Touchdown

by Yael Levy

“Charlie? What are you saying?”

  “Heaven is what we create on earth. We aren’t going to be in the same place.”

  “What?” Goldie choked. “Why?”

  Charlie looked away. “It’s all about love, Goldie. Who we love, how we love, how we give of ourselves to others, and who we might have caused pain to.”

  Tears streamed down Goldie’s face. “Mindy was so angry at me before she died.”

  “You didn’t let her love.”

  “I wanted to protect her!”

  Charlie grabbed Goldie and held her close. “But you killed her slowly instead.”

  “Oh, Charlie, what can I do? Is it too late for us?”

  Charlie shook his head. “There is hope if you can see in time—”

  “Mrs. Wisse.” Judy came in to her bed. “Do you need anything?”

  “Yes,” Goldie said. “Come close, it’s hard to talk.”

  Judy sat closer to Goldie. “What is it? Should I call the doctor?”

  Goldie shook her head. “No, there is nothing he could do for me now. Hand me my purse, please?”

  Judy handed the old woman her purse and watched her take out her checkbook and write a check.

  “I just wanted to give you and Allen a belated wedding gift.”

  Judy smiled. “Thank you, that’s so thoughtful. Especially after I know you disapproved of our love-match.”

  Goldie shook her head. “I was wrong.” Her hands trembling, she handed Judy the gift.

  Judy glanced at it. “What?” she said and stared at Goldie. “This can’t be right. Did you mean to add all those zeros?”

  “Yes,” Goldie said and squeezed Judy’s hand. “I may be an old coot but I’m not stupid.”

  Judy stared at Goldie. “But. But I’m not even family!”

  “Look, I don’t have much time, so listen carefully: The bulk of the estate has already been willed to a number of organizations. You and Allen are the only friends I could call family that I have left. I want you to pursue your dreams. Allen should go into business like he’s been dreaming of.”

  “But . . . ” Judy, overwhelmed, started to cry. “How could I ever pay this forward?”

  Goldie stared at Judy. “When you and Allen have children, remember us. Name your children for us and raise them with love—with lots and lots of love, because in the end, that’s all that matters.”

  Charlie came over and held out his hand. Music played in the distance and she glanced at the nurse, Judy, crying over her bed. She took his hand, floating with him into the heavens.

  “Was that good?” she asked him.

  Charlie smiled. “Well, it’s a start,” he said.

  • • •

  “It was about love . . . it was always about love. What does that mean?” Goldie said. She wished Charlie were there to explain it all. His wings were in jeopardy as were hers—if only she did what? Or . . . she could subsume this boy’s body and let him deal with the tribunal . . . Or could she? Time was moving fast.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Clay walked into Goodwill and looked through the aisles. He didn’t see Chumie, but he did see aisles full of shoes.

  “Ugh.” Goldie shook her head. “Secondhand stuff . . . this has to be my greatest nightmare.”

  “You kidding?”

  “Well, sort of.” Goldie noticed a pile of shoes that looked familiar. “Clay! My Louboutins! They’re over there! No, not those—those are no-name shoes. Move your hand to the right. That’s it. You must buy them!”

  “Huh? Now what would I do with a pair of lady’s shoes?”

  “Please, Clay. Just one pair. That pair. It’s just a few bucks and no matter that Leigh’s a tomboy—every girl loves a great pair of shoes. I’m telling you—if you want her to be happy—just buy the shoes.”

  Clay sighed. “Are you kidding me? We’re in hot pursuit of a wicked witch who will be marrying your ex-fiancé first thing in the morning and then might try to have your sister killed and you want me to buy a pair of shoes?”

  “They’re not just any shoes, Clayton. Trust me on this one?”

  Clay shook his head. “You know what? Okay, I will. We’ve been through a lot together. What do I have to lose?”

  He brought the shoes over to the cash register and waited in line to be served. An elderly lady was in front of him, a rabbi behind him.

  The cashier looked up from the register. “Wow, you got a great buy.” She nodded to Clay. “For your girlfriend?”

