the mirth. Sal came down the porch steps onto the circular drive as Glen advanced to him. They embraced. Sal looked at him and smiled, “Come in this house!” He turned and walked up the porch steps, motioning to Glen to follow him. He opened the door and they stepped into a vast room, with no foyer or vestibule, only a sweeping expanse of openness. They stood upon waxed hardwood floors that were appointed with Original Georgian and King Louis XIV furnishings. Giant, gold leafed beveled mirrors and elegant tapestries were suspended upon darkly stained mahogany walls.

  These elegant objects were complemented with a gallery of original classical Italian Renaissance paintings hanging beside the works of the French Impressionists. The scenes depicted the colorful, hazy, distant images of summer French Provincial homes. These were contrasted by pictures of Parisian parks with dance pavilions, scenes from the opera, and vaudeville with vibrant Can-Can dancers performing upon a brilliantly lighted theater stage.

  Set apart from the rest of these was a picture of a striking sailboat regatta, racing under a brilliant cobalt sky dotted with puffy white cumulus clouds. Their masts were bending with the wind as their prows beat through the crests of waves.

  The centerpiece of the room was a massive solid black walnut table, with a heavy cut glass bowl that was filled with floating magnolia blossoms, jasmine, bright yellow sunflowers, daisies and black-eyed Susans.

  Symmetrically projecting stairs lifted in apposition from either end of the table, curving diametrically from one another then returning to rejoin at their crest upon the landing of the second floor.

  A thick, black chain cascaded down from two heavy cypress beams situated at the peak of the ceiling. It supported an immense, lighted crystal chandelier just above the centerpiece. Glen stifled a gasp, barely perceptible to his host.

  Sal inquired, “Well, what do you think?”

  Glen smiled, looked at him and said, “I knew that you would live in such a place.” Then he added, “If you ever surprise me again, just try to make it as pleasant as this one.”

  Glen paused a moment, then continued, “I may surprise you some day, but I’ll do my best never to disappoint you.”

  Sal looked at Glen and smiled, “Nor shall I. Now, come along.” He turned and walked across the long, open expanse of the living room. Glen followed him into a dining room. It contained a table for twelve, but had been expanded with table leaves, and with place settings to serve four more guests. Other tables were set up both in this room and in an anteroom to accommodate a large number of guests.

  Glen could hear a subdued hum of activity through a heavy, swinging door just off this room. A shiny, brass-encircled porthole window in the door revealed numerous food service workers, frantically washing, chopping, seasoning and further preparing for a party in the kitchen beyond the door.

  They continued their way to the rear of the house then passed out onto the back porch. The back yard had warmed to a near-summer temperature by the bright sunshine. It consisted of a huge flag-stoned patio surrounded by a smooth, tightly trimmed deep green lawn with a marble-legged and capped dividing fence. A placid, inviting Olympic swimming pool lay just beyond upon a tiered lower level. It was surrounded on the near side by teak deck chairs and tiny serving tables. Multiple green and white striped heavy canvas cabanas lined the opposite side of the pool. Their interiors were shaded and cool, partially hidden by sashed, velvet-lined curtains. These were set back from the pool’s edge to afford easy passage for waiters and had additional sunning deck chairs for the guests. An open, built-in barbecue and covered kitchen grill occupied the south end, along with a wet bar and stools. In front of these, along the pool’s edge, a patio was set with wrought iron, glass topped soda-fountain tables and heavy iron chairs with brightly colored seat cushions. An expansive canvas enclosure, much like a miniature circus big top tent, had been set upon the lawn just beyond and within easy distance to the pool. It had been erected to provide temporary changing facilities for the bathers, additional protection from the sun, and shelter insurance for guests in the event of an ever-possible rain or windstorm.

  A dance floor occupied the north end of the pool that also served for seating for outdoor performances. A concert bandstand had been constructed beneath a giant cupola, above, and adjacent to the floor. A baby grand piano was uncovered to the side, and folding chairs with music stands were placed for six musicians. A set of drums was situated in the center, resting upon an elevated, narrow floor at the apex of the group. A podium for a conductor was covered at the other side, as it was not needed for today. Glen shook his head in awe.

