Should Age Make a difference?

SHOULD AGE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Joyce Peterson

Angie had asked Dee to meet her for lunch but now, as she parked the car in the restaurant's lot, she was having second thoughts. Dee wasn't one to ask questions before she gave you her opinion, and Angie was afraid the whole restaurant might know the news she was going to tell her best friend. She needed to ask her advice for a decision she had already made. Maybe she just wanted to brag…a little. No, that wasn't entirely true because, she really wanted for Dee to say she had done the right thing. They had shared secrets for all the years they had been friends. Angie had seldom made decisions fast while Dee was the one who would always say, "Why not? Go ahead. You only live once."

When she entered the restaurant, Dee stood up at the table where she had been seated and called out, loudly, "WooHoo, Angie, here we are". Angie wished she wouldn't do that. Everyone in the whole place looked around to see who she was "Woohooing."

As she sat down, Angie scolded her friend. "I wish you wouldn't do things like that. You had everyone looking at me," she told her.

Dee's laugh was not one to be ignored. "Why shouldn't they look at you? You look darn good for a forty-year old woman."

Angie had found a menu and held it up in front of her face. Dee pulled the menu away from Angie's face. "Besides," she said, "I already ordered for us, a salad, tea and some Jello, the usual, for you, and Sushi for me."

Angie wanted to ask, "What if I decided to try the Sushi today?" But, she was afraid Dee would belt out another of her laughs and Angie wanted her friend to be somewhat quiet for the news she was going to tell her. So, she said, "Thanks, I appreciate that."

Dee collected the menus and put them on the edge of the table. Looking steadily at her friend until Angie looked up, she asked, "Now, what is this big question you want to ask me?"

Angie was surprised. "I didn't tell you I was going to ask you anything. I just asked if you would go to lunch with me today."

Dee laughed. "I know but when you ask me to lunch, you usually have a question or a problem that can't wait until you can call me after work."

Angie smiled, "I didn't think you knew me that well."

"We've been friends since we were ten. I'm sure you know a lot about me, too. Thirty years of friendship can turn over a lot of dirt," Dee was smiling broadly.

Angie couldn't keep herself from giggling. "I do have something to ask you but please don't give out one of those big donkey laughs of yours."

Dee tried to promise but one of "those laughs" betrayed her.

"See, that's what I mean," Angie told her.

However, the waitress had arrived with their lunch. When she left, Dee said, "I can't eat until I know what you have on your mind."

Angie put the tea bag in the pot of hot water, and tossed her salad around a bit, before looking at her friend. "What would you say if I told you that Dan Clark asked me out?"

At first, Dee said nothing, then she laughed. Angie flinched as though she had been hit. Dee saw the reaction and tried to lower her voice, but even the lower level could be heard several tables away. "You're not kidding are you?"

Angie sat up straighter in her chair. "No," she said as she gathered her nerve. "And what's more, I accepted."

Dee tried to smooth her friends feelings, "I'm sorry Angie, but isn't he the one who was just hired by your company to handle the Advertising Department? The one you said couldn't be more than twenty five? A boy, really."

"I know." Angie found herself talking to the table, she couldn't look her friend in the eye. "And I'm forty."

Dee found an opening. "But you don't look it. You have a good body although the breastwork could stand some enhancement, but, being the buyer for the ladies' clothing department in your store, you know how to dress to cover that."

"You mean you have hopes for me?" Angie asked sarcastically. "I'm 5'8, too tall, you think?"

Dee held her hand up. "Now, wait a minute, you know I have never thought that," she laughed, "even if I've always had to look up to you."

Angie realized that Dee was saying all the things she had thought about herself this morning, as she stood in front of her mirror after her shower.

Dee told her, "You have to know that that face of yours with those green eyes and perfect skin…and that beautiful brown hair must have caught the eye of many other men.."

Angie joined in with her own positive thought, "An Dan is at least 6'2. It's nothing serious, only to a party he's been invited to. Besides, look at you. You married Marvin and he's a lot older than you."

"I know, sweetie, but a lot of older men marry women younger than they are. Besides with my short dumpy looks, I didn't have the pick of the pride." Dee told her.

Angie tried to laugh one of Dee's donkey laughs, without success. "I was always envious of you," she said. "I thought you were cute."

Dee showed her how to do "the laugh", "That did it. You have my approval to go out with Dan Clark. Why not? Go ahead. You only live once."

****

Driving back to work, Angie felt a little pang of guilt set in. She had practically lied to her friend. True, she had been asked but had told Dan she'd let him know. Now, she wondered if it would be proper to call him or wait for him to check. She'd decide when she got back to the store. She wasn't the best driver in the world so she better concentrate on that.

At the store, when she entered her office, the phone was ringing. "Hello,"she answered.

"Angie, this is Dan. Hope you've decided to go with me Saturday. I told them I'm bringing the prettiest woman in town and I wouldn't want to disappoint the whole gang." He had a nice voice and he sounded sincere.

"Yes, Dan. I'd love to go. Thanks for asking me. What kind…" She was going to ask him the kind of party so she could plan an outfit, but he cut in.

"Great! I'll pick you up about seven. I've got to get out of here. I'm supposed to be at a meeting right now," he explained. "I'll call you tonight if you give me your home phone." Angie had heard stories of the good job he was doing in the Ad department. That always meant the head of the department was busy. As Angie gave him her cell phone number, she started looking forward to receiving his call tonight.

The afternoon seemed to drag. On the way home, she left her car at the local garage to have them check the brakes that felt mushy. One of the servicemen drove her home.

She finally found herself opening the door to her condo. At the same time, she heard the muffled sound of the haunting melody from "Avatar" emanating from her purse. Grabbing the phone from her purse, she answered, "Hello."

"Hi, beautiful." It was Dan.

Angie wasn't sure she wanted to be on such intimate terms so soon in the relationship. Her answer was guarded, "This is Angie Mullaney."

Dan realized his mistake. "Sorry, Angie. This is Dan Clark, from the store. I just called to make sure you're still going Saturday, even after I ask you a big favor. You do drive, don't you."

When she told him "Yes, but…"

"Great! Could we use your car Saturday? I had a little fender bender this afternoon and my car is in for repairs."

This time it was Angie who interrupted, "Maybe the Gods are against us, Dan. My car is in the garage, too."

"No, no, no," he objected. "I've been trying to ask you out for too long to be turned down now. How do you feel about riding behind me on my motorcycle? It's a short trip. You could wear a pants suit…"

Angie was terrified of motorcycles but didn't want to say so, "What kind of a party is it?

"A birthday party for my father. One of his friends is throwing it to celebrate his 60^th birthday. His birthday is in March but he was out of town last month so he's celebrating in April. It should be fun. A party with "old farts", as Dad said. I wanted to bring the prettiest woman in town so I'm glad you're going."

A party for old people. Maybe she wouldn't be so out of place, after all. "You only live once," she thought, "And my life seems to be diminishing fast, since I became 40. It would be a date with Dan. I do have something I could wear." The thought of holding on to Dan, for even a short distance, was almost exhilarating.

Dan chimed in, "Better bring your good shoes and wear old ones on the cycle."

"Good idea," she said, then added, tentatively, "This sounds like…fun."

"Then I'll pick you up at 7 on Saturday. They are planning a big dinner so don't eat too much Saturday," he warned.

"How about a gift…" sh began to ask.

"No presents, Dad has everything he needs for the rest of…" He hesitated when the words wouldn't leave his mouth. Angie felt sorry for him. To him, being 60, was old. She must remember that.

"OK. I'll see you Saturday, in my green pants suit," she teased to clear the air.

