She didn’t rebut and I didn’t expect her to.
I hung up the phone and pulled the covers up while Nilla slept on her favorite mat next to my bed.
8
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Carla, again, was our designated driver the following morning. In fact, she’d volunteered just like before. I thought it was a good move too, since Debbie had a little sedan, and anyone could see poor Carla would’ve struggled inside there.
I’d brought Nilla along for the meeting—something the girls wondered about.
“So, do you have an appointment with the mayor today, Lucille?” Debbie asked as Nilla sat beside her on the back seat.
“Nope,” I casually responded.
“You’re gonna just walk right in there?” she said.
“I’m not going to crawl; that’s for sure!”
“You go girl!” Carla cheered.
It was shortly after 10:00 A.M. when we arrived at the office and Carla was able to pull into a space just a few feet away from the main door.
“An answer to a prayer,” she said, gleefully.
“You’re actually this excited over a close parking spot?” I asked her. “It’s not like we had to park a good ways off yesterday.”
“I know, but my feet hurt when I stand for too long. Must be these shoes!”
“Must be…” I shook my head.
I told Debbie to wait in the Suburban with Nilla until it was time to bring her in and Carla and I proceeded to the front door. Carla had left the engine running with the air conditioning on. The moment we walked inside, I’m sure I saw that receptionist lady roll her eyes at us, not to mention the slight snickering that came from the direction of two of the uniformed officers who often stood there in the foyer like statues.
“Don’t say a word,” I told Carla as we proceeded to the desk.
“You got it,” Carla replied, assisting me.
I could see the disgust all over the receptionist’s face, but it didn’t faze me.
“May I help you?” she asked, stoically.
“Yes, you may, actually,” I politely replied. “Please ring Mayor Bradley’s ill-mannered secretary and tell her to put you through to her boss.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re excused.”
She sighed. “Ma’am, that’s not gonna happen.”
“Why not, dear?”
“Because I would think you know by now how this whole thing works. The mayor is not at your beck and call.”
“Look...I’m trying to be nice here, but if you insist on being somewhat asinine, I’m going to have to find out who hired you and give them a good talking to.”
“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I must ask you to leave if you don’t have an appointment to see Mayor Bradley or anyone else in this building.”
That woman was really difficult. They must’ve been paying her pretty well after all.
I turned to Carla who was giving the receptionist a killer stare.
“Carla, dear. Do you have your cell phone handy? I’m afraid I left mine in the car.”
“Yes. Yes, I do.” She nodded quickly.
“Dial this number for me, will you?”
“Okay. Shoot!”
After I riddled off the number, I spotted a wide-eyed, awestruck expression on the receptionist’s face.
“That’s Mayor Bradley’s private number,” she noted.
“Well, what do you know? Isn’t that something, Carla?” I said.
“Surely is!” She smiled cockily.
She handed the phone to me and lo and behold, the colossal jerk answered on the first ring. I gestured to Carla that I’d be fine and using my cane, walked over to a little area where I could get a bit of privacy.
Speaking quietly, I spoke closely into the phone. “This is Lucille Velma Abigail Pfiffer.”
“You again? How’d you get this number?” he barked.
“I have one word—no—two words to say to you at this very moment.”
“And what’s that?”
“Felicia Adams…”
There was complete and utter silence on the line.
“Are you still there, tyrant?” I asked, moments later. “Or have you fallen through the floor?”
“I’m here,” he replied.
“I’m downstairs right now. Do I have an immediate appointment?”
I heard a heavy sigh. “Yes. You can come up. I will speak with the receptionist.”
“Oh! Hold on just a second…”
I turned around. “Carla, dear… do hurry and get Nilla out of the car.”
“Right on it!” She hurried out of the door.
I can’t adequately describe how thrilled I was knowing I had that cartoon mayor at my mercy and I was now calling the shots. Carla was back heading up the steps toward the entrance in no time with my sweet, little furry heartstring.
The guards stopped her as she was about to enter the foyer and I said to Bradley, “Would you believe your guards out here are preventing my little dog from entering the building? I must note that if she can’t accompany me on my appointment, I’d have to abruptly cancel.”
“Let me speak with one of the officers,” he said.
“Guards! Guards!” I called as though I couldn’t see them. “The mayor would like to have a brief word with one of you.”
The burly one took the phone after I extended my arm.
“Mayor?” He grimaced, rather doubtfully. “Yes, sir… Yes, sir.”
And that was that.
He nodded to the other guard, at which time, he gave Carla free passage and she immediately handed Nilla to me. With tail wagging a mile a minute, the licks across my chin came at me full force. You’d think she hadn’t seen me for days.
“I’m all set now,” I told Bradley.
“Someone is on his way to walk you up,” he said.
I knew who that would be. Without a response, I ended the call. The man didn’t appreciate me one bit when I was being the nice, sweet old lady who just wanted a tiny favor done. So, now he was stuck with the fairly impatient, no-nonsense side of me.
