Chihuahua Karma

by Rice, Debby

  The sidewalk was empty. Even the Streetwise people had gone. There was no traffic. “Richard,” I said, “I have to stop for a minute.”

  “I’m sorry. Am I walking too fast? Are you dizzy?” We stood under a streetlight.

  “No, not exactly. I just need to catch my breath.” I looked up at him, and I was not surprised to see Cherry’s face clearly reflected in his eyes. He folded me into his arms. My head was resting against his chest. I heard him whisper, “Cherry.”

  Richard pulled back. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I said that. It just happened. I can’t explain it.”

  “Don’t worry,” I said, reaching for his hand. Some things are impossible to explain. “Come on, let’s go. I just needed a minute.” We started walking again, this time faster. Up ahead at the corner, we saw flashing lights. A small crowd had formed around several squad cars.

  “I wonder what happened,” Richard said. His arm tightened around me.

  I squinted. Charmaine was nearsighted. I was having trouble with my vision.

  “A truck smashed into the mailbox on the corner. There’s glass all over.” Richard started to walk faster.

  “Hurry, Richard. What does the truck look like?”

  “It’s white with a green logo on the side that looks like a four-leaf clover.”

  I started to run.

  “Charmaine, be careful! It’s icy. You don’t want to fall again,” Richard yelled.

  I couldn’t stop. My heart was racing. I thought I might be too late. What if Lucille was hurt?

  “Officer, officer, what happened?” I felt the glass under my boots. The truck was up on the curb, its front end demolished. The window on the driver’s side was shattered, and the door was crumpled. I couldn’t see inside.

  The cop shook his head. “Kid driving without a license. Lucky there isn’t any traffic tonight,” he said, hitching up his holster.

  “Is anyone hurt?”

  “I don’t know. The medics are checking ’em out.”

  “Is there a little girl in there?” I asked.

  “Yeah, he told me it was his sister. They’re in the ambulance over there.”

  We hurried over to the ambulance.

  “We’re the little girl’s parents,” I said to the driver. He squinted and cocked his head. The message was obvious: How did this white couple produce an Asian kid?

  “She’s adopted,” I said.

  “Oh, sorry, ma’am. She’s in the back there. Hey, Arnold. I’ve got the girl’s parents here.”

  “They’re both okay. I’m letting them go,” said a voice from inside the ambulance.

  Richard and I breathed a simultaneous sigh of relief.

  The door opened, and Lucille and Edmund stumbled out. They were stunned. Lucille’s face was pale. Her knees were shaking through her pants. Edmund’s jacket and pants were torn. His hair was hanging over his eyes. In spite of the cold, he sat down on the curb and buried his head in his hands.

  “Oh, Lucille. Thank goodness you’re okay!” I threw my arms around her and gave her a hug. She stared at me as though I’d lost my mind.

  “Hi, Charmaine.” Her voice quavered. “Magnus was driving by and offered to give me a ride home from Walgreens, and the car slid on the ice. I’m fine.”

  “You don’t have to lie,” I said. “I know what you were doing. It’s okay. I’m going to take care of you from now on.”

  “What did you say?” She pulled herself back from my embrace.

  “I said I’m going to take care of you.”

  “But I thought you were going to Disney World. Does that mean I can stay with you and Larry?”

  “Well, we’re not going back to the condo. But yes, I’m going to take care of you.”

  “Do you really mean that, Charmaine? What about the Pattersons?” I could see Lucille’s body growing lighter. She straightened her shoulders. The corners of her mouth lifted in a tentative smile.

  “Don’t worry about them, honey. You’ll never see them again.”

  Lucille’s expression was grateful but wary. She was waiting for the old Charmaine to resurface.

  “I’m not going to write any tickets ’cause it’s Christmas, and this kid is probably already in enough trouble,” said the cop, indicating Edmund, who was still sitting on the curb with his head between his knees, rocking back and forth. “Are you going to make sure he gets home?”

  “Come on, Edmund.” I held out my hand. Groaning he hoisted himself up.

  “Let’s see if the engine will start.” Richard got into the front seat. The engine turned and he slowly backed the car off the curb and away from the mailbox. “Come on, everyone, get in. I spread my coat over the backseat for you, but there’s still tons of glass in here. Where are we taking you?” he asked Edmund.

