This Other Eden

by Michael Hemmingson

  “"I understand.”"

  Silence.

  “"Do you understand?”" the father asked.

  “"Yes.”"

  “"Good. Now…—”"

  “"What should I…—”"

  “"Don’t take her calls.”"

  “"Not at all?”"

  “"Hang up on her if she calls.”"

  “"Okay.”"

  “"She’s going crazy about this, you know,”" and again that chuckle.

  “"I see,”" Harry said.

  “"She thinks your money is hers…because she helped raise you and all.”"

  “"Oh,”" Harry said.

  “"If only your real mother could see you now!”" said Gerrold.

  “"Yeah,”" Harry said. She died when he was five. He didn’t remember her. She was a series of photographs from someone else’s life. She looked a lot like Isabelle. Isabelle looked a lot like his dead mother.

  “"She would’ve been proud,”" Gerrold said, “"rest her beautiful bones.”"

  How could he reply to that? He said, “"I would hope so...”"

  “"I,”” said his father’s sincere sixty-year-old voice from the northern region of California, “"am proud of you, son. Listen to me, okay?”"

  “"I’m listening.”"

  “"Strange people will be looking you up.”"

  “"I have a feeling they will.”"

  “"Get a lawyer.”"

  “"Have one.”"

  “"Good, good, I knew I raised you right. Eh?”"

  Harry laughed.—

  “"It may seem funny now…—”"

  ***

  First, there were his co-workers, former co-workers.

  Bob, a very tall guy with wispy brown hair whom Harry seldom talked to. He called and asked for $650. No hello, no small talk, no how-you-doing. Bob said, “"Loan me $650. I’m good for it till pay day.”"

  “"Why?”"

  “"Why? Why?? Why does anyone need money? I need to pay my rent, you jackass. I’m behind.”"

  “"But why are you asking me?”"

  “"What do you think? Everyone knows. I heard. You’re like mega rich.”"

  “"I haven’t even been paid yet. That takes time.”"

  “"What? You don’t have the money?”"

  “"Not yet.”"

  “"When will you get it?”"

  “"I don’t know,”" Harry lied.

  “"When you do know, loan me $650.”"

  “"Bob.—”"

  “"Shit, loan me - —give me. You can afford it. Give me a grand. What’s $1,000 to a millionaire?”"

  “"I’ll think about it,”" Harry said.

  “"Think? What’s there to think?”"

  “"I have to go, Bob.”"

  “"Go? Go where?”"

  “"There’s someone at my door, Bob.”"

  “"We’ll talk, Harry.”"

  Bob slammed his phone down.

  Then the phone rang again. He thought it was Bob but it was Rachel Arnold, a woman from work. She wasn’t at work.

  “"I called in sick,”" she said, “"I’m at home.”"

  She was always calling in sick.

  Harry said, “"I hope it’s not too bad.”"

  “"I’m naked in bed.”"

  “"Yeah?”"

  “"So I heard,”" she said. “"About, you know.”"

  “"Seems everyone has.”"

  “"Congrats.”"

  “"Thanks.”"

  “"So I was thinking about that date you asked me out on,”" she said.

  “"Oh yeah,”" he said. He’d asked her out two months ago. Her reply: “"I’ll get back to you.”"

  “"Yeah,”" Rachel said; “"so maybe it’s time we do it. You know - —some drinks, dancing. Dinner and movie. What did you have in mind? Where did you want to take me?”"

  “"To bed,”" Harry said.

  “"Well, get right to the point why don’t you. I never knew you had it in you to be so brazen and aggressive. Why, you pig you. You brute, you beast, you cad.”"

  “"I was joking.”"

  “"No you weren’t.”"

  “"Actually, I was.”"

  “"Take me to dinner,”" she said. “"Somewhere fancy.”"

  “"I’ll get back to you,”" he said.

  “"What?”"

  “"Bye Rachel,”" he said.

  Well, that certainly felt good, thought Harry.

  The phone rang. It was Alexia.

  “"Harrison,”" she said, “"I’ve been trying to call and your phone has been busy.”"

  “"I’m popular today, Mom.”"

  “"You should get call waiting. God knows you can afford it now. We need to talk, Harrison,”" said his stepmother. “"We need to talk about what we’re going to do with that money.”"

