by James Ross
“I’m sure he’s a busy guy—especially if he’s a judge.”
“Dey don’t live together. She’s got da big house an’ he stays in a condo somewhere closer ta his work.”
“Ohh. So that’s what you meant by being different.”
Aieshia slowly shook her head up and down as Julie was starting to understand where she was going with the conversation. “She’s got a boyfrien’ cuz dey jus’ aren’t aroun’ each other too much.”
Julie’s ears perked up. “Why don’t you fill me in on the living arrangement? I never did quite understand how it all works down there.”
Aieshia wanted to talk but at the same time was a little reluctant. She didn’t quite know how much Julie should know. “Ya mean ’bout Missus Porter or me or Carla or…”
“Everything.” Julie peeked out the window as a car of golfers drove onto the lot.
Aieshia took a drink of water then rolled her thick tongue around her oversized lips. “Missus Porter has a small house next ta da children’s home. But she only stays dere two, maybe three nights a week. I stay dere in da upstairs in a studio apartment. Carla an’ three of da other teachers have dere own places dat dey live in.”
“Who watches the place when everyone is gone?”
“Dere is always an adult on site an’ a security person.” Aieshia looked over at Pabby who was reading the form. “Missus Porter has an assistant—actually two—dat are dere at night an’ when she doesn’t want to be dere durin’ da day.”
“How does the home afford all of that?”
“Dey get assistance from da state.”
“So you live there.”
“An’ I sees a lot uh what is goin’ on.” Her eyes got wide again. “Missus Porter has a drinkin’ problem. Her boyfrien’ comes aroun’ whene’er he can. She can be abusive ta da kids.”
“She doesn’t beat them, does she?”
“Lawd, I hope not. Nah, I’ve ne’er seen dat. But she’ll lock dem in deir room, hold back food…”
“Sexual abuse?”
“Lawd, I hope not. I ne’er seen none uh dat.” Aieshia took another drink of water. “But if she’s in one uh her moods den she’ll lock dose kids in deir rooms fo’ a long time. Play time is taken away.” She looked down. “Dat’s why it is so good fo’ dese two ta get away fo’ awhile.”
Julie hadn’t even suspected that anything could be amiss at the children’s home. “They’re not abused, are they?”
“I don’t tink so. But it’s hard ta say. I tink dat dey might be threatened not ta talk. But I don’t know dat fo’ sho.”
“Hmmm. What about her boyfriend?”
“Oh Lawd, dat’s been goin’ on fo’ years. She jus’ flaunts dat man an’ throws herself all over him.”
“Who is he? Obviously if that’s happening she doesn’t care who sees her.”
“He’s married too. Ta someone else.”
“I figured that,” Julie said. “Just a second while I take care of these guys.” A foursome walked in, paid and scurried out the door to the first tee.
Aieshia took a moment, peeked outside to check on Shae and Carla and grabbed her seat on the bar stool. “Anyway I was dere when dat all started up.”
“What started up?”
“Her affair wit’ her boyfrien’. Dat’s what started up.”
Julie changed gears, refocused and returned to the conversation. “Sorry. I was thinking about something one of the guys said. Tell me.”
“He knows how ta fix tings. We had somethin’ go wrong wit’ da air conditioner one summer. Dis guy drove up in a white van.”
“Like the one you have for the children’s home?”
“Yeah, except dat it didn’t have any seats in it. Just tools. A ladder was on top of it.”
“You remember it so well for being so long ago.”
“How could I forgit? It was hot. All da kids were sweatin’. It was ’bout da time da sun went down. Jus’ a li’l befo’.” Aieshia stared trancelike at the wall as she recited the words. “Missus Porter had been drinkin’. Dis guy…”
“Does he have a name?”
Aieshia didn’t break her stare. “His name is Farley. Farley Bend. Da truck said ‘Got fix-it problems? Check ’round da bend’ an’ it had a phone number.”
“Farley Bend is the alderman in District Four,” Julie said.
