by R. H. Vesely
"Wow, thanks Stan, I really appreciate that. It was a lot of work, but a labor of love and great fun," said Betsy. "Now, if I could only get Pat to chill a bit," laughed Betsy.
"Yeah, sorry Stan, didn't mean to ignore you. This is all new to me and I have to admit, thinking like a business person is not my forte," said Pat rapidly, as he looked up from the file.
"Look, I shouldn't tell you this, but you can relax. It's pretty much of a done deal. The decision has been made and the others just want to meet you. Just sort of a friendly get to know you thing, but don't mention I said anything, ok," said Stan.
"Wow, thanks Stan that is really sweet of you. I can't thank you enough for helping us with this," said Betsy with a big smile.
"Huh, what'd you say Stan, sorry, focused elsewhere, sorry but yes, I too cannot thank you enough," said Pat, who had clearly missed Stan's reassurances.
"He said to relax hon, nothing to worry about," said Betsy holding back a laugh.
Stan was true to his word, it had all gone well. Betsy was her infectiously friendly and charming self and once Pat realized that it was a done deal, he relaxed and meshed well with Stan and his business partners. They had all read and were familiar with the proposal and the sample product. They had received this information over a month before. They in fact said they thought Betsy's projections were rather conservative. As Stan had said, it was really just a meet and greet and an agreement to fund their business.
From this meeting ultimately grew Velcomb, Inc., a business grown out of love and a man with too much time on his hands. Pat would never cease to be amused when they recalled how it had happened.
It was a Saturday, Pat and Betsy were sitting at the kitchen table listening to NPR as they drank their morning coffee and scarfed down their waffles. Life was going truly well. They had spent the day before kayaking on the river and were still feeling the relaxed residue of the exercise and sun.
"Bets, I would say that we right now have about the perfect life. I do not think I could be happier. Unless of course, I hit the lottery," laughed Pat.
"Yeah Babe, me too, though a little more cash would be nice. Did you pay the phone and electric?" said Betsy.
"Yup, and we now have a grand total of fifty dollars and love to get through the next two weeks," said Pat.
"Yikes, guess a lot of rice and veggies and sex is in the offing," said Bets.
"Love the rice hon, nothing better than a little stir fry," said Pat.
"Hey, but when I get that big job and then you have the time to write something great, we will be rolling in the dough," laughed Betsy.
"Jesus, yeah, I'm sorry I don't make more. I mean I guess I could try to get a real job," said Pat.
"Over my dead body, hon. We're doing fine and leave it at that, OK," said Betsy, staring at Pat.
"Ok. Hey, but I do have something cool to show you. Wait, I'll get it, its on my desk in the study," said Pat as he got up. "Here, what do you think?" he said, as he handed a small black and brown rectangle to Betsy.
"Uh, I think I have no idea what it is," laughed Betsy.
"Remember last winter when I grew a beard?" said Pat.
"Yes, god this isn't something you made out of the shavings is it, ugh. I mean, I know I said I liked it, but really hon, a picture would have sufficed," said Betsy, as she put the rectangle down and pushed it back to Pat with a contorted grimace on her face.
"No, you don't get it. Remember how I would comb my beard with the piece of velcro on my winter coat hood when we were sitting having a beer at The Place," said Pat.
"Oh, yeah, little weird hon, so?"
"Well, while you were at night classes, I decided to make a prototype of a brush or comb out of the stuff. At first it didn't work because it created to much static from the plastic going through the hair. So I remembered that Jim, my friend who does fine art framing, had this material they used to remove static. So, he gave me a piece, I poked some holes in the velcro and backed it with that stuff and the static went away. Then I got some foam and leather and used that so it would have a nice soft back and feel good in the hand. So try it, if you brush your hair, it will make it lie down perfectly without breaking any of the hairs, even if it had tangles."
Betsy pulled the device through her dirty blond hair and it laid down perfectly and smoothly. "Wow, babe it really works, very cool."