  Sal remarked, “I brought you out very early because I wanted you to be here before the guests arrived. It will be after noon before everyone is here and everything is set up for the bash.” He observed, “You didn’t get breakfast. Are you hungry?”

  Glen grinned, “Yes, but I think I’ll wait.”

  “Good!” Sal exclaimed, “Now, let’s go back into the house. We have some other things to do.”

  Glen followed him through the rear entrance, across the great room to the banisters of the staircase, and then they climbed to the second level.

  The upper floor was lined with a strip of Persian carpet that muffled the sound of their footsteps as they proceeded to a door within an alcove above the front entrance to the mansion.

  Sal opened the door and they entered into a very large room. It was dominated by an immense four poster bed, covered above and along all sides with sheer, gossamer material. It was beautiful, yet served the dual benefit of protection from the South Louisiana mosquito population. The room was furnished with a mahogany chest of drawers, a vanity with two beveled mirrors and two polished solid brass chairs with deep maroon seat cushions. Glen felt a faint flow of air being pulled through a screened, partly raised window, into the room by a silently turning overhead ceiling fan.

  A seven-foot chiffarobe stood adjacent to the entrance to the bathroom with a full-length mirror upon one of its doors. Sal walked over, looked at his own image then opened it. A cream colored new Panama suit was suspended on a clothes rack within, along with a matching summer hat in a box and shoes on the floor. Several drawers were situated to the left and Sal extracted new shorts and an undershirt, socks, and a brown leather belt with a bright brass buckle. A light tan, short sleeved sport shirt completed the ensemble. Sal extracted them from the closet and placed them across the surface of the bed.

  He then removed a pair of swim trunks, two large terry-cloth bath towels and a pair of beach slippers from the chest, and placed them beside the suit. Then he asked, “Well, what do you think?”

  Glen stared pensively out the window for a moment and quietly answered, “I recently lost my haberdasher. If you are looking for work then I’ll put you on steady right now.”

  Sal laughed aloud and answered, “I’ll keep your offer on file, just in case the politicians wake up and discover that prohibition doesn’t work. Would you like a drink?”

  Glen responded, “Not now, thanks.” He continued, “If this is my room, I’d like to take a bath and have a nap for a couple of hours. I am not your only guest, and I know that you have much to do before they all get here. If you need my help though, I’ll skip the nap and go with you right now.”

  Sal insisted, “I have all the help I can use for now. Go ahead and get washed up then take a little rest. You will find all the toilet articles you need in the bathroom. I’ll send Louis up to wake you when the people begin to arrive.”

  After Sal closed the door behind him, Glen returned the clothes and accessories to the wardrobe. He entered the bathroom and set the drain plug, then turned the water on and adjusted the temperature. He found a new toothbrush and toothpaste in the medicine cabinet, along with shaving cream, a razor and fresh blades.

  He undressed and completed these preliminary ablutions then stepped into the tub. He found a bar of soap and a bottle of shampoo, lathered h
is body and his hair, and enjoyed the relaxing heat. He thought of the unusual events of this most unusual day then began to drift, almost falling asleep. After several minutes he roused, stirred and pulled the drain plug. He laid back and waited as the water flowed from the tub then got out and quickly dried his body with a large, soft towel. He climbed into bed and slept until a soft knock announced the presence of Louis at his door and the arrival of the other party guests below.

  He got out of bed and tried on the shirt, the pants and coat, then pulled on the socks and shoes. To his considerable surprise and pleasure, everything fit perfectly. Then he realized that Sal had somehow found Sybil’s tailor, and that he had indeed created the suit. As he began to dress, he could hear the jazz band, the intonations of the brass, the woodwinds and strings, i.e., the guitar and bass viola as they adjusted their instruments to be in tune with the piano.

  After several minutes of pounding the octaves by the pianist, the band suddenly struck up a rousing lively march, ‘The Muskrat Ramble.’

