“May I sing for them?”
“Absolutely.”
“Oh, Grace is just missing this. She would love this. Especially after her bad date last night.”
Marybeth’s mouth dropped open. “Her date with Bobby Dawson went bad?”
“Terrible. She got drunk and passed out. Left me alone with him we had to watch a scary movie. And the poor thing only had two beers.”
“She’s so much like me; I can’t handle my beer, either. Aw, I feel so bad. And she’s sitting at home.”
“Working on her novel, though I doubt she can concentrate.’
Marybeth sighed out. “She’s just moping.”
“Moping.”
“Freddy, why don’t you call her and tell her about the bingo and talent show,” Marybeth said brightly. “There’s still plenty of time to go back and pick up her. Go call her, ask her to come.”
“You know what? I will. My phone is in the car.”
“Let me know.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Oh, Freddy?” Marybeth called to him as he dashed away.
“Yes?” Freddy stopped.
“You smell wonderful today.”
Freddy did a blushing, ‘go on’, and waved out his hand. “It’s only Right Guard.”
“It smells great. So do you.”
Freddy really wasn’t sure how to handle the Right Guard comment. Nonetheless, it was a compliment, and a true lady never balked at a compliment. He did what manners dictated and said, ‘Thank you’ with a blushing smile.
+++
The walk to the Café was a nice one. The weather was perfect, and when she spotted him sitting in the little Lodi Park, Grace thought it might be a good idea to talk to him outside of Bargain-Mart.
He was sitting on the steps of the Gazebo, playing with the flashlight on his keychain. Looking pretty lost and possibly in thought.
He welcomed her company.
She asked him if he wanted a latte, and when he indicated he would, Grace ran and got him one. They sipped fresh lattes on the steps of the gazebo like old chums.
Explaining that she was taking a break from her novel writing seemed to perk him with interest. He didn’t know she was a writer.
“It’s a conspiracy novel,” she said.
“Wow,” he responded.
“I really pounded out the pages today. Seven. Now, I know to someone like Stephen King that’s nothing, but to me that’s a lot. And they were all single spaced.”
“Wow.”
“Yep. You know, I …” She paused. “Can I tell you about what I wrote today?”
He nodded.
“I started the book originally with God telling the story.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, I know. But after some thought, I started thinking, that I didn’t want to take the book way back the Jesus days. So I started with Gabriel. He’s all fallen, loves his booze and women, loves to gamble…”
“Wow.”
Grace continued. “I went and started the story out with him having sex.”
“Oh … wow.”
“Good huh? Gabriel is an archeologist who has been digging in Israel forever looking for the scrolls. Scrolls to what you ask. Gabriel lived in Jerusalem as a writer and told the story through the scrolls of his impregnating Mary. This is what brought about Jesus’ crucifixion, you know. Gabriel knew he couldn’t die, he was the third man on the cross with Christ.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, totally planned out. So before his own crucifixion he buried the scrolls and sealed them. That way, when anyone found them the truth would be out. The curse on Gabriel would be lifted once his sin was discovered. But God never knew anyone would discover the truth. The curse of immortality gone. Gabriel would finally die. And that’s what he wants. He wants to end the two thousand year old reign on earth. He’s had enough.”
He fluttered his lips in agreement.
“So Gabriel gets crucified with Christ. My readers don’t know this yet. They only get bits and pieces. He gets crucified, dies, and like Christ rises three days later. That’s how long the regeneration process is.” Grace chuckled. “Can you image what the soldiers were thinking? They crucified two men, both rose from the dead. They’re probably like, ‘what the fuck, can’t we kill anyone right.” She laughed.
So did he.