“Uh huh, he is now, but not back den. Anyway Missus Porter came runnin’ out ta give him orders an’ she tripped jus’ befo’ she got ta him. She fell forward an’ he caught her jus’ befo’ she hit da ground.” Aieshia smiled pleasantly as she remembered the incident. “I’ll ne’er forgit da look on her face. It was like dat brush wit’ da ground kinda sobered her up. She grabbed his arms an’ smiled. He’s got big broad shoulders an’ a slim waist. Den she hugged him. It looked like it started out ta jus’ be one uh dem thank-ya hugs but den he put his arms ’round her an’ she acted like she ne’er wanted him to let her go.”
“Mmm,” Julie sighed. “We’ve all been there. Every woman wants to feel protected.”
“Well dat sho’ was what it looked ta me. I mean dey was close fo’ a long time. Den she allowed fo’ her hands ta drop off his shoulders an’ dey found deir way ta da back side of his jeans. She squeezed his tush…” Aieshia smiled and broke out of her trance. “From dat time on she was smithered.”
“You mean smitten.”
“Yeah dat’s what it is.” Julie smiled as Aieshia continued. “But anyways I’ve gotten ta know him now uh li’l over da years. He’s got relatives down by me in Arkansas.” She shook her hand back and forth. “Dey are funny people.”
“He tells a lot of jokes?”
“No, funny.”
“Odd?”
Aieshia shook her head up and down. She looked at her watch. “Oh, my. Da time’s gotten away from me. We’ve got ta git back.” She got up gathered Pabby, Shae and Carla. Within minutes they were out the door.
Julie started counting the money in the register. She grabbed a bundle and headed for the office. Seconds after barging in Curt moved his fingers across the keyboard. “Sorry! What are you doing here? I thought you were on the course.”
“No, I’ve been here for a while.”
“Doing what? Looking at porno?”
“Julie! Come on.”
“You closed that monitor down in a hurry. What was it that you didn’t want me to see?” Julie gave him an I-caught-you look. “Was it an x-rated site or one of those adult dating sites?”
“No!” Curt said defensively. “What’s it matter what I was looking at?”
“It doesn’t. It’s just that you were real quick to move so that I wouldn’t see what you were up to.”
“I was doing some research.”
“Ha ha. Research? What kind of research? Where to find nasty women?”
“No. We weren’t going to say anything but since you’re so damn nosy today I’ll go ahead and tell you.” Curt paused.
“I already know. J Dub told me the business is being sued.”
“Yes, and me and him personally.”
“Then I wouldn’t be looking at dirty pictures on the Internet.”
“I’m not! Dammit! We need to find a lawyer and educate ourselves on how to defend ourselves without losing everything.”
Julie put some money in a bank bag and turned to walk out of the office. “Then I’d let the insurance guy handle it and quit looking at the adult dating sites and running around with the wrong group of people.”
Curt gave her one of his looks as she closed the door.
CHAPTER 30
Hoof and Bridle Park was the local race track located on river bottom ground not far from Prairie Winds. The place was a bit run down and had been taking quite a financial hit in the gambling market with the opening of riverboat casinos in the St. Louis area. But the marketing department got busy and hired a local black rapper named MiSSuS CuLe BReeZe SiSTa GiNeLLe. With her pipes blasting the air waves the track started gaining market share am
ong gamblers. Tattoos, piercings, a sleeveless jean vest, four inch heels and diamond studded sequins did the job. The place was packed.
Alley Cat was the local jockey that was a friend of the Prairie Winds gang. He didn’t golf but was quite the womanizer around town despite his tiny frame. BowTye dwarfed him. On every visit to the track the guys would go to the paddock area and talk to Alley Cat with hopes of finding a hot tip. They should have bet the jockey because more often than not he found his way to the winner’s circle.
Salvatore Lucci was a recent contact that J Dub had made through Blue Howe, the owner of Stub’s Missing Digit, the hottest bar around St. Louis. Sal was the general manager at the track and seemed to always have a tip for Blue, who was a documented gambler. He stood five foot eleven, had broad shoulders and a tapered waist. Sal was in his mid-forties and had quite a distinguished look. His wardrobe was immaculate and he was always in style.