  Clay shook his head. “Better than a girlfriend—it’s for my everything. It’s for my Leigh,” he said as he handed her a few bucks. He looked up as two young people entered the store, carrying a huge carton.

  “Should we put this in the back?” they called out to the cashier.

  “Uh huh.” She motioned to them as they walked toward the other side of the store.

  “Clay!” Goldie yelled with excitement. “That’s Mindy and Avner! They’re here!”

  Clay nodded. “So what do you want me to do? Go over and tell them you’re inside me?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, “but do something!”

  “Hey, you want a bag with that?” the cashier said as she pointed to the shoes.

  “No, I’m good,” Clay said and walked over to Avner and Mindy as he carried his newly purchased Louboutins.

  “Hey, you need help with that box?” Clay offered Avner and Mindy.

  “That would be great, thanks,” Mindy said.

  Clay helped them bring the box into the storeroom.

  “Thanks,” Avner said before turning back to Mindy. “I never imagined how much bulk I could gain from lifting all of Goldie’s stuff.”

  Mindy smiled. “I’m glad we got it all done before the wedding tomorrow.” Mindy looked at Clay. “Goldie was my sister . . . ” Mindy started to explain to him.

  Clay smiled at Avner. “So you two are getting hitched tomorrow? Congratulations!”

  “Smooth,” Goldie whispered to Clay.

  Mindy blushed. “No, he’s marrying somebody else.”

  “Really?” Clay said skeptically. “You’re joking, right? You two look so good together.”

  This time Avner blushed. “You think so?”

  “Yes.” Clay nodded.

  Suddenly the room darkened.

  The hair on the back of Clay’s neck raised; he knew that witch was nearby.

  “Avner?” Mindy called. The sound of her voice permeated the entire store; the only other noise was the sounds of hundreds of barking dogs outside.

  Mindy and Avner paled.

  Clay clenched the shoes he held in his hands. “I don’t like this,” he murmured to Goldie.

  “Careful,” Goldie cautioned.

  Slowly, Clay, Avner, and Mindy exited the storeroom.

  Chumie was standing there, dressed in a wedding gown.

  “Avner,” she said. “I decided I don’t want to get married tomorrow morning.”

  “Oh?” he said. “Does that mean I’m free?”

  Goldie whispered to Clay. “She’s got him under some kind of spell.”

  “How do I break it?”

  “I don’t know!”

  Chumie shook her head and stared at Clay. “No. I want to get married right now!”

  She pointed to the rabbi. “Make us married.”

  He nodded. “We’ll need to get witnesses—”

  “Get them! Now!”

  Mindy turned to Avner. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  Avner shook his head. “No, I don’t! But I feel powerless to stop it!”

  The room grew darker, and instantly, Chumie and Avner were under the marriage canopy—an old checkered sheet, held by four random Goodwill shoppers.

  The cashier shook her head. “Now I’ve seen just about everything.”

  Chumie turned to the rabbi. “Rabbi, say the magic words. Make us married.”

  The rabbi stuttered and turned to Avner. “Do you have anything of value to give your intended?”

/>   Avner reached into his pocket and took out a wedding band, the one he’d bought when he was engaged to Goldie. Tears welled up in his eyes.

  Avner turned to Mindy. “Help, me, please,” he said quietly. “I feel so confused.”

  Mindy nodded and grabbed the ring from Avner’s hand. “That’s my sister’s ring,” she said in an uncharacteristically loud voice.

  Chumie’s eyes darkened. “No, you don’t. This wedding is going to happen, no matter what.”

  The room continued to grow darker, and all the dogs were suddenly inside of Goodwill, barking and yapping and jumping on all of the customers.

  Focus, Clay told himself.

  The rabbi turned to Avner. “Well, there are plenty of witnesses in the shop—”

  Chaos ensued as the customers tried to run from the dogs that were chasing them. In a panic, they ran around the shop. Shoes and clothes fell everywhere in a huge mess all over the store.

  “Okay,” Goldie said to Clay. “This is it. It just can’t get any worse. Can you do something?”

  “What?”

  “Focus. Pretend like you’re playing football. What would you do?”

