Chapter 41

Karen

I needed a bunch of change. Pay Phones ... suck. Since I wasn’t home to use my own phone and I didn’t know anyone in Helena. Yuck!

A bank was more than glad to supply me with quarters, dimes and nickels so I could place a call ... NOT! It took a call to the Monsterball Headquarters in Helena before they would take my check. The bastards charged me two bucks for fifty bucks of change.

Sure ... I had Hairy’s money ... and that was part of the problem ... HAIRY’S money. This was mine and I wanted to use MINE.

Fumbling with a booth door, my copy of the Buckskin Report, my possibles bag and a handful of change, I dialed “O”

“Operator, I want to make a long distance call to Minnesota.”

“Do you know your parties extension?”

“Yes.”

“You may dial that number direct.”

CLICK

OOOOH!

Dialing 218-547-8714.

Buzzbuzz Click Buzzbuzz

“You must first dial a 1 or a zero.”

CLICK

OOOOH! OOOOH!

Since it was going to be a “Me Pay” I figured I needed to dial “O” first.

WRONG!

Half way through dialing the handset BEEPED at me.

“Operator. How may I assist your call?”

“Operator, I need to make a pay call to Minnesota.”

“Do you know your parties extension?”

Been there ... done that.

“No.”

“One moment, please.”

CLICK

“Operator, how may I direct your call?”

“RK Lodges.”

“One moment, please.”

“That number has been changed. I can direct your call.”

“Please.”

“Katie Kop ... RK LODGES.”

“Please hold.”

“Deposit five dollars and 40 cents, please.”

Ding Ding Ding Ding one dollar, Fumble. Ding Ding Ding Ding two dollar, Fumble. Ding Ding Ding Ding three dollar, Fumble. Ding Ding Ding Ding four dollar, Fumble. Ding Ding Ding Ding five dollar, Fumble. Ding Ding Ding Ding forty cents. CLICK, BUZZ,

“Hello?”

“Hello? RK Lodges?”

“Yes.”

“I want to know ... do you have finished product on hand?”

“We keep a stock of tipis for pickup.”

“Great! I need three 18 foot lodges, two doors each ... liner and accouterments.”

“How will you be paying?”

“I can pay by card now or cash out the door.”

“We accept Visa, Master Card and Bank Americard”

“MASTER-CARD XXXX-XX-XXX-XXX-XXXX.

“Karen Post. Wolf, Wyoming.”

“Got it.”

CLICK

“To continue this call deposit Five Dollars 40 cents for the next three minutes.”

CLICK Not playing that game. I got to speak for two minutes ten seconds. The bastards charged me connect time!

I pulled out of the bank parking lot and turned right. Montana Ave. OOH! Miller Falls ... Guy tools! My head said No but my hands turned into the parking lot. I had to see what’s new and cool. I gawked ... made a wish list ... and spent valuable nap and recovery time looking at Vertical Mills, Grinders, Bridgeports ... I bought a used Rotary Cross Slide Table, 15 In. and a bunch of tapers.

“Where do you want it?” said the salesman.

“In the Dodge van, guys.”

I was eying a new set of SnapOn sockets when I had a lucid moment.

I have to get out of HERE! I could spend the whole damn check! I paid and bolted for the door. The forklift had deposited my crate in the back of my van. Right out of the lot.

When I got to Custer I turned right again.

Sorta out of it ... I was driving over a huge dam when reality struck...

“Where in the Fuck am I”

<Keep going.>

“I have to keep going ... there’s cliffs on my left and a lake on my right.”