Ian

by Denise Irwin

  “I’ll take them out while Bill grabs two beers.”

  Nancy asked, “Is there anything that you need me to do?”

  “No, I put a salad together this morning and made twice baked potatoes yesterday. I’m gonna pop them into the oven and then join you at the table.”

  She refreshed her own glass and sat with her mother. “Is Bill still playing golf?”

  “He is and I’ve started taking lessons.”

  Leona was amazed, “Ma, that’s great.”

  “I was tired of being a golf widow, so I started taking lessons. If my husband doesn’t want to golf with me, there are a number of female golfers at the club who will.”

  “What did Dad say when you started the lessons?”

  “He said that it was great, but that might not mean that he wants to golf with his wife.”

  Leona was howling with laughter when Sam and Bill came into the kitchen with the steaks and burgers. Sam asked as he put the steaks on the counter, “What in the made you howl like a hyena?”

  “Ma, can I tell him?”

  “Sure, you go right ahead.”

  “Mom’s taking golfing lessons and said that if Bill doesn’t want to golf with her that there are plenty of women at the club who will.”

  “Leona, I don’t find that one bit funny. If you mother wants to golf with me, I’d be delighted to whip her butt at golf.”

  Nancy said, “I’ll take you up on that bet.”

  Leona said, “Count me in.”

  Sam laughed aloud as he said, “I’m in.”

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  Ian reported to Pickles early for his first night of work. Bob said to him, “You’re not due to report for another two hours.”

  “I know, but I wanted to watch how the place works; I will eat some dinner and then when it is time, I’ll go to work.”

  Bob shook his head, “What do you want to eat?”

  “A cheeseburger and fries along with a glass of iced tea.”

  Ian did just as he told Bob that he would. Rather than pay attention to the patrons, he watched the employees. He had no idea what Bob was going to ask him to do tonight, so he watched everyone that he could to see what they were doing.

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  After dinner at the Marksman residence, dessert and Irish Coffees were served. Molly and Jack went off to bed while the adults remained at the table. Nancy asked, “Sam, are you working on anything?”

  “If you count the agility course in the back yard, then yes I’m working on something.”

  Nancy chortled and then said, “You know what I mean and I don’t mean some contraption for the dog.”

  “Oh, then you must mean, am I working on a case? No and I ain’t got nothing in the foreseeable future which is why I’m working on an agility course.”

  “Well, that’s all I was asking. I have an early golf class, so I’m going home. I’ll see you all on Sunday at the dog agility contest, unless Sam is called away, to solve a crime.”

  Leona and Sam howled with laughter as they walked her parents to Bill’s car and after the traditional round of hugs and kisses, watched as they drove down the driveway.

  They walked to the kitchen where Sam asked her if she wanted a nightcap. “Yes I would.”

  As he handed her a glass of wine she asked, “Do you believe that my mother is taking golfing lessons?”

  “Why do you seem so surprised that she is?”

  “I don’t know. I guess that I never thought of my mother as the golfing type.”

  “Don’t you think that she never thought of you as the sailing type?”

  “Touché, I’m going to bed.”

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  Bob came to Ian who was still sitting at the bar drinking coffee. “Ian, you’re on in about ten minutes. Let me explain what you’ll be doing. It’s a pretty skanky job, but somebody has to do. You’ll be gathering up the trash bags from the kitchen and walking them to the dumpster outside the back door. Walk with me and I’ll show you how it’s done.”

  Ian followed him into the kitchen. “We’re gonna grab two full bags and pull them out of the trash can. Watch me.” Ian watched as he pulled the bag out of the can and tie a knot with the bag.

  He grabbed a bag and did the same thing.

  “Okay, let’s get these to the dumpsters. It’s gonna be dark later on, so watch where you step.” When they reached the first of four dumpsters, Bob said, “Just lift the lid and throw the bag in. When the first dumpster is full, move on to the next dumpster.”

  They returned to the kitchen where Bob told him, “If someone needs help getting their garbage into a can, give ‘em a hand. You’re on duty after closing to get that garbage out of the kitchen. I’ll come in and check on you when I can.”

  Ian kept a close eye on the trash and took the full bags out to the dumpster. He also helped the kitchen staff by removing the garbage from their work area. At one point, someone brought him a cup coffee and that really helped. The kitchen staff left, but the bar was still up and running, so he worked until 3:30 in the morning before his first day was finally done.

  Bob came into the kitchen to ask, “How was your first night?”

  “Once I got the hang of it, it was not so bad.”

  “You done did good judging by the look of the kitchen. Walk with me to the bar where we’ll have a beer and talk about your schedule.”

  “Ian, you don’t have a bank account yet do you?”

  “No. Should I open one?”

  “Yes, I’m gonna give you cash tonight and we’ll open an account with it tomorrow.”

  “Bob, does that mean that I did okay?”

  “You did better than okay. Until school starts, I’d really like you to work three nights a week, so I’m going to suggest that you work Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. Those are the typical nights that I work. I worked tonight so that I could be here to train you.”

  Ian laughed and then said, “My mother be happy to hear that I have received training on how to dump trash bags.”

