Chapter 2

When we got back home, I phoned Uncle Bunny at his office number. I told him about Jane and Grace, making it a special point to tell him how much Grace's personality reminded me of Bea's. I told him that the girls both needed summer jobs, and that I had told them about us needing drivers for the construction site.

"Kenny, I can't just hire people without knowing anything about them, or their qualifications. These are responsible positions, we'll need responsible people to fill them. What are their work histories? What do their driving records look like? We'd first need to find out the answers to those questions before we start thinking about offering them any type of position with us."

"They are both high school seniors, and they graduate in a week and a half. Mama already hired both of them to be counselors out at the girl's golf camps for next summer. I was hoping you'd hire them to help me while I'm getting over Brenda. They could be my friends, and they both play really good golf."

"Are you suggesting that I hire these two to take Brenda's place, Kenny?"

"No. I meant they could be my friends, so I wasn't always thinking about Brenda. They'd take my mind off of her. I've been going out to the club a lot, but Mama's been busy with the learning center. I haven't actually been playing that much. We played today though, with Mama, and that's why she hired them. I told them I'd find out how much the work pays, and how many hours they'd have to work."

"I've budgeted each of the driving positions for eight dollars an hour, but this was with the idea of getting experienced, professional drivers. Two high school girls, I'm not sure they would have the maturity to do the work. Also, these construction crews aren't the most gentlemanly people you're likely to meet. I'm not sure if your friends could handle some of the things the men are likely to say to them."

I'm not worried about Grace, but I'll ask Jane if it would bother her. If they have a good driving record, would you hire them? Please?"

"They'd have to work from six in the morning until two thirty, Monday through Friday. I'd need their driver's license numbers and for them to fill out applications. They need to start by June fifteenth. Kenny, don't make a habit of asking me to do you these type of favors. This is probably going to turn right around and bite me on my ass."

"Thanks Uncle Bunny. I'm sure they'll both be good workers. Where would I take them to get the applications? Do you just want the license number, or do you need to have the actual licenses?"

"Bring them by my office. Tell Deanna in reception and she'll get you what you need. Have her take copies of the licenses too. Make sure both these girls know that we're hiring them to work, not to be friends with you."

"Hey, Uncle Bunny, after they start, we should all get together, to play some golf. Don't bet with them though, they play as good as Mama does. You'll like Grace, she's pretty funny, and she swears even more than you do. Don't tell Mama that, she thinks Grace is too quiet, and I don't want her finding out she isn't."

After I got off the phone with Uncle Bunny, I called the number that Grace had given me. It was for Jane's house in Bolling. I let it ring, but there wasn't any answer. Finally, I gave up and hung up the phone. I was really counting on at least Jane taking the Job. I didn't know how Grace could do it, living up in Topeka. Maybe she could stay with Jane. Another problem was that car of Jane's. It practically wouldn't start when they were leaving. Jane had to open up the hood and make Grace stick her hand over the air intake to the carburetor before she could get it going. I only knew what it was by listening to Jane explaining it to Grace. When the car started, it sure didn't sound like any of ours. Jane didn't seem that worried by it though, so maybe it was a better car than I thought.

I was downstairs in the kitchen with Gerta when Hans came in. He was pretty good with cars, so I asked him about Jane's car problems. He said something about a choke, and said that he could fix it if I brought it by. Gerta just looked at me, and shook her head at Hans. I laughed. Hans always said he could fix anything, and usually he could, like that problem out in the garage with the fire. A few months before, Gerta had a problem with our toaster that Hans fixed. Mama would usually eat toast in the morning even if she wasn't too hungry, so Gerta was upset that it was broken. Hans went out into the area in the garage where his workbench was to work on it. He was gone all morning, and when he came back in, he smiled and plugged in the toaster.

"See, good as new." He took a little bow and left the kitchen. Gerta waited until he left before letting out one of her derisive snorts. We toasted up two slices of bread and it worked perfectly.

"It works good, Gerta. He fixed it good. Why did you laugh at him."

"It works as good as new because it is new. The old toaster had a chip on the handle from the last time he took it out to shake out the crumbs and he dropped it. He went into town and bought a new one, after he couldn't make the old one work."

