Another Generation

by Roberta Kagan

  Warren walked into the sitting room. His steps were heavy so Haley was not startled when he came up behind her and kissed the back of her neck.

  “You’re even more beautiful in the morning without makeup,” he said.

  “You’ve seen me without makeup before.”

  “Yeah but in the bright sunlight from this window, you are truly gorgeous. How did a guy like me ever get this lucky?”

  “I was thinking that I was the lucky one,” she whispered as he knelt beside her and kissed her hand.

  “Come back to bed?” he asked.

  She nodded and smiled.

  Later that day they took a carriage ride. Then they stopped at an outdoor café where they ate cold lobster and hummus. They walked hand in hand through the old city, and then they went back to their room and made love again. Afterward they took a long, leisurely nap.

  That night, they dined in the hotel restaurant where they had Chateaubriand for two followed by peppered strawberries flambé for dessert.

  And so, two glorious weeks passed very quickly.

  CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

  When Haley and Warren returned from Canada they moved into his two-bedroom condominium in downtown Evanston not far from the shop. She went back to work to find that business was already booming for Halloween. Mothers of schoolchildren were ordering large trays of muffins for their children’s classrooms. Each tray was decorated with pumpkins, witches, and black cats.

  Rhonda Lyster proved to be a great asset. She was hardworking, willing to stay late when necessary, and both Haley and Abby liked her. The holiday season was busier than ever. Rhonda had designed a mold that was a giant turkey, which was more of a giant decorated cake than a muffin, but it sold like crazy. Then at Christmas time, Abby created a tree with holders for mini muffins on each branch, so the muffins looked like ornaments. This too was a very popular gift item.

  After the holidays ended, the girls remained busy enough to keep Rhonda employed. The three of them collaborated and created all kinds of holiday-themed gift items. A giant heart made of red velvet cake for Valentine’s Day. Chocolate-mint shamrock muffins for Saint Patrick’s Day, a flag cake for the Fourth of July. And not only did they have an increase in their basket and gift line, their daily business increased. When they first opened, it didn’t seem feasible to add the sandwiches and salads as Ida suggested. There were only the two of them and there was too much baking to be done. Besides, they weren’t sure how much to order or even if the food aspect would sell. But now, with Rhonda to help and a comfortable income to fall back on, they decided to add the additional items to their menu.

  Haley and Abby weren’t becoming millionaires by any means, but they were earning a nice living and were able to pay Rhonda a decent salary.

  CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN

  Spring 1998

  Abby couldn’t complain. Life was good. Her business was thriving. She was getting along very well with her mother, and she spent each day at work with her sister, who was also her best friend. Mark and John called three times a week and came to Chicago to visit every couple of months. All was well except that John was right; Abby truly was lonely. She was happy for Haley but when she saw Haley and Warren together, she secretly longed for someone to love. She and Rhonda went out a couple of nights to clubs that Rhonda suggested but the dating scene was still a disappointment. Sitting in those clubs made Abby feel like a piece of meat on display. She was trying to find a way to become more social so one night she went out with an older professor whom she met at the shop. He was a nice man, almost twenty years her senior and a widower. She thought that he should have been a good match for her. At least he wouldn’t be only interested in sex. However, although he was kind and considerate, there was no chemistry between them. Abby wanted to make more of the relationship than it could be. She even tried kissing him but she felt nothing.

  Warren dropped into the shop occasionally for a muffin and a kiss from Haley. Sometimes he strategically brought a single friend who was also a police officer. Most of them were very nice, one or two tried to be cocky and played hard to get. It didn’t matter; Abby wasn’t interested in any of them. The truth is I just don’t have romantic feelings towards any of the men I meet. I feel like something is wrong with me. I guess everything I went through with men earlier in my life has left me permanently damaged. I should just resign myself to spending my life alone. I would have liked to have a kid, but I don’t think it’s in the cards for me. Oh, well . . . I make a great maiden aunt for Julie.

  On a slow day, the girls were sitting in the back having a cup of coffee when Rhonda made a suggestion.

  “I have been taking computer courses. I think it would be a great idea for us to have a computer at the shop. We could keep track of everything. It would help with inventory and help us know how much waste we have. Things like that.”

  “ A computer? Isn’t that really expensive?” Haley asked.

  “Yeah, it can be. But I already have one. I’ll bring it in if you guys want. We can set it up here in the back but we will need to put in an extra phone line in order to connect in case we want to use the internet.”

  “The internet?”

  “Yes, it’s really cool. You guys are going to love it. I could teach you both how to work the computer. I think computers are the way of the future.”

  “I’d love to give it a try,” Abby said. “I’ve never used one. But, I’ve seen them and heard about them.”

  “They are amazing,” Rhonda said. “You would have a totally accurate account of everything you spend, everything you earn. It would help with inventory and you wouldn’t need to spend so much time on paperwork.”

  “It sounds really interesting. What do you think, Ab?”

  “I like the idea.”

  “Okay, Rhonda. You’re on. Bring the computer and we can call Illinois Bell in the morning and have them put in a second line. It shouldn’t be too expensive.”

