For the next several innings, the two of them talked about baseball, Boston, and the importance of realizing a person's full potential. The Wizard was giving Jody many different things to think about, mostly the belief that she could do whatever she wanted, go wherever she set her mind to go. He was turning her on to the idea that life is exactly what a person makes it. Her new friend had even told her that he thought she was full of more life than anyone he had ever met. She was thrilled, accepting the compliment without feeling self-conscious or embarrassed.
Making some headway, girl, she thought to herself. Not too bad.
As the seventh inning approached, the Wizard carefully explained to the girl the custom of the seventh inning stretch. When the time came, the PA speakers blasted out …
"Take me out to the ball-game..."
…and Jody found herself singing along with the rest of the crowd, swinging her cup of beer in the air and belting out the last stanza, having the best time of her life. Looking over at her new friend, she grinned at the change in her life in just a few short hours. The Wizard touched her on the arm, catching her attention. He was pointing toward the huge, electronic scoreboard, the gigantic screen in place to show the crowd instant replays. Several announcements were being broadcast, among them the schedule of remaining Red Sox games and upcoming Boston Bruin and Celtic exhibitions. Jody read each announcement, impressed with the clarity of such an enormous TV screen. Gosh, it must be sixty feet tall, she mused. Probably cost a ton. Future technology is going to be a blast.
Suddenly, she sat straight up, staring at the message flashing across the screen, the PA announcer reading the directive over the intercom. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, didn't understand the words of the announcer, confused at first, then simply in awe.
"The Boston Red Sox organization is privileged to welcome season ticket holder Dr. Josephine Reed to tonight's game. We would like to take this opportunity to be the first 60,000 close and personal friends to congratulate Dr. Reed on the honor that was announced moments ago from Stockholm. Congratulations, Dr. Reed, on being named the winner of this year’s Nobel Prize for Medicine. Dr. Reed, would you please stand and be recognized."
Staring at the screen, Jody watched transfixed as the cameras panned in on the figure of a tall woman with long flowing red hair. The woman stood and waved at the crowd, receiving a thunderous standing ovation, her left arm through the arm of a tall, dark hair man in a light blue blazer. Jumping to her feet, Jody looked around frantically, finally spotted the waving woman across the park in box seats along the third base line. She noticed that the lady had a Red Sox cap firmly atop her mop of wild red hair, standing and acknowledging the cheering throng, a smile on her face, and one on the face of the man she was holding onto so tightly.
Jody remained standing, staring across the field as the woman and man finally sat back down, the crowd's attention returning to the eighth inning, their beloved Sox still clinging to its slim one run lead. Jody turned, staring deeply into the eyes of the Wizard, the tiny smile back on his face.
"Potential, Jody, plenty of potential there. And this, my friend, is only a preview."
And they were in the fog, floating along, Jody's mind still on the lady sitting along third base, the lady who had reached her potential. Or at least a portion of it.
26
Andy carefully drove the Lincoln toward Radford, warily adhering to the posted speed limits, aware that he had sipped on a few too many beers to be driving legally. He was nervous with the black girl in the car, attracted to her yet not sure what was right, why he was having these feelings. Shauna sat against the opposite door, silently mulling over the events of the evening.
"I'm sorry for taking you away from your friends," she finally said. "I wasn't very comfortable with what was going on back there."
"Don't be sorry. I needed to get away anyway, at least for awhile. What was bugging me so much was the way Susie was acting, like she was making fun of me for trying to protect her. And really, I didn't particularly care for the way I was acting, either. I've never tried to intimidate anyone, you know, be a hard guy like that but that guy scared me, made me nervous. And it set Rod off on a jag, too."
"That was bad...I felt so sorry for Rod. You two...you guys are like brothers, aren't you. The way you are around each other, it's like me and Gretta, about as close as two people can get with a friendship."
"Yeah, we're close, maybe closer than brothers," Andy sighed, his mind wandering, his thoughts on the friend who would soon be starting his life's journey in a different direction. "God, it's been a long time since he's talked that way, and he's never done it except when we've been alone," Andy said, collecting his thoughts, his mind snapping back to the present, speaking to the pretty girl sitting next to him.