  The rabbi advised Avner, “So hand her the ring and repeat after me. “Will you consecrate yourself to me, like the laws of Moses and Israel?”

  Avner handed Chumie the ring.

  Chumie, smoothing her wedding gown, looked up at Avner and grinned.

  “Avner!” Mindy cried. “Don’t do it!”

  Suddenly, a large Labrador jumped on Mindy and knocked her to the ground. “No!”

  “Will you consecrate yourself to me,” Avner said, “like the laws of—”

  Thonk!

  Avner blacked out as a shoe hit him in the head.

  Chumie looked up. “What was that?” She had only a moment before she saw Clay take the second Louboutin and hurl it at her head.

  Thonk!

  Chumie blacked out.

  The room was light again. The dogs were gone. Customers were browsing and making purchases.

  “Yes!” Clay yelled. “Touchdown!”

  Avner shook his head. “Mindy? What just happened?”

  Mindy wiped her face from where the Labrador had slobbered over her. “I have no idea.”

  Chumie was trying to sit up. She was about to say something else but had no time. Because Clayton Harper, number thirty-four of the Georgia Bullfrogs, along with Goldie Fischer formerly of Long Island New York, hurled Clay’s huge frame right on top of Chumie and tackled her.

  “Get off me!” Chumie cried.

  Goldie watched as a spirit separated from Chumie, who was pinned down by Clay’s sheer size. The spirit looked nothing like Chumie. She was an old soul with a haunted look in her eye.

  The spirit stared at Goldie. “So what, how long are you going to keep that girl squashed like a pickle in an unopened jar?”

  Goldie’s eyes widened. “Who are you?”

  The spirit pursed her lips. “A dybbuk. Just like you. I’ve been haunting Chumie for years, but to get that girl to give in to me has been a nightmare!”

  “You! So you got me killed! Why did you do that?”

  “I didn’t mean to. Was just having some fun playing with your mind about those dogs.”

  Goldie felt a pang of sadness but had no time to dwell on the misfortune. “So Chumie isn’t a witch?”

  The spirit shook her head. “Now what kind of a schmendrick believes in witchcraft?”

  Goldie paused. “Then if he wasn’t under a spell, why was Avner going to marry her?”

  The dybbuk looked at Avner then back at Goldie. “Maybe he was lonely. Maybe he didn’t feel like he had any other choice.”

  Goldie bit her lip. “Everybody always has a choice.”

  The dybbuk shook her head. “I don’t. Not anymore.” She looked at Chumie’s body, knocked out under the weight of the football player. “That girl’s body is tiring me. She’s been fighting me all these years. I’ve got to find me a better body. That football player looks like a strong one!”

  “Oh, no you don’t!” Goldie yelled, and the strength of her shout pushed the dybbuk into the air, where she landed right on top of the last dog in the store.

  “No!” she cried, but it was too late, as her soul merged into the dog’s body and the dog scooted out the door.

  “And good riddance,” said Goldie.

  Chumie picked up her head. “Is there a reason you are squashing me, sir?” she said in a small voice.

  “All clear,” Goldie said, and Clay stood up.

  Avner looked at Clay. “Um. Thank you?”

  When Clay didn’t respond, Goldie spoke up for him. “You’re welcome,” she said simply.

  • • •

  “It was about love!” Goldie exclaimed as Mindy and Avner started to say goodbye to Clay. She had stepped out of Clay to call out to Charlie, but there was no response.

  “My mission. It wasn’t about breaking up Chumie and Avner. It was about helping Avner and Mindy find love. And realizing Chumie wasn’t as much of a witch as I thought.”

  So why was she still on earth?

  “Charlie? Mom? Anyone there?” she called. She was ready to leave this football player, but clearly her job wasn’t done. But what else was she was supposed to do?

  She stared at Mindy, then Avner and back at Mindy. They were smiling at each other. Two cuties, like little fawns, she thought. They’d loved each other in a previous life, but she’d gotten in the way of their union.

  Of course! Mindy and Avner were soul mates. And my mission in life was to help Mindy—but not in the way I thought . . .

  Goldie focused. With a thump, her sister fell on Avner.