"See you then…beautiful," he answered softly.

At 7 oclock on Saturday, she was ready, with her shoes in a bag with a handle that would slip over her arm. Dan was right on time. He handed her a helmet. As she put it on, she hoped the expensive hair do, she got earlier in the day, wouldn't suffer too much. She got on behind Dan. As she put her arms around him, she could feel the strength of his 25 year old body. She tried to deny, to herself, that she enjoyed it. She wasn't sure how Dan was enjoying it, since the bag with her shoes that she had draped around her arm, seemed to bounce and hit him with every little bump.

Dan helped her with the shoe change. He hung the bag over the handle of the motorcycle, saying, "Hope they aren't your best ones. Kids in all neighborhoods seem to feel it's their duty to take anything that's free to take."

Angie laughed. She looked at all the elegant houses around them. "They'd probably bring these back," she joked.

When they went in the door, Angie looked at those who were already there. Many of the women were her age or younger. "Old farts," she thought, "They must all be trying to outdo each other."

Dan saw an older man looking at Angie. "Bob," he said as he took the other man's arm, "this is Angie, MY DATE," he emphasized, "keep her entertained while I get us something to drink," he added as he moved toward a bar that had been set up closeby.

The other man gave a soft whistle. "Yes, it will certainly be my pleasure," he answered as he took Angie's hand and squeezed it too tightly. Since Angie hadn't offered her hand to begin with, she withdrew it as soon as she could.

"I don't want to take you away from…." Angie looked around to see if Bob could be persuaded to join someone else.

"Nobody to take me away from," Bob told her. "The old lady's in the Ladies room, I think."

Angie tried to move away and backed into Dan, who juggled the glasses he was carrying

Dan surmised what was happening. As Bob left, Dan apologized, "Should have turned you over to someone a little more reliable. I do see an editor I want to talk to, these parties are always about half business," he told her, as he was looking over her shoulder and motioned to someone. "You can trust the man who will take over now. I'll be right back," he told her as he left.

She felt a gentle touch on her shoulder and turned to see the face of an old friend. He had been a salesman for a large New York dress manufacturer before he bought into the company for whom he had worked. He had visited her many times as a salesman when she became Royal Department Stores Apparel buyer when she was 25. He had taught her just about all she knew about buying the best styles for the regular customers of Royal, a department store that had been built about 20 years before in a middle-upper class neighborhood on the fringes of Cincinnati. Three years ago, after he had bought into the company for whom he worked, he didn't come as often. A lot of the selection could now be done electronically. When he did come, Angie had a feeling that he came, particularly, to see her. He was a tall man who looked ever inch like an owner of a big company. She couldn't keep herself from putting her arms around him and kissing him on the cheek.

"Benjamin, what a nice surprise! Are you a friend of the guest of honor?" She asked.

"No," he answered, "I AM the guest of honor.".

Angie tried to keep her mouth from dropping open as she looked at this tall handsome man staring down at her. She remembered that he had lost his wife about the time her association with him began, that he had a young son. However, over a period of years, only first names became familiar and last names were lost. She would never have connected him with Dan.

Benjamin laughed as he put his arm around her. "When Dan got the job at Royal, I asked him not to tell you he was my son, I wanted to do that myself but I've had to spend so much time in New York that I didn't get around to it. I knew about this party and hoped I could ask you to accompany me but Dan beat me to it. I think I talked about you so much, when he was growing up, he felt he knew you. I can see this might be a little embarrassing to all three of us." He looked past her and nodded as Dan joined them.

"She is the most beautiful woman here Dad. I know why you told me that so many times. I can see you two have a lot to catch up on. I think I've just made a deal with the editor of one of Cincinnati's newspapers. Hope you'll excuse me while I make sure he doesn't change his mind." Dan excused himself and left them.

Angie had finally got back some of her composure. "I don't know why I couldn't see the resemblance before. You have a very handsome son, Benjamin," she told him.

"Just the son, eh? What about the old man? He teased.

"He must have taken after his mother," Angie joined in the teasing.

"Did Dan bring you in that old rattle-trap he drives? I could have done better." He smiled.

Angie laughed what sounded like one of Dee's donkey laughs. "No, actually," she answered, "both of our cars were in for repairs. We came on his motorcycle," she confessed.

They both laughed as he continued, "On no!! Not the motorcycle! I'll check with him. I can take you both home in my car. I can bring him back tomorrow to pick up his motorcycle."

"What about your wife?" When he shook his head, the look on his face told her he wasn't married. Angie felt a rush of gladness, then asked, "or your date?"

When he said, "Also, non-existent," she knew she was glad that there was no other woman in his life. Then she wondered how long these feelings had lain dormant in her heart.

"I think we'd better check with Dan. I told him I was OK with the bike…" she confessed again.

Benjamin smiled, "And you don't want to embarrass him." Angie shook her head . "Don't worry, I'll make it all right with him. I'll need your address and I'd better have your phone number so I can check on you later to see if everything is OK." Angie could hear his embarrassment in asking for her phone number, something he had never done in all the years she knew him.

Angie looked in her small purse, pulled out a card and handed it to him. "Why don't we exchange cards, now that our have crossed again." She could feel the blush taking over her face.

He pulled a card from the inside pocket of his jacket. "I thought you'd never ask," he told her.

The three of them spent the rest of the evening together, with both men introducing Angie as "my good friend". When Benjamin had to make an after dinner speech, he made a special salute to "a friend our family". Angie had never blushed so much in her life.

Benjamin persuaded Dan that a motorcycle was no way to take a date home from a party. He took them both home. Dan's apartment was the first stop on the way. Dan kissed Angie on the cheek and thanked her for the great evening they had spent together. "See you tomorrow," he said as he left.

When they got to Angie's address, Benjamin stopped and turned off the motor. Looking at her he spoke softly, telling her, "I've thought of a night like this for many years but I didn't imagine having to share it with my son."

"He's a fine young man, Benjamin, but the only time I was comfortable was the time you and I spent together. She kissed him on the cheek.

"That makes two of us. We should get together, just the two of us," he suggested. When he saw her nod her head, he told her, "I'll call you." He got out of the car and walked her to her apartment door.

Angie didn't know why her heart was beating so fast but was glad when he kissed her cheek.

Stroking her hair lightly, he told her "Goodnight," and kissed her forehead.

Angie watched him until the car pulled away.

"I have to have Dee meet me for lunch on Monday," she thought. "This is all too much for me."

When she woke on Sunday morning and recalled the evening before, she wanted to call to be sure that Dee would meet her for lunch on Monday. But, Angie had made it a rule never to call on Sunday, which she considered a family day.

About one o'clock, she heard the familiar "Avatar" sound coming from the purse she had dropped on the living room couch. When she answered, her heart skipped a beat when she heard a familiar voice say, "Angie, this is Benjamin."

She tried to keep her voice from betraying her. "What a nice surprise, Benjamin." She had told him that last night, surely her vocabulary was broader than that.

She could hear an apology in his voice as he said, "I had a call from New York last night. I have to fly back tomorrow night, on business."

Angie couldn't help herself. "Oh no!" she exclaimed. She suddenly realized that she didn't want to lose, so soon, the closeness that had come to them the night before.

"It may take a couple of weeks to clear up," he continued, "so I thought, if you don't have anything planned, we could spend the day together." Angie's heart beat so loud, she was afraid he would hear it over the phone, until he added, "We could ask Dan to come along, if you'd like."

She hardly knew what to say. She had sorted her feelings out the night before and they didn't include Dan, but he was Benjamin's son. They, too, would be separated for those two weeks.