"That had me worried. I about had a heart attack when that guy came out of the woods, looking like that. I think I was more scared than anything, that's why I tried to act so hard. I wasn't very good at it. But there's so much random crime anymore, and I didn't want something happening to my friends. He's harmless, I'm pretty sure of that now. But it doesn't make me feel any better."
He knew he was rambling, the events at the lake throwing him off kilter, being alone with this attractive girl doubling his confusion and nervousness, not sure what his role was anymore.
"That guy's so different, know what I mean, like a character out of mythology or a folk tale," Shauna said. "There's something strange about what he's doing, like he's hypnotizing everybody. I mean, it's obvious that Gretta and Susie didn't go anywhere. Did they? I watched them really close. They sat there in a trance for five or ten minutes, woke up and got all giggly. Do you think he put some kind of drug in their beer or something?"
"No, I don't think so; he didn't have a chance to do that. Like you said, I think he's hypnotizing them somehow. But it seems harmless. I wouldn't have left if I didn't think so. Rod's there and I think he can keep an eye on things until I get back. Then, maybe the girls will be ready to go home. I hope so anyway."
They were reaching the outskirts of town, the highway narrowing into the four-lane Fortney Boulevard. The street lights were illuminating the wall-to-wall fast food businesses and strip malls that marked the edge of Radford when approaching from this direction. A new Holiday Inn Express had been built on this side of town three years ago, directly across the street from the popular Radford Best Western. It had survived for thirteen months, then been purchased by another chain that specialized in taking over floundering motels. It was now named the Radford Inn, even though it still looked suspiciously like the Holiday Inn. There was a rumor that the place was once again for sale. The newspaper had reported that Turner Steel was interested in buying it to house temporary employees and out-of-town guest.
Andy spotted a blue and white Radford police car parked in the lot of the Dunkin' Donut, two officers sipping on cups of hot coffee in white Styrofoam cups. As Andy cruised past the donut shop, he glanced into his rearview mirror and noticed the police vehicle ease into the traffic, several blocks behind, keeping pace with the Lincoln.
"Shit. I think he's following me. You got any gum or breath mints in your purse?"
Shauna quickly dug a stick of Dentine gum out of her purse, took off the wrapper, and handed it to the boy. Andy popped it into his mouth, chewing frantically as the red and blue emergency lights of the police car came on. The boy guided the Lincoln over to the curb, applied the blinking parking lights, and hit the button to roll the driver's side window down. He noticed in the side mirror that one officer was standing in the back of the car, along the passenger side, while the other one walked to his window.
"Good evening, son, could I see your driver’s license, please…and your insurance verification." Polite, yet firm. Andy looked up and saw his reflection in the mirrored sunglasses the cop was wearing even though it was nighttime. He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket, removing the license from the plastic holder, handing it out the window to the cop
. Shining his flashlight on the license, the cop broke into a grin, ducked his head down to window level, and smiled broadly at Andy.
"Hell’s bells, Andy Webster, I didn't know that was you in there. We ran the license number and it came back registered to Mr. Hall. You out partying with Susie tonight?" All the time looking across the boy at Shauna.
"Yeah. A bunch of us are out at Sunset. Shauna wasn't feeling well, so Susie asked me to run her home. I think the insurance thing is probably in here somewhere," he replied, leaning over toward the other side to open the glove compartment.
"Oh, hell Andy, don't worry about that. I know you ain't gonna be in H. Tucker's car without permission. Forget the insurance card."
Rising up, he called back to his partner. "It's Andy Webster. He's been out with Susie at the lake." Handing the license back to the boy, he bent back down. "You be careful tonight, Andy. Don't you kids drink too many beers, ya hear," he chuckled.
The other officer, a sergeant, walked up to the window, smiling at Andy. "Hey Andy, when do you leave for Annapolis?" he asked.
"In a couple of days. We're kinda having a farewell party tonight for all the kids. Out at Sunset."