  “Oh, I am so sorry,” Mindy said, blushing, clearly embarrassed. “I don’t know what I tripped over?”

  Goldie noticed that Avner was blushing, too.

  “Uh.” Avner stood up, and then gulped. “You know, this has all been a bit crazy. Uh, would you—would, uh, you—want to, uh, go with me, maybe, uh, to a poetry reading? And—spend the rest of your life with me?”

  Mindy smiled as she held out her hand. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  And then, after Goldie thought she’d learned everything, she had another Eureka moment.

  Judy appeared. “Have you made your decision yet, Goldie?”

  She nodded. “It wasn’t hard to make. But first I have something to do.”

  “Sure. You still have a bit of time.” Her mother started to turn away.

  “Mama?” Goldie said.

  “Yes, Goldie?”

  “I love you, and I forgive you.”

  “I know,” Judy said. “I’m a guardian angel, remember?” She winked.

  • • •

  Goldie was back in Clay’s head for the last time. “Listen, there’s something I have to tell you. My time is running out and I’m going to leave you soon.”

  “Whew,” Clay said. “That’s a relief.” He was headed toward the Amtrak station. It was time to go home. He knew who he was going to call, and it wasn’t Carolyn or his parents. He didn’t care as much about football or the NFL or letting people down anymore. There was only one person he cared about.

  “Look,” Goldie said. “I don’t know if I’ll make it to heaven or rot in hell, but I want you at least to be happy.”

  “That’s sweet, but look, I have a train to catch and—”

  “About those shoes—make sure you take them to Leigh. Tell her to put them up for sale on eBay, but to check what they are worth.”

  “Are you kidding?” Clay said. “There’s a market for used shoes?”

  Goldie chuckled. “These aren’t any used shoes. They’re originals in perfect condition. And check out the signature on the sole.”

  Clay stared at the signature on the bottom of the shoe and tried to make out the letters. “Is that an autograph from—”

  “Yes.” Goldie slowly exhaled. “Dominique Chantreusse was trying on shoes beside me in the shop before she became so
famous. I’d heard her in a club and could always spot talent. So when I bought my shoes I begged her to sign them.”

  Clay’s eyes widened. “But they say she never signs autographs.”

  “She doesn’t. I think she got scared off when I begged her to sign my shoes.”

  Clay shook his head. “So these shoes are worth . . . ”

  “Yes,” Goldie said. “That’s what I was trying to tell you. The sale of those shoes should pay for you to study cooking in France—and open your restaurant, too.”

  Clay felt tears sting his eyes. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

  “It’s the least I could do for all of your troubles. Anyway, they’re your shoes now. Can’t do me much good where I’m going.”

  Clay swallowed. “I . . . ”

  “Look,” Goldie interrupted him. “I don’t have much time left. Your football days were awesome. They were crazy! Don’t get me wrong. You sure scored a lot of touchdowns. But Clay, you don’t need football to do that. Not if it’s killing you from the inside out. Go to cooking school and become a chef. Marry Leigh and have a gaggle of kids. Enjoy your life because you only get one shot at it. Live it to the fullest. And be happy.”

  Tears glided down his cheek, but he didn’t wipe them away. “I will,” he said simply.

  • • •

  The music played in the distance and grew stronger as Charlie approached Goldie.

  “They sent me to come for you,” he said.

  “Did I earn my stripes?” she asked.

  “What do you think?” He held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

  “I feel like I’ve been waiting forever,” she said.

  “Forever’s not so long.”

  She smiled and nodded toward the sound of the music. It was an old song, the one she’d heard many times in her dreams. “That’s my favorite song,” she said.

  Charlie smiled back. “Mine too.”

  “Really?”

  “It is now.”

  Goldie blushed as Charlie came closer. She gave him her hand and they danced together straight up to the heavens.

  EPILOGUE

  Clay tasted the bagels and lox with a huge schmear of cream cheese. “Hmmm,” he said, and offered a bite to Leigh. “The lox isn’t bad. I could get used to this.”

  “It is good,” Leigh said as she tried it, “but right now nothing is agreeing with me.” She patted her swollen belly.