"Why not?" She asked. "Three's not a crowd with us. We're more like a family"

"You're sure?" He sounded like he wasn't sure, himself.

"Of course," she told him with her fingers crossed.

"OK. I'll call him. Pick you up about eleven. We'll stop for lunch and decide what to do with the rest of the day. It will be fun." He hung up, leaving Angie trying to figure out Benjamin's feelings for her, or Dan's, for that matter.

"I see you're all ready. Dan picked up a luncheon basket at his favorite market. He thought we might like to drive over to Kentucky and eat in a park he discovered over there. Sound OK to you?" He asked.

He was handsome in a dark jacket, gray slacks and a white sport shirt. The gray hair, peeking through his brown hair, seemed to accent the gray slacks. Angie thought of Dan. His hair was brown. Father and son were a handsome pair.

Angie knew her blue pant suit could handle a picnic, she wasn't sure she could. "Sure," she lied. She was glad when she saw Dan in the back seat with the basket. Benjamin opened the front door for her.

Benjamin helped her in and then went around to get in the front seat. "Dan has always been a lover of food. Me? I prefer girls," he explained as he sat down. They all laughed.

They crossed the bridge into Kentucky. Angie seldom went there but, as they left the city, she admired the greenness of the countryside. She wasn't sure but they must have driven about 40 miles or more before they reached the park. She couldn't help but comment on its beauty. Dan had talked a lot on the way but Benjamin was strangely quiet. Occasionally, he slipped his hand across and put it over the one she had put down beside her on the seat.

When Dan told his father to pull into a spot and park, Angie saw some empty picnic tables. "Thank God," she thought, "we won't have to sit on the ground."

Dan presided over the lunch. It was a typical market lunch with sandwiches, potato salad, carrot and celery sticks and cookies for dessert. They were all hungry so they commented on Dan's good taste.

As they were cleaning up, Dan told them, "I'm glad we decided to do this today. If it's OK with everyone, I'd like to show you something after lunch."

"Does it bite?" Angie teased.

"No," Dan answered. "It's a place, about ten miles from here."

"Then I guess it's fine." Benjamin looked at Angie and raised his eyebrows. She nodded.

The short trip took them further into the wooded area before they stopped before a small cabin.

Dan got out first, rushed up to the door and opened it. He motioned for the others to come. When they did, they found Dan standing in what was probably the living room of a completely empty cabin. Dan saw their questioning expressions. "I bought it a couple of months ago. I know it doesn't look like much now but, with furniture and some repairs, it will be a great place to spend vacations."

Angie couldn't comment. If she hadn't chosen Benjamin before, it would certainly be a sure thing now.

Benjamin looked around before saying, "It does need some repairs. You've already bought it?" When Dan nodded, he continued, "We have the furniture from the old house stored where you can get it, if you would like to. Some of it is still in pretty good condition."

Dan put his arms around his father. "Thanks, Dad. I was going to ask you. I'll get right to it. This place should be livable by the time you get back from New York."

Benjamin smiled at Angie as he said, "We all have to make our own choices, don't we?"

Dan was admiring his purchase as he answered, "I really like mine. I'll have an open house when it's all finished."

Angie didn't say it out loud but thought, "Who will you invite, the local squirrels, porcupines and rabbits?"

The rest of the afternoon was spent at a bowling alley near Dan's apartment. Angie hadn't bowled since her father had died but she still bowled a respectable game. Since there were pool tables available, she showed some of the skills her father had taught her. Both men complimented her. She was glad. Since she had been so silent during the cabin adventure, she was afraid she had made a bad impression. Cabins were fine for anyone who liked them. Bowling and pool she could take, not often, but occasionally.

After they finished a second round of pool, Benjamin patted his stomach. "I think we should get some dinner. It's been a long time since lunch."

Dan shook his head. "I'll have to see if I have something to put in the microwave. I've got to work up an ad for a newspaper. I told the editor I'd have it for him tomorrow morning. You two go ahead."

Angie could have kissed him. Now she and Benjamin could be alone. They said their goodbyes to Dan, who made his Dad promise to call from New York. Kissing Angie on the cheek, he said he would see her tomorrow and left.

"No wonder he's doing such a good job for Royal." Angie remarked. "He works all the time."

"You have to, if you want to get ahead in the business world," Benjamin noted, then asked, "Where shall we go?"

"Someplace I can go looking like this," Angie held her arms out.

"You always look beautiful. There's a hotel near here that has a good menu," he told her.

"Let's go," she told him, then reminded herself to stop saying things that sounded like she was asking for a compliment.

Ten minutes later they were seated in a corner booth of the fancy hotel restaurant. The waiter had left menus.

"Great choice," she told him. "The menu looks like they have anything we'd want," Angie smiled at him as she said, "It has been a nice day. I'm glad we could all spend it together."

"Thanks for letting me bring Dan along. I didn't know he was going to take us to his new vacation home. Sorry about that. I guess at this point, I wanted you to get the whole picture of the two of us."

"Dan's young…" Angie wanted to find an excuse for Dan's excitement about the cabin.

"He's 29, he'll be 30, 3months from now," he told her. "I know he looks younger. He's got a good head on his shoulders."

Angie heard the pride in his voice and couldn't figure out whether he was trying to tell her that, dating Dan would be all right with him, or not.

"He's a wonderful young man, Benjamin, but that's what he will always be to me, a young man." She reached across the table and patted his hand. "I prefer a more mature man. One who doesn't have to have a cabin in the woods."

Benjamin took her hand and kissed it. "We'll have to get this all straightened out when I get back from New York."

When he took her home, Angie could hardly remember anything that happened after the "get it straightened out" speech. Her mind had started designing ways to help the situation.

At her door, Benjamin kissed her, a real kiss this time. "We'll have to get this straightened out when I get back," he repeated. "I don't want to go but my flight leaves shortly after midnight. I'll call you when I get to New York."

'I wish you could stay, but I understand." She returned his kiss, then watched until she saw his car pull away.

She thought she wouldn't sleep but, when her alarm went off in the morning, she wanted to go on dreaming. The dreams had all been about Benjamin.

She grabbed the phone beside her bed and dialed Dee's number.

Angie left early for lunch, hoping she could be seated before Dee arrived, but the minute she stepped in the door, she heard Dee's "WooHoo" coming from a table on the other side of the room. She walked as quickly as she could and sat down.

Dee grabbed her hand. "I can't wait to hear about Saturday night." She thought she was whispering but her voice sounded more like the echo of a trumpeter swan.

Angie wondered why she noticed Dee's voice. Was it because this might have been the first time she had news like this to tell? "Why don't we order first?" She asked. Angie hoped Dee would order her usual big meal and she could get in a lot of the story while her friend was eating.

"I already ordered for us so eat in a hurry and tell me what happened." Dee told her as the waitress arrived with the food.

Angie hadn't really been hungry all morning so she picked at her food and began to tell her friend about the adventurous weekend. When she got to the motorcycle part, Dee swallowed so she could emit one of her big laughs. Angie looked at her friend. "If you're going to get attention of the whole restaurant, I'll wait and tell you the rest some other time."

Dee apologized. "I'm sorry. I'm so excited for you. My husband always tells me he loves me but he wishes I could talk more like a lady. You know I've never been a lady."

Angie knew that was one thing she loved about her friend, she was …. always herself, love her or leave her. Angie loved her so she told her, "OK, honey, but try to keep it down. There's lots more and I have to get back on time since I left early."

Dee told her, "Please go on. I'll do my best."