"Be careful now. Is Rod out there with you?" the sergeant asked.
"Yeah, we had a thing our parents did at the club, then us kids finally escaped and went to the lake. I'm running Shauna home early, and then going back out for a while."
"Tell ol' Rod Sergeant Blake said hi and good luck at Indiana. I played golf with him one day at Piney Ridge this summer. That's one nice boy. Good golfer, too. He beat me by seven strokes. And good luck to you too, son, we're mighty proud of the two of you. I used to play ball for Mailer back in the prehistoric ages, way before you'd remember. You two were about the best of the best out of this town. God speed to you, son."
"Thank you...and I'll be sure to give your regards to Rod. Goodnight now."
With a wave, the officers walked back to their car, laughing about something. Andy rolled the window up, started the car, and drove away from the curb.
"You know why they stopped us, don't you?" Shauna finally said.
"Cause it was a big car and they didn't know who I was," he answered absently, involuntarily checking the mirror to make sure the cops weren't still following.
"Cause it's a big car with a black girl in it, that's why, Andy, a black girl with a white boy. Don't be so naive." She was talking calmly, although the bitterness was unequivocal, each word precise and thought out, like something from a prepared script.
"Oh, for Christ sake, Shauna, that's not true, they were doing their job, that's all. They were all right."
"Sure, all right for the Golden Boys. But they started off to hassle a couple of niggers, that's what they were doing. If this had been Gretta and me, driving Susie's car with her permission, they would have taken us downtown and locked us up till Susie came and told them the truth. This town's got a double standard, Andy. One for folks like you, 'Yes sir, Andy, no sir, Andy, good luck, son, don't drink too many beers, ha-ha.' And then one for people like me. 'Out of the car, girl, up against the car, spread 'em, you're going downtown for a while, you been drinkin', monkey…don’t give me no shit, girl.' It's the truth, Andy. You're sheltered from it, that's all. Bein' black ain't all that easy in this town."
"I think you're exaggerating, Shauna, I've never heard of any harassment in Radford."
"You wouldn't, not goin' to Bishop Tower. There's not one black at Tower, is there...or at St. Margaret's? You should have gone to Mailer. It's more like an armed camp than a high school."
"I'm sorry, Shauna, I guess maybe I have a lot to learn about my own hometown. I was pretty insensitive. Anyway, it's probably a good thing that they were football fans; they didn't give me a sobriety test. I'm not too sure I could have passed one tonight. Let's forget it and get you home."
The boy was not in the mood to argue racial issues, not that he knew enough about the subject to put up much of an argument. Shauna was right, he had never been exposed to blacks in any way but to play sports against them, could not count one black person among his list of friends.
As they cruised down Fortney Boulevard, heading toward the downtown area, Andy was trying to work out the implications of what Shauna had been saying. The railroad lights at the Fourteenth Street crossing were flashing, the sound of a locomotive in the distance. Andy came to a stop, put the car in park, and looked over at his passenger.
"I'm really sorry Shauna, you know, about the way things are. I guess I take some things for granted. You're right; I don't know what it's like being black in a white world. Anyway, let's not argue, I really want to be your friend." As he was saying the words, Andy realized that he did want to be Shauna's friend, enjoyed the opportunity to talk with a girl who was on the same intelligence level and wasn't afraid to show it. It was a nice change, refreshing somehow.
"I went off on you for no reason. Sometimes I get too mad over little things. I'm sorry too, Andy," she said, and leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Forgive me."
The kiss caught the boy by surprise, but a nice, embarrassed surprise. He grinned at the girl, thankful it was dark in the car; better to hide the flush he felt rising to his cheeks. Hoping to save himself embarrassment, he quickly changed the subject back to a more neutral topic.
"Getting back to the lake, I agree with what you were saying before. The guy is different. I don't think he's using drugs, he was never around Gretta or Susie, never close enough, you know, to get drugs into their drinks. He's hypnotizing them some way, that soft voice or something. I can't believe Susie fell for it though, she's too smooth for that."