  “It’s the dry cleaners just around the corner.”

  “That’s good, because I don’t think the van is going much farther. Here, let me give Sugar to you. I don’t want her getting hurt,” Richard said to me.

  “Oh, Sugar,” said Lucille. “It’s so great to see you. I didn’t mean to leave you, but I had to.” She kissed the still-trembling Sugar on the head, and for a moment I anticipated feeling that kiss. Thankfully, there was nothing. “Let me hold her. Okay, Charmaine?”

  “Sure,” I said, handing Sugar to Lucille. Charmaine would never have relinquished me so easily.

  “I’m really sorry, Firefly,” said Edmund. He put his arm around Lucille’s shoulders.

  “It’s okay, Magnus. You tried. It seems like everything’s worked out okay for me, but your parents are going to be really mad.”

  When we pulled up in front of the Lucky Dream, the sidewalk was littered with broken fragments of glass gleaming red and green. Strands of Christmas lights blinked mindlessly around a gaping hole in the store’s front window. Wire hangers and plastic bags filled with clothes rattled in the wind. The contents of Mrs. Lin’s desktop, chains of safety pins, laundry receipts, unlucky lottery tickets and ancient copies of People Magazine had been strewn all over the street. Scrawled in red spray paint across the side of the building was this message: “Pay Your Markers Or Lose Your Shirts—Merry Christmas Assholes.”

  “Shit, what happened to the store?” said Edmund.

  “It looks like your dad may have other things to worry about besides the car,” I said, remembering CJ’s threats about Tong’s gambling debts.

  Edmund ran down the street in the direction of the Lins’ apartment. I was surprised to see him move with such urgency. Before he reached the end of the block, the Lins’ rounded the corner. They were walking as fast as they could on the icy sidewalk. Mrs. Lin appeared to be covered in an enormous towel, which was actually a blue terry bathrobe. Tong was coatless, dressed in sweat pants and a sweatshirt.

  “What happened? We hear noise. Then doorbell ring and someone shout cuss words into intercom.” Mrs. Lin was breathing hard. Her hair was sticking to the side of her head she had been sleeping on. She was huffing and puffing like she might explode. “They gonna pay for this!”

  “No, I think we’re going to,” Tong said under his breath.

  “Edmund, what you doing out here? I thought you were in room.”

  “I was out helping Lucille with her computer, and her friends here walked me home.”

  Richard, Lucille, and I exchanged looks. Edmund’s nimble lie had stunned us.

  “Jesus, Ruby, look what they did to the van,” said Tong. Mrs. Lin just shook her head.

  Edmund was silent, and so were we.

  “Maybe you should call the police,” offered Richard.

  “I think we just let insurance take care of it,” said Tong.

  “I never see you before. How you know my son?” demanded Mrs. Lin. She was scrutinizing Richard, Lucille and me.

  “Well, I don’t really,” said Richard, “but he’s a friend of Lucille’s, I think.”

  “Yes, maybe you don’t remember me, but I’m Larry Finkelstein’s friend, Charmaine Rat
zinger. Zoya works for us.” At this point I really wanted to leave the Lins’ to sort out their own dirty laundry, but an explanation seemed to be required.

  Mrs. Lin gave me a look of complete disgust. I saw Charmaine’s red silk teddy dangling in her thought balloon.

  “Hey, I remember you,” said Tong, turning to Richard. “You’re the vet guy, aren’t you?”

  “That’s me,” said Richard.

  I wanted to clap my hand over Richard’s mouth, because I knew where his thoughts would go next.

  “You all have a mini Chi just like this one,” he said, indicating Sugar, who was cradled in Lucille’s arms.

  Mrs. Lin’s eyes fixed on Lucille and the dog. “I used to have mini Chi, but she stolen. Where you get this dog?”

  “We got her from a breeder in Indiana,” I said, repeating Charmaine’s chant.

  “What breeder’s name?” said Mrs. Lin, giving me the prosecutorial stare that she reserved for inquisitions with Edmund and Suzie.

  “Oh, it was quite a while ago. I really can’t remember—maybe it was something like Tiny Treasures or Little Loves,” I said.

