by Gerald Lopez
“Thank you for the cross.”
“You’re welcome,” Chip said, holding my hand.
“What do we do now?” the man said.
“Time to take your family home, I think,” I said, and smiled.
The man nodded. “Yes… yes, that’s a good idea.”
“I have something to give you first,” the man’s wife said to me. She reached into the large tote bag she held, and pulled out a Super Soaker water gun.
I gasped when I saw it.
“We found it in a thrift store,” the man said. “When I saw it, the strangest thing popped into my mind—this is to be used by a forest. But there’s no forest here.”
“We know someone by the name of Forrest,” I said. “Capital ‘F’ and two ‘r’s. “We’ll make sure he gets the Super Soaker.” After shaking the man’s hand and the woman’s, I took the water gun from the woman.
The couple waved good-bye then left. We waved back, then I walked over to the basket the girl angel had left for me that held several crosses. I picked a cross out that was dangling on the end of a leather cord necklace, and put it on then grabbed the basket the crosses were in.
“We saw angels again, Daddy. But these were different than the last ones.”
“Yeah,” I said, then picked up Chip, and hugged him. “I love you, kiddo.”
“I love you too, Daddy.”
We got back in the golf cart, I put the basket securely on the floor in front of Chip, then I drove back to the chapel. We sat in the golf cart for a few minutes before getting out.
“I’ll be brave now, Daddy. I promise.”
“Good,” I said. “You’ve got your phone and water gun, right?”
“Yeah,” Chip said. “Are you gonna come in?”
“I’ve got to bring in the blessed bottled water, remember. Besides, I think I’ll have a quick chat with the other kids’ parents. And I want to have one last look around to make sure the chapel is ghost proof.”
Chapter 32
Better Late than Never
I WAS LATE meeting the others at Poppy’s, but I wasn’t particularly worried since there was at least an hour and a half before it was supposed to get dark. Luckily someone was leaving their parking space as I drove up. That put me just a couple shops down from the restaurant. After grabbing the basket of crosses the angel had made, I got out of the golf cart. There was no line to get into Poppy’s, which made me sigh with relief.
The outside of the building was nothing special, but it was right on—and partially built over the water. There was a dock in back, and a full wraparound patio. I laughed loudly when I saw people lined up to take their picture with Lady Momma, who was holding Abigail, the chicken who’d formerly held her captive in her beak. Things changed drastically when I entered the restaurant that looked like an old west, two-story saloon. Poppy’s was filled to capacity inside. Every table in the establishment was full. The noise was almost deafening. The upstairs section had rustic wood railings, there were immense wrought iron chandeliers, and even a small curtained stage to the left.
“Hello, Layton,” Bambi said. “Your party’s near the back wall.” She leaned in close to me and whispered the rest in my ear. “They’re sitting at the two tables by the hidden passage down to the water. That part of the building is directly over water.”
“Thanks, Bambi,” I said, then handed her a cross from the basket and walked to my group.
“Nice weapon,” Forrest said, when he spotted my water gun.
I handed the Super Soaker water gun to him. “And she’s all yours, big guy.”
“Huh?” Forrest said.
“I’m just the delivery boy,” I said.
“Layton, thanks for the pretty cross,” Bambi said. “Can I get you something to drink, honey?”
“A Coke thanks,” I said, then turned to my group and placed the basket of crosses on the table. “Everybody, take a cross.”
“Who sent Forrest that beauty of a water gun?” Sassy, who was beside Forrest putting on a cross, said.
“I’m pretty sure God did,” I said, “along with the crosses.”
“Does this have to do with the angels?” Charity, who sat near the back of the table next to Nikki and Jorri, said.
“They must’ve forgotten my Super Soaker,” Miss Lucy said, from the table next to ours.
“Mine too,” I said, then showed her my tiny water gun.
“For your sake I hope it’s true that size doesn’t matter,” Nikki said, and laughed.
“How’d you all hear about the angels already?” I said.