“Back to the beginning. I’m gonna have Gabriel this archeologist searching for the scrolls. Throughout his search, he has flashbacks of what happened. Only my readers won’t know it’s God and Mary in the flashback. When he beds Mary, they may think it was some chick. They don’t know. I want to have him find the site with the scrolls and get another archeologist to discover them if Gabriel reveals his own secret he won’t be free of the curse. But here’s the deal, the guy who finds them is a huge fucking catholic and goes to the church, who immediately covers it up. Hence the unraveling if the truth. What Gabriel doesn’t know is, yeah, secret out; he dies, but … only because the world will end.” Grace tossed out her hand. “Hello, God’s gonna zap the world once the jig is up. Or do you think that’s too harsh? Maybe it’s too harsh. I’m still working out details n that, one.”
“Wow.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Grace said. “Freddy does, too. I was telling him about it and he is just floored. He called me and asked me to go to that bingo and talent show. I kind of feel bad that I turned him down. I mean there’s still time, but ….too late now. What do you think?”
“Monsters of Maui.”
Grace titled her head. “What was that, Larson?”
“I ... I ... love you in Mon … Monsters of …” with a drastic motion of his mouth, he roared and said, “Maui.” He smacked the top of his hair in a strange attempt to lay it down, it popped back up.
“Oh, my gosh, thank you.”
“You … sp … sp … special!” he shouted.
Grace giggled. “You’re special too, Larson. Not just in a special boy way, but special.”
Larson smiled. Then jokingly lifted the keys and flashed the light at her. “St … Star!”
“Shh. Don’t tell anyone.”
“K.” he nodded.
“Hey …” Grace grinned. “Are they your keys?”
“Yep.” He jingled them.
“Do you have a car?” she asked.
“Right … right there.” He pointed.
“Do you want to go to the Bingo …”
“Bingo!”
Grace giggled. “Bingo and …”
“Bingo!”
She giggled again. “Senior citizen talent show with me. Do you?”
“Yes. Oh, yes.”
“Can you drive us there?”
“Yes, oh, yes.”
“Well, let’s go!”
Larson immediately jumped up. “I’ll drive.”
“You drive, then.” After both of them tossed out their empty latte cups, they ran for the mini van. Grace got in the passenger’s seat, Larson in the driver’s seat.
What they didn’t see when they pulled from the spot was Larson’s mom coming out of the hardware store, yelling and screaming his name.
+++
Stew Graham looked intimidating enough. However, the big, bulky, bald Chief of Police looked even more intimidating to Grace as he stood on the free side of the bars.
He jingled the keys for the cell next to Grace. “You can go now, Larson. Your mom is here.”
“Th … th .. thanks,” he said. “Bye Grace. See... See you at … Bar… Bargain-Mart.”
“Yeah, see you there, Larson.” Grace waved.
Larson dashed out.
Stew started to walk away.
“Hey, wait!” she called. “What about me?”
“No one is here for you.”
“Did you try to call Freddy?”
“Yep,” Stew answered. “Not answering.”
“He must still be playing Bingo with the seniors.”
“Maybe you should have gone with him.”
Grace sighed. “I’m not understanding why I’m arrested.”
“You stole a car.”
“I did not!” Grace said. “Larson was driving.”
“You were the passenger.”
“Yeah, but … he said it was his car. He said he would drive.”
“Let me ask you something.”
“Shoot,” Grace said. “No don’t.”
Stew didn’t smile.
“Kidding. Go on.”
Stew took a breath. “You mean to tell me, you actually thought that boy could drive.”
“He said he did.”
“And you believed him?” Stew asked.
“Why wouldn’t I?’
“Did you look at him? Talk to him.”
Grace huffed. “I am not a visual bigot.”
“You don’t need to be a visual bigot to determine that boy can’t drive. Grade school graduate maybe.” Stew just shook his head. “You know, it didn’t dawn on you something was up when he drove down the wrong side?”
“Not really the town square is confusing.”
“Or when he took out Mr. Bradbury’s hedge.”
Grace shook her head.
“You didn’t ride the short bus to school did you?”
“Oh my God, are you rude.”
“Gonna have to wait it out until someone picks you up, or you see the judge.”