"Yeah, you see the little velcro hooks release before it can split any hairs and there are so many of the little hooks it nicely separates the strands," said Pat, as he pulled it through his own hair.
"I love it, and I'm really impressed you took the time to figure it all out. And I thought you were playing with yourself all those nights," she laughed.
"Well, I guess I was playing, just not with myself," laughed Pat.
"So what are you going to do with it?" asked Betsy.
"Well that's kind of where I thought you could come in hon. I mean you're in that entrepreneur seminar now and I thought maybe you could talk to your teacher about it," said Bill.
"Sure babe, I'll give it a go, but don't expect anything. I mean, I love it, but reinventing the comb is kind of like trying to build a better mouse trap. The old ones seem to work pretty well," said Betsy.
"Yeah, but still, it would be a hoot to see if I could market it somehow. I mean, wouldn't it be really amusing to see someone pull something out of their pocket that you made. I would laugh my ass off," laughed Pat.
"Yeah, Quo Vadis Velcomb," laughed Betsy.
"Velcomb, I love it Bets, your genius has shined through again," laughed Pat.
Chapter 23
The streets had pretty much been cleared but walking was still quite the adventure. Sunny days had melted a lot of the snow and at the same time turned many of the sidewalks into sheets of ice. Bill was on his way to get a decent cup of coffee in the old town area and was carefully gliding his feet along the treacherous sidewalks. Every once in a while, he would hit an unshoveled part and crunch through scraping the hell out of his ankles.
"Cheeerist, will winter never end," he said to himself. Just then, in a transition from unshoveled to ice, his feet went out from under him and he flew in the air crashing backwards onto his head. When he came to, he looked up and saw an old woman standing over him repeating "are you ok dear".
Bill was not sure if he was ok. When he tried to get up, he felt dizzy and fell back into a sitting position. Everything seemed to be in fog or haze and he could hear in muffled tones the old woman telling him not to move, that an ambulance was on the way. The next thing he remembered was staring up at florescent lights and wondering where the hell he was and why his head was killing him.
"So how are we feeling?" said a voice.
He looked over and there was a young woman with a stethoscope standing, looking down at him. "Ah, not so hot, where am I?"
"You're in the emergency room. You took quite a spill on the ice and have suffered what appears to be a concussion," she said.
"And who are you?" he asked.
"Oh, sorry, Doctor Ames. I have you scheduled for a CT scan, just to make sure there is no internal bleeding, just a precaution, I think it will be fine."
"How long have I been out?"
"Oh not too long, maybe fifteen, twenty minutes, sort of fading in and out. You don't remember talking to me earlier?" she said.
"No, sorry, everything is kind of hazy. Last thing I sort of remember is an old lady standing over me. I guess I must have taken a flier on the ice."
"Yes, exactly, you have quite a lump on the back of your head."
"Well, that explains the friggin pain. So when can I go?"
"After the CT scan and I am satisfied that you are able to ambulate Ok."
After the scan, Bill was placed in another curtain enclosed cubicle and left. Eventually completely bored, he got off the gurney and sat himself down in a chair still feeling rather fuzzy. After sitting there for another twenty minutes, he got up and walked out to a nurses' station.
"Hi
, do you think I might be able to get my clothes back. It's a little chilly with my bare ass on the plastic chair in there," he said.
"What are you doing, you're not supposed to be up. Let me get you back in there and I want you to wait until Doctor Ames can see you," she ordered.
"And when might that be? I've been in there for about an hour already," he replied curtly. He was still fuzzy and actually had no idea of how long he had been in the curtained cubicle.
"She will be there as soon as she can, she's very busy. You will just have to wait," replied the nurse officiously and left.
After about another half hour, Bill said fuck this to himself and was in the process of getting up when Doctor Ames came into the room.
"I'm terribly sorry but a severe car wreck came in and I had to deal with that," she said.