His favorite lackey came and got me, while Carla took a seat in the foyer. I left her with a gloating smile on her face among the sour receptionist and the yes men in the foyer.
“This is getting old, isn’t it?” I said to the gentleman carefully guiding me.
“No, ma’am,” he answered. I got a feeling he might’ve been a military man back in the day. He had that firm build, austere look and it’s all about the business at hand way about him. Decent guy, I’m sure, who was just making an honest living.
I noticed all the gazes as we passed through the various departments. Guess they never saw such a cute dog before, if I do say so myself. I wish I could’ve just given up the charade and taken Nilla over to a few of them to wish them a special good morning. Nilla liked some people—was a lot like me and she would’ve struck up a pretty interesting conversation with anyone she took a liking to.
When we arrived at Bradley’s office, the guy did his famous single knock before we entered the room.
“I can find the chair by now,” I told him after stepping inside. “You can leave now.”
Bradley gave him the nod, then he left, shutting the door behind him.
I took several steps straight ahead instead of immediately to my right where the chairs were, then stopped.
“This is your desk, right?” I asked.
“Yes, it is,” he replied, stoically.
My lovely Shih-Tzu loves office desks; likes to roam about all over them, you know?”
“I guess so.”
I sat Nilla on top of the desk and allowed her free rein.
Bradley backed his chair out without getting up. “What’re you doing?”
“What does it look like?”
I could tell he was so angry, he was about to burst.
“Temper down…” I said. “I can feel it, you know?” And with that, I went and took a seat. “Oops! Pardon my mann
ers. This is my dog, Nilla. Her real name is Vanilla, but don’t you dare call her that! I’m the only one allowed to do so.”
“Okay…”
“Do you like animals, Mayor?” I asked.
“Some.”
“Dogs?”
There was a pause.
“Yes,” he finally said.
“Why don’t I believe that?”
Another pause.
“Mrs. Pfiffer, can we please get to the crux of the matter?” He leaned in and grabbed a few documents that Nilla had headed over to.
“Nilla, darling, would like to feel the nice carpet on the floor?” I stood up and pretended to feel my way back over to the desk. She came near the edge and I scooped her up and rested her on the floor. She immediately ran over to Bradley, who appeared a bit scared.
“She won’t bite as long as you don’t provoke her,” I told him.
“That’s comforting to know.”
I went and sat down again.
“Mrs. Pfiffer…”
I raised my hand. “I know you like to get straight to the point, Mayor Bradley, and that’s why I haven’t so far. It’s funny how life can sometimes take a sudden shift, huh?”
He was quietly staring.
“Well, I don’t know who Miss Adams is other than the mother of some of your other children and the recipient of a good chunk of your family’s income; however, I’m sure you know exactly who she is quite intimately. But considering the amount of money you send her on a consistent basis, I’m wondering if your wife is blind, such as I am, or just kept in the dark if you handle all the finances. Either way, it would be a pity to see your family fall apart and ultimately this wonderful life you’ve built all because of a little secret—like the other family you have over there in the U.K…”
“I will meet your demands, Mrs. Pfiffer—both of them. There’s no need to destroy a man because of a slight misunderstanding.”
After checking out the large office space, Nilla went over and peed on the brute’s shiny shoe before heading over to me and politely sitting at my feet. I could tell she didn’t like him either.
Clearly annoyed, Bradley yanked several sheets of tissue from the ceramic holder on his desk and wiped off his shoe, then tossed the soiled tissue in the small bin nearby.
“You know what Terrance? I agree with you! There’s no need for that. How soon will you make the public apology to those Indians and their descendants, and have the monument erected, preferably in the town square?”
“I can get it all done by…”
“You have three days,” I said.
“Three days? But it takes weeks to months to build a monument.”
“Three...days. We’re not looking for anything huge. I read somewhere a while back that they actually have prefabricated granite ones where just the top portion of the design would be needed. I suggest you do your research and get someone on it right away. And be sure the top part represents something native to the Indians.” I could tell he was listening intently. “Anyway, this is your headache now—not mine. So, make it happen. If I don’t get word of your public announcement by the day after tomorrow, your little secret will be exposed. You can take that to the bank.”
“Three days, it is,” he replied. Sweat pebbles had crowded his forehead despite the piping air conditioning.
I gave him my phone number and he quickly jotted it down. “I will await a personal call from you about the announcement of your public apology and the unveiling of the monument. I do plan to be there when it all unfolds.”
“You have my word.”
“I’m sure I do.”
I picked up Nilla and stood up. “Thanks for fitting me into your busy schedule, Terrance. I hope you don’t mind me calling you Terrance.”
“No, not at all.” He stood as well. “Um… Mrs. Pfiffer, just between us...I would appreciate when all of this is over that you don’t mention…”
“Once you keep your end of the bargain, your secret’s safe with me,” I told him. “But I advise you to keep your weenie inside your pants when you’re not with your wife.”
