Chapter Eight
Jeremy realized he was back near the neighborhood that Ivan Moore lived in. For no reason that he could explain, he drove back to Ivan’s house. Ivan Moore was using a stencil to spray paint his house address on the front curb when he pulled up.
Ivan looked up with a sad expression on his face and weakly waved. “Hey Jeremy. Good to see you. Want to go grab some lunch!”
Jeremy shook his head still unsure why he came back. “No thanks. I just ate.”
Ivan nodded and looked down. “Too bad, we could have used your expense account again.”
Jeremy realized he had bought lunch with his own money and did not even think about the credit card. He shrugged acknowledging Ivan’s comment and started to speak when Ivan continued talking.
“I’m in the doghouse again. My wife is tired of my side projects to earn extra money. She said I am spending more than I ever made. So, I am starting up a business painting addresses on curbs. She got mad at me when I bought stencils and spray paint. Now she is threatening to leave me if this doesn’t work out.”
The pain and sorrow reflected in Ivan’s eyes while he spoke. There was something Jeremy admired in Ivan’s persistence. But, the risks seemed to outweigh the benefit. He genuinely hoped that Ivan would succeed. He had talked too much of a track record of quitting and lack of follow through to give Jeremy much confidence.
Ivan set the stencil down. “Would you like a glass of iced tea?”
Jeremy smiled and realized that what he wanted was a little company and companionship. “Sure, that would be great.”
He followed Ivan into his house. “Is your wife home?”
Ivan shook his head. “She’s at work. Works two jobs actually. It’s a good thing too since I am trying to earn the family fortune. She keeps the bills paid.”
Jeremy suddenly had more respect for Ivan’s wife than he did for Ivan. There was something that had Ivan’s priorities out of balance.
They talked for over an hour. Most of what Ivan spoke of was soaked with regrets and fears. He consigned himself to failure mentally before starting any venture and talked himself into quitting far too early to realize any success. It was a self realizing prophecy of failure and suffering. Ivan could not seem to see it.
Jeremy soon had his fill of Ivan’s self pity and thanked him for the tea. He had managed to get some more tidbits about Blake Kudrow. Jeremy still wondered why he stopped by but was glad that he did.
His momentum was up and he picked the next name on the list and started the engine. He put the car in gear and drove toward the east side of town.
Jeremy did not expect to stop at a used car lot to meet Robert Furtive. He pulled in parking in an open space nearest the road. A younger salesman was waiting outside of the car by the time Jeremy climbed out.
“Hello sir, what can I interest you in today?” The man seemed eager, but there was hardness to his eyes that suggested other motives.
Jeremy looked the man in his eyes and made a mental note that the stranger looked away. “I am looking for Robert Furtive. Does he work here?’
The man looked surprised. “He does. The best salesman we have too.” He touched his nose as he made the statement. “To be honest, I am Robert Furtive. Did someone refer you about a car?”
Jeremy shook his head. He could tell this man smelled a sale and responded like a shark in bloody water. “No, sorry, I’m here to talk about a man named Blake Kudrow. I have to write a eulogy and was referred to you. Is there a place where we can talk?”
Robert looked around nervously. His slightly rolled shoulders became apparent. He smiled displaying teeth that were not exactly straight. “Let’s walk around so the owner thinks I am showing you cars to buy.”
They strolled to the far end of the car lot. Jeremy noticed that Robert scraped his feet while he walked. He glanced down along the way and saw that the heels were badly worn on Robert’s shoes and they had not been cleaned or shined in a long time.
Robert noticed him looking down at the shoes. “Oh, don’t mind these. I have better shoes at home.” It was odd to Jeremy that Robert shook his head back and forth while he made the statement. It made him doubt if Robert’s statement was true. There probably was no other pair of shoes, not that it mattered.
“So tell me about Blake Kudrow.” Jeremy changed the subject. Robert’s eyes were shifty while he talked. He never once held eye contact with Jeremy. “I met Blake at a time when I was going through a sales slump. It had been going good. But, every deal I put together fell apart. I sold cars and people backed out before they left the car lot. Mostly it was the finance manager. I mean, I know finance, probably better than him.”
The customers would know how much of a down payment they would pay, the interest rate and monthly payments. Then the finance manager would tell them something different. He lost good deals for me.”
He came across as somewhat of a know-it-all when he talked.
Jeremy could read between the lines at what Robert was doing. It would not serve any purpose for him to point out the errors in Robert’s statements. “So where did Blake Kudrow fit in?”
