Their Bit

by Corbert Windage

suddenly twitched. It seemed that the machines were now doing almost everything for her. The doctors had explained that the machines could keep her going almost indefinitely. But the human body was not built for indefinite periods of remaining sedentary. Muscles atrophy at a rapid rate. Electric current would help forestall a complete breakdown of her tissue, but eventually…

  "Lauren," he said much louder and harsher than he intended. "Sorry, I mean… well this is all fascinating. Bizarre also comes to mind; but that is because we both have been there and done that."

  A thought came to Lloyd's mind of how the old Civil War veterans must have felt when they revisited the battlefields of their youth. A least Lauren hadn't said anything about him doing anything as out of the question as that.

  "What I'm trying to say is what does this have to do with us? With me?"

  "They want us to be a part of it Lloyd." Lauren said as calm as if telling the time. "At least to provide historical background. Maybe conduct the first tours. Definitely to record our stories for the different stations along this Valor Road thing. In fact, the last provision states that without our cooperation the entire project is null and void."

  Now she says it, Lloyd thought.

  Two hours later Rhoda opened her eyes, smiled at Lloyd, who was in the middle of his usual recital regarding their future, looked down and saw the engagement still on her finger. She then looked back at a now smiling, silently crying Lloyd. "The children," she grated, a bare whisper out of vocal cords shrunken, like the rest of her, from years of disuse. "They're all okay, thanks to you sweetheart," he said, unable to keep the utter astonishment of seeing her again out of his voice. "Sorry, shoulda told you," she strained out, sounding like wind whistling through electrical lines. He shook his head, smiling. "That's okay, later." She smiled once again, a grinning skull. "Love you," she mouthed. He took her hand, kissing the pale- dry skin. "I love you too, sweetheart." Eyes locked, they communicated that way a moment longer. A slight breeze caressed Lloyd's face. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and when he opened them he saw Rhoda's eyes, still fixed on him but staring at eternity. "Always," he said.

  Her funeral was held three days later back at Schonefield. All eyes were on Lloyd Foster. He delivered the eulogy and no visitor to the coffin failed to notice the engagement ring that graced Rhoda's finger. Her parents were little more than bystanders. Their apparent lack of concern for their daughter, only three cursory visits in two years according to an anonymous hospital source, had had a telling effect on the public's opinion.

  Herb Delcum, whose reaction at Andrea's desire for a divorce had cost him a night in Schonefield's jail, was confronted outside the cemetery by three long suffering mistresses, whose shock at discovering that, contrary to Herb's repeated assurances that each was next in line for the dubious title of Mrs. Delcum, there was competition. Only the quick action of Schonefield's police force, and the security hired by Jim Moss at Lloyd's behest prevented a solemn occasion from becoming a circus. The ladies, as well as Herb Delcum, were quietly escorted away in opposite directions. Herb immediate decision to leave town, followed by his mysterious fatal car crash a less than a week later, surprised no one in particular.

  Andrea Delcum's Morris Melton decision was, as Herb had predicted, her undoing.

  Her lawyer had never stopped trying to get her to see reason regarding the Melton show. Nor had the list of far most prestigious, and lucrative, offers swayed her in the least. Melton was the regional must see show, and she absolutely had to be on it! Sitting on the face of those who would pity her, became an obsession that Andrea Delcum, now the widow Delcum, would not be denied. Bowing to the inevitable, her lawyer had, true to his word, indeed made it happen. And although there was no northwestern Cathy Couch Potato claiming a paternal link to Ben Affleck while currently in a motherly way courtesy of Sashquash, there was the frequent guest of the show – a certain Mr. Roland, whose claim of psychic powers extended to communicating with the dead.

  Too late did Andrea discover the truth in both Herb's and her lawyer's warnings. Once she had agreed with Mr. Roland that several of his messages had indeed come from her daughter, (that made good television after all, even she was media savvy enough to know that!) she was floored to discover that her newly deceased ex husband also had a word for her. Mr. Roland channeled Herb's message that he knew that Rhoda was not their daughter because of a Gulf War injury that had left him sterile. Herb, according to the psychic, now with Rhoda alongside, wanted to know who the real father was! Andrea's fervent denials followed by her breaking down as the closing credits rolled made for great television Morris told her afterward.

