Her words were like a scorched record playing in my brain. She got on my nerves with all her warnings, but I was surely glad I was able to drag her down there to the meeting with me that day.
I tried not to face that guy’s direction anymore, even though the dark sunglasses I wore served its purpose of concealing my blind stare. “Thank you, sir,” I said. “Well, I guess there’s not much left to say about me, except that I used to have a career as a private banker for about twenty years. After that, I retired to spend more time with Donnie, who’d just retired from the Military a year earlier. We spent the next twenty-one years together until he passed away from heart trouble.”
Someone else stood up—this time a lady around my age. “If you don’t mind my asking…at what point did you lose your eyesight? And how are you possibly able to care for your pet Vanilla?”
When I revisit that part of my life, I tend to get a tad emotional. “It was a little over eight years ago that I developed a rare disease known as Simbalio Flonilia. I know, it sounds like a deadly virus or something, but it’s a progressive and rather aggressive deterioration of the retina. They don’t know what causes it, but within a year of my diagnosis, I was totally blind. I’m thankful for Donnie because after it happened, he kept me sane. Needless to say, I wasn’t handling being blind so well after having been able to see all of my life. Donnie was truly a life-saver and so was Nilla. She’s so smart—she gets me everything I need and she’s very protective, despite her little size. I’ve cared for Nilla ever since she was two months old and I pretty much know where everything is regarding her. Taking care of her is the easy part. Her taking care of me is another story.”
Though somewhat hazy, I could see the smiles on many of their faces. The talk of Nilla obviously softened some of their rugged features.
Mrs. Claire Fairweather, the chairperson, came and stood right next to me.
“Lucille, we are happy to welcome you as the newest member of our organization!” She spoke, eagerly. “You have obviously been a productive member of Chadsworth for many years and more importantly, you are a loving mom to your precious little dog, Vanilla. People, let’s give her a warm round of applause!”
A gentleman came and helped me to my chair. The fragrance he was wearing reminded me of how much Donnie loved his cologne. Such a fine man, he was. If it were up to him, I wouldn’t have worked a day of my married life. It would’ve been enough for him to see me every day at home just looking pretty and smiling. His engineering job paid well enough, but I loved my career and since it wasn’t a stressful one, I didn’t feel the need to quit to just sit home and do nothing.
“Thank you, dear,” I told the nice, young man.
“My pleasure, Mrs. Pfiffer.”
Merlene leaned in as Claire proceeded with the meeting. “I told you—you talk too blasted much!” She whispered. “If you keep up this nonsense, they’re gonna take your prized disability checks away from you.”
“It’ll happen over my dead body, Merlene,” I calmly replied.
“Mrs. Pfiffer, I must say it’s truly an honor that you’ve decided to join us here at the Pichton Pet Society,” Claire said at the podium. “With your experience as a professional, I’m sure you’ll have lots of ideas on how we can raise funds for the continued care of senior pets, stray dogs and abused animals. Your contribution to this group would be greatly appreciated.”
After the meeting, she’d caught Merlene and me at the door, as we were about to head for Merlene’s Toyota.
“I’m so glad you joined us, Mrs. Pfiffer. My secretary will be in touch with you about our next meeting.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Fairweather. I’m honored that you accepted me. After all, animals are most precious. Anything that supports their best interest, I’m fired up for.”
“Did you always love animals?” she asked.
I gulped. “Well, if I may be straight with you… I hated them— especially dogs!”
Her hand flew to her chest and a scowl crept over her face. I must have startled her by the revelation.
“It was after Nilla came into our life that I soon found a deep love and appreciation for animals—especially dogs. To me, they’re just like precious little children who depend on us adults to take care of them and to show them love, as I quickly learned that they have the biggest heart for their owners.”
Fairweather seemed relieved and a wide smile stretched across her face. “Oh, that’s so good to know! I was afraid there for a moment that we’d made a terrible mistake by accepting you into our organization!” She laughed it off.
I did a pretend laugh back at her. I may be blind, but I’m not stupid—that woman actually just insulted me to my face!
“I don’t know why you want to be a part of that crummy group with those snooty, snobbish, high society creeps anyway!” Merlene remarked after we both got in the car.
I rested my cane beside me. “Because I’ve been a part of crummy groups for most of my adult life. I don’t know anything different.”
Merlene gave me a reprimanding look. “It’s not funny, Lucille. You dragged me out here to sit with people who, I admit love animals, but they seem to hate humans! I’ve heard some things about that Fairweather woman that’ll make your eyes roll. You know she’s a professor at the state college, right?”
“Uh huh.”
“Well, I heard she treats the kids who register for her class really badly. She fails most of them every single term. The only ones who pass are the ones who kiss up to her.”
“If there’s a high failure rate in her class, why would the state keep her on then?” I asked.
“Politics. She got there through politics and is pretty much untouchable. I heard she also was a tyrant to her step-kids. Pretty much ran them all out of the house and practically drove the second fool who married her insane. He actually ended up in the loony bin and when he died, she took everything—not giving his kids a drink of water they can say they’d inherited.”