“Chip called,” Alex said, as he walked up while taking pictures of the restaurant and the crowd.
“Get a cross from the basket on the table,” I said.
While Alex did so, Forrest spoke.
“Chip did call. And we need to talk, Layton.”
Bambi brought a seat for me and put it next to Forrest.
“I’ll be back with your Coke in a jiff,” Bambi said.
I sat down and faced Forrest. “Is this where I get to hear that you’re the main daddy when it comes to Chip, since he’s your biological son?” I said.
“That is the point where I should smack you on the side of the head for saying such a damn stupid thing,” Forrest said.
“You would deserve it for that comment,” Alex said. “We’re a family now, remember?”
“Listen,” Forrest said. “You made a decision regarding our son, but called us to let us know what you’d done. In the end you even stuck to the original plan, and took Chip back to the chapel. So, you did good.”
“Then why am I in trouble?” I said. “And don’t say I’m not, because I can tell that I am.”
“You want me to smack him one for you,” Miss Lucy said.
“I think I can handle this, thank you,” Forrest said.
“OK, if you’re sure,” Miss Lucy said, and laughed.
“Chip called because he was upset that Forrest might clobber you?” Charity said.
“Oh that,” I said, surprised for a moment. “That—I was just teasing him cause of… of stuff.”
“Your boy already mentioned the kiss from Antoinette,” Granny said, when she walked up with a beer in hand.
“We were trying to figure out if Chip has a girlfriend now,” Sassy said, and chuckled.
“He just thinks Antoinette is pretty,” I said. “Chip says he’s too young to date.”
“Chip also said he gave you a hard time, and for me to punish him instead of ‘clobbering’ you,” Forrest said.
“Oh my God, that was so sweet when he said that,” Alex said.
“How do you all know what Chip said on the phone to Forrest?” I said.
“Because Forrest accidentally had his phone on speaker, and couldn’t shut it off,” Sassy said. “Poor little Chip had an audience.”
“To change the subject from me and Chip,” I said. “Miss Lucy, have you been properly introduced to Granny yet?”
“You know I have,” Miss Lucy said.
“Are you sure?” I said.
“What the hell’s going on now?” Miss Lucy said. “Don’t play games with me, boy.”
“I’m not,” I said, then grinned.
“How’s it going, Lucy?” Granny said in a deep, manly voice.
Bambi handed me a Coke, but I kept my eye on Miss Lucy as I reached for my wallet. An angry sneer formed on Miss Lucy’s face, then she stood and slapped the table with her hand.
“Damnation!” Miss Lucy said. “What’re you doing here?”
“Is that any way to talk to a poor old granny who fooled you?” Granny said, using her old woman voice again.
“I knew it was you the whole time,” Miss Lucy said.
“Like hell you did,” Granny said, then laughed loudly.
I laughed so hard I almost dropped the bills I was handing Bambi for the drink. “Don’t worry about the change,” I said.
“OK, so you got me,” Miss Lucy said. “Everyone, have your laughs be
cause Miss Lucy was fooled. But, Granny—or whatever you’re calling yourself these days, you’re an expert—costumes and disguises are your thing. You should be able to fool people.”
“That’s true,” Granny said.
“On to more important things,” Charity said. “Things are really escalating in an unusual way. Don’t you think so, Nikki, and Uncle Jorri?”
“They are, girl,” Nikki said. “I don’t know what’s going on. That’s why I wore this getup.” She stood and modeled the sequined, rainbow-colored caftan she wore. “And in case people still don’t see me if I need help, I’ve got this on the ready.” She flicked a switch by her ear and tiny red lights in her big, red wig lit up. “They’re even waterproof.”
“Wow, I guess she really is worried,” I said.
“And if Nikki’s worried, we all should be,” Jorri said.
“Shannon texted me earlier,” Alex said. “She wrote that the ghosts here use a lot of illusions, but everything will be back to normal come midnight. But she also stressed that people can still get hurt.”