  He couldn’t do what his father had told him; he couldn’t just hang up.

  “"Harrison? Are you there?”"

  “"I am.”"

  “"Did you hear what I said, kiddo?”"

  “"Once I get it,”" he said.

  “"Yes, once you get it. First, don’t take the annual payments. Cash out for the lump sum. It’s the smart thing to do.”"

  He didn’t tell her he’d done that already.

  “"Second,”" she said, “"I have some investment ideas.”"

  “"Mom,”" he said, “"someone’s at the door.”"

  “"I beg your pardon?”"

  “"I need to answer the door.”"

  “"Tell them to go away; tell them you’re busy.”"

  “"I have to get it. I’ll talk to you later.”"

  “"Harrison. --”"

  “"I have to go. --”"

  “"HARRISON MARVIN EVANS!”"

  He hung up. The phone rang. He decided not to get it. The answering machine – an old and clunky device he’d had for twelve years – picked it up.

  It was Joanna.

  “"Harry,”" she said, “"I need to talk to you. Call me ASAP.”"

  The phone rang again. He let the answering machine pick it up again.

  “"Harrison,”" Alexia’s voice said, “"did you get rid of whomever is at the damn door? Well, when you do, call me. We need to seriously talk about our money.”"

  The phone rang.

  On the answering machine: “"Hey, Harry! It’s your old cousin Pete! Long time no talk. And I would like to talk. You got my number, right? Here it is again…”"

  He hadn’t talked to or seen Pete in years.

  The phone rang. On the answering machine: “"Mr. Evans, this is Prescott Daniels from the California Lottery Commission---”"

  He picked up the phone.

  “"Yes,”" he said, “"I’m here.”"

  “"Ah, Mr. Evans. Congratulations.”"

  “"Thank you.”"

  “"I’m sure you’ve been hearing that quite a bit…and will continue to do so. Now, I would like to inform you that the money shall be transferred into your account within seven-to-ten business days. These things take time, I’m afraid. We are the government, after all…”"

  ***

  He needed cold hard cash. He had a final paycheck coming. He wanted to have it mailed but he was broke and needed the money immediately. So he went to that big ugly department store. His former co-workers stared at him, whispered, pointed. Maybe he wanted to gloat - —he didn’t feel bad at all. He walked straight to the back of the store. The GM was sitting behind a small metal desk, wearing a white dress shirt, cheap tie; he had a stain of mustard on his chin. The guy was tall and thin and in his mid-twenties; he looked up and said, “"What are you doing here? Don’t bother begging for your job back, Evans.”"

  “"I came for my last check,”" Harry said.

  “"Yeah yeah yeah, that’s what I figured,”" said the GM, opening a drawer, reaching in, and handing over an envelope.

  On the envelope was scrawled, in big block letters: EVANS EVANS

  “"Thank you,”" Harry said and turned to leave.

  “"Think you’re something special now, don
’t you?”" said the GM. “"Well, you’re not. You hear me? You’re not! You’re a slacker who never takes anything seriously and a year from now you’ll be back begging for your job and I’ll laugh at you and turn you away!”"

  Harry stopped.

  “"What do you have to say to that, Mr. Big Shot Lottery Winner? Huh? Tell me, Mr. Special.”"

  Harry walked away from what promised to be a bad scene. As much as he’d like to punch the GM in the mouth or kick the guy in the balls, it would only cause him trouble and he wanted to be done with the place.

  He immediately encountered Bob, who was wearing a thin tie. Bob’s new goatee sprouted from his chin like a dark fungus.

  “"What the fuck, Harry,”" said Bob, hitting Harry’s chest with an open palm.

  “"Hey,”" said Harry.

  “"What’s $1000 to you, man?”" and Bob hit Harry again, but not hard. The GM was watching and didn’t make a move to stop it.

  “"I don’t have $1000,”" Harry said.

  “"Yeah well...I don’t believe you.”"

  “"Believe what you want.”"

  “"$500 then. C’mon, help me out, dude.”"

  “"Bob,”" Harry said, looking Bob in the eyes.