And she, did until Angie got to the part where Benjamin revealed he was Dan's father.

"His father?" She roared. When Angie put her finger to her lips, Dee continued semi-softly, "Benjamin? The Benjamin who used to visit you as a salesman but now he doesn't come as much for some reason. I always thought you rather liked him."

"He's a nice man. I didn't know I ever gave you the impression he was more than a salesman friend. He practically taught me about buying for my department. I just considered him a good friend. "

Dee patted her friend's hand. "OK. I understand. He's a good friend. But what does he look like?"

" Oh, like Dan, only older." Angie told her.

Dee gave a soft whistle. "Tell me about the rest of the night."

Angie smiled at her and asked, "How about Sunday?"

Dee threw herself back against her chair, in a pretend faint, but managed to gasp, "A Sunday, too?"

Angie pushed her food away as she grabbed the bill, "Let's pay for our lunch and sit in my car before I tell you the rest. And lunch is on me."

Dee grabbed a couple of rolls she had already buttered. "This must be some story. Let's go," she answered.

When they were in the car, Angie told Dee the rest of her adventure. She even loved the frequent outbursts from her friend. When she finished, she asked Dee, "What do I do now?"

For the first time all day, Dee was quiet for so long, Angie had to ask, "Well?"

Dee looked at her and asked, "After all these years, you've fallen for Benjamin, haven't you." Angie nodded her head. "But you don't want to hurt Dan." When Angie nodded again, Dee continued, "I wish I had an answer for you. But we've got a couple of weeks before Benjamin gets home. Maybe one of us will come up with something."

"You think?" Angie asked.

"I hope," Dee answered.

After she got back from lunch, Dan called her. "How about having dinner with me?"

Angie didn't know if she could face Dan so soon. She apologized, "I'm going to have to work late tonight. I've got to decide on some of next seasons purchases."

"I have to work late , too," he told her, "but I know a little Mama and Papa's restaurant I can call and they'll keep things warm for us. I'll call when we leave and they'll have it ready for us when we get there. I think I can be ready to leave about 8 o'clock, how about you?"

Angie had to think about how she would spend the time. She hadn't actually planned to work but she could start looking at some of the new designs on her monitor. "I'll do my best," she told him.

"Great ! Meet you in the parking garage. We can both drive so we'll have our cars for tomorrow. You can follow me to the restaurant. OK?" he asked.

"Sure," she murmured, and hung up

As she followed him, she recognized a familiar route that she and Benjamin had taken many times when he had been just a salesman. He had usually taken her for lunch to a small restaurant called, Peterman's. The food was family style and always excellent. She wasn't sure how she could handle being there with Dan.

They parked their cars and Dan took her arm as they entered.

No sooner had they entered when a large, grandmotherly, gray haired woman greeted them and flung her arms around Angie. "Angie! Good to see you again." Looking at Dan, she added, "Now you come with the son. Sort of like a family."

Angie was embarrassed but Dan covered for her. "It is, Mama Peterman, a business family. She buys merchandise from Dad's company and Angie and I work for the same company."

"Business family, eh?" Mama sighed as she looked them over, "Too bad. I'd better bring out the food while it's still warm."

"I ordered for us. Hope you don't mind." When Angie shook her head, Mama moved toward the kitchen. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize Dad had brought you here."

"I loved coming here, Dan," she told him. "It always felt like being at home. 'Now, tell me about Benjamin. I sort of lost track of how he was doing after he bought into his company. " Angie did have an overall picture of Benjamin's new life as owner of a company but she just wanted to hear more about him. Also, she wanted to hear how his son felt about his father.

"You probably know most of this. We've always lived in this area but, when Dad became a part owner of the company, the business load he had to carry made him think he'd better move to New York because of all the time he had to spend on business matters. He wanted me to go with him but I was just getting a start in the Advertising Field, besides I'm not much for that fancy New York living. We sold the old house and he got an apartment there and I got one here. Then, when I got the job at Royal, he decided he could commute. He moved back and got a house in the neighborhood where the party was held last night. Not much more than that. He's a great guy. After Mom died, he was always there for me." Dan was so sincere that Angie knew she'd have a lot of thinking to do.

"Thanks, Dan. I didn't know some of that, but I always knew how proud he was of you."

Mama arrived with the food. "I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about but I won't have my good food get cold while you chatter away. Eat now, talk later," she commanded as she patted them both on the shoulder and left.

They looked at each other and said, together, "You heard Mama. Eat!"

When they got to the parking lot, Angie turned her face so Dan had to kiss her on the forehead. "See you tomorrow," she told him.

He took in a deep breath. "You bet," he answered.

Angie spent a sleepless night. She decided not to call Dee this time because this was something she'd have to work out on her own.

For the rest of the two weeks that Benjamin would be gone, Angie and Dan had their lunches at the Peterman's. Mama saw that they ate healthy meals, counseled them to always be good to each other and remember to give her regards to Benjamin. She always looked them over as though she were trying to decide.

Angie had already made her decision but, she hadn't decided when or if she would carry it out.

Benjamin was supposed to arrive on Sunday. Angie had planned her whole outfit for Sunday. She decided to wash her hair on Saturday and had to wrap a towel around it when the doorbell rang. She threw a robe around her and opened the door. Dan stood there laughing at her.

"I'm glad you didn't expect us," he said.

"US?," she asked.

"Me, too," Benjamin laughed as he stepped into view.

"But…but..," she sputtered.

"May we come in?" Benjamin asked.

She flung the door open as she tried to dry her hair and, at least remove the towel. She didn't dare do anything about the robe. Her damp hair fell into soft brown curls.

"Lovely," they both said.

"What are you doing here on Saturday?" She asked to cover her embarrassment.

It was Dan who answered. "He couldn't wait. He got an earlier plane." Angie and Benjamin stood, silently looking at each other. Dan continued. "After these last two weeks of having lunch at Peterman's and watching Mama trying to decide about us, I knew you had suddenly realized what a great guy my Dad is. I talked to him to make sure he realized that you were the right one for him. He had been deciding how to tell me. So here we are. I'll try not to be a sore loser if you promise to always call me Dan, never Son. I promise never to call you Mom."

Angie murmured, "Promise," as she thought, "I've got to have Dee meet me for lunch on Monday. "I'll let her talk as loud as she wants to."

Finale

Before Crossover

BEFORE CROSSOVER

Joyce Peterson

Millie looked around her. She was standing in the middle of the living room and Sofia, her housekeeper and Caregiver, was dusting a little, then stopping to wipe her eyes. Millie was amazed, Sofia was so taciturn that she had never imagined her crying about anything.

"What's matter Sofia?" she asked, but the woman didn't answer her. "I said, what's the matter?"she repeated, then added, " And what am I doing in the living room without my wheel chair," before she realized that Sofia had walked right through her.

Looking down at herself she saw that her body was transparent.

"She can't hear you or see you, Mil. I've tried to get through to her for the last 3 years. We're dead. I've been waiting for you. Maybe we can figure this out together." A transparent Seth was standing beside her although this was the young Seth that had been the man she married. He was tall, slender with that beautiful red hair and smooth face she had always admired. Looking again at herself, she saw that she, too, must be young. Her hands were the soft gentle hands that she used to run through his hair. After they were married, she had held their babies in arms that were once again looked firm and soft even though she could see through them. She hoped that she, too, looked like the girl she had been.

"My beautiful, blue eyed blond," the transparent Seth said to her. He had always called her that even after she had become old and tired.

"Why are we here, Mil? Maybe we need to take care of something we left undone. Maybe it's something we have to do together."