  “I’ll bring it tomorrow,” Rhonda said.

  CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT

  Rhonda came to work the following day carrying a giant tower, a monitor, and a large keyboard. After the phone company arrived and put in a second phone line, Rhonda spent the remainder of the day setting up the computer including installing a disk with a business program she purchased.

  The following months were spent learning how to use the computer and the new program. It was efficient but complicated so it was taking both Haley and Abby some time to master. On days when the shop was slow, Rhonda did her homework on the computer. The girls didn’t mind. She’d become a part of the family.

  By the time the holidays rolled around again, all three of them were proficient in working the program. Once they knew how to work the computer, they found that it made placing and keeping track of orders a lot easier. It was particularly helpful for large orders of several baskets with various types of muffins.

  In the summer of 1998, Haley became pregnant. It hadn’t been as easy to conceive as it was when she got pregnant with Julie. Abby knew that Warren and Haley had been to several fertility clinics. She didn’t know the extent of the treatments Haley had done, but she knew that Haley had been frustrated and was thrilled that she was finally going to have another baby. But since Haley got pregnant, she was often tired. Haley was worn out; Abby could see it in her sister’s face so she insisted that Haley go home early and rest.

  Abby missed Haley living with her and Eidel. She missed Julie too. The truth was, she felt isolated after work. It wasn’t anything that Eidel did wrong, her relationship with Eidel was good but it was not the same as having Haley at home. Eidel was older and Abby couldn’t talk to her about the same things she could talk to Haley about. So rather than race home after work, Abby occasionally stayed late with Rhonda while Rhonda finished her homework. On one such evening in late August when the summer heat did not disappear just because the sun went down, Rhonda showed Haley something new she’d found on the computer.

  “Check this out,” Rhonda
said. “A friend of mine introduced me to it.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s called a chat room. You can talk to people all over the world by typing right here.”

  “I don’t understand,” Abby said.

  “Okay, watch me. My name is Doglovergirl.”

  “Okay,” Abby said, sitting down and looking at the screen. “Doglovergirl?”

  “You know how much I love dogs?”

  “Yeah, I do,” Abby laughed. “Hold on, let me get us some coffee. I can’t wait to see this.”

  Abby came back with two cups of coffee and sat down in front of the computer next to Rhonda. “Hi everyone,” Rhonda typed. It came up on the screen as a message from Doglovergirl.

  “Hi,” someone called Sweetpea answered.

  “Hello,” another person called Robinred wrote.

  “How is everyone tonight?” Doglovergirl asked.

  “Fine,” several people responded.

  Abby turned to Rhonda. “This is kind of fun.”

  “It is, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You want to play?” Rhonda asked.

  “Sure.”

  “What do you want your name to be?”

  “How’s mysterylady?”

  “Okay, let’s try it.” Rhonda entered the name but it had already been taken. “Try another one.”

  “Try GabbyAbby. That fits, doesn’t it?”

  “Not really, you’re really kinda quiet. But I’ll try it anyway,” Rhonda said as she typed in GabbyAbby. The chat room site accepted it.

  “There you go, GabbyAbby, you’re on.”

  Abby first started chatting in the room Rhonda had chosen. It was called “Students From Northwestern U.”

  Then they went into a psychic chat room where everyone had magical names like “Darkraven” and “Seer.” Neither Abby nor Rhonda typed anything in that room. They just watched as the psychics offered to read for the people posting.

  “I am afraid of this,” Abby said. “In case there is anything bad in the future . . . I would rather not know.”

  Next, they went to a room that was called “Single in New York City.”

  “We’re not even in New York,” Rhonda said.

  “I know,” Abby laughed. But look, some guy named RashadOne wants to know if anyone knows of a kosher butcher in Greenwich Village. Does Rashad sound like a Hebrew name to you?”

  “I have no idea. Ask him.”

  GabbyAbby: “Hey Rashad, are you Israeli? Or is that a Hebrew name?”

  RashadOne: No Gabby, it’s a Muslim name. We Muslims eat only kosher meat.

  GabbyAbby: Oh, interesting. I don’t know of a kosher butcher in the village, but I could ask my brother and get back to you.”

  RashadOne: I would appreciate that if you think he might know.

  GabbyAbby: No guarantees. But I’ll call him tonight and ask him.

  RashadOne: Will you be here sometime tomorrow night?

  GabbyAbby: You mean in this room? Abby wrote, then she turned to Rhonda, “It’s not even a room really, it’s just a computer screen.” They both laughed.

  RashadOne: Yes. Maybe we could meet right back here in this room at a specific time and you could give me the information you get from your brother.

  Abby shrugged her shoulders as she looked at Rhonda. “Should I agree to meet him back on the computer?”

  “Sure, why not? He’s in New York. What can it hurt? And besides, he doesn’t even know your full name.”

  “You’re right,” Abby said and then answered him.

  GabbyAbby: I’ll be in this room tomorrow night at nine.

  RashadOne: I’ll be waiting for you.