  “Let me see doggie,” Mrs. Lin held out her hands to Lucille.

  “Sorry,” said Lucille, clutching Sugar to her chest. “She has a delicate spine.”

  “Nonsense,” Mrs. Lin said. She snatched Sugar away from Lucille.

  “Sugar doggie. You remember Mama, no?”

  Sugar looked at me, and I saw panic in her eyes. She growled at Mrs. Lin.

  “You no remember your best friend, Sugar doggie?” said Mrs. Lin.

  Sugar growled again, louder this time.

  “Ruby, leave the dog alone,” said Tong. “We’ve got enough to worry about. Let’s get back home and call the board-up service.”

  “Sugar coming back with us,” said Mrs. Lin. “Suzie tell me all about this lady. She stole my dog.”

  “You give her back right now,” said Lucille. She lunged at Mrs. Lin and made a grab for the dog, but Mrs. Lin pivoted and hurried back down the street with the now howling Sugar in tow. Richard, Lucille and I ran after her.

  “Listen, I’m sure this is not your dog,” I said grabbing the sleeve of Mrs. Lin’s bathrobe to get her to slow down. “But even if it was, Lucille loves Sugar. She’s lost her mom and her dad, and it will break her heart if you take the dog away. Let’s try to work this out.”

  Mrs. Lin stopped walking. She glared at me, unmoved. When I opened Charmaine’s purse, her eyes flickered with anticipation, and her belligerent expression softened. I took out Charmaine’s wallet and a pen. Inside the wallet was a check from Larry’s account that Charmaine, in an uncharacteristic moment of prudence, had stolen in case of emergency. I made the check out for $20,000 and signed Larry’s name. “Here, it looks like you could use a little cash,” I said, holding the check so that the Lins’ could see the amount.

  Tong looked at the check, and his mouth dropped opened. He reached for it, but I pulled it away.

  “You just trying to trick us,” said Mrs. Lin.

  “Mrs. Lin, you know Larry Finkelstein has a pile of money. This check is good. But if you don’t give Sugar back right now, I’m going to tear it up.”

  “Give the dog back to Firefly, Ma,” said Edmund.

  “Firefly—what kind of name that? You think you tell me what to do? Go home right now, you fat, lazy boy.”

  “Ruby, let’s get out of here before whoever did this comes back,” said Tong.

  “Okay, give me check, then I give you Sugar,” said Mrs. Lin.

  “No,” said Richard. “You give the dog to me, and then Charmaine will give you the check.”

  “Okay,” said Mrs. Lin. She handed Sugar to Richard. “But don’t try no funny stuff.”

  I held out the check and Tong snatched it from my hand. They turned on their heels and hurried back down the street.

  “Take that check to the bank as soon as it opens, and cash it right away. Don’t wait,” I yelled.

  “Bye, Firefly. I guess I have to go home now. Maybe we could meet at Starbucks tomorrow.”

  “Bye, Magnus. I’ll text you,” said Lucille. “We’ll never tell about the van, right Charmaine?”

  “Right,” I said. “Look, Richard, there’s a cab.” I held out my arm. The cabbie stopped in front of us, and we all climbed in.

  “Where to?” he said.

  There was a pause. Unsure how to answer, Lucille and I were silent.

  Richard spoke up, “2850 East Bellevue. We’ll go to my house. Have a little Christmas Eve dinner. You two can spend the night in the guest room, then figure out what you want to do tomorrow.”

  Chapter 28

  “I know I am deathless…We have thus far exhausted trillions of winters and summers, There are trillions ahead, and trillions ahead of them.”

  Walt Whitman

  On Christmas morning, I opened my eyes to an amazing sight. My bed was facing a large rectangular window that framed a view of Lincoln Park. Row after row of trees were iced with brilliant snow. Their interlocked branches formed a lacy canopy over the quiet landscape. The sun, a yolk-colored disc obscured by clouds, filled the room with diffuse light. Jazz was playing softly on the stereo. From the kitchen came the smell of coffee, burnt sugar and toasted bread. Lucille was fast asleep beside me, and at the foot of the bed sat Sugar. I wondered how long she had been watching us. Her eyes were saucers of fear. She swiped the sides of her snout with her tongue as if she was trying to talk. I looked her in the eye and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what would happen. I did the best I could. At least you didn’t have to go home with Mrs. Lin and sit in a plastic basket all day.”