“How long do I have to wait to see the judge?” Grace asked.
“Not long. It’s Lodi, there really aren’t any cases. Can call him in, if you want.”
Grace held on to the bars and thought for a moment. “Can you try to call Freddy one more? His number is in my phone. Please. So’s Marybeth. Call one of them. I’ll see the judge but I really would like to have support with me.”
“Fine. I’ll try again. But I’ll set it up for you to see the magistrate.”
“Thank you. Any chance I can get a latte?”
Stew kept leaving.
“Guess not.”
+++
An hour later, Grace was removed from the cell and taken to the small court room next door to the police station. Stew walked her inside, and Officer Theresa stood by the judge’s bench.
“Let the judge hear your case,” Stew said. “The judge will determine if you’re free to go on your own recognizance, have to stay in jail, have bail, or even if the charges are dropped.”
“Shouldn’t Larson be here to testify?” she asked.
Stew only gazed at her.
“He said he would drive.”
Stew walked away.
Theresa directed, Grace to ‘have a seat’.
No sooner did Grace sit, Theresa called out. “All Rise.”
Grace did.
“The honorable Stew Graham presiding.”
Grace’s mouth dripped open. “Oh my God. This is so small town. You’re the chief of police and the town judge?”
“Right now, I’m acting as the judge. Be seated,” Stew said.
“Oh my God.” Grace sat down.
“What do you have?” Stew asked Theresa.
“The people of Lodi versus Grace Berkowitz.”
Stew looked at Grace. “New in town and already you’re not making the Jewish population of Lodi proud.”
Grace gasped.
Theresa continued. “Ms. Berkowitz is charged with aiding and Embedding Larson Jones with the theft of a 1997 Dodge Mini Van. Ms. Berkowitz was witnessed by several towns’ people getting into the car with Mr. Jones and driving off. Mrs. Jones, mother, was the owner of the vehicle and did not give permission for the van to be taken. Accomplice to destruction of private property, that would be the Bradbury hedge. Ms. Berkowitz is also charged …”
“Also charged?” Grace asked. “There’s more.”
Theresa nodded. “With endangering the life of a mentally challenged individual.”
“Or for sure you aren’t making the Jewish Population proud.” Stew sat back.
Grace immediately slapped her hands to her face.
“How do you plead?”
With an ‘uh’ of a huff, Grace lowered her hands. “I plead so not guilty.”
“To?”
“To both.”
At that instance, the door opened and Stew’s attention was turned.
“Sorry, I took so long.”
“Mr. Dawson, thanks for coming,” Stew said.
Grace’s eyes widened. She looked over her shoulder. Bobby. “Shit.” She hurried and faced the front.
“Thanks for calling me,” Bobby said as he sat next to Grace.
She asked. “He called you?” she looked at Stew. “You called him.”
“Yep,” Stew said. “You have four numbers in your phone. His, Freddy’s, the store and Craig Barnet.”
Bobby quickly looked at her. “You have Craig’s number.”
“Well, yeah.” Grace shrugged.
“Why do you have Craig’s number?”
“He gave it to me last night when you went to the men’s room.”
“And you took it?” Bobby asked.
“I didn’t want to be rude.”
“Uh, hello, need I remind you that you were on a date with me.”
“Sorry.” Grace hunched.
Stew cleared his throat. “Bobby did you get a hold of Freddy?”
“Yes. That’s what took me so long. When he didn’t answer, I went to the Rolling Hills Senior home. He was there. But, unfortunately he was in the middle of an intense performance in his tribute to Barbara Streisand and couldn’t leave.”
“Tribute to Barbara huh?” Stew asked. “How was that going over?”
“Great. I stayed for “Evergreen’ but had to leave.”
“Maybe we should get him booked at the café,” Stew suggested.
“Maybe.”
Grace lifted her hands. “Hello, I’m here.”
“Sorry,” Stew said. “Anyhow, I told you the charges, Bobby. What do you think? Since you’re here for her.”