Bill looked at her and seeing her clearly for the first time, felt inexplicably moved by her presence. "Oh, god sorry, I'm just not good at sitting and having nothing to do," he said.
"Well, you better get used to it for a while. There was nothing on the CT scan but I want you to take it very easy for a while. You definitely have suffered a concussion and the most important thing for you now is to get plenty of rest and take it very easy."
"Boy, you are really beautiful," he said, and then thought where the hell did that come from.
"So you already told me when you first came in," she laughed.
"Wow, sorry, I usually have a better filter," he said.
"Don't worry, it's a symptom of the concussion. It should go away with time."
"Well sorry, but at least it's true," he said.
"Thanks, anyway you will need to be especially careful since you told me earlier you had had a concussion before, right. So when exactly was that?" she said.
"Gee, I told you about that, huh. It was when I was about eight or nine, kind of around when my Dad sort of dropped out of my life," holy shit he thought to himself, why did I say that about my Dad. The memory of how he had been running for a ground ball on the playground and been so focused that he had run full speed into the heavy metal pipe surrounding the playground came back to him.
"And you were in the hospital for a few days, correct?" she said.
"Yes, but it ended up fine, just a little more dopey than usual for a while."
"Well you seem pretty coherent now, and from what the nurse tells me you can walk, so I'm going to release you, ok. Do you have someone who could come get you?" she asked.
"No, not really, I'll just grab a cab home."
"Ok, well here is a sheet with information and here is my card. If you experience any of the problems that are mentioned on the sheet, please be sure to give me a call. Otherwise, I have set up an appointment for you to see me in a week. The date, time and place are on this other card, so don't lose it."
"Good, can't thank you enough and sorry for the comments about your looks. I'm not normally that stupid," he said.
"Not a problem, just promise to take at easy."
Chapter 24
It had been a little over a week since his fall, and Doctor Ames had told him he seemed to be doing fine and that it would be ok for him to have a beer now, but to keep it in moderation.
"So, did you do the ring check," asked Randy.
"Of course, and no ring and no line, so does not appear she is married."
The two were sitting in Bill' s living room talking while Bill enjoyed his first post fall beer. Bill had not seen that much of Randy lately since he always seemed to be off doing something with Mattie or at work.
"Well, do you think you are going to give her a call," said Randy.
"Likely no, I mean, me and a doctor. Somehow it doesn't seem to quite fit my mental picture. She seems kind of normal to me and you know normal and I don't seem to mix."
"How the hell would you know if she was normal. I mean just because she is a doctor. You've certainly known some nurses who were not normal," laughed Randy.
"Don't think it's the same. The plug and grind mentality of med school I think is even far worse than law school," said Bill.
"Well now that you're ok, you've got get your ass out of this apartment. Mattie and I are going to a gallery opening of some friend of hers tonight why don't you join us. The stuff is supposed to be very out there, a conceptual artist, could be right up your alley," said Randy.
"Yeah, why not, this chair is starting to take on a rather pungent odor of me. I should give the poor thing a break," laughed Bill.
The gallery was located in the old town area and was known for supporting contemporary artists who were unique in their chosen medium. The space was one of Bill's favorites. It was an old industrial space that had been cleaned but not modernized or gentrified like most of the galleries. Way less pretentious and more of a feel of rawness in a way that you would actually feel that someone could create something in that space.
This was the first time Bill had been out with Randy and Mattie and seen them in their new incarnation as a couple. It was something to behold. They were so obviously and blatantly in love with each other, but not in a possessive way. While they did hold hands walking along, once in the Gallery, they shortly separated viewing different pieces and talking to different people but would then reconnect touch, talk and laugh and then set off again on their own. Bill had never seen Randy so comfortable with himself and comfortably and genuinely social.
Bill knew the owners of the gallery quite well. Toni was the female front person in a band he sat in with occasionally and Tom owned the independent coffee shop that he was headed to on the day of his fall. The three of them had often sat around his apartment listening to some obscure vinyl, talking politics and philosophy for hours.
