Untrusting (Troubled)

by A. J. Wells

  “Miss Lili, we have four enterprises we’re already doing. They want kids and so do we, but how can we do all that, keep our finger on the pulse of the town and coordinate every charity event in town. Organizing every big thing the town undertakes is gonna take a lotta work and we already have a lotta work. Then you add a family to it. When are we gonna have time to change diapers and stay up all night with sick kids?”

  “Don’t short change the boys. They’ll be right there with ya and they’ll help, but you’ll need to hire some reliable help, too. When both parents work, they have to work smart and have help and support from those around them. I think it’ll be easier if you two stop thinking ya have to be super women and do it all yourselves. The boys will be help mates to ya and they’ll support your work. Haven’t they proved that to ya by helping through the puppy mill incident?” We have to nod.

  “Okay. Now tell me how things went with the guests while I was gone.” We give her a report on the guests and the shelter. I tell her what I’d done about Mr. Gustaf and that all the dogs will be in tomorrow afternoon for a check up. She smiles. “I knew you were the right person for the job. My interest is healthy animals and I’ll make up any loses so ya don’t have any problems with finances. It’ll be a donation to the animal shelter, so it’ll be tax deductable.”

  Betty and Barney come into the kennel room and yip at the door, to be let into the office. I let them in and the race for Miss Lili. She asks about them and I tell her I adopted them. Next thing I know Miss Lili is down in the floor playing with them. The puppies get tired after a bit and I let them into the kennel room to nap. Miss Lili tells me how pretty they are and then I have to tell her where they came from.

  After my story she asks “Now, what are you girls doing for supper? Bob’s off work tonight and Steve is, too. Seems he had a little accident and he’s home for a few days with his foot up. Maybe if you four get in sight of each other this argument might end. By the way, they don’t want to break the engagements. What about you girls?” We answer “no.” “Good so let’s get this fuss put to bed and I mean that literally.” She smiles at us and we smile back. Then she hugs us. I explain I’ll have the puppies with me at supper and she’s happy to have them. Chaucee, José and Chief need to meet their new siblings.

  Supper is at her house. We help in the kitchen while the guys sit in the living room talking, tho’ we hear a lotta of laughter and playing with the dogs. I don’t know if they know we’re here. Stupid, they must, Shay’s with them. Shay and Glen come through the kitchen with the dogs to let them out. Shay brought Bullet with him, so there’s quite a pack of dogs. We get hugs from Glen as they go through. Maria and I set the table and when the pack comes back through Glen’s told to get the boys to the table.

  Miss Lili is a genius. She sets us across the table from Steve and Bob. We haven’t seen each other since Sunday or Monday and we have a hard time concentrating on the conversation and eating for a few minutes. Then we avoid looking at each other so we can be involved with the activities at the table. “Have you girls seen the boxes for Christmas, the boys made?”

  “Yes. They’re quite distinct. Had any referrals yet?” Maria’s curious about the response.

  “They’ve only been out for a day, but I plan to check them tomorrow. The pastors and the priest say they’ve had several donations and the ‘center’ says they’ve received several boxes of food donations. That means I’ll only need to get hams, turkeys and dressing fixin’s for the boxes. I hope everyone remembers to include sizes for the clothing. I’m gonna contact several farmers to see if they have a surplus of vegetables they want to get rid of and buy it from them for the baskets. I have several dozen boxes ordered that are Christmassy. They’ll be here in about a week. I’ll need a lotta help filling them. The churches are gonna coordinate with us so we have everything for everyone in the families we’re giving to. The letters to Santa will help with our shopping trip. The churches are taking in toys that are in good shape and we can fill in with the new toys. Oh, don’t let me forget the Christmas trees. We want them out a week before Christmas. We’ll need drivers for the pickups since the boys won’t be able to drive. And we’ll need tree decorations for those who don’t have them.”