  “"Fuck it,”" said Bob and Bob turned and walked away. Donna Fey, who worked in women’s shoes, grabbed him and gave him a kiss. Harry didn’t mind. It was a nice kiss.

  “"What was that for?”" he asked.

  “"Hoping some of that luck of yours will rub off on me,”" Donna Fey said. “"Believe me, I could use some luck.”"

  He kissed her back.

  “"Well,”" he said.

  “"Call me,”" she said.

  He’d asked her out once and she turned him down, just like Rachel.

  “"I will,”" he said.

  “"Will you?”" she said.

  “"I will,”" he said.

  “"You promise?”" she said.

  “"I promise,”" he said.

  “"I’ll hold you to it,”" and she slapped him on the butt as he walked out of the store.

  ***

  On the phone, at four in the morning, his cousin Pete said, “"You and I, we had some times together, didn’t we?”"

  “"We have a bad connection,”" Harry lied. “"Can you hear me? I’m having problems hearing you.”"

  “"Are you there? This is a good connection. I can hear you just fine. Just fine.”"

  “"Do you know what time it is?”"

  “"Seven,”" said Pete, “"the day is just beginning. A new day, another chance to get it right.”"

  “"In New Jersey maybe,”" Harry said, “"isn’t that where you live now?”"

  “"Hoboken, baby,”" Pete said. “"Oh no, you’re on California time aren’t you?”"

  “"Yes,”" said Harry, “"yes, I am.”"

  “"My bad. Did I wake you?”"

  “"Not really,”" said Harry and this was the truth, he was having a hard time sleeping, dreaming about crocodiles chasing him through the streets.

  “"You sound…good,”" said Pete.

  “"What’s up?”"

  “"What’s up, he says,”" and Pete laughed, “"what do you think is up, my dear old now rich and famous cousin?”"

  Harry closed his eyes. “"What do you do these days?”"

  “"I drive a limo to pay the rent. I shuffle rich assholes around all day.”"

  “"But it pays well?”"

  “"I think it would be good for you to listen to me, listen to my voice, hear me out, hear what I have to say, cuz your old cuz has the big ideas, he knows what is what. And I right, or am I right?”"

  “"Well…”"

  “"I have an investment idea, ol’ cuz o’mine, I have an idea that is going to make you richer beyond your wildest dreams.”"

  “"I already am,”" Harry said, “"or, well, I will be, I guess.”"

  “"You guess?”"

  “"Um.”"

  “"This is no time for guesses, this is a time for action! Are you ready to hear me out or are you ready to hear me out?”"

  “"Why are you calling me, Pete?”"

  “"To say hello,”" his cousin said sarcastically.

  “"Hello back.”"

  “"You’re a funny one, cuz.”"

  Silence.

  “"Cuz,”" said Pete.

  “"Pete,”" said Harry.

  “"Ziiiiin,”" said Pete, and Harry wondered if his cousin was drunk.. “"My life has been shit, but I have a feeling that can change now. For years now I’ve had this idea for a business. It’s a sure thing. I tried to get backers but these idiots all just laughed at me. Well they didn’t laugh in my face but I know what they were thinking. Do you know what I mean or do you know what I mean?”"

  “"I think I do,”" Harry said.

  “"Hear me out, hear me out, I say to you: hear me out ol’ blood relative.”"

  “"Okay.”"

  Pete made his pitch and Harry had no idea what his cousin was trying to get at.

  “"Hello? Harry?”"

  “"I’m here.”"

  “"So what do you think?”"

  “"I’m not sure, exactly, what to - ”"

  “"It’s a sure thing.”"

  “"I’ll need to think about it.”"

  “"What’s there to think about, huh? I say, what’s there to think about? Men of success don’t think, cousin, they act - and they act fast when a good thing comes their way.”"

  All Harry could do, at this hour, was sigh in a drowsy way.

  Pete said, “"I would like an immediate answer.”"

  “"How much would you need?”"

  “"Let’s say half a million.”"

  “"Half?”"

  “"Four hundred K. That’s nothing compared to the motherload you’re getting, huh? Am I right or am I right?”"

  “"I’m going to have to think about this,”" Harry said.

  “"WHY?!?”" Pete screamed. “"DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THIS HOT IDEA TO SOME OTHER POTENTIAL INVESTORS?!?”"

