Chapter 22

It was after midnight when I got home from Harold's house boat. I took a shower and gargled with some heavy alcohol based mouth wash. Actually I gargled in the shower and spit the rinse into the water where I stood. I wanted to get it all done as quickly as possible, and heck it might kill any foot odor not that I noticed any.

I was in bed and even asleep by 2AM. I reviewed my plan for Harold should he make any more demands. When I felt as though I had everything worked out, I flipped the switch in my brain and fell quickly asleep. Harold was gone completely.

I called Cindy's cell phone Sunday afternoon. I figured she and her brother would be up and moving by 1PM. "So Cindy do you want to meet me for dinner?" I asked.

"I'm sorry mom, but I have a date." She said it but didn't really sounds sorry at all. It was probably a date with someone she really wanted to go out with. Then again I am sure that to a college girl, most any boy was more fun to have dinner with than your mother.

"I guess, I could call Charlie," I commented.

"He has a date as well. Believe it or not she is the mother of a teenager in his summer camp program. You did know he was day camp councilor didn't you?" Cindy asked.

"Sure, he told me Friday night. When he told me I couldn't figure out why he would waste any of his summer being a camp councilor, since his dad would supply him with all the money he wanted. The reason was even more basic than money. His dad could not supply him with all the ass he wanted. Charlie will be in heaven, I told myself. He will be hunting in the land of the single parents. Those YMCA camps were filled with one parent kids.

I just braced myself for complaints which I expected to come rolling in. Charlie wasn't as mature as he thought. Those women were going to be calling the YMCA and complaining, so I made ready for it. I didn't expect Jeff had any idea why Charlie took the job.

I had nothing else to do so I took the electric trike out for a ride. I loaded both my battery packs onto the trike. With them in place I had a 25mile range. I had absolutely no idea how far twenty five miles was at 5 to 7 miles an hour. I had one hell of a good time. I stopped at a walk up ice cream shop. I sat at one of their picnic tables. while I ate my fresh strawberry sundae.

After the sundae, I rode and pedaled to one of those dollar stores. I had been in them but never really looked around. That Sunday I took time to really see what was there. I was surprised to see how many neat things there were hanging on their displays. I found everything from reading glasses to day old pastry from the grocery store.

I stopped at the almost empty mall to walk a couple of miles, then picked up a burger from the rainbow steakhouse and rode to the Marina. No it was not where Harold parked his boat It was the city reservoir and recreational area. I sat on the patio with my canned coke and drive thru burger while the sail boats moved back and forth. I didn't stay till the sail boats to dock, since that would most likely put me on the road after dark.

Even so I stayed until 7:30PM and the little boats were still moving around on the lake. When I got home I managed to fix myself a drink and sit down with a small pack of peanut butter on very tasteless crackers, before the phone rang. I bought several cases at the dollar store, even though I knew they were tasteless. That fact make it much easier for me to stop at one pack with a single glass of alcohol.

"Hello," I said into the phone.

"Lucy it's me Sam. I was calling to see if 8:30 was a good time to open the office?" he asked.

"Sam you can pick the time. Just stick to it, so that people know when we will be in the office." I suggested.

"Then 8:30 till 5," he suggested.

"I can do that no problem, ' I said.

"Good then I will see you in the morning, and Lucy thank you for this chance." I said almost in tears.

"Well let's see how it goes, I don't want to put anyone out of business. I just want to make a difference while making a good living for us both," I said.

"Here, here," he said in agreement. Then he was just gone.

I had another drink before the phone rang again. "Lucy Avery?" the female voice asked a little louder than she needed it to be.

"Yes, can I help you?" I asked.

"I'm Loretta, Royce is my brother," she said.

"Of course, how are you?" I asked.

"I hope I'm going to be okay. Ms Avery I know Royce hasn't actually done any work for you yet, but I need money to get the place ready for him," she said.

"It's Another week Loretta before Royce goes to work. Why don't you have him call me and I'll try to explain it to him." I said.

"Never fucking mind. I'll figure out something before he gets out." Loretta said.

"That's up to you, but if you have your brother call, maybe we can work something out. Otherwise good luck," I added in closing. Loretta made a lot of noise closing the connection. By the time she hung up I was way past ready for a third drink.

I had it almost finished when the phone rang again. Damn I had more calls on Sunday night that I had all the rest of the weekend combined. "Hello," I said into the phone.

"So what are you wearing?" the male voice asked.

"Who the hell is asking?" I replied.

"How many men do you know who would call to ask that?" the voice answered.

"At least half a dozen," I replied. I also laughed.