  “Anybody ready for dessert?” Miss Lili goes from one thing right on to the another. Shay hollers “Yeah,” then feels embarrassed because everyone’s laughing at his eager response. Glen gets up to get it and comes back with a small wedding cake. “We were married in Austin yesterday with the Governor and Alma as witnesses. We didn’t want to wait, or have a big wedding. We’re sorry y’all weren’t there, but this was a no fuss wedding. Glen’s kids accept me, but they didn’t like his getting married at his age. So we just did it. I hope y’all aren’t too upset.”

  We all congratulate them and they cut the cake handing Maria and I a small bouquet of flowers. Miss Lili says the flowers are because we’re her bride’s maids. A bottle of Champagne and glasses are brought out and we toast the bride and groom. Then Miss Lili proposes a toast to the next brides and grooms at the table and look at us. Hesitantly, we drink.

  “That brings up a very good question, Aunt Lili. Maria, are we still gettin’ married?” Bob’s not shy about the argument or the possible outcome.

  Maria looks a bit defiant when she says, “I haven’t heard anything different, but it is a good question. Are we?”

  “As far as I’m concerned we are. And you?”

  “We are then,” Maria says and Bob smiles and raises his glass again and sips.

  “And us, Sher?” Steve figures it’s his turn to put the fuss to rest.

  “I haven’t called it off. What about you?” I’m just a defiant as Maria was.

  “Not me. So are we?”

  “Yes,” I say and Steve smiles and sips. We eat our cake and the guys go to the living room.

  “How’d Steve hurt his foot again?” I ask Miss Lili.

  She snickers, “Chaucee ran under his feet and he stumbled and fell, after he stepped down hard on his bad foot. It happened just outside of your office the other day. He was surprised you didn’t hear him yell. In fact, he thought you’d ignored the yell. After our talk this afternoon, I know ya didn’t hear him. There’s a lotta misunderstandings in both y’alls relationships. I suggest y’all talk to the boys and have an open heart and mind. Remember they’re just men. That’s a shorter way of saying ‘grown boys in size, but not always in mind.’” We laugh and go in to join the guys.

  Maria and Shay have to leave soon and Bob walks them out. He has to work tomorrow morning, but asks is he can come over after work. Maria says yes, she’ll be at work ‘til five but now she’ll have more time since all the facilities are empty. They kiss goodnight and Shay has to break them up so he can go home to bed.

  I take the dogs out and Steve goes with me. He’s back on both crutches, but he still comes up behind me to hug me. “I’m on pain pills again, but I’d like it if you’d stay tonight.” I agree to stay and I turn to kiss him. The five dogs break us up and Chaucee wants me to pick her up, as do Betty and Barney. I do and I’m back into my juggling act, even with them between me and Steve. We’re both getting our faces washed and we’re laughing about it. “Whatever possessed you to name these two Betty and Barney?”

  “Lack of imagination?” We laugh. “Don’t ya think the names fit?”

  “No. I played with them most of the evening and they strike me more like Lass and Ladie, or Rinnie and Tinnie.” He’s laughing so I slap him on the arm. “Betty and Barney are just fine.” We put the puppies down. I turn as he puts his arms around me.

  “I heard what happened. I’m sorry, but I promise I didn’t hear ya. If I had, mad or not, I would have come to help. I swear.”

  Steve smiles, “I know. But I was angry and wasn’t watching the dogs, so it was my fault. I just needed some one to blame it on so I didn’t feel so foolish.”

  We go in to find an empty room. José went to his bed and lay down. Chief went to his be
d and lay down and Chaucee joins him. Betty and Barney find their kennel and blanket and we go upstairs. I shower and go to bed, snuggling with Steve. His medication has him asleep after one kiss and his warmth puts me to sleep soon after.

  Mr. Gustaf makes good on his promise. Right after lunch he arrives with all the dogs. I check them out and they’re clean and the ulcers are almost healed. I give him a bottle of shampoo and another tube of salve. I vaccinate the adult dogs and tell him I’d given the puppies their distemper shots for free. The vaccinations are not free, but he can pay for them a little at a time. The city licenses will cost ten dollars per adult dog and he has to pay for that as he gets them. He wants two licensed today and he’ll get the other two at the next appointment. I suggest he get the yard sprayed so the dogs don’t get infested again. He said he had his son spray the yard Wednesday and he’ll have it done again in two weeks. He has a lotta money invested in the three males and he doesn’t want to have to replace them.