"Oh, are you going to tell him you know?"

"No, never! Hans always likes to think he is smarter than me. Me not needing to prove him wrong, proves him wrong." She and I laughed. It was true, Hans had said things to me, when we were alone, about not knowing what Gerta would do after he was gone. It looked to me like Gerta would do all right. I'd be more worried about Hans, because he relied on her for a lot. She did all of his remembering for him. He'd come in mumbling about people moving his things, and when he told Gerta what was missing, she'd always say something that reminded him of where he'd left it. They were a great team though, and it wasn't that easy to keep our big house running so smoothly.

At dinner, I told my dad about Jane and Grace, and about calling Uncle Bunny on their behalf for a job this summer. He was giving me a lecture about not using my influence to interfere with other people's projects, when Mama cut him off, telling him that my help had been invaluable to her earlier. She told him about following my suggestion for a much better, and enjoyable, method of interviewing her counseling applicants. Dad kind of sniffed, then he repeated his disagreement with me calling Uncle Bunny, but he softened his criticism by saying it wasn't so bad if I didn't do things like that too often. Mama nodded, and seemed quite happy with dad's concession.

Dad was really getting into high gear with the way things were shaping up for the new company they had put together. He told us the more he found out about the other two acquisitions, the better they sounded to him. He talked about having already identified three or four people who were way too good for their current responsibilities. He always said that a company is as much about the people that work for it, as it is about the products they put out. He had found this one young man from the Delaware acquisition, that he had already promoted, and moved to Bolling. He was being groomed to take over marketing for the whole company. Dad was excited about this, claiming that he saw a real opportunity to open new markets with this man. Whenever dad spoke of growing or making more money, Mama responded with smiles, and her eyes would light up. I was happy for her, but it reminded me, when this happened, of how Brenda used to get whenever she talked about being rich, or marrying someone who was.

After dinner, I excused myself and went up to my room to try Jane's house again. This time she answered.

"Hi, this is Kenny, from the country club today? Is this Jane?"

"Hi, yeah, this is Jane. We just got back. Miss Piggy took a dump on the way back."

"From The Muppets?"

"My car. That's what I named her. My engine froze up. My father thinks it might be terminal. We had to be towed home. Lucky my brother, Jimmy, knows this guy, so it only cost us fifteen dollars."

"I talked to my uncle, and he says he'll give you those jobs if your driving record is good, and you fill out an application. You have to start work at six in the morning though, and it's in Ridgeline."

"Damn, did he say what it pays?"

"He said eight dollars an hour."

"No shit? For how many hours?"

"Was that you or Grace who asked that?"

"It was me. I swear too, Kenny. I try not to around Grace, to set her an example, because she swears too much."

"I just never heard you swear before. Uncle Bunny says it is Monday through Friday, from six until two thirty."

"Uncle Bunny?"

"That's what we call him. He's a lawyer, but almost everybody calls him Bunny, not just me."

"This really sucks, Kenny. I can't believe I'm turning down eight bucks an hour, but I don't have any way to get over there. When does it start, this job?"

"On the fifteenth of June. Does Grace have a car?"

"You're kidding, right? Grace has her clubs, and three nice outfits to play golf in, or to work behind the counter in a pro shop. I won't mention how she got her clubs, but let's just say some guy wishes he had closed his trunk before he took off running for the bathroom."

"She stole them?"

"You'll have to ask her. I should learn to keep my big mouth shut. She isn't like that, Kenny, not really, but she's had some very bad breaks lately. Her clubs were taken away by her folks, and when she graduates, her folks are kicking her out of her house. She was visiting me to see if Jimmy would be able to help her out when she graduates."

"Your brother, Jimmy?"

"Yeah. He and Grace had this thing going, before we had to move over here. Jimmy has this other girl now, and he doesn't want to switch back to Grace. I don't think Grace wanted to either, but she's really desperate. That's one of the reasons she was so bitchy today."

"I'm sorry about her problems. I kind of liked some of the stuff she said, it was pretty funny. I'm sorry about your car too. I talked to Hans, and he said it was something to do with your choke. He said he could probably fix it. He takes care of all of our cars, and they work good. Our limo is pretty old, and he keeps it running really well."