  Glen emerged from the bedroom and walked down the carpeted hallway but stopped short at the landing. The room below was packed with casually dressed partygoers milling about, talking and laughing. Waiters were already on the scene passing among them with trays of hors d’oeuvres and champagne in glasses that were filled at a station near the entrance door to the kitchen. The scene was so gay and festive Glen was reminded of one of the Impressionist masterpieces upon the wall.

  He noticed several men silently standing a few feet apart watching the people and their every movement. He recognized some of them as Sal’s personal enforcement staff. They were wearing dark suits that were necessary to conceal the revolvers that they carried in shoulder holsters beneath their coats. Sal was mingling among the guests without any apparent concern. He glanced up, smiled and motioned to him. Glen descended to the party.

  The invitees were a composite of the entire social strata of New Orleans, surrounding parishes, and the State of Louisiana, and some outstanding, easily recognizable visitors from Chicago, New York and the other areas of the East. The savory mingled effortlessly with the less than savory, and included both prosecutors and defendants.

  Also present were elected officers of the court, the federal and district judges, and two members of the Louisiana State Supreme Court, and those characters upon whom their livelihoods and very status depended. Everyone was having a good time.

  He lifted a proffered glass of champagne from a waiter’s tray. A number of the young female guests noticed his elegantly tailored, tanned and lithe good looks. They conveyed their approval with smiles and rather forward eye contact. Glen was pleased by the attention but pretended not to be aware of their glances. He sipped his champagne and moved across the room to Sal.

  Sal smiled his greeting, placed an arm around his shoulder then turned and introduced Glen to his guest.

  “Governor Long, I want you to meet a good friend of mine. He’s from Mississippi, but I told him we won’t hold that against him.”

  Sal hesitated a moment, then smiled, “He’s even got mud and webs between his toes just like us. When we go swimming in a little while, I’ll show him mine. Who knows, he may even get a look at yours!”

  Huey P. guffawed, and then declared, “Well, he’ll see a dandy!” Then he continued, “You know, it’s pretty chilly, but that swimming pool sounds pretty good right now!”

  Suddenly Glen realized that the room was almost silent and that everyone was listening to their introduction, laughing and applauding the Governor’s little double entendre.

  Sal held up his hand for silence and spoke to Huey again, “I’ll take you out to the tent. Your trunks, sandals, and towels are waiting. If the water is too cold, however, I’m sure you will enjoy the fun and festivities instead.”

  Sal and his illustrious guest led the parade to the back yard. Glen returned to his room and quickly changed into the swim trunks and donned the beach slippers. He grabbed his towel and quickly ran downstairs.

  The band had also changed into comedic straw hats, bathing suits with matching long sleeved tops, dark glasses and thongs, and was raging along in a hot Dixieland jazz version of ‘The Maple Street Rag.’ The dance floor was already packed with guests, having decided for now to eschew the question of the water temperature of the pool. Most had changed to swimming apparel, however, in anticipation of trying the waters after bolstering their courage with Sal’s bracing libations. The party had begun.

  Glen was alone. He walked to the edge of the pool, looked about and found a deck chair, spread his towel on the warming slats, then suddenly turned and dove into the deep end. The sudden chill of the water engulfed his body. He abided the initial shock then quickly enjoyed the wave of coolness that followed. He surfaced then dove beneath the water again, propelling himself with outstretched arms until he felt another boundary edge of the pool. Satisfied, he swam to the nearest corner and climbed out of the pool.

  Sal abstractly observed this ritual then met Glen as he climbed up the corner steps from the water. Sal extended a towel to Glen as he sat down and reclined upon his deck chair. “Are you having a good time?” He asked.

  “Yes, why do you ask?” Glen replied.

  Sal paused, constructing his response then smiled, “Someone will arrive shortly to see you, someone that I know will lift your spirits and will make you happy again, that will relieve this pall that you have suffered since the beginning of the year.”

  “Sybil?” Glen asked.

  “Yes,” Sal grinned.