  I ask him what he’s going to do with the puppies. He doesn’t know. I offer to take them when they’re weaned and adopt them out to good homes. He says he’ll think about it. But he’ll take better care of the dogs. Miss Lili comes in before he leaves and remarks on the beauty of the dogs. Mr. Gustaf leaves smiling.

  “The stray dog or was it dogs?” Miss Lili has Glen and all three dogs with her. She opens the door to the kennels and all three dogs dart through and out the back to join Betty and Barney. Glen’s carrying a small box that appears to be full. She takes the box from him and asks “Are y’all busy this afternoon?” When we say no, she dumps its contents on the desk. “Can you help me get through these?” Too late to say no. “These are the responses we’ve gotten in just a day. Some of them are letters to Santa. We need a file holder for the family and one for the letters. We need to get some kinda form so we can keep track of what we have for each family. Can we do that?”

  Chapter 17

  Maria sat down at the computer to make up a form that can be filled in with family names sizes and what’s needed for clothing, food, tree, decorations and whatever else. Because of its general purpose it can be used for the letters, too. Steve and Bob come in and come over to kiss us ‘hello’ before they sit down to start going through the responses. The letters are given to Glen and Lili. We’re almost through with the pile of referrals when we hear Miss Lili sniffling. We look up to see tears running down her cheeks. Glen hands the letter to Maria, who reads it out loud.

  “Dear Santa, I hope u are fine. My Mommee reellee sik and I cant help. I wish u to com take her to a dr. Im scaird she’ll die if she dont c a dr. soon. Pleese help. If she dies, mabe I can com liv with u. I dont hav innyone els. Thanks, Penelope Perez”

  “Maria, get on the phone and see if there’s a Penelope Perez in any of the schools. Steve, you and Bob go to the churches to see if they know them. Here, take the letter. Miss Lili, Glen, you check at the different stores in town. We have to find them and we can’t wait.” I’m giving orders like I should, when I shouldn’t.

  Maria calls all the schools and there are several Perez’s but no Penelope. We don’t bother with getting addresses of the other Perez’s because the letter said she had no one else. Steve and Bob come back, the Priest says there was a little girl, about four, in the church asking for food and aspirin for her mother. The priest gave her some food, but that was two days ago and no one has seen her since. I suggest they check at the ‘center’ since they’re accepting food donations.

  They find the little girl there and bring her back to the office. I tell her Santa called and said we should help her mother. Will she take us to her? She smiles and nods. Steve and I get in the truck and Penelope points the way. It’s quite a ways away from town for a four year old girl to walk, but she did every other day, she says.

  She takes us into a little house that’s little more than a shack and her mother’s there in a bed. I brought my bag with my stethoscope in it so I listen to her heart and her lungs. Sounds like pneumonia, but I’m an animal doctor so I can’t be sure. Luckily, Glen and Miss Lili saw us get in the truck and followed us. There’s no local ambulance so we get them in Miss Lili’s Cadillac to take them to the clinic and small hospital in town.

  Mrs. Perez is critical. She needs to go to the hospital in Gatesville. Dr. Sanchez calls the Sheriff to see if one of the deputies can take her in using sirens. It’s arranged and Miss Lili and Glen follow with Penelope. We tell Miss Lili we’ll close the office and come to the hospital unless they call us.

  We get back to close the office and tell Maria and Bob what’s happened. Maria suggests we get the little girl a couple of outfits and some soap and shampoo. And check for fleas and lice. I think she’s right so we stop at Walmart on the way to the hospital, guessing at the girl’s size. Steve goes a little over board and gets the girl five outfits, panties, socks and pajamas. We aren’t sure about shoes, but we find a couple pair that look about right and get them, too.