Millie felt some of her old lady crankiness coming back. "Maybe it's something you did and I have to undo, just like always," she accused. She thought he was going to talk back to her, but he opened his mouth and closed it again.

After a few seconds, he told her, laughing, "I've had three years to think about this. Maybe we should try to work this out together. It seems like we both had to be here. I tried to take care of a few things that I thought was your fault but …" Seth teased. He couldn't feel the flick of the fingers that went through his ear.

Millie was back in her old lady mode, in full. "My fault, my fault," she tried to yell but her voice didn't cooperate.

"It won't work, now, Mill. I yelled myself hoarse trying to get out of here and go to wherever we go from here, but I couldn't yell and I couldn't get out.. So, I guess we're stuck with each other until we can figure it out. Calm down and let' start at the beginning." Seth had actually become his young self. He had always "figured things out" and explained them to be sure she understood.

"So, where's the beginning, wise guy. When we met, when we got married, when we had the kids, when , when…" Millie couldn't yell so she reverted to the old sarcasm trick she had pulled many times. Seth tried to hug her, but the transparency was not conducive to hugging.

He laughed. "Seems like this takes a lot of getting used to, Mill. Let's start when we met. I saw you were stranded on a sidewalk where there was a grate of some kind."

She cut him off, "You were always Mr. Gallant. I could have got my heel out of that grate without your help."

Seth began to feel a little edgy himself. "Well you weren't trying very hard and you certainly didn't refuse my help. I don't think we did anything then to keep us here. Let's try going from the marriage."

Millie felt herself softening to the situation. After all, she couldn't yell, and sarcasm hadn't worked. Her words began to come out like clouds floating through the sky."That was the most beautiful wedding the town had ever seen. My Mother was a terrific wedding planner and Dad never objected to a penny she spent."

Seth again tried to put his arm around her. It didn't work this time either. "Your Dad took me into the business. I always thought that was a smart move. I was a good salesman and his business doubled after I started to work there."

Millie still resented Seth thinking that he had been the one to get her Dad's business into the black column. Her Father had worked long and hard to get the Auto Parts dealership going. "What do you mean, a smart move to take you into the business? It was just the time when every business was going so well. You just happened to…" She realized that her words were not nearly as mean as she meant them.

Seth hadn't been able to argue with her in life. Now, it would be worse, when he couldn't walk out on one of her tirades about how great her Father had been. The old man had been a good business man but Seth knew he had been the salesman that had made the business such a success.

Since Millie had been an only child, Seth and Millie had inherited the business when her parents died. She had worked with her father for so many years that the business had gone on as usual when the old man had died.

Seth really loved Millie and was glad that death had brought them together again. Quietly he told her, "I know, hon. Why don't we skip on to the time when the kids came along?"

Millie nodded her head. "That was a very stressful time because I kept on working and your mother took care of the kids. If there was anything then, it would have been her fault, not ours."Seth started to open his mouth in defense of his mother when Millie added, "But the kids didn't seem to suffer too much. That is until the time when Jim was going to college. He wanted to study Architecture and you made him take business courses instead."

Seth felt a few feathers ruffle up. "I didn't make him. We talked it over and he saw the wisdom of studying business since he would be the obvious one to take over when I retired. And look what a great job he has done. Our daughter was certainly not qualified to take over. All she was interested in were boys."

Millie laughed, "I know. But Florence does have a good marriage and she took my advice and didn't have children until they were in their thirties, like we did. You don't think we gave them too much advice do you?"

Seth thought about it for a moment, then said, "Everything turned out fine. No, I don't think we've found an answer yet."

Millie was still feeling a little uncertain. "I was always sorry that Jim and Sharon didn't have any children but he seems to have taken Florence's son, Ian, under his wing. She is glad she will still have a connection to the business. She should have had more children than just Ian. But it wasn't to be. Now it looks like her son will take over some day. It will still be in the family."

Seth nodded. "I wonder if we could go over to Florence's to see what's going on." As soon as he said that, he and Millie were in Florence's kitchen where Jim and Florence were having a cup of coffee.

Seth said, "I've tried to get out of our house for three years and couldn't. Millie, I think this is a sign. The problem we're supposed to fix is here, at Florence's."

Millie was going to tell him to be quiet but she saw that their son and daughter had not heard him. "As you told me, Seth. This is going to take a lot of getting used to." She had tried to pat him on the shoulder but her hand had gone through it.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Millie looked at their son and daughter. "I always thought it odd that our son took after my side of the family..With his blond hair and blue eyes and his stalky figure he always reminded me of my Father while Florence is tall and slender like you and her red hair is the same color yours is. Of course, before you…well you kno.."

"Died, Millie, Died. You can say it," he told her.

"All right, before you…passed on, it was gray." Millie couldn't get the word 'died' to come out

He laughed. "The kids look good, don't they?"

"Yes, they do,"she agreed.

"Where's Florence's husband Roger? He's still Jim's Vice President, isn't he" Seth asked.

"Yes, he's still with the Company, just like he has been since he married Florence. He's a good man." Millie tried to stroke Seth's chin but couldn't, as she continued. "He took up golf a couple of years ago and he spends every Saturday on the local course. I guess Ian, the boy, is still sleeping. He's finishing up his 2^nd year of college and has been studying late the last few weeks. He'll make a good addition to the Company one of these days." Millie didn't hide the pride she felt.

Pointing at his daughter, Seth remarked, "I see Florence is still using the coffee pot we gave her ."

Florence had brought the pot to the table to freshen their coffee but Jim put his hand over his cup. She put the pot back and sat down again.. "Yeah, I'm full too," she said. "Jim, you said you wanted to come over to talk to me. Well, I wanted to talk to you, too."

"Where's Ian?" He asked.

"I think he's still asleep. He usually sleeps late on Saturday. He said he had something to do later. What I wanted to ask you was, is Ian going to work with you this summer? I thought instead, he should take some courses at the college this summer, so he's ready to start taking business courses in the fall, it's his Junior Year. He should sign up, then, for the ones he'll need if he is going to take over for you when you retire."

"Wait a minute, Flo." Jim held his hand up. "I still have 15 or maybe 20 years left. Besides, Roger is 5 years younger than I am. I'm sure he can handle things until he's sure Ian can step in."

Florence laughed. "You can't depend too much on my husband. Five years isn't very long and I want to be sure the company stays in the family."

Millie looked at Seth and said, "She's right. Ian should be preparing himself to be ready to take over. There's so much to learn both at school and in the..." She stopped when Ian came into the room.

He reminded Millie so much of the young Seth, the one who was beside her. He was tall,with the same beautiful red hair. When he spoke, his voice, too was reminiscent of the gentle tone of authority that she still heard in Seth's voice.

"Hi, Uncle Jim. Have you asked…" He stopped when he saw his Uncle shake his head.

Florence recognized an unstated question. "Ask me what?" She almost threw the words at her brother. He ignored her. "Were you going someplace, Ian?" He asked the boy.

"Just going over to Mrs. Allison's. She was going to give me some help with this." He brought out the canvas that he had been hiding behind him. It was a beautiful painting of the local Golf Course.

His Uncle laughed. "Doesn't look like it needs any help to me. But you go ahead. See you later."

"OK, let me know," Ian said, as he nodded toward his Mother, and left the room.

"What do you mean, 'let me know'?" she yelled after him. "OK, Jim, have you two already made it up between you that he's going to work with you this summer? I guess I'll have to accept…"

There was a noise in the living room. "Sorry, Mom." Ian called out. " I bumped into the bookcase and knocked some books out. Would you put them back? I'd get them in the wrong place."