"So whose the guy Toni? I really like his stuff. Looks like maybe he saw Duchamp at some point," said Bill.
"Hey Bill, long time. It's a woman. Yeah maybe, but I think she is sort of trying to focus on the symbolism of words as forms. I think that's why she combines the sand blasted writing with odd masses of colored paint on the layered glass. But actually who the hell knows, I just like the way they look and make me think," laughed Toni.
Toni was a true blithe spirit and had an energy level that was off the charts. Tom on the other hand was about as calm and chill as you could be and still be breathing. What they shared other than love was a pair of brilliant intellects.
"Ah, Bill, so I hear the city finally knocked some sense into you," said Tom slowly with a smile, as he put his arm around Bill's shoulder.
"Yep, maybe we will now reach some intelligent consensus about socialism. No wait, that would require you to fall on your head," laughed Bill.
"Touche, ever the wit," said Tom.
"Hi there Bill, good to see you out," said a voice.
"Gee, Doctor Ames, what are you doing here?" said Bill.
"Same as you, taking in the art. Why is there a rule against doctors going to openings," she said.
"No, no, I didn't mean it that way. It was just seeing you out of the context from where I have seen you before. Just a stupid reaction, sorry."
"Hey, you guys know each other. Wow fabulous," laughed Toni.
"You know, Allie and I have known each other since grade school. Grew up in the same neighborhood, same schools, everything, before she blew off art to become a doctor," laughed Toni.
"Really," said Bill looking at Allie.
"Yup, really. Anyway, I've got to find my date. He's around here somewhere. Nice to see you Bill," said Allie, as she wandered off.
"You a patient of hers?" asked Tom.
"No not really, she just happened to be the one who got me in the emergency room and then did the follow up," said Bill.
"Oh yeah, that's right, neurology is her specialty," said Tom.
"Well you were lucky to get her. She is smart. Ok, got to go mingle and maybe sell some of this stuff, god knows Tom isn't going to bend any arms," laughed Toni, as she flew off.
"Don't worry hon, they'll come to me," said Tom after
her.
"Wow, so you know Doctor Ames?" said Bill.
"You mean Allie, God yes, she and Toni are ancient friends. She comes to all the openings, even buys a piece now and then if she really likes it. Actually, she has a very good eye," said Tom.
Bill was desperately trying to think how he could get some more information out of Tom without being too obvious. "Do you guys see her often?" asked Bill.
"Not as often as Toni would like," answered Tom.
"So she used to be an artist?"
"Actually, that was before I met her," said Tom.
Bill realized he could be here all night trying to get anything out of stoic Tom and he was getting tired so he said adieu and went searching for Randy and Mattie. He found them together in front of a large double paned plate glass piece, talking and smiling. "Hi guys, hate to be a drag but I'm starting to feel kind of worn down. Guess I'm not fully recovered yet. I'm going to sit down for a bit and try and recharge," said Bill.
"Oh, gee Bill, I'm so sorry, I forgot about the concussion thing. Let's go Randy," said Mattie.
"Sure, no problem," said Randy.
"No, look, it's a good show, take your time. I was just letting you know so if you wondered where I went you'd know I was over there," said Bill, pointing off into a corner area where Toni and Tom had set up some couches and chairs.
"Ok, but only if you're sure you're ok," said Mattie.
"Yeah, fine, really," said Bill.
Bill never thought a couch could feel so good as he settled into a corner. This is very weird to feel this tired so fast. I guess the concussion thing was for real he thought. As Bill sat there his head kept dropping down and he would snap it up until he finally gave in and started to doze. He was awakened by the feel of the bounce of the couch and a kiss on his cheek.
"Hey babe, finally got out, but looks like your still feeling a bit the worse for wear," said Kelley.
"Kelley! Yeah, guess I must have dozed off," said Bill coming around.