Sal could not be mistaken. First off, he was bald—or better yet, cleanly shaved on top. If that wasn’t telling enough, Sal had thick, black sideburns that started at the top of his ear and continued down his jaw. The razor cut on his beard left a thin line down the jaw line until it exploded into a full goatee and moustache.
When the Prairie Winds crew entered the facility they felt as if they were entering the clubhouse on the golf course property. They knew a jockey. They could get in the Turf Club; however, it was decided that since Pabby and Shae were with them it would be a better idea to sit in the bleachers. That would afford them the opportunity to walk down to the chain link fence that paralleled the straightaway, stroll to the paddock area and enjoy the warm weather. The afternoon matinee started with the Daily Double.
“Doc tells me that you know a lot about horses,” J Dub said to Pabby as the group settled into their bleacher seats.
Pabby shrugged. “The horse. The horse is a four-legged animal. The horse is a mammal with hooves. It has evolved over the last forty-five to fifty-five million years from a small multi-toed creature to a larger, single toe animal of today. Humans have domesticated the horse.”
“Pabby! We talked about that,” Aieshia said. “Do you want ta leave?”
“No!”
“If ya continue ta behave like dat den we’ll leave befo’ da horses come on da track. Ya want ta see dem, don’t ya?”
Doc gave the racing form to the teen. The front of the newspaper had a picture of a horse on it. For the moment that seemed to pacify him. He winked at Aieshia. “Now these were the ones that you were looking at yesterday. Are the ones that you circled the ones you think will win?”
Pabby was buried in the print. After double checking his work he nodded his head up and down. “Yes. I like TinManLives in the first race.”
“How about the second race?” Doc asked. “If we can start off with two wins I’ll buy lunch for you and Aieshia.”
“What about me and Fred?” Pork Chop asked. “We haven’t had anything for an hour.”
“You figure your winners out and we’ll figure out ours. The loser buys.”
“That’s kind of a double dip loss, isn’t it?”
“Unless you sharpen your pencil.”
“I’ve got my system. We’re on.” Pork Chop had tip sheets from Picks by Pitz, Mack’s Magnetic Magic and Can’t Miss Chrome Quiz Kid. To make sure that Pops didn’t wander off Pork Chop had placed a shoulder harness on him with a twenty foot leash. The back of his shirt was bunched exposing the chain but the old guy didn’t know and wouldn’t get out of sight.
“Who do you like in the second race Pabby?”
“This one.” He pointed to HighAnkleSprain.
“I hope that isn’t a precursor,” Doc mumbled. He handed the form to Aieshia and hurried to the window.
“You’re that sure of his picks?” J Dub asked as the two headed across the pit, under the monitors and took a place in line.
“Are you kidding? I don’t know if he’s missed a race since Paul and I sat down with him and showed him how to read the racing form.”
“I’ll follow you. Are you loading up?”
“We’re here to have fun, aren’t we?”
J Dub grinned. “It’s always fun to win.”
“You’ve played a little golf with Pork Chop haven’t you?”
J Dub nodded. “A little.”
“What does he always say?”
“You can’t pick it up until you lay it down.”
“That’s right and I’m going on a hunch with Pabby.” The two made a hefty wager on the Daily Double.
Back in the bleachers Pork Chop and Fred were sharing opinions. “Okay Fred, we’ve got lunch on these turkeys if we win,” Pork Chop said in his most persuasive voice. “Who do you like?”
“If I know my track record and your track record we should circle the horses we like and throw them out and bet on the others.”
“We can’t do that!” Pork Chop said as he waved his tip sheets. “We’ve got the inside scoop! For three bucks we have all the winners right here!”
“I’d feel better going with those guys than your gut feeling on names, numbers, jockeys and colors.”
“Bet the first one that poops on the track,” Pops advised. The pair stared at the senior citizen.
“Does that work, Pops?”
“That’s the way I always did it.”
“We’ll have to consider that option if we can’t pick one of these nags,” Fred said. “What’s the tip sheet say?”
“They like Santa’s Leg and Rooftop Leak in the first and second. I’ve always had decent luck with this Pitz fella.” Pork Chop waved the gold sheet. “It wouldn’t be this color if he was second best!”