  “Hey man, you’re the one who said he was bored, so don’t be getting up in my grille. Go home and get some sleep and I’ll see you Monday night.”

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  Ian did just that. He woke late on Sunday morning and made it to the Café for some food and then walked back to his apartment and climbed back into bed. He woke at dinner time and went back to the Café for takeout. He’d been to the library and selected several books. He opened one and fell asleep reading it.

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  During what should have been quiet Sunday morning breakfast, Molly continually asked if they were leaving soon to go the school to watch the dog contest. Her mother finally told her, “Molly, the contest doesn’t start until this afternoon, so stop your broken record routine of asking over and over if we can leave soon.”

  “But Mom…”

  “Don’t but Mom me. Finish you breakfast and then go upstairs and clean your bedroom.”

  Jack looked up at his mother, “Mom, she’s just excited about going.”

  “I know that Jack, but asking over and over won’t make the clock run any faster.”

  “Mom, I’m sorry that I did that, but Jack’s right, I’m just really excited.”

  “I know that Molly, we’re all are excited, but if we leave now, we’re just gonna sit in the car until the competition starts.”

  Molly and Jack went upstairs and actually cleaned their bedrooms. Sam took the dog out and when he returned, he called to the kids, “It’s now time to go, let’s saddle up and get to the school.”

  Sam didn’t have to call them twice. They ran past him into the driveway and waited for him to open the door.

  He pulled onto the school’s parking lot and was impressed at the number of cars parked there. He saw his mother-in-law waving to him, indicating that she had saved a parking space next to her car.

  He parked the car and his children were like little mice scattering along the lot as they ran to greet their grandparents.

  “Sam, get them
moving this way and I’ll go ahead to see if this is going to be indoors or outside.” She returned to tell him, “It’s being held on the soccer field.”

  They were more than amazed when they reached the soccer field. There were three agility courses set up, not just one. Dog owners waited quietly while the judge announced the rules.

  Leona looked and saw that the bleachers were already full, so she told her family, “We’re gonna have to stand.”

  While they watched, the reason for the courses became evident. One was for the small dogs; one for the medium sized pooches and the last was for large dogs. All three courses had dogs with owners running beside them.

  Nancy said, “This is unbelievable. I’m have trouble keeping up with three courses.”

  “It really is Ma, and it looks as though the dogs know that they are competing.”

  They stayed and watched the Awards Ceremony. Sam said, “Wait here for just a moment and let everyone get their dogs into the car.”

  Sam then walked over to the judges table. He asked one of the Judges, “Are there training classes for children, I have two children, one is eight and the other is nine.”

  “Yes there are. An entire youth program is available that allows them to progress to the next level. Do you have a dog?”

  “Yes, we recently adopted a standard poodle who was trained as a service dog. I’ve already set a course up in our yard.”

  “Well then, you are well ahead of the game. May I have your phone number? I’ll call you when a new class starts.” Sam handed her his business card.

  “Will the weather or school year be problems?”

  “No. Many classes especially for children are taught in the school’s gymnasium or if the weather allows, outside on the parking lot, on Sunday afternoons.”

  Sam rejoined his group and asked, “Is anyone up for a pizza dinner? Bill, I’ll meet you and Nancy on the parking lot of the pizza joint next to the arcade games.”

  “Sam, that works for us.”

  While munching on pizza, the conversation was about the agility dog competition they watched today.

  Nancy said, “I’ll bet running with the dogs keeps you in shape.”

  “Ma, I have to say that it was unbelievable to me and it looked like so much fun.”

  They finally finished their pizza and were both full and tired. The hugs and kisses goodbye were on the parking.

  Molly and Jack were so tired that they both fell asleep watching television. Sam told Leona, “I don’t think that I can carry either of them up to bed.”

  “I don’t think so either, so I’ll wake them while you walk the dog.”

  “I’m getting the better end of the deal.”

  “Yes you are husband and you need to remember that.”

  Since she knew that Molly would be the toughest to wake, so Leona started with her. She gently shook her daughter’s shoulders as she said, “Molly, it’s time to go to bed.”

  “I’ll sleep here.”

  “No you will not. Get up and if you need help going up the steps, I’ll help you, but you cannot sleep on the sofa.”

  Molly finally shook the sleep off and headed up the stairs. Next was Jack. He woke up much easier and actually said, “Good night Mom,” as he went up the steps

  Sam and Leona had a quick nightcap in the kitchen since they were as tuckered out as their children. “Lee, I spoke with one of the judges and she said that there are children courses and she’ll give us a call when a new class starts.”

  “Does she know how young our children are?”

  “She does and when I told her that Vinny had been trained as a service dog. She told me that they do very well since their ahead of the basic training.”

  “Did you tell her that you built a course in the yard?”

  “Yes ma’am, I sure did and she said that it was a great idea.”

  “In that case, it sounds like we’re set. The kids are gonna love it and it’ll be fun watching them train. Sam, I gotta tell you, I’m about to fall asleep here at the table.”