  By the time we get to the hospital, Mrs. Perez has a room, but they’re cleaning her up so we can’t see her right now. We join Miss Lili, Penelope and Glen in the waiting room. Miss Lili is holding a sleeping Penelope in her lap. They had stopped to feed Penelope, telling her that it would be a while before she could see her mother anyway.

  Miss Lili looks like she needs a break, the little girl is half Miss Lili’s size. Glen helps shift Penelope from Lili to me and I sit with her in my lap. When Mrs. Perez is situated we’re called in. I ask if it’s possible to shower Penelope in the bathroom in her mother’s room. They allow it, though it’s not hospital policy. We thank them and Miss Lili and I go in to help Penelope bathe and dress. We forgot a comb and brush and Miss Lili goes to see if there’s one in the gift shop. She comes back with them and I brush Penelope’s hair. When we come out of the bathroom, Penelope is clean and dressed in clean clothes. We try on the shoes and the sandals fit. So now the beautiful little girl is clean and fed.

  She goes to her mother and sits on the bed expecting her to be instantly better because she’s in the hospital now. We explain it’ll be a day or two before her mother will be well enough to talk, but she sits there anyway. The nurses come in to take vitals and check the I.V. they’ve started. They explain they’re putting as strong an antibiotic into Mrs. Perez as possible. The doctor comes in to say Mrs. Perez is critical, but because she’s an unknown she’s not in the I.C.U. Glen steps up and tells the doctor he’ll be responsible for the patient and her bill, move her to the Intensive Care Unit. We want this woman to live, if it’s at all possible. The doctor asks if any of us are family and we say the little girl is and we’re all she has besides her mother, so in a way, yes, we are family.

  Mrs. Perez is moved to I.C.U. and we wait for a few hours before we talk Penelope into leaving with us. On our way out of town we stop to eat then at Walmart to switch the shoes that didn’t fit for a pair that does. At Miss Lili’s, Penelope’s changed into pajamas and put to bed in the guest room next to ours. Steve and I go downstairs to talk to Miss Lili and Glen.

  “What are we gonna do with a four year old girl? I guess we’ll have to hope for Mrs. Perez’s recovery. Then we need to find her work and a place to stay. But that’s what we’d do for anyone under these circumstances. Well, we’ll see what happens then deal with it,” Miss Lili says.

  “Lili, is it so hard to understand that when these things happen the state steps in and takes the girl to a new home to be taken care of. It’s simple.” Glen’s pretty adamant about how things will go.

  “That girl will be heartbroken. She obviously loves her mother and doesn’t want to be separated from her. Yet, Mrs. Perez isn’t able to take care of them. I agree with Miss Lili. If Mrs. Perez lives she’ll need help and Penelope needs to stay with her mother. I don’t know how or who to fight to make that happen, but it needs to be done.” I’ll fight for the girl’s right to stay with her mother.

  “Sher’s right. Grams, ya know a lotta people that can help. That girl needs her mot
her and ya can tell she’s been raised right. She’s too sweet and respectful to have been taught otherwise. In fact, she’s too well behaved, but she’s young. I’m sure she’ll outgrow it.” We chuckle at Steve’s comment.

  “I’ll do what I need to do when the time comes, if it comes. Now we need to get some sleep. Me and Glen will take Penelope to Gatesville tomorrow morning, but I would appreciate it if you would relieve us at lunch then, maybe Bob and Maria can relieve ya’ll. I thought Glen and I would do some Christmas shopping while we’re there. Come to think of it, I haven’t heard anything about Christmas shopping from either of you two. Y’all plannin’ to wait ‘til the last minute?”

  “I guess I haven’t given it much thought. I do have gifts to buy. But I can usually finish my shopping in a couple of hours.” I haven’t been enthused about Christmas since I got outta college.

  “This year we’ll have Shay to buy for and Maria and Sher. We’ll have fun playing with Shay and his toys. It’s been dull not having kids around the tree. Maybe, we can have Penelope and Mrs. Perez over for Christmas, too.” Steve’s eyes are sparkling thinking of the fun it could be.