" OK." she told him "I'll be right back." Florence explained to Jim as she left to undo the damage. When she came back, she carried what looked to be a scrapbook. "Look what one of them was." As she put it down on the table in front of her brother, Millie and Seth came to the table. Millie put out her hand to touch the book and it automatically opened.

"Ah! Memories of the past," Jim sighed as he told his sister. "But we better talk about the future." He took a deep breath then stated, apologetically "Ian doesn't want to work with me or go to school this summer. He wants to go to Europe to study art."

Florence's mouth opened and it took her a moment to ask, "Art? He wants to study Art? But he has to get himself prepared for his future. He'd be wasting a whole summer if he went to Europe."

"I agree with you, Flo. I've been counting on him to take over for me. I'll work it out with him. The business is where he belongs, I guess." Danny sighed again.

Millie and Seth had been listening to all this. He said, "This sounds very familiar, Millie. Remember when Jim wanted to become an Architect?"

"I do, and I remember those were you're same words, 'The business is where you belong.' That Scrapbook gives me an idea. I think we're on the right track," she told him.

"What do you mean? How can an old scrapbook solve anything? He was trying to look at the pages to which the book had opened. "These are just some old drawings."

Millie blew at the book and more drawings showed up as the pages turned. "See. It's the right scrapbook. Jim kept all the drawings he made of things he would build if he became an Architect."

Florence and her brother looked at each other first, then at the book as it had opened and the pages began to turn.

Florence said, "I must have put it down wrong. And I think I felt a little breeze when the pages started to turn."

Danny shook his head. "I don't think so, Flo. Look at what's there."

"Just some of your old drawings," she told him as she came to stand beside him to get a better look.

Millie started to see if she could blow some more of the pages over but her son beat her to it turning them himself. "These are the drawings I showed Dad and Mom when I told them I wanted to become an Architect instead of going into the family business."

Florence told him, "I didn't know that. What happened?"

"Dad said I belonged in the business. I never liked to disagree with him, so, I went into the family business." Millie could see that Jim felt a sadness that he must have thought he had put behind himself many years ago.

Florence kissed her brother on the top of his head. "And a darn good job you did of it, too."

"You know something, Flo? I've wondered all my life what it would have been like if I had become an Architect." Flo heard the catch in his voice.

She leaned over and put her arms around him. "You were always good at anything you did. I'm sure you would have been a great Architect. Maybe you can take it up when you retire."

Jim picked the book up and hugged to him. "Why wait until I retire?"

Florence's mouth opened. "You can't mean..?"

He put the book back on the table, stood up and took his sister in his arms. "You're damn right I do. Roger could take over for me for the summer."

Florence kept shaking her head. "But Rodger and I were going to Hawaii this summer."

Jim took her face in his hand. "Sis, I've never asked much of you, but couldn't you go to Hawaii some other time?"

Florence looked at him and asked, "Are you sure about this? It feels awfully sudden."

He looked down and turned more pages in the book. "To me, it feels like something I've wanted all my life." He continued, urgently, as though he were trying to sell a new customer. " Ian wants to go to Europe to study. Sharon has friends in Italy that she would love to visit. I could look into the Architect situation and go with Ian and while he's studying Art, I could study Architecture. Maybe we would both find out whether we really want to be in the business end of Auto Parts."

Flo didn't sound sure as she said, "Roger and I will have to talk it over and you should talk it over with Sharon."

Jim said, "Of course." But he had heard something in her answer that told him that he, Sharon and Ian would be packing for the Europe trip.

Suddenly, Millie and Seth saw a bright light.

Millie patted Seth on the arm and found that it was firm. Seth put his arms around her and she could feel their warmth. " Is that it? We didn't do that much but maybe it was all we had to do," she told him.

Seth questioned, "What did we do? Ian caused the book to fall and Flo put the book down so it opened."

"And I must have had help turning those pages over to the right one." Millie answered.

As he put his arm around her, Seth said, "Maybe the lesson was for us, Mill. Maybe that's why I had to wait for you."

Feeling the warmth of his arms, she murmured, "I'm so glad you did, Seth."

Seth sighed, "We should have let him be an Architect. We'll do that next time."

Millie sighed as she snuggled into his arms, "Next time. That sounds so good. Do you think there will be a next time?"

"Of course," he assured her. "They wouldn't break up such a good combination."

"Who knows? Maybe Junior will be an Architect this time. Maybe Ian will be an Artist. At least it will be their choice."

Seth kissed the top of her head as the light surrounded them.

End

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Mama's

Mama's Story Fini

"No questions from anyone unless Ada May says it's all right." Grandpa ordered. He looked like he was afraid she would run away again if he let go of her hand.

Annie blurted out, "I have to ask one question. Why did you come back now? You had thirty years to do that?"

Mama smiled. "I followed you. I knew you had found that picture and I saw the letters that came from a Private investigator. Then, when you said you were going to Kentucky to do some research for a new book, I thought I should be here to see that you got the right story."

Eddie cleared his throat before he told them, "I can't get over how much you two look alike. When Annie came into the station, I knew she had to be related to Ada May." He looked longingly at Mama before telling her, " I never got over you, Ada. "

Annie had to ask, "Are you my father?"

Mama held up her hand. "No more questions, remember. And, no, he is not your father." There was a total quiet around the table, waiting for Mama to continue. When she started to cry, Grandpa put his arm around her.

Eddie spoke, breaking the spell, "It was after graduation, wasn't it? I went to St Louis to look into the job market there. I knew you didn't want to move there. But I had to go. Damn me." Eddie said.

Mama patted his hand, "No, Ed, I should have…. shouldn't have. But I guess I was so mad at you that I went with Barb, my college friend to a Legion Dance. I met someone. His name was Theo. I think it was short for Theopholus. Never did know his last name. It was just a one night stand. I didn't even try to find him to tell him when I found out I was pregnant. I was so ashamed of myself , all I could do was run away from everyone I loved."

"To Cincinnati," Annie filled in for her.

"Yes," Mama sniffed and wiped her nose on her napkin. "College girls talk about a lot of things. One of the girls knew about a place that took in girls like me. I thought I would give the baby up for adoption. But when Edna, the lady who ran the place, saw that I couldn't do that, she got me the accounting job at the brewery. I had set up an accounting system for Edna's Place. She helped me until I was able to take care of Annie and myself."

Annie sighed, "So, that's how Edna became such a good friend. I always wondered. Neither one of you ever told me. But why didn't you come back here?"

Mama turned to Grandpa, "I thought about it so many times but, when I did, the old shame came back. I told myself that I was too busy or that it was best not to turn over old leaves."

Eddie Took out his handkerchief and blew his nose. "You should have trusted us. I spent many nights with your Dad. We consoled each other, wondering if you would ever come home. We surely didn't think it would take this long." He looked at Mama. "I had to take over the gas station when my Father died. Mom didn't last too long afterwards. So, I own a gas station if you'd still like to be engaged to me." Looking at Annie he told her, 'I'd be glad to have a daughter in the family."

Mama opened her purse and took out a ring. Putting it on her finger, she held her hand up. "You won't need to buy a ring."

Grandpa looked at all of them. "Well, I'm glad I got that settled," he stated.

They all laughed until Annie held up her hand, "Wait a minute. Mama, we've got to go to the forest and look up all those little people. I'll right another Children's Book. If it becomes a best seller, I can hire a detective to find out who my father is." When she saw Eddie shaking his head, she said, "Or maybe not."

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Mama's Story Cont.