  Lewis, the butler was standing on the back porch awaiting his signal. Sal turned raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The butler turned and opened the back door of the house. A tiny woman dressed in a cream colored dress and a tiny flapper hat that barely covered a short-cropped haircut emerged from the shaded back door of the house into the bright sunshine on the porch.

  She gazed about for a moment, and her eyes quickly adjusted to the blinding light. She saw Sal and waved but did not recognize Glen because Sal was between them, and he was partially hidden.

  Glen immediately broke away, ran across the border of the pool and up the stairway of the porch. He had never known such happiness in all of his life. Without hesitation he reached and held her in an embrace for a while but suddenly realized that she had not moved, but remained like a lifeless little doll with no response to his assertions, to his fervor and delight of her being there in his arms once more. He stepped back and looked at her, staring intently into her face. He implored, “Sybil, what’s wrong? Aren’t you glad to see me?”

  She began to cry, “I didn’t know that you were going to be here, I didn’t know. I really must see Sal,” she added.

  Coldness; far greater than the chill that he had experienced in his plunge into the pool swept over him. He released her immediately, turned and angrily strode back down the steps to the pool where Sal, perplexed, was waiting. Before Sal could speak, Glen retorted, “She wants to talk to you.”

  Glen then turned and went up onto the porch, passing Sybil without speaking and opened the back door. He barely noticed another person standing next to the exit door as he moved into the darkness within the house. He brushed past the man, moved quickly to the main area, up the stairs to the second floor and down the hallway to his room. He had removed his swim trunks and was hastily dressing to return to town when an urgent knock interrupted his efforts.

  Before he could ask, Sal called out from the hallway outside the door, “Glen, let me in, I have to talk to you about this. This has all been a terrible misunderstanding!” Glen called out, “Come in. It isn’t locked.”

  The door quickly opened and Sal entered. “Glen, you must believe that I had no idea that she would react this way. I hadn’t told her that you would even be at the party much less that the party had been in your honor.” Hastily Sal continued, “After you left she told me that she had a new young guy in tow, a senior at Loyola that was going to go to medical school to become a chest surgeon. S
he brought him out for me to meet him and to tell me that they were going to get married. He was standing right inside the back door. You had to see him when you came into the house.”

  Glen recalled the blurred image that he had seen when he stormed into the house. He could not describe any feature or defining prominence that the man had presented in that moment of encounter.

  Before Glen could speak, Sal pressed forward. “I told you that I would never surprise you in any way that might hurt you. I made a bad mistake and assumed that this little spat that you had after the New Year’s Eve thing in Mississippi would be over and that you could get back together. I told her that she was no longer welcome in this house and to get that little shit out of here before he got hurt.”

  At that moment, Glen heard a car engine start, gears shift into low, and the vehicle accelerate quickly toward the mansion exit to the main road. He stepped to the window and watched a young man and woman sitting closely together on the front seat as the car faded away down the shady little lane and out onto the highway back toward New Orleans. Glen continued staring at the empty road. He did not want Sal to see his eyes.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CLAUDINE

  He quietly said, “Thanks for all this preparation for my party, but I don’t really feel very festive right now. If you don’t mind I’ll ask the driver to take me back to the hotel.” He added, “I think I’ll have a little fling by myself, take in the French Quarter, listen to some good jazz, and have a few drinks. After all, it is Saturday night.”

  Sal intervened, “I’ll tell all the guests to continue the party here for as long as they like then I’ll go with you. You might need a chaperone, the mood you’re in right now.”

  Glen turned from the window and looked at his friend, then spoke, “I know you didn’t do this to hurt anyone. It is good to have you here with me in a time like this. You will never know what all of this has meant to me.” He paused a moment and continued, “It took this sledge hammer to crystallize, to clarify the reality of it; to drive home the fact that it is no longer a hope nor a dream. Now I know exactly where she is, what she wants, what she is, and that I never want to see her again. You must not leave your guests. Please tell them that a pressing matter has taken me away. Thank them for coming to our party, yours and mine. Just tell the driver that I am ready to go any time that he is prepared to leave. I will be back in Dothan on Monday, but tonight I’m going to find myself a woman.”