"You have your own mechanic?"

"He's more than a mechanic. He's Gerta's husband, and they live with us. He takes care of lots of things. He and Gerta are in charge here, they do whatever they feel like doing."

"Well, thanks a lot for everything, anyway. We both loved playing that course today. You mother is a very good golfer. Grace was saying we should have apologized to you about laughing when you told us we could give her a game. Don't tell her about my car, because we'll need those jobs next summer too. Thanks for the lunches too, and for not getting mad at Grace when she ate your sandwich like that. I wish I could take that job, but there isn't any way I could get over to Ridgeline at six in the morning."

"That's too bad. I was hoping we could play golf when you got off work. I don't like playing alone."

"Isn't that club private?"

"Yes, but members can have guests. You'd be my guest, Grace too if she could come."

"Did you ask your mom about this?"

"I don't have to ask her. I already know she'd let me do that. We do it all the time with other people, why not you and Grace?"

"I'll give you a call when we can make it over there, and we'll play a round."

"That's even better, I was only thinking golf though."

"I knew you'd say that. I've heard that before though, from guys that really meant it."

"Keep my number, and call me if your car isn't that bad. I won't say anything yet to Uncle Bunny. I don't think he's hiring yet anyway. Call me this week though, even if nothing changes."

I went back downstairs after I got off the phone. I was pretty disappointed, and I felt bad for Jane, and even worse for Grace. I looked in the library, but no one was in there. The door to dad's study was open, so I knew he wasn't in there. I went out in the kitchen, and Gerta and Hans were eating.

"Where did Mama go?"

"They both went upstairs. I think they were turning in early." Hans said something in German and Gerta slapped his shoulder, playfully. "Your Mama, Kenny, she's been in a much better mood with this golf thing she's making. More energy she is having to do things. I like seeing this, because then she eats. When she eats, she is better."

"Gerta, do you think Mama is going to need Hans tomorrow?"

"I don't know. She didn't say anything. Usually she tells me if she needs him for something. Mr. Parsons, he doesn't always give us warning. I don't think she needs him. You need to go somewhere, to the country club or something? I can drive too, Kenny. If Hans can't take you, Gerta will."

"I talked to my friend. She's having more problems with her car, and it looks like she can't take this job for us because of it. I thought Hans could drive over with me and take a look. It would really help her out if Hans could fix it for her."

"I can fix anything, Kenny, but cars, those are my specialty. Where does she live?"

"That's a problem too. She lives in Bolling somewhere. I'd need to get her address before we went over there. The other thing is, I don't think she has much money. I've got almost three hundred dollars, but I don't know if that's enough to fix it. She said it took a dump, so I guess she thinks it's pretty serious. She had to get it towed over to her house today."

"You find out if your Mama needs me tomorrow. If she doesn't, we'll go take a look. I know some people in Bolling, with a repair garage that fixes good cars, good German mechanics, who can fix any car, just like I can. We'll get it fixed. This girl we're helping, she is your new special friend? Like those other two girls were?"

"No. She's just a girl I met today, but one that I'd like to help if we can."

"Hans, Kenny isn't like you. His mind isn't always on the same thing." Gerta had a stern sound to her voice. She was always protective of me, and also, she didn't want Hans trying to help me do too many sex things with girls. Gerta would do little things to help me, but she wouldn't try to get me to do them. Hans would. The more I did with girls, the better Hans liked it. Sometimes, it seemed like Hans was more interested in what I did with my girls than he was in taking care of Gerta. Gerta thought it was okay for him to think about those things, as long as he came to her to do them.

At breakfast the next morning, I asked Mama if I could borrow Hans for the day. When she asked me what for, I told her about Jane's car, and then I got into all the problems that Grace was having at home. I told her that Jane wasn't going to be able to take the job this summer without having a running car.

"What is your primary reason for wanting to assist them, Kenny? Are you trying to get them beholden to you, and in your debt?"

"I'm trying to help them. I'd like to have someone to play golf with, and you're going to be busy a lot. Sometimes, I just like to help out when I can, and I think they both need some help."

