by Ralph Bowden
*****
The first chance Lola had to tell Joe, he was already in bed and she was brushing her hair.
"You know, Sherri was ten minutes late after lunch. I expected Little Jim to call me, but he found some excuse to work on the control program until she showed up." Lola paused. "Are you awake?"
"No."
"I wonder if Little Jim ever gave her the warning? She was first in line at clock-out, and then ran back toward the warehouse. Her car was still in the lot when I left. Oh, I never told you what I found out at lunch." Lola proceeded to report her investigation. "What do you think I should do?"
There was a long pause. "Do?"
"I mean, he's not supposed to have the keys to the old foundry, and neither of them was supposed to be in there – let alone what they were doing."
"What were they doing?" Joe asked.
"Well, I don't know. But she's messing up her life, carrying on with that guy."
"She's not your kid."
"All right then, what about the plant?" Lola asked. "She's breaking all kinds of rules."
"Rules are to keep people from getting hurt,” he mumbled, clearly fading fast. “She's not doing anything dangerous."
Lola thought about that as she turned out the light and slipped quietly into bed. Joe had dropped off. Her good night kiss had no effect on the rhythm of his breathing.