  As I spoke, she laid down with her head on her paws and continued to stare at me balefully.

  “Lucille, wake up. It’s Christmas.” I shook Lucille’s shoulder and ran my hand over her sleek black hair. She wriggled down into the covers. Just then, I heard Charmaine’s cell phone. I reached for her purse, which was beside the bed, fished around for the phone and checked the caller ID. It was Larry’s number. Curious to see what he would have to say, I flipped the phone opened.

  “Oh, thank God. Miss Charmaine, where are you? Where is Luci? I been so worried. There nobody here. Stuff all over the apartment. Darien say the police come here last night. They take Mr. Larry and Mr. CJ away.”

  It was Zoya. “What are you doing there, Zoya? I thought you were taking Christmas off.”

  “Oh, I just come by to make sure Luci okay.”

  “Well, guess what, Zoya?” I said. “You’re fired.”

  “What you talking about? You can’t fire me. Mr. Larry only one who can fire me. When you bringing Miss Luci back? The Patterson’s gonna be waiting for her.”

  “I know what you were up to with Mrs. Fletcher and the Pattersons. You’ll just have to take care of that mess yourself,” I said. “Lucille and I aren’t going back there anytime soon. Praise Jehovah!”

  I heard a surprised intake of breath. “You gone crazy,” she said.

  “No, I just got sane.” I flipped the phone closed.

  “Did you mean that?” said Lucille. “I don’t have to go to the Pattersons?”

  “Absolutely,” I said. “I’m not sure how we’ll manage, but we’re going to be okay. I’m going to take care of you. We won’t have everything we had at Larry’s, but you, me and Sugar, we’ll do just fine. Let’s get up now and see what Richard is doing. It smells like he’s trying to cook breakfast, but he might need a little help.”

  Lucille and I, both wearing Richard’s T-shirts, climbed out of bed. We wrapped our blankets around us and headed into the living room. Richard had made a fire. Beside the fireplace was a scraggly Christmas tree decorated with an assortment of Walgreens ornaments.

  “Merry Christmas, girls. I was just making waffles, but it looks like I burned the first batch. Sorry I’ll try again.”

  “No problem. We’re here to help,” said Lucille. “I’m really good at waffles. Let me give it a try.”

/>   While Lucille made breakfast with Richard, I looked out the window. Across the park, I saw Larry’s condo. I looked up at the penthouse. I could just make out the Christmas lights that Brandon and Jared had used to decorate the terrace. The closest I would probably ever get to a place like that again would be doling out cookies at the open house. Richard came up behind me. He put his hand on my shoulder.

  “You know, you’re not at all the person I thought you were.”

  “Really?” I said, turning around to look at him.

  “At first I thought you were one of those crazy socialites, but you’re nothing like that.”

  “I hope not,” I said.

  “It’s great having you, Lucille and Sugar here on Christmas morning. I could get used to this.”

  “Me too.” I said.

  Sugar whimpered. She had been whining all morning. She gazed at me, eyes huge and wet. I picked her up and held her next to my chest like Charmaine used to hold me. “Don’t worry, Suggie,” I whispered in her ear. “We’ll always take good care of you.”

  “What is making her so upset?” said Richard. “I’ve never seen her this nervous. She seems like a different dog. Let me hold her for a minute. Maybe I can calm her down.”

  As soon as Richard touched Sugar, she stopped crying and licked his hand.

  “There you go, puppy. What got into you?”

  “Well, she had a little accident,” I said. “Something happened to her when I fell.”

  “She was really upset while you were unconscious. She wouldn’t stop licking your face, but she’s not hurt,” he said running his hands over Sugar’s body.”

  “I’m afraid it’s more complicated than that.” I reached over and rubbed my finger between Sugars ears.

  “I think she’s just a little sad,” said Lucille. “I miss my mom. I used to see her, but I don’t think I’m going to anymore. Maybe Sugar is missing someone too.”

  “You’re not lonely, are you, Sugar girl?” said Richard stroking her back. “All your best friends are right here.”