  What her lawyer later told her was not so encouraging. All the previous offers dried up like water in the desert. No one wanted to touch the Schonefield Slut as one producer had called her. Considering she was damaged beyond redemption goods, her lawyer considered their professional relationship at an end. However, if she wanted to try and resurrect their private relationship…

  Later that night, while the lawyer slept, Andrea Delcum walked off the seventeenth floor balcony and, if Mister Roland's prognostications were to be believed, into the company of her inquisitive ex-husband and daughter.

  The following week the lawyer appeared on the Morris Melton Show.

  Bea Morgan

  It was shortly after Rhoda's funeral that Lloyd and Lauren met with the Schonefield Group. Neither was surprised that Bea Norton chaired the meeting. Lloyd wasn't surprised to find one of the chief investors in attendance was James 'Big Jim' Moss.

  Both were treated with the deference they had come accept. When after an hour of sitting in on what seemed a myriad of procedural gobbledygook Lauren asked Lloyd if he was ready to leave.

  "More than ready," he said.

  Both stood up, and upon been recognized by Mrs. Morgan asked if their continued presence was necessary. She apologized and assuring them that she hadn't meant to keep them for so long. Would they be willing to make a verbal commitment here and now affirming that they would willing serve as guide for the first summer of the project?

  Both agreed.

  Finally, would both be willing to record their stories so that visitors to the Valor Road could hear, first hand, what occurred when and where. This would entail doing the actual recordings on site. Would you be willing?

  Lloyd looked at Lauren. Her composed face told him that she had at least come to terms with her demons. Although how Lloyd had no idea.

  "Yes," she said, clear and steady.

  Lloyd for his part turned and caught Jim Moss's eye. With a bare nod to his benefactor, Lloyd turned to the assemblage and said, "Yes, me too."

  Ever the schoolmarm, Bea Morgan then said, "Fine! Then you are dismissed." Catching herself, but not before the choked outburst of laughter from the investors quickly flushed her naturally ruddy complexion a darker shade of crimson she added, "Sorry. Old habits and all that. We'll be in contact and settle on a date for the recording as well as a salary I'm sure you'll both consider…," here she paused and scanned the group before again addressing Lloyd and Lauren, "adequate," she said with finality.

  It was mid June before a settlement all parties (mainly Bea Morgan) could agree on. Some potential investors, sensing a low profit margin backed out. Jim Moss stayed on. Lloyd suspected that being in on the ground floor of America's newest Alamo was too great a temptation for the bona fide Texan to resist. That and his implied threat to bring in outside (again Lloyd read Texan) money swayed most local investors to stay the course. Their personal relationship had grown since that meeting in Helena. Jim asked him one day about his future and in typical Lloyd fashion he claimed to have honestly not given it much thought.

  "Lot of world to see Lloyd, if you're not married to Montana," Jim said with a smile. He went on to explain what Lloyd already knew from his own research, that Moss Enterprises was a successful national and international business. There would always be a place in it for the likes of Lloyd Foster. No pressure mind you, j
us something to think about.

  Lloyd promised him that he would.

  Lauren had finished up her junior year, and was working as a camp counselor in Wyoming when, in late August, the call came from Mrs. Morgan. Her and Lloyd's recollections were needed within the next week or so if that okay with her.

  It was almost time to walk the Valor Road.

  They met with the producer, Art Wellman back at Schonefield. He assured them that the utmost respect and consideration would be given them. If, at any time they found themselves unable to go on just say the word and arrangements would be made to complete their stories in a studio. It was for the sake of memory that they were initially asked to do it on location. He showed them the recording equipment and introduced them to his staff. He hastened to reassure them that he realized the potential pain involved in dredging up such horrific memories. But he added that countless generations yet to come would have their stories, in their words, of what took place that day.

  Lloyd and Lauren both agreed, but with one caveat. Their story would not begin with the flight, but at the school, and at 8:15 when the school day began. It was in many respects, the last normal moments of their lives. It was a day they had relived over and over in countless daydreams and