Chapter 289: Girl With the Frozen Nose

"So tell me exactly what you won at the awards show?" The man who lived in my second story apartment which was the least expensive of the group. I therefore expected no class at all from him or his wife and I wasn't disappointed.

"I didn't win anything, The guy who put the show together one most dramatic reality show. It was a toss up whether it would be life and death or a foot race across the world. Mike won it thank god. If he hadn't won, he would be winning even now." I said inside the Cloak and Dagger the first night I got home.

"You went all the way to California and bought that dress which you will never be able to wear again and won nothing?" he asked incredulously.

"The winning of it has no value hon. The day after you win that you are back in the same place as before," I said.

"Soar grapes," one of the woman said.

"You are fucking A it is," I said laughing as hard as I dared. I was afraid to laugh any harder since Vlad convinced me to wear the red dress. I gave in only after the half bottle of Russian vodka, which did no good at all.

"Holy shit Miss Maxine how did you get that scar on the back of your shoulder." Some asked it from across the bar.'

"Guy in Georgia gave it to me. I didn't even know I had it tell I was in South Carolina. We was scared and runnin' so hard. They was mighty pissed and right behind us. Damn I was young back then."

"So tell me all about Hollywood?" One of the middle eastern man suggested.

"Sodom and Gomorrah, ain't no doubt about that," I said with a big wink for those nearby.

"I know you hated that," the same man said.

"Well I did shake my head, a little." I said. I stopped entertaining with stories of Hollywood to look around and see the crowd. "Damn, did you guys go out and call all your friends?" I asked smiling. I turned and went to the bar for another drink.

"Max the place is always full. You know that," One of them said.

"True," I replied from several feet away at the bar.

One of the middle aged ladies, and we use that term generically, came over to speak with me. Maxine me and Trish have something working, How about you coming along.

"Ruthy, you know you supposed to be retired. To keep the peace once you move here, and to continue being retired as long as you stay here," I suggested.

"Maxine, honey, we know you don't make any money on this club. We're talking about having a old time party," she said it with any two words sounding hip, the rest just sounded tired as well.

"I don't think I'm interested, but I do wish you good luck. Make damn sure I get an invitation," I said positively. With you and Trish together you should hire some security. No telling how many wives will be looking to talk to you two."

"We plan to make them stand in line," Ruthy said as I turned away. Somehow a party is something I felt the creator might frown upon.

I really did need something else to occupy my time. It was dead of winter and the ski resorts were in full operation. I could learn to ski. I figured I would do that right after I learned how to be fired from a cannon.

I left the Cloak alone that night close to 1AM. I didn't mind since I was likely to be discovered and I couldn't use drunk as an excuse. I couldn't use hangover for an excuse not to walk, so I dressed myself and left for breakfast first thing the next morning.

About once a month I got away without breakfast at Helen's place. I did it with the old too much to drink last night, excuse. Almost every adult could relate to it. so I hardly even got noticed except for a 'hope you feel better hon.' The world got a little greener and I didn't have to see someone. who really needed that food. going without.

Point is that if I were living my life in reality, then it would be one of those morning, so I just had coffee, So when I left Helen's, I didn't bounce out to the parking lot. I mounted my bicycle and rode purposefully to the mall. Since it was about twenty degrees, I did get a lot of sympathetic looks. They just had no idea that it was one of my favorite times of the day.

Out of nowhere he passed me. He was young and full of energy, but he was also buttoned up in what could have been a sleeping bag with legs. I quickly picked up my pace and rolled through the gears. I pulled into the Belk Store parking lot at the mall just as he left his bike.

I took a really thoughtful look at him so that when I saw him inside I would recognize him. He had challenged me and it could not go unanswered. Then it downed on me. The two middle aged women were looking for something to do. We should hold a dead of winter bicycle race. No by God a series of races culminating in some kind of giant thing.

All that aside, there was a kid half my age who I wanted to meet. I hustled inside and found him at the coffee shop. "Looks like your daddy taught you well," I said as I poured coffee into a plastic cup. "You look as though you like riding in the cold."

"I prefer summer but I can function either way. I'm Bill Evers," he said extending his hand.

"I'm Maxine stone," I said extending my hand to him.

"Do you live here or just passing through?" I asked.