MAMA'S STORY, THE BEGINNING
Joyce Peterson

Annie pushed the fallen leaves ahead of her with the toe of her 3 inch
heeled shoes, as she stumbled along the path through the forest. It had
diminished to a few rows of trees since the picture in her hand had been
taken. She knew she should have worn sneakers, but if she did find the
small cottage, that she hoped was there beyond the end of the path, and
it was still inhabited, she wanted to make an impression for her Mother's
sake. Mama didn't know she had come to this particular place, only that
she was going to Kentucky to do some research for a new book. Mama had
had that look on her face that said, "I'm not sure I believe you but
we'll talk about it when you get home."

Annie had reached her thirtieth birthday, but she still couldn't lie to
her mother without feeling guilty. Her Mother, on the other hand, had
kept her whole life, before Annie was born, a secret except for a few
facts that had sneaked out in their conversations.
She wondered if the forest in the picture was really the place, about
which Mama had told her all those wonderful stories when Annie was small.
Tales of tiny beings that made servants of the ants, and carriages of
the leaves , carriages drawn by centipede horses. Those stories were the
reason she had been able to hire the detective to seek out this sight.
When he had asked if she wanted him to find out anything about the
forest, she told him, "No," she would handle it . Mama's story belonged
to no one but the two of them.

Annie had worked for years in the same office of a small brewery in
Cincinnati where her mother had worked since she had been born. But,
her ambition had always been to be a writer. She had had a little
success with some of her other books. But nothing like her best selling
Children's Book. It had included all the stories her Mother had told her
about the "Little World in the Forest". She had to laugh to herself
every time she thought "Forest". All that was left now were these few
rows of straggly trees but the detective had given her specific
instructions and this was the place. Now, if there really was a cabin at
the end of this path, she felt that her money had been well spent.

She had found the photo by accident when, as a child, her Mother had
asked her to bring something from a dresser drawer. Although Mama
wouldn't answer any questions about it, except to say "It's just some
dumb old cabin in a forest in Kentucky", Annie had guessed that it had
been Mama's home before she came to Cincinnati. The forest had
diminished in size because of the new houses built at the edge, but there
was still enough of it left to be recognized in the picture, since the
gas station, where she had left her car, was still there on the corner.
It had a few minor updates but was much the same. The middle aged man
who seemed to run the station had looked at her as though he was going to
say something but changed his mind.

She had always felt the frustration of having to make up everything that
had happened to her Mother before she was born but, whenever she
questioned her about it, Mama would just say, "You don't need to know
about all that."

She had surmised, from some of Mama's brief answers, that the cabin had
been Mama's home where she had been raised by her Father after he own
Mother died. Mama had gone so far as to say that her Mother died when
she was born. Because of Mama's hesitation to mention anything about
the man who would have been Annie's Grandfather, she had visualized him
as so cruel, that Mama had to run away . She had gone to Cincinnati, the
closest big city to the small cottage in the Kentucky forest. Annie
decided Mama must have been pregnant with her, so she had wondered what
her Mother's father had done to her, when he found out, to make her run
away.

Mama had told her those exciting forest stories but had never told any
stories about herself. Annie had always liked stories to have a
beginning, a middle and an end. She felt that the life she and her
Mother had lived together was the middle of the story. She knew that the
beginning was the time Mama had lived in a cabin in this forest. When
the path ended, she looked across a big field and saw a cabin. She hoped
that, today, she could put some truth to the story she had made up as the
beginning of Mama's story.

Looking at the picture again she could see that someone had certainly
kept the cabin up to date. The yard in front was fenced in and there
were flower beds being tended by a man who didn't see her approaching.
She could see that he was quite old and wrinkled. He was smiling and
humming as he dug a trowel into the dirt to loosen some weeds.
This couldn't be her Grandfather whom she had always envisioned as tall
with a scowl on his face. Of course, her Grandfather must have died and
the property had been sold. As she walked up to the gate, the man looked
up. He dropped the trowel and came to meet her.

"Well, Ada May, I see you've come home. Got tired of the big city, did
you?" He asked as the smile seemed to encompass his whole face.
Annie didn't know how to answer him. Many of her friends had told her
that she looked like her Mother but who was this man who seemed to know
her Mother. She decided to play along as she told him, "Just thought
I'd drop by and see the old place. Did you know the man who used to own
this cabin, his name was Mullins?"

He laughed as he told her, "Knew him quite well. Still do, because I'm
that old scallywag. Surely I haven't changed so much you don't recognize
me, Ada May."

Annie looked at him for a few minutes trying to decide how to answer him.
She decided that only the truth could get them both threw an awkward
situation. "I'm not Ada May, Mr. Mullins. I'm her daughter Annie."

He reached across the gate and took her face in his hand. "Sorry, Annie.
I've waited so long for her to come home. Guess you might as well start
calling me Grandpa. Will Ada May be coming, too?"

When she shook her head, she saw misunderstanding in his eyes. She
hurried to tell him, "She's fine but she's not with me." Then she added,
"Not this trip." Annie knew at that moment that she was going to have to
make up a whole new story for Mama's past life.

"Is there a hotel nearby? I'd like to stay around for a while and get to
know more about some things that Mama never told me. I left my car at
the gas station near the path that brought me."

"Ada May's room has been waiting for her. I'm sure she wouldn't mind
your using it. I hope she will be coming soon but right now it will be
good to have it occupied. Your car is in good hands. Eddie Bleecken
owns that station. Eddie Junior has been running it since his Dad died.
Junior went to school with Ada May. I'll give him a call and tell him the
car belongs to Ada May's daughter He'll take really good care of it."

Annie smiled, "But I'll need the suitcase that's in the trunk if I'm
going to stay with you. I hope I'll still be welcome when I change into
jeans and sneakers. I can walk back and get it."

The old man held up his hand. "You'll do no such thing," he told her.
"Besides, Junior would have my skin if I didn't let him do a favor for
Ada May's daughter. He'll bring it down. I'll invite him to come for
dinner. I did learn to cook when I had to."

Annie couldn't believe her luck. Dinner with her Grandfather and a man,
who had been a friend of her Mother's, was more than she could have hoped
for. "If you're sure he wouldn't mind, that would be great. I did leave
my key with him. By the way, I learned to cook, too." She laughed.

When her Grandfather pushed the gate open and offered his arm, Annie
linked her arm through his and smiled as she told him, "O.K., Grandpa.
Let's see this cabin that I've dreamed about for so long." When she saw
him looking at her with a question on his face, she added, "I'll explain
later." When they entered the cabin, she saw a big room with a fireplace
that was dark and empty.

When he saw her looking at it, her grandfather explained, "It's been
pretty warm lately, besides, I had a furnace installed when we added on
to the house. I only start a fire, occasionally to save on the gas bill.
Now let me show you to Ada May's room. There's a bath room next door to
it, if you want to freshen up a bit."

Annie followed him down a long hall. When he opened a door to Mama's
room, the sunshine poured through a large window and lighted the hall.
Annie saw a room that held furniture that might have been purchased 40
years ago but, like the other furniture she had noticed in the living
roon, was so fine that it would probably last another 40. The doilies,
on the dresser and side tables, looked like the ones Mama had made for
their condo. When she saw the cover on the bed, she couldn't help but
exclaim,as she touched it, "How beautiful!"

Annie heard tears in Grandpa's voice, as he replied, "Ada May made it
just before…" He let the words trail into nothingness, then cleared his
throat to say, "She was going to have it after she married."
Annie wanted to ask him more but thought better of it.

"I better make that call. You'll like Eddie. He's a bachelor so I'm
sure he'll appreciate getting his dinner made for him," he told her.
As he started down the hall, Annie called after him, "Remember I can cook
if you need any help."