  Harry held the phone away from his ear.

  “"I’M COMING TO FAMILY FIRST CUZ WE CAN MAKE SOME COIN HERE, CUZ! Harry? Harry? HARRY?!”"

  “"I’m here.”"

  “"Talk to me.”"

  “"I am.”"

  “"That’s talking?”"

  “"I’m really not a man of action.”"

  “"Oh so that’s it, that is it,”" Pete said, “"that’s it, huh, just give your old cuz the brush off, hm? Well, tell you what, tell you what: the hell with you and your, and your, what, your ATTITUDE. You know what? This is what’s what: I’m gonna give your father a call, I’m gonna call my father and then your father to have a little talk, a talk about you, about the kind of shitty person you’ve become, Harry. Is this what your new fortunes have made you? Is this what you have become or is this what you have become?”"

  And Pete hung up. But called back. “"Just one question. Did you pick your own numbers, or was it a Quick Pick deal?”"

  “"Quick Pick,”" Harry said.

  ***

  And that’s what it was. He’d stopped at Tran Vo Liquor before going to see Isabelle, to pick up a pint of bourbon. He always needed a drink after visiting his ex-wife. At the liquor store around the corner, he noticed the Lottery Machine and thought what the hell.

  “"Give me five Quick Picks.”"

  The little old Vietnamese guy who owned the liquor store nodded and took Harry’s money.

  “"Good luck you. Nobody ever win here but somebody win someday, ah.”"

  **

  Harry was walking downtown looking for a home. His eyes rested on the Harbor Twin Towers, a forty-story twin condo high rise. A week later, he was living in a two point seven million dollar condo on the thirty-third floor.

  On one of his days with Isabelle, he hired a limo and took his daughter to every shopping mall in San Diego. He told her she could buy any clothes, toys, dolls and games she wanted.

  “"Anything and everything,”" he said, “"the world is yours.”" />
  Isabelle didn’t believe him but when she realized her father was serious, she started to scream like a kid and jump up and down like the kid. Sales people seemed to enjoy the eccentricity; other shoppers glared.

  So.

  Joanna wasn’t happy either when the limo showed up stuffed with material possessions; it took half an hour for the driver, Harry and Isabelle to unload the stuff.

  “"How can you do this?”" she asked.

  “"Because I can,”" he replied.

  “"Look at all this.”"

  “"She has good taste.”"

  “"What the hell are you doing?”" She tried to keep her voice down. “"What are you trying to turn her into? A spoiled little brat?”"

  “"That won’t happen.”"

  “"No? You want to spoil her. You want her to come to Daddy whenever she wants something and Daddy will buy it all with all his new bucks.”"

  “"This is a one-shot thing. I promise.”"

  “"I mean, it’s not her birthday, its not Christmas, so what’s the occasion?”"

  “"Because it’s today.”"

  “"You want her to love you more, is that it? Mommy can’t buy what her heart desires, but Daddy can? When I say no, you’ll say yes? Is that your plan?”"

  “"No,”" he said. “"Where’s your sense of fun?”"

  “"Where’s my cut? Huh? Why does she get everything and I don’t get shit? Tell me where the fun is in that, Harry.”"

  He didn’t want to talk to his ex-wife.

  “"I’ll make her take it all back, even if there are no receipts,”" she said.

  “"If you do,”" he said.

  “"What? What will happen, Big Shot?”"

  Harry smiled.

  “"I’ll just buy it back again.”"

  “"You would,”" Joanna said, “"wouldn’t you?”"

  ***

  Security called and woke him up at nine a.m. They said the county sheriff was there and needed to see him. He wondered what happened. He was scared as he took the elevator down. He was not ready for bad news.

  It was bad news but nothing devastating. The sheriff served him with a lawsuit. He was being sued by Tran Vo. Tran Vo owned the liquor store where he bought the lottery ticket. Tran Vo felt that because the ticket was purchased at his store, he was due 1/3 of Harry’s winnings.

  Harry woke up on a Wednesday around noon. He drank three shots of Knob Creek Kentucky Bourbon. With ice. He was with Joanna. They were just dating at the time and it wasn’t serious.