“That’s why I’m heading to the chapel where Chip is right after I see Buck’s fiancé’s performance,” Charity said. “I don’t want to become a liability to the rest of you. Heck, I probably shouldn’t have even come to the key, but I genuinely thought I could help.”
“You’ve been a huge help introducing us to Jorri, Nikki, and the others,” I said. “And remember, we were the ones looking for a translator.”
“I can’t believe we’re in here wasting time just to see Ebony and Ivory put on some crazy routine,” Miss Lucy said. “I could be on the dock by my boat.”
“I spotted the dock when I walked up,” I said. “It’s packed with boats.”
“Ours is underneath,” Forrest said.
“Underneath?” I said.
Charity got up then walked over to me and whispered in my ear. “There’s a secret trap door in the floor by Nikki. Your boat’s there along with Nikki and Uncle Jorri’s Jet Skis.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“No problem,” Charity said, then smiled.
“Layton! Layton, you’re finally here!” Buck said, as he rushed over. He was dressed in a similar fashion to what he’d had on earlier, minus the gorilla mask. And rather than sandals, he now wore sneakers with shorts, and a T-shirt. “My honey doesn’t talk to the public before a performance or I would’ve brought him and Ebony by the table to meet everybody. Ebony and Ivory are their spy names.”
“Weren’t you gonna be up at Calvary Hill?” I said.
“Oh yeah, and I will be,” Buck said. “Ginger’s probably there by now, and I’ll head that way right after my baby’s act. I couldn’t miss that, could I?”
“I suppose not,” I said.
Buck was so excited he grinned wider than usual. “You’ll just love my man, he’s so nice and sweet… and handsome.”
“I’m sure I will,” I said.
“Not too much, though,” Buck said.
I chuckled. Alex was about to say something, but I was saved by the bell. A bell went off again and the lights began flashing. Poppy walked onstage and addressed everyone.
“Hello, everybody and welcome to Poppy’s. I’m Poppy.” He waited for the sudden eruption of applause to die down before continuing. “My momma, Lady Momma, will be outside with Abigail the chicken both during and after the show, for those of you who wanted to take your picture with them. But for now, sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Our first act features a couple of newcomers to the key, who have created a special routine in honor of all the drama we had earlier with a certain two chickens. Presenting Ebony and Ivory singing with our local band—what the hell does this say?” He looked down at the paper in his hand. “Looks like chicken scratch to me.” He chuckled, then turned toward the side of the curtain where someone was whispering toward him. “Oh yeah. Here are Ebony and Ivory along with the Poppy club band doing their rendition of Wang Rong Rollin’s ‘Chick Chick’.”
The band started to play, and Buck clapped loudly. The rest of us joined him.
“Oh my God,” I said, when Ebony and Ivory appeared on the stage.
Buck was hollering and cheering them on, while I saw Miss Lucy covering her eyes, and shaking her head in disbelief.
Ebony and Ivory were dressed in ballet chicken outfits. Their very fluffy tutus were covered in chicken feathers, and they wore chicken feather headpieces. As they sang using chicken-like voices, they danced around like… chickens. Buck happily danced beside me to the music. At least the tune was catchy.
“Now if this isn’t chickenshit, I don’t know what is,” Miss Lucy said.
“It’s kind of fun,” Charity said. “And it does sort of harken back to what happened earlier with the chickens.”
Ebony and Ivory were helped down from the stage and were now dancing amongst the audience. A chicken conga line formed, and snaked its way around the room. There are times in your life when you just gotta say what the hell, and this was one of those times. I stood and danced next to Buck.
“I can’t let you two have all the fun,” Sassy said, and joined us.
“No one will lose sight of you in that red dress,” I said, as I spun Sassy, who wore a tight, red sequined dress and matching stiletto heels.
“Don’t worry, this is a bathing suit and skirt,” Sassy said. “And I have sneakers in my bag.
“She’s ready for anything,” Forrest said, as he danced behind me.
“Stop taking pictures and dance with us,” I said to Alex, who did as he was told, and shook his cute little ass our way.