"I knew as soon as he started talking that Gretta would try it, she'll try anything, that’s the way she is, real flexible where I'm real rigid. I've got everything all planned out in my life, and she goes with the flow. I guess that's why we're such good friends, opposites are supposed to attract. She's the very best friend I have and I hate for her to get hurt by some trickster. That makes me so mad."
"Were you not even a little bit curious about what he was doing, like, maybe it was legitimate. Even a tiny bit?" Andy asked.
"Were you?" she shot back.
"Didn't they ever tell you that you're not supposed to answer a question with a question," he chuckled. "And yeah, the world’s full of weird and unnatural things. You know, like people who die and come back, the stories they tell about white lights in tunnels, voices and things. And the ghost stories, and how about flying saucers, some of them have no explanations. And even the cops and the military have been known to use psychic experts sometimes. Heck, there's even supposed to be dead aliens hidden at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. So, yeah, I was curious. Just a little."
"I was so scared, I caught myself trembling. I keep telling myself that he's a trickster, some reject from the circus or something. And if I keep believing that, I'll be all right. But he sent shivers up my back when he talked. And when he looked at me, those eyes, they were yellow, gold, and that scared me, really and truly scared me, like he was looking into me, straight into my soul. But I don't think he was too interested in what he saw, so he went on to someone else."
"Did you want to try it?" he asked.
"Not for one second," she answered immediately. "And that's the truth. I got my life, at least my immediate life in order. I got hired this afternoon by Greenway, Short. I'm gonna get my degree in managerial anthropology and then I'm gonna get me an MBA. Then I'm gonna be the best damn efficiency expert in the business. I got my son, Carl Alan, and he's so healthy and happy. He's beautiful. That boy is my whole life. And I got my grandmother, who has raised me since I was a little girl. Andy, I don't want to look into the future and see something that would upset any of that. I've never had much, and I've made some mistakes before, but now...now I never been this happy, never really believed that things were gonna work out for me and Carl Alan and Gram. But they are, and I don't want no crazy fool telling me things aren't gonna be the way
they are. Do you understand any of that? Or do I sound crazy, too?"
"No, you don't sound crazy, you sound more level-headed than just about anybody I've ever talked with. You're the first person that truly knows what they want. I mean, I know I want to go to the Naval Academy and I want to fly jets. But I don't know if I want to make a career out of that. I don't know. And Rod, I think he's going to Indiana because of the football opportunity. He says he wants to be a doctor, but he doesn't have a burning desire for it, not like you have for business. I don't know if that's what either one of us is going to do. I had the urge back there to try it, to take a chance and see if the guy was legit, but then changed my mind. Anyway, by the time I get back, Jody will have probably chased him off. She was looking like she was going to lose her temper any minute with him, and when she does, she's the meanest thing you've ever seen. She wasn't buying his story, thought he was some kind of pervert. I bet he's long gone by now. I used to hate it, back when we went to St. Luke's together, for Jody to get mad at me. She holds a grudge for years."
A honking horn made him look up, the caboose lights well down the tracks, the three cars waiting behind the Lincoln impatient for him to move. He put the car in gear, and they rode over the track, turning onto Fourteenth Avenue. "Where do you live?" Shauna asked.
"In the Ravine. We all do, except Tammy, she lives in Woodland," he answered.
"Will you show me your house? Or is it too far out of the way?"
"Sure, it's not out of the way." A mile further, Andy took a left, a series of rights, and Shauna was transported to a part of Radford she didn't even know existed.
Suddenly, as if by magic, they were surrounded by tall, beautiful trees lining the streets, the houses, almost mansions, were set back on one to five acre lots, each lawn well lit with soft, colored lights, meticulously manicured by hired gardeners. Many of the Victorian and Colonial houses had tall, white pillars spaced down the front porches, resembling plantation homes from another era. Ivy vines could be seen growing up the sides of many of the houses, rose trellises and flower gardens surrounding the homes. Almost every residence in the Ravine had a circle drive, Cadillacs, Lincolns, and various foreign luxury autos were parked in front of the houses.
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