“I blame the husband for that.”
“Not when she got him to sign over everything to her in his will when he wasn’t in his right mind. The whole thing was contested, but because she was politically connected, she came out on top. After that, she moved on to husband number three. If I knew that woman was the chairperson of this meeting you dragged me out to, I would’ve waited in the car for you instead of sitting in the same room with her.”
We were almost home when Merlene finally stopped talking about Fairweather. You’d think the woman didn’t have a life of her own, considering the length of time she focused on this one individual she obviously couldn’t stand. I just wanted to get the hell out of that hot car (the two front windows of which couldn’t roll down), and get home to my Nilla. She’d be waiting near the door for me for sure.
I wish I was allowed to bring her to the meeting. They claimed they’re all about animals, but not one was in that room. I guess I was being unfair since they mentioned that particular Monday meeting was the only one they couldn’t bring their pets to. That was the meeting where new members were introduced and important plans for fundraisers were often discussed.
“I’ll see you later, Lucille. Going home to do some laundry,” Merlene said after pulling up onto my driveway. “Need help getting out?”
“I’m good,” I replied.
“How sharp is it now?”
“I can see the outline of your face. Nothing else at the moment. Everything was almost crystal clear in the meeting.”
“Yeah. Inopportune time for it to have been crystal clear,” Merlene mumbled.
She was used to my inner vision, as we call it, going in and out like that. I grabbed hold of my cane and the tip of it hit the ground as I turned to get out of the vehicle. “I can manage just fine. I’m sure it’ll come back when it feels like. Thanks for coming out with me.”
I smiled as I thought of how much she often sacrificed for me. Ten years my junior, Merlene was a good friend. We had a row almost every day, but we
loved one another. She and I were like the typical married couple.
“By the way, I forgot to mention, my tenant Theodore, told me this morning that someone had called about renting the last vacant room.”
“Perfect!” Merlene said.
“Said he was coming by this afternoon. What time is it?”
“It’s a quarter of five.”
I had an idea. “Merlene, he’s supposed to show up at five o’clock. You wanna hang around for a few minutes to see what my prospects are? Maybe he’s tall, dark and handsome and I may stand a chance.”
“I doubt it,” she squawked. “Besides, I must get at least a load of laundry done today. If not, I’ll likely have to double up tomorrow for as quick as that boy goes through clothes! I tell ya, ever since he met that Delilah, he’s changed so much.”
“Why don’t you leave that boy alone?” I barked. “He’s twenty-seven-years-old, for Heaven’s sake! Allow him to date whomever the hell he feels like. He’s gotta live and learn, you know, and buck his head when need be. You and I went through it and so must he. You surely didn’t allow your folks to tell you who you ought to date and who you shouldn’t, did you? And furthermore, why do you keep calling Juliet, Delilah?”
“Because she’s just like that Delilah woman in the Bible; can’t be trusted!” Merlene spoke her mind. “And since you asked—why do you call her Juliet? Her name’s Sabrina.”
I sighed. “You know why I call her that.”
“I tell ya...she’s no Juliet!”
“Anyway, you’re gonna wait with me a few minutes while I interview this newcomer or not?” I’d just had enough of Merlene’s bickering for one day.
I heard her roll up the two remaining car windows and pull her key out of the ignition. It was one among a ring of keys.
Nilla was right at the front door when I let myself in. I leaned down and scooped up my little princess. She licked my face and I could feel the soft vibration of her wagging tail. Merlene walked in behind me.
“Nilla pilla!” she said, as she plonked down on the sofa. “Why can’t you assist Mommy here with her interview? After all, you’ve gotta live with the newbie too.”
I heard Theodore’s footsteps descending the staircase. His was a totally different vibration from Anthony’s. Anthony’s steps were softer like that of a woman’s feet. I had a good look at him a few times and he definitely was Mister Debonair. And that desk job he had at the computer company suited him just fine. Theodore was different; he was more hardcore, a blue collar worker at the welding plant, pee sprinkling the toilet seat kinda guy. That was my biggest problem with him – he wasn’t all that tidy, especially in the bathroom. But I hadn’t kicked him out already because he’s got good manners and sort of treats me like I’m his mother. Anthony mostly stays to himself and that’s fine with me too.
After I’d sat down, Nilla wiggled constantly to get out of my arms. She didn’t like “hands” as much as she preferred dashing all over the place, particularly when her energy level was high. I could tell that was the case at the moment, so I gently let her down on the tiled floor and immediately saw her sprinting through the wide hallway which led into the kitchen, then doubling back into the living room seconds later, and making her way under the sofa. Under there was her favorite spot in the entire house. Often, she stayed in her hut-like habitat for hours at a time.
“Good evening, ladies,” Theodore said as he entered the living room. How did the meeting go?”
“It was horrible!” Merlene replied.
“It went fine, Theodore. Beautiful atmosphere; beautiful people,” I said.
“She got her fifteen minutes of fame,” Merlene snapped. “That’s all she cares about. She should’ve invited you to waste a full two hours there instead of me.”