  “I’ll have to call Mark when I get home and ask him if he knows of any kosher butchers. Come to think of it, I’ll ask John. He’s the one who would know,” Abby said. “But we should get going, it’s late.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY NINE

  Neither Mark nor John had any idea where to find a kosher butcher.

  The following night after the shop closed, Rhonda logged on to the computer. The dial-up made a strange noise, then a buzzing, ringing sound. Once they were connected, Rhonda clicked on the room “Single in New York City.”

  “Just tell him that my brother doesn’t know of any kosher butchers,” Abby said.

  “You want me to tell him on your name?”

  “Yes, sure.”

  GabbyAbby: Hi RashadOne, my brother doesn’t have any info for you, sorry.

  RashadOne: Thank you for trying. By the way, do you live in New York?

  “Come over here and talk to him yourself, Ab. I’ve got to get going,” Rhonda said. “I’ve got a big test at eight tomorrow morning.”

  “Okay,” Abby said, sitting down at the computer. “Have a good night, Rhonda.”

  Abby began to respond to RashadOne.

  GabbyAbby: No, actually, I live in Chicago. My brother lives in New York.

  RashadOne: I just moved here and I don’t know anyone so I was hoping to make some friends in this room.

  GabbyAbby: New York is huge. You shouldn’t have much trouble. But I was just wondering, why did you move there?

  RashadOne: The company I work for is here.

  GabbyAbby: What do you do for work?”

  RashadOne: I’m a financial analyst. Boring, I’m afraid. What do you do?

  GabbyAbby: I own a muffin shop.

  RashadOne: That must be fun. You must meet a lot of people.

  GabbyAbby: I do. Where did you move from?

  RashadOne: Egypt.

  GabbyAbby: No way. Really?

  RashadOne: Yes. I lived there all my life.

  GabbyAbby: Your English is very good.

  RashadOne: I’ve been studying English in school since I was ten. I am fluent.

  GabbyAbby: I can tell. Anyway, I am going to go. Have a good night.

  RashadOne: Wait, Gabby. Tell me more about you.

  GabbyAbby: What do you want to know?

  RashadOne: What is your favorite food? Where do you like to go for fun? Have you seen any good movies lately?

  GabbyAbby: You really do need to make some friends in New York. It sounds like you just want to keep me on here because you’re lonely.

  RashadOne: Can’t lie to you. I am. It’s hard to be in a city so far away from home. I miss my family. And it costs a fortune to call them.

  GabbyAbby: To call Egypt? I bet it does. This reminds me. I had better give my mother a call and tell her that I am going to be late tonight.

  RashadOne: Okay.

  GabbyAbby: I’ll be right back.

  Abby called Eidel and told her she was going to be doing inventory and would be home late. “Don’t hold dinner for me,” she said. Then Abby turned her attention back to the screen. She was enjoying the idea of talking to a man without any commitment. I will never meet this man. He is nothing more than words on a screen that make me feel less alone. And the good thing is that this is safe. I can’t get hurt.

  RashadOne: Have you ever been to Egypt?

  GabbyAbby: No, my parents spent a year in Israel when they first got married before they moved to the U.S.

  RashadOne: You’re Jewish?

  GabbyAbby: Yes. And I am proud to be Jewish. Is that a problem???

  RashadOne: No, why would it be? You might not realize this, but our religions are very similar. And we both eat kosher meat.

  GabbyAbby: I don’t (laughing out loud). I probably should.

  RashadOne: Believe it or not, it tastes better.

  GabbyAbby: I’ll have to give it a try.

  Gabby and Rashad talked about nothing until the clock struck midnight. They shared their favorite flavors of ice cream and that they both felt sad on rainy days. Then Abby told him she really had to get going.

  GabbyAbby: I live with my mother and she’ll be worried. She is probably already worried.

  RashadOne: Can we talk again tomorrow night?

  Abby thought for a moment. Then she wrote:
<
br />   GabbyAbby: Sure, why not?

  This went on for several weeks. Abby found herself looking forward to closing time when she could get on the computer and tell Rashad all about her day. At first, they only discussed silly things, like movies they’d seen, what they ate for lunch, books they read. But as the weeks passed, they began to talk about their families, their feelings, the things that they hoped for, their dreams.

  Abby became curious about what Rashad looked like and how old he was. That night, she asked him. He sent a picture of a handsome but shy-looking, dark-haired, dark-eyed man.

  RashadOne: I’m 37

  GabbyAbby: I’m 33.

  RashadOne: I hate to seem bold, but I must admit, I am curious. What do you look like? Can you send a picture?

  Abby read the words and was suddenly worried that he would not find her attractive. She had no idea how to go about sending a picture on the computer. If she were going to do this, she would have to ask Rhonda for help, and then Rhonda would know that she was still talking to this guy. Rhonda would tell her sister and it would all become very real.

  GabbyAbby: I don’t know how to put a picture on the computer.

  RashadOne: That’s okay.

  Then Abby thought about it. She wanted him to see what she looked like.

  GabbyAbby: Can I send it to you through the mail?