"Tell Hans that he is authorized to charge any expenses on the household credit cards. Explain that I want Jane's car in good mechanical repair. Find out more about Grace's situation. She's such a quiet girl too. Ask Gerta if she knows any family close by that might need some live in assistance, such as an au pair or a driver. We'll get it sorted out for her, don't worry. I speak to Gerta about you often, you know. She has often remarked on your good hearted nature. I place the greatest trust in Gerta's judgment, Kenny. Tell her to let me know when she finds something suitable for Grace."

"I need to cancel my golf lesson with Dave this morning. Do you think he'll give me a makeup lesson tomorrow?"

"Kenny, I'm sure he would. This isn't to be generally known, Kenny, but Dave is going to be joining us out at the golf center as soon as we get close to opening. I've got a deep respect for Dave's love of the game. He isn't the greatest teacher, but he's a true lover of golf, and he is known, and well thought of, by almost everyone. He will be in charge of our cadre of instructors. Would you like me to call him for you? I need to speak with him on another matter as well."

I went upstairs and phoned Jane. I told her a story about needing to come to Bolling for something anyway, and asked her if it would be all right for Hans and I to stop by and take a look at her car. She tried telling me that the car wasn't worth looking at, and that she was convinced that the motor was dead. I kept after her to get her address. Finally, reluctantly, she gave it to me.

Hans didn't want to take the limo, so we took his car instead. It was a German sedan, a white 1966 Mercedes. Even though it was about twenty years old, it ran like new. Hans told me it had two hundred and ten thousand miles on it and the engine was just getting well broken in. He said it would get about a million miles, if it was properly cared for. I gave him the address, and Hans said he knew where it was.

It wasn't hard to find, because it was in a trailer park. I'd never been in a trailer before, but I always thought having one was a neat idea. You could hook it up to a car and drive away when you needed to move. These trailers didn't look like any of them would be moving soon. We found Jane's space, and her trailer looked like it definitely belonged in that park. I recognized the blue Mustang that was sitting up on the grass beside the trailer. When she opened the door, she looked ashamed. I felt really bad for her, because I knew what it felt like to be ashamed of where you lived.

"Hi Jane. This is Hans. He said he can fix any car. Hans, this is Jane, my friend, and a really good golfer." They shook hands, and Jane came out of the trailer with her key ring in her hand. All three of us walked over to her car, and Hans got her to open the hood. He looked at the engine, and then underneath the car, before coming up and saying two words.

"Ist kaput."

"What did he say?"

"He said he'll need to have it towed over to his friend's garage. Right Hans?" Hans looked at me, and so did Jane. She knew pretty much what he'd said, enough to know it wasn't what I told her.

"Kenny, I know my car's as dead as dog crap. I don't need your pity, or your charity. I'm poor, but I'm not stupid."

"I didn't say you were. I'm not the way you think I am either, Jane. I've had plenty of times when I wished I could get some help."

"Like when, when your brand new thousand dollar set of golf clubs got dirty, and the assistant pro wasn't available to clean them for you? Or, when the waiter brought your nine dollar steak sandwich to you, and it was done medium, instead of rare the way you asked for it? Is that the kind of help you needed?" The look on her face was one that I recognized too. It was the look on my face when I used to watch these stories on television, the ones where the happy kids come running down the stairs to their beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Always, that tree was piled high with brightly wrapped Christmas presents underneath. It was undisguised envy, tinged with self-loathing. It was her hating what she was saying to me, but being unable not to say it. I knew that feeling too.

"A year ago, I was a lot worse off than you are now, Jane. The life I have now isn't what I'm used to having. I used to live at St. Cecelia's, the orphanage over by the college? A year ago, I'd have gladly changed places with you, if it meant I could live just like you do now. I should have said something to you guys yesterday, but I didn't want to spoil all the fun that Grace was having when she thought she was giving it to the spoiled rich kid."

"How did that happen, were you adopted?"

"The short answer is yes, I was, but the long story is a lot more complicated than that. The reason I said anything was because I didn't want you to feel like you needed to be proud with me. I already know I'm not better than you or anyone else. I wanted to help though, and so did Hans and my mom. That's the only reason we came over today, to try to help you. My Uncle Bunny told me once that I should never be ashamed of not being born rich. I'm telling you the same thing. I want to help you."