Theodore laughed. “Well, I’ll be heading out to work. See you later.”
“Yeah, later,” Merlene replied.
As Theodore opened the door, he met someone standing on the other side. “Oh, I’m sorry. Almost bumped into you,” he said.
Theodore went his way and the person stepped inside.
“What’re you doing here, David?” Merlene asked.
“I’m here to see Miss Lucille. I’m interested in renting the room.”
I could sense Merlene’s shock. After all, why would her son who lives with her come to rent a room from me?
3
_________________
David had an air of innocence about him; he’d always been that way. He was more on the slim side, had dark hair and a cute dimple in his left cheek. He looked a lot like Merlene; her genes were obviously just as strong as her personality. That runaway husband of hers, Roy Bostwick, hardly injected any looks into their only child. I always thought Merlene’s failed relationship with Roy had embittered her from ever investing in any new relationships since he upped and left her for a younger woman shortly after she retired as a school secretary. She’d spent just about all of her retirement money on expensive “man toys” like that convertible she had to fight him for in court after he’d left. Merlene was just never the same after the divorce. She went through her house on a daily basis, constantly looking for something to clean, or came over to my place to shoot the breeze, if we didn’t have plans for an outing. That’s of course, when she wasn’t busy prying into David’s personal affairs and trying to live her life through him.
“What are you talking about, David?” She sat straight up, suddenly finding the energy it took to do mounds of laundry when she got home.
“Mom, if you don’t mind, I need to speak with Miss Lucille. You and I can talk later, okay?”
Merlene was stunned. Knowing her, she was also seething inside after being casually handled by her son.
“Miss Lucille, I called this morning, but was told you were in the restroom. I heard you have a vacant room for rent and was wondering if I can have it.” He spoke with the humility of a saint. The boy was just so good. If I had children, I’d want them to be like him.
“Well, David… I don’t know. I think you’d better discuss this with your mother. I really don’t want to be placed in a situation where I must choose between my friend and her son.” Although, in my mind, I was leaning more towards the boy. Maybe he only needed a short reprieve at my house to clear his head. Didn’t know how that would happen though since Merlene’s here almost every other day.
“David, what you’re asking of Lucille is foolish! You have a home. What on earth are you thinking?” Merlene was clearly concerned.
“Mom, I love you, but you’ve become overbearing,” he replied. “I’m a grown man; I’m sick of you trying to run my life.”
“David...” she tried to interject, but he stopped her.
“Now, this thing with you and Sabrina has gone too far. If you don’t think she’s the right one for me, it’s my job to find that out, but I’m not leaving home because of that situation. It’s because of everything.”
He glanced at me, then shifted his focus back to Merlene.
“I didn’t want to do this in front of anyone, but Miss Lucille’s like family.” He paused for a moment. “What I’d planned to do was to move out completely and get myself an apartment, but decided instead to just take a little break and clear my head.”
I was right on.
“Maybe after a while, I’ll be back home, but things would have to change or I’m going back to plan A which is to get an apartment and leave for good.”
I sensed Merlene was humbled by David’s assertion and his poignant, yet subtle threat. I knew her greatest fear in life was losing him – and that would be in any way, shape or form. Moving out for good because she’d chased him off by dominance was worse than him deciding it was time to just venture out on his own. It seemed like a good ten years before she responded. It probably was the very first time I’d noticed my friend at a loss for words.
“Well, David… if that’s how you feel. I mean… if being here is what you think you need, I won’t try to stop you,” sh
e finally uttered, almost in a whisper.
My heart went out to her, but she knew she’d always see the boy because my house was just like her second home. I kind of wondered at first why David chose to come here instead of staying somewhere else for a while. He must have known by making such a move, he wasn’t really getting away from his mother. Then it hit me that he was just trying to prove a point to her – to use this step as a warning so that he didn’t have to do the thing she dreaded most which was to leave permanently. Smart kid. A kind one too.
“So, can I rent the room, Miss Lucille?” he asked.
I sighed deeply. “Seems fine with your mother; so the answer, my son, is yes. You can have the room for as long as you like.”
“Great!”
“Now, bear in mind, there are rules. There’ll be no drinking alcohol or smoking in my house; no shacking up in any of these bedrooms with any women – or men for that matter.” I got the stare of shock when I said that, but I didn’t care. He had to be told the rules just like all the others who’d rented rooms in my house. “The TV room, living room and front porch can be used for privacy when visitors come over. Everyone here can use the kitchen, but must each buy their own food and clean up their own mess. This is not a bed and breakfast, ya hear?
“I hear you, ma’am,” he replied with a chuckle.
“That’s good. And one other thing… no peeing on the toilet seat. You boys need to learn how to aim straight. As a cautionary method, please raise the seat. There’ll be no special treatment because of your mother. You must obey the rules like everyone else.” I raised my chin. “So, if the laws I’ve set down don’t sit well with you, it would be best to walk right out of that door with your mother.”
“Understood,” he said. “When can I move in?”
The Hewey Spader Mystery Series (The Complete Trilogy * Books 1 -3 ) Page 20