“Wait. Stop.” Grace said. “Bobby, are you an attorney, too. I thought you were an artist.”
“Painter.”
“Same differences.”
Bobby pointed. “You’re right. No, I’m not an attorney.”
“Why is he asking you what you think?”
“Because it’s Lodi, Grace. I’m one of the few that know you, sort of, what I say will hold a lot of weight.”
“Do you hate me?” Grace asked.
Bobby laughed. “Why would I hate you?”
“Because of last night,” Grace said.
Stew asked. “What happened last night?”
Theresa raised her hand. “I’d like to know, too.”
Grace replied, “I got drunk and passed out.”
Stew nodded. “Oh, that’s not too bad. A lot of people do that …”
“On our first date.” Grace added.
“Oh.” Stew sat back.
Bobby spoke, “Which is why I think I needed to be here. Grace, what did you eat today?”
“Why is that important?” Grace asked.
“Just answer my question.”
“A bologna sandwich.”
Bobby nodded. “Stew, you can confirm this with Freddy. Grace here has an allergy to Yeast. But it isn’t an allergy that causes hives, or something like that. It causes a neurological effect. Depending on how much yeast she consumes, she can get kind of punchy. A little loopy, almost as if she is drunk.”
Stew asked. “Does this distort her thinking?”
“According to Freddy it can,” Bobby answered.
Stew looked at Grace. “Is this true?”
“Yeah. It has.”
“So, it isn’t unusual for you to eat bread and talk to someone like Larson and believe he can drive a car.”
“He told me he can.” Grace defended.
“Bobby,” Stew said. “How did you learn of this?”
“Last night. That was the reason she passed out. She drank beer. The yeast and alcohol had a bad effect.
”
“Ms. Berkowitz,” Stew said. “If you knew you were allergic to yeast, why did you drink beer?”
“I didn’t know it had yeast in it. It was the first time I had beer,” she said.
“And wings,” Bobby added.
“You never had beer or wings?” Stew shook shi head. “Ok, I’ll drop it all. I’ll explain to Mrs. Jones about Ms. Berkowitz and her … special … circumstance. I’m sure she’ll understand. After all, Larson is her son.”
It took Grace a moment; she turned to Bobby and whispered. “Is he saying I’m special?”
“Case dismissed.” Stew hit the mallet on the desk.
“Say thank you,” Bobby instructed.
“Thank you,” Grace said.
“Stay out of trouble,” Stew ordered.
They did the ‘all rise’ bit as Stew exited the courtroom. Grace walked out with Bobby.
“Thank you,” Grace said.
“Why aren’t you returning my phone calls?” Bobby asked.
“Bobby I was embarrassed,” Grace said. “And now this?”
“Last night was nothing to be embarrassed over. Thinking Larson could drive, that’s a different story.”
“Oh my God.”
“Or the fact while out on a date with me, you took Craig’s number.”
“Can I just …” Grace pointed. “Run home and crawl under a rock, now.”
Bobby laughed. “Actually, I was thinking you’d might want to take a ride with me. Freddy is doing a tribute to Judy Garland at three, my mom is getting my girls, what do you say?”
“Judy Garland?” Grace asked. “Did he bring his blue dress?”
“I haven’t a clue.”
“He so much better as Judy in the blue dress. And I know he just bought one yesterday.” Grace tapped her chin. “Ok.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really. On one condition.”
“I can’t imagine what that could be, I did just get you out of jail,” Bobby said.
“True. But it’s a simple one, OK? Bear with me as I adjust.”
“Adjust to what?”
“Life.” Grace replied.
“I really am not too sure what you mean by that, but I’m sure in time you’ll tell me. I’ll bear with you.”
Grace smiled. “Thank you.”
Bobby walked her to the truck. “Hey, we have time. Wanna run by your house to see if he took the Blue dress? Because if I’m gonna watch a man be Judy, I want to see the whole effect.”
Charmed Life Page 10