  Chapter Three

  After the children left for school, Leona started working on her Halloween Party that she’d planned to have on Saturday, October 26th. Sam came onto the kitchen and asked, “Lee, what are you doing? Your face is all scrunched up.”

  “My face is not all scrunched up. I’m working on the Halloween Party for Saturday, the 26th.”

  Her husband walked over the calendar hanging on the side of the refrigerator. “It’s here on the calendar. Today is Monday, October 10th, does it really take twelve days to work on the party?”

  She slowly laid her pen on top of the pad of paper she was using. Sam knew that before she fired up like an active volcano, he needed to either get out of the kitchen or rephrase his dialogue. A lesser man would have run, but he stood up to his wife as he mumbled, “Can I retract my statement?”

  “Pour me another cup of coffee and then get the hell out of my kitchen and after that I might consider forgiving you.”

  He went into the living room to read a book which always translated into a nap. She went upstairs and sent out electronic invitations. Before she turned her laptop off, she was receiving e-mails confirmations of being there.

  She went down to the living room to wake her husband to let him know, “Sam, wake up for just a minute.”

  She figured that he was awake enough to hear her say, “Sam, I’m going out shopping for Halloween decorations.”

  He knew better than to say that it was still early, so instead, he mumbled, “Okay.”, and then rolled over and went back to sleep.

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  Ian had breakfast at the café and then walked to University of Maryland Medical Center’s Volunteer Department. He told the receptionist, “My name is Ian Macgill and I would like to speak with a volunteer coordinator.”

  “Mr. Macgill, let me see if one is available. I’ll be right back.”

  Ian quietly waited and wondered if he would really get to meet with someone today. The receptionist returned to the lobby area and said, “Mr. Macgill, please follow me.” She led him down the hall to an open office door. “Stella, this is the guy that wants to volunteer. His name is Ian Macgill.”

  “Mr. Macgill, please come in and take a seat.” Once he sat in a chair, she said, “My name is Stella Fields. I understand that you would like to volunteer?”

  “Yes ma’am, I would.”

  “To make sure that I find a good fit for you, please tell me a little bit about you.”

  “Ms. Fields, I am not sure what you want me to say, but I will give it a try. I will attend the University in the spring and major in Medicine. Volunteering in the medical center will help me understand how to be a good doctor.”

  “Mr. Macgill, I think that you will be an excellent volunteer. I’m looking for someone who can comfortably interface with patients and their families. Can you start this Wednesday? I’ll have someone show you the ropes and then if you comfortable, we’ll let you go on your own. Before you go do you have any ideas of how many hours you want to volunteer each day?

  “I have a job on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Pickles Bar. I am the trash man. I need to be there around 5:00 in the evening.”

  “Then why don’t you plan to volunteer on the days you don’t work. You can volunteer for as many hours that you choose. I’m just delighted to have you. Since you work on Wednesday evening, if you can, plan to come in tomorrow for training”

  They both stood and shook hands as Fields said, “Welcome to the team.”

  Ian thought, wow, I’m on a team. “Thank you Ms. Fields.”

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  Leona returned to the house with her decorations and found her husband in the back yard playing with the dog. She stood and watched as he threw the Frisbee into the air and Vinny ran to jump with all four feet leaving the ground to catch it and then return it to Sam. She smiled because she was happy that her husband had a dog to play with.

  She called him in for lunch. Sam sat at the table
and the dog laid beneath it. Leona handed him a beer and a tuna fish salad over lettuce.

  Sam asked, “Did you get the decorations that you wanted?”

  “Yes I did and I have to say that nothing was picked over which reinforces my plan to shop early so that you can get what you want.”

  He knew that was coming, so he said, “In that case, I’m glad to hear that shopping early paid off. I’m gonna go into the living room and read.”

  She was so tempted to say, ‘Don’t you mean take a nap?’

  Instead she focused on the after school snacks. She managed to get another load of laundry into the washing machine before the kids came home.

  They raced one another up the steps to change their clothes. She heard Molly scream, “I won.”

  She listened to Jack’s retort, “Only because I let you.”

  However, when the entered the kitchen, the arguing immediately stopped. They both knew that if Mom heard them argue, they would have to sit in the bad chair. They sat quietly at the table and chatted about school while eating their snack. Molly asked her mother, “Mom, after our snacks, can Jack and I go out to play with Vinny.”

  “You may go out and play until dinner after you hand me your completed homework.”

  She heard Jack say to his sister, “In that case, I’m sunk because I have a ton of math.”

  “Jack, I’ll help you with it and then we can go out and play.”

  They brought their homework to Leona to approve. She told them, “Good job, you may go outside and play with Vinny until I call you for dinner.”

  Sam wandered into the kitchen and asked Leona, “Are the kids home from school yet?”

  She so wanted to laugh, but instead said, “They are. They did their homework and are now in the back yard playing with the dog.”

  Sam walked to the window to see. There was a huge smile on his face as he watched his children play with the dog.

  After dinner, Molly and Jack took the dog with them into the living room to watch television.

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  Now that he knew his job, Ian reported to work in time to drink a cup of coffee before he started. Bob asked him, “What did you do today?”