“Let’s go for it,” Fred said. “I can taste that chili dog going down.”
“Those tamales have my name on them.” The two headed to place their bets with Pops wandering several feet behind.
“Can we get closer to the horses?” Pabby asked after Doc and J Dub returned.
Aieshia nodded her approval. “He’s not afraid of the big ones.”
“You won’t try to get out on the track and pet them, will you?” Doc asked as they left the bleacher area and walked toward the finish line.
“No, but I want to get close.” With determination Pabby took oversized steps, leaned forward and kept his vision glued to the ground.
“We’ll go to the winner’s circle and the paddock area later. You’ll be able to get closer to them there.”
Shae and Carla lagged behind. Shae’s gait was always more labored, but she tried to stay up with no complaints by just letting the ball of her right foot contact the pavement.
Doc, J Dub, the two kids and their aides, Captain Jer, Trot, Scottie P and Paul made it to the chain link fence just as the field paraded by. “That’s the one,” Pabby said as TinManLives walked by. It was a hazel-colored horse with an orange number 5. The jockey wore a silk jersey with orange and black checks as well as an orange cap.
“Pew!” Shae yelled. The smell of the horses, the droppings and dirt track permeated the air. There were ten horses in all.
“Do you remember how long this race is?” Doc asked. Pabby was intent. He nodded his head. “Six furlongs.”
“That’s right. They will walk around the first curve,” he pointed to his right, “and when they get to the back stretch the jockey will make them run a little to warm up.” He pointed to the far right. “Do you see the starting gate?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s what they will get in before the race. Once they’re all there the bell will ring, the track announcer will yell ‘They’re off!’ and we’ll watch them run down the back stretch.” He pointed to the far left. “They will come around that curve and finish right in front of us.”
Pabby rubbed his hands together. “Neat! I can’t wait.”
“If you have a hard time seeing,” J Dub said, “the track has put up a big television screen on the tote board.” He pointed across the track to the infield.
“What�
�s that?”
“A television screen?”
“No, a tote board.”
“That’s the electronic board with all the numbers on it. The track updates it every minute to keep the public informed on who is betting on what horse.”
Pabby furrowed his brow. “It has an eight by the number five.”
“That means the horse that we like is an eight to one favorite to win the race,” Doc said.
“Is that good?”
“We’re not the favorite. But that’s fine. When we win we’ll make more money.”
“We’ll win.”
Doc and J Dub smiled at each other. “Everybody that bets thinks that they’re horse is going to win,” J Dub said, “otherwise they wouldn’t put money on it.”
“I didn’t put any money on it.”
“We’ll find out if that’s a good thing or a bad thing pretty soon.”
The horses completed their warm up and were led into the starting gate. Pork Chop and Fred approached their golfing buddies with Pops tethered behind. “Hey Doc, you ready? Santa’s Leg is going off at three to two.”
“You like the favorites, huh?”
“We’re just following the whiz kid at the track.” He waved the gold tip sheet. “Which nag did you play?”
“We’ve got TinManLives.”
“And so does the scarecrow.”
“And cowardly lion.” Fred and Pork Chop laughed.
“The lion. The lion is a big cat in the Panthera genus and Felidae family. It is second only in size to the tiger. Some males weigh…”
“Pabby!” Aieshia roared. She pointed to the starting gate. “Da race is gettin’ ready ta start.”
“And if you believe all that I’ve got a yellow brick road for you to buy in Kansas,” Trot threw out. Captain Jer held his beer up for a toast.
“They’re off!” the announcer blared. “Going down the back stretch it’s Mama’s Fortune followed by Shamrock Green, Santa’s Leg and Roman Caesar. TinManLives stumbled out of the gate.”
Pork Chop and Fred tried to raise their squatty bodies as high as they could to see the action on the curve. “Make your move.”
“We’ve got ’em now!”
“Coming around the curve and into the stretch it’s Santa’s Leg charging to the lead followed by Peanut Billy and Flo’s Music as Mama’s Fortune and Shamrock Green fade. In fourth and charging is TinManLives. And down the stretch they come!”