Ebony and Ivory had started the song over again. Nikki and Jorri were dancing with us now, as were Charity and even Granny. Miss Lucy was the only one missing, and I looked her way and held out my hand.
“Not on your life,” Miss Lucy said.
The conga line made its way to us, and I saw Diesel at the end of it waving to me. I waved back and smiled before turning my attention back to Miss Lucy.
“This is a mission, soldier and it’ll give you a chance to check out the room,” I said to Miss Lucy before joining the conga line.
Miss Lucy grudgingly joined the line, and I think I even saw her smile a couple of times when we flapped our arms like chickens as part of the ‘chicken conga dance’. Quite a few people held water guns in their hands but everyone had gotten up to join the dance. Even people in wheelchairs or using walkers joined the line. Ebony and Ivory made their way back to the stage, while the rest of us followed them before doing a chicken dance back to our tables. The act’s finale had started, and I was laughing so hard I was almost in tears. Ebony began clucking loudly, as did Ivory. Then Ebony ran around in circles with Ivory following with her hands below Ebony ready to catch something. Finally, Ebony crouched and laid a golden egg.
“Some things should never be seen on the stage,” Miss Lucy said.
Buck clapped, then waved bye to the rest of us, and left to go to Calvary Hill while Ebony and Ivory were taking their bows. Diesel had joined us.
“I was ordered by my wife to come here and keep an eye on things,” Diesel said. “But I’m not sure she’ll believe all this chicken stuff.”
“Lily May might’ve come by and taken a shot at the two chickens on stage, if she’d known what was happening,” Sassy said.
“I wish,” Miss Lucy said.
A large, glowing staff appeared from the side of the stage, hooked Ebony and Ivory then dragged them off stage. Miss Lucy clapped loudly for that.
“What the hell?” Poppy said, when he went back on stage. “Where’d that staff come from.” Suddenly he began to rise in the air. “Put me down!”
“Is this part of the act?” Alex said.
“I have no idea,” I said, as I watched Poppy being lifted higher into the air and finally set down on an empty chair in the audience.
“This is my place!” Poppy said, as he stood and angrily raised his fist in the air. “Do you hear me? My place!”
The
band’s instruments began to rise in the air and play on their own. Women dressed as if they were showgirls working at an old western bar walked on stage and began to dance.
“Can a place like this afford all these special effects?” Miss Lucy said.
“I would think not,” I said.
The dancers began performing the can-can, then things turned really strange.
Chapter 33
Madness Ensues
“THIS IS DEFINITELY a ghost thing,” Sassy said. “I can see through some of those dancers.
The dancers kicked their legs high into the air, then spun and spread their legs. When they did so, gold coins flew out from between their legs.
“There’s gold in them there twats!” someone said.
People rushed forward to catch the coins.
“Time for you to get out of here,” I said to Charity. “Things are fixing to get wild.”
People were starting to fight, and push one another out of the way to get to flying gold coins that began to shoot out more rapidly from the ghost dancers. There was a scuffle in front of us, and an old man in a walker got knocked over.
“I’ll get Charity out,” Forrest said.
It was getting to be a madhouse in Poppy’s. People were jumping down from the top floor to grab coins. Some of the folks were hanging from the chandeliers. Part of the upper railing had been knocked over and fell onto the crowd below. Chairs were being broken over people’s heads. Forrest was having to fight his way out, while trying his best to protect Charity. There was a large group of people between me and them, but suddenly I saw Alex running across the top of a table before tackling down some people who were fighting in front of Charity. To the side of the room, Ebony and Ivory were running from the stage and toward us.
“The chicken guy!” someone said. “He laid a golden egg—maybe it’s real gold! Get him!”
“Your guys are in trouble, Miss Lucy,” I said, then headed for Alex.
Granny beat me to Alex and helped him up. The dancing ghost girls were now swinging from the chandeliers, and people were trying to grab them by jumping on tables and chairs.