He nodded. “Allow me to call for assistance.”
“No need. For as many times as I’ve been here in the past few days, I think I know this building inside out.”
He walked us to the door.
* * * *
The girls were elated when I broke the news to them; they could hardly believe it.
“My goodness, Lucille! What did you possibly do to change his mind?” Debbie asked as we cruised along the highway. Nilla was back there again with her.
“I just gave him a good scolding,” I said. “Threatened to expose him for the jerk he was and that was about it.”
I left it at that. I wasn’t about to divulge any secret information that had ties to Glenda. I wouldn’t have done that to any friend of mine.
“That’s amazing he changed his mind like that,” Debbie replied. “Maybe he had time to think about what we said when we were there yesterday.”
“But how’d you get his private number?” Carla asked.
I didn’t have that part covered and had to think quickly!
“Someone I was griping to about the situation last night said they knew someone who should have it and they’d try and get it for me. So said, so done.”
“Awesome! Truly awesome,” she said. “Lucille, you saved the day!”
“I can’t take the credit alone. We’re all in this together, remember? Each of us played our part—even Nilla.”
We all laughed.
“This calls for a celebration,” I told them. “Neighborhood party! Any one on board?”
“I am!” They shouted, simultaneously.
Carla got us to sing that juvenile song again on the way home. She claimed it was a song for all seasons. I was beginning to like it a little and Debbie, who’d resisted the first time, happily took the lead that day.
That evening after Glenda got home from work, I called and gave her the great news without stating any important details over the phone. She was so happy for us and I couldn’t thank her enough for being a wonderful friend. Despite our cheer, for some reason I felt a bit uneasy while speaking with her and didn’t know why. Something was off; I could just feel it.
9
_________________
By noon the next day, Mayor Bradley had called to inform me that the monument had been placed on rush order and would be ready in two days which would be that Friday. He’d scheduled a town square gathering for the same evening at four o’clock and stated that TV crews would be there. He was doing it just the way I’d envisioned it should be and I expressed that to him.
Theodore and Anthony were just as thrilled about the whole thing as the rest of us were. They no longer had to be concerned about the roof over their heads.
Debbie had sent out an email to residents of Harriet’s Cove who’d signed the petition informing them of our victory and the upcoming meeting. Those residents who were not internet savvy were visited by Debbie or Carla and told in person. They were all relieved that homes would be saved.
The entire time we worked feverishly to get the Indians’ demands met, I had not seen any sign of the apparitions. I knew they were simply giving me time to do what they’d asked and were not going to get in the way. Now, I felt I needed to have a brief word with them.
“There you have it!” I threw my hands up with no one around except for Nilla who was sleeping peacefully on the sofa. “The Chief, as you call him, has agreed to make the public apology to you all and to have a monument erected in the town square in your honor on Friday at four o’clock. He’s given me his word. I know you’re around and that you’re listening, and I just want to say again that I’m sorry about all the horrible things that were done to you and I’m glad the truth is finally going to be admitted to publicly. You all deserve more than a mere monument and an apology, but I’m thankful that they’re all you’re asking for.”
Crickets…
W
ell, I said it because it was the right thing to do and it all came from the heart. I know what it’s like to be treated unfairly and even not respected because of my disability. Maybe having some of the terrible things that happened to me throughout my life helped me to be sympathetic to others. And maybe what I thought was a curse was actually a blessing because something good eventually came out of it. Anyway, enough of the “soft” stuff.
While the mayor was arranging a public unveiling, Carla, Debbie, the boys and I were arranging a neighborhood party to be held at my house on Friday evening after the event in town square.
10
_________________
That Friday, residents of Harriet’s Cove turned out at the town square in great numbers and so did many other Chadsworthians. An object approximately six feet in height and roughly five feet wide at the base stood near the erected podium and was covered with a white cloth-like material.
The boys and I sat together with Carla and her daughter, Brittany; Debbie and her family were in the row behind us. Everyone was smiling at each other, and eagerly awaiting the moment of truth.
A special seating area was designated for descendants of the Indian tribe. I was pleased to see at least eighty percent of the chairs filled and imagined their ancestors’ spirits were there right along with them knowing that finally, their day of recognition had arrived.
Radio and television crews were positioned at the eastern and southern sides of the square. Mayor Bradley, accompanied on the podium by a few other government officials, stood in front of the microphone at exactly 4:05 and looked out toward the crowd.
He went on to give onlookers a brief history of the town and how it was once inhabited by a tribe of Indians who’d farmed the land and did what they could to survive. I was impressed by the information he’d shared, including the truth that other men came, enslaved them and stole their land—the land we’d all come to know as Harriet’s Cove and a good portion of Chadsworth as a whole.
Lucille Pfiffer Mystery Series (Books 4 - 6) Page 13