Cont.

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Black Hole

BLACK HOLE BANK 2

Ted Moller had finally worked his way up to the ATM machine at his bank. He had a few things to say to the machine so he was glad he was the last in line.

As he stepped inside the small enclosure, he patted the ATM gently. "Good evening, Clarissa," he told her. Ted always named the important inanimate objects and gave them gender. That way he could converse with them on a human level, which was good since he had few human friends to talk to. "You know I'm going to be 50 years old the 24^th of this month, April," he told her, then continued, "I'm only a janitor and my relatives all think they should send me money on my birthday. Since my folks died, my aunts and uncles…let'see there's, Uncles Elmer and Henry and Aunts Matilda and Helen…well, anyway, since Ma no longer reminds them of the date, they send me checks any time during April. A few days ago, I gave you Uncle Elmer's check and you gave me back my bank card but no deposit slip. I went in the bank to talk to the bank manager who turned me over to a nice looking lady of color like me, who checked and found just a piece of my check. She said the bank was sorry and wondered if Uncle Elmer could write a new check. I was sure he could but, when I got my pay check yesterday, I came inside to deposit it just to be sure. The same lady saw me. When I told her why I was there, she said that she was sure you would never do that again, so, here I am with Aunt Matilda's check. Please don't eat this one."

He had put in his bank card and punched his pin number then the Savings Account button and slid the check into the slot. He wasn't sure, but thought he heard an "Ummm" like someone swallowing a delicious morsel of food. When his card came back without a deposit slip he shouted, "Clarissa, you did it again.."

"Hey you," a man shouted. " What are you doing? Having a romance with the damn ATM? The wind is getting cold. Besides, some of the rest of us would like to get our turn." Ted hadn't realized that there were some new people in the line.

"Sorry." He apologized. " Didn't realize you were there. She ate my check again. Must be a black hole bank in there. Now I'll have to go in the bank and get it straightened out."

"Did you hear that? SHE ate his check. Wouldn't you know? There's a WOMAN in a Black Hole in there." Only the men in line laughed. The woman next to the man hit him with her purse.

Ted hurried to get inside the bank where he sought out the woman who had helped him before.

"Ah, Mr. Moler. Good to see you again. I hope all is well with you."

She did seem glad to see him, Ted thought. Maybe he shouldn't tell her.

The woman saw his hesitation. "Don't tell me Clarissa is acting up again."

Ted forgot he had told her about the name. Actually, she had told him she thought it was a nice thing to do. "I'm afraid so, she did it again," he answered. "This time it was Aunt Matilda's check. You won't believe this but it sounded like she enjoyed the taste of it."

The woman opened her eyes wide, saying, "We're going to have to have someone check her over, Ted."

He really liked the warm feeling he got when she said his given name out loud. "That's all right," he said. "I'm sure Aunt Matilda will write another check. I'll try Clarissa when I get another birthday check. Maybe I'll see you again soon."

The woman smiled. "That would be….nice."

Ted left the bank with the biggest smile he could remember ever having. It lasted all the way home on the bus and until he got to his 2^nd floor apartment and saw his neighbor standing in the hall, waiting for him. Ted was trying to think up a new way to tell his neighbor that he didn't have an extra bottle of beer for him when the neighbor reached into Ted's mailbox and pulled out the contents.

"Here you are. No charge unless you can spare a bottle of beer." The man had been looking at the mail in his hand before he offered it to Harry. "Mostly junk but one is from a Henry Moller. Might be important."

Ted's Mother had taught him to always be polite but the neighbor had put an end to Ted's politeness, when he pulled the mail out of the box. He shook the mail in the neighbor's face. "Uncle Sam takes a dim view of somebody stealing mail. And, NO, I don't have any beer for you." He unlocked his door, went in and slammed the door in the man's face.

Ted heard the man shouting, "Drink all your beer yourself you no good…" The rest of the speech was lost as the neighbor slammed his own door.

The smile returned to Ted's face as the vision of the nice woman at the bank came to him. "I'll have a beer and celebrate," he said as he approached the refrigerator. "OK, Eddie, lets see if you do have a beer. I met this nice lady at the bank today. It's the second time I had to get her help and, if that's a birthday check from Uncle Henry in the mail, I might have to see her again tomorrow. That is if Clarissa cooperates. I told you about her and what she did to me. If she does it again tomorrow, I'll have to go into the bank again."

Ted drank his beer and caught a baseball game on TV. Uncle Henry's check had been for his birthday,so, Ted went to bed and dreamed of the lovely lady of color at the bank.

The next day, at work, time seemed to stand still but closing time finally came. As Ted was making his way to the bank, he felt like someone was following him. Looking around, he saw no one and decided it was his imagination. At the bank, he was glad to be last in line, He had a few things to say to Clarissa and he wanted some privacy.

When the person in front of him had finished, Ted stepped into the small enclosure and gave the ATM a friendly pat. "Good afternoon, Clarissa," he told her Hope you're feeling better after eating my check yesterday." Ted put in his pin number and the deposit slip and Uncle Henry's check.

When he heard a female voice say, "I'm fine Ted. I hope you know how much your visits mean to me."

Ted looked around and saw no one. "It's me, silly, Clarissa"

Ted had never had one of the inanimate objects talk back to him. He was so surprised he couldn't speak.

More people had gathered in the waiting line. Someone yelled, "What are you doing, making love to that damn machine. Some of the rest of us would like to get our turn."

"Sorry," Ted told them "But…but…" He couldn't get any farther when Clarissa started to speak again.

"You are so kind that I've grown to l love you. I wanted to get your attention so I ate your checks but today, I'll give your check back and lots more so you can buy anything you want." Teds check came out first then the 20 dollar bills spewed out one after the other.

"What the…" said the first man in line. "He must have done something funny. Somebody with a cell phone, call the cops."

"No, No, please, I didn't…" Ted tried to explain. Then he heard a familiar voice yelling.

"I already called them. Sounds like their coming, neighbor. Let's see how much of your beer you can drink in a jail cell." Ted knew his neighbor had been following him to see how much trouble he could cause.

The next few minutes went so fast Ted could hardly remember what happened. He had been trying to retrieve all the bills. He was sure some of the people in line had helped themselves to a few of them. Then the police were there ordering everyone to turn over the money. One policeman took the money as evidence and the other one had handcuffed Ted and put him in the back of the police car.

He saw the lady from the bank trying to talk to the policemen but they told her she would have to come to the station to straighten it out. The next thing he remembered, he had been booked and put in a holding cell.

He didn't know how long he had been there when a cop opened the door. "Come on you, the one with the bank problem. You're being released." Ted followed him to the front of the station.

There was the lady from the bank talking to someone at the desk. When she saw him, she hurried over to tell him, "It's all right, Ted. I explained and they called the bank manager. He told them about the ATM, too."

Ted felt as though a tremendous weight had been removed from his shoulders. "Thank you, thank you," he kept repeating.

"We really apologize to you for the ATM causing so much trouble," she said.

Ted heard kindness in her every word. Then he heard himself saying something he didn't believe he could say, "But I got to meet you."

"And I got to meet you, Ted. Tell you what, I have some stew cooking in a slow cooker at home. Why don't you come home with me? We can share."

"Won't your husband mind having you bring a strange man home with you?" Ted asked.

She smiled at him. "Never got around to getting married, Ted. Just like you."

Ted returned her smile, with dividends. "You seem to know a lot about me but I don't even know your name."

She patted his cheek. "I thought you knew, Ted. I'm Clarissa."

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