Robert spoke weakly. “Blake Kudrow stopped by one day looking at cars. I talked him into this nice one we had. He went in to talk to the manager and to the finance department. Blake wanted to pay cash.
They wanted him to finance because they made more money.
Anyway, he didn’t buy. The finance manager said that I had lied to the customer. I always told the truth. I think he blew the deal because I had borrowed ten dollars from him and had not paid it back yet. It was only ten dollars. Anyway, I almost got fired for it, all because of Blake Kudrow. He did not have to make a big deal out of me embellishing some things. It was just a car.” Robert looked really small by the time he had stopped speaking.
Jeremy felt pity for Robert Furtive. He was still young but had some emotional growing to do. He understood why Blake Kudrow did not buy the car. However, he did not think that Robert understood. “So what happened?”
“I got put on job probation. If I mess up again, they can fire me. I’m looking for another job on the side. You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who would hire me, would you?” Robert came across as very weak.
Jeremy shook his head. The truth was that he did not know anyone who would hire himself, let alone Robert. He could tell that Robert was partially feeling sorry for himself. Jeremy recognized it because he had done the same thing himself. “Sorry. But I do appreciate the information about Blake. I hope everything works out alright for you.”
Robert followed Jeremy as he walked back towards his car. “Hey, can you call me if you do, or better yet, want to buy a car? I will work you a really good deal.” Jeremy shook his head and got into his car. He drove around the corner and parked, and wrote in his journal for half an hour. He was on a roll and decided to meet another person on the list.
The gas gauge in Jeremy’s car indicated it was below a quarter of a tank. He drove to the nearest station and filled back up, using the credit card that had been provided. The more he thought about Robert Furtive, the more he realized how deceitful the man was. He wasn’t true to customers, his employer and probably not even to himself.
Chapter Nine
Jeremy pulled out the list of names for the next one on the list. He was hungry. That would just have to wait. First, he wanted to meet Sharon Grant. He drove six miles toward the outside of town. The address was at Happy Glenn Nursing Home. He parked and went inside.
Sharon Grant was a short, medium framed woman with straight cut sandy brown hair and brown eyes. She was what Jeremy would describe as a plain Jane. She dressed in bright colors and he heard her before seeing her. She came around a hallway corner singing to herself.
Her smile was warm and friendly. Sharon stopped singing and came to him with her hand extended to greet him. “Hello, welcome to Happy Glenn Nursing Home, I’m Sharon. Are you here to visit one of the residents?”
Jeremy liked her in
stantly. She was very open and made him feel genuinely welcome. “Actually, I am here to see Sharon Grant. I have to talk to her about someone who knew her.”
“I’m Sharon Grant. Who is it you want to talk to me about?” Her voice was uplifting.
“I am here to write a eulogy for Blake Kudrow. I was told he wanted input from you to write it. What can you tell me about him?”
“Oh my, I remember Blake. He had an aunt here for a while. He kept sending money to us every year to keep the place running. It is partly because of his donations that we are the number one rated facility in the state.” Sharon glanced at her watch and back to Jeremy. “I’m sorry, I missed your name.”
Jeremy flushed with embarrassment at his oversight. “Jeremy Worth. It’s my pleasure to meet you. Is this a good time to talk or should I come back?”
She smiled. “It is always a good time to talk. I have to do rounds right now. You are welcome to walk with me and we can talk as we go. Our residents do not mind guests, although, they may try to adopt you.” There was that smile again.
Jeremy walked the rounds with her. She kept up most of the conversation using animated gestures while she talked. “I met Blake on my first day of work here. He was such a stately man. His aunt was in a bad way. She had terminal cancer.
I came and talked to her every day. We became friends. You could just tell that she was in constant pain. It showed in her expressions. She would always hold my hand and hug me. She taught me more about nursing and people than I ever learned in school. I always made time to come and see her.
She told me that she taught Blake the most important lesson she knew. She taught him about value, how to recognize it and how to use it to help people. She taught me too through her spirit.
Near the end her suffering was great. She could not sit up, and I had to lean in to hug her. She felt so light and it felt like I might break her. Blake was here when she finally passed. It was a relief because she was in so much pain.
Blake broke down and cried. I held him while he sobbed on my shoulder. He was a kind and caring man. He thanked me for being such a good friend to his aunt. I think it has something to do with his ongoing donations. He was good. You know, and not so big of a man that he couldn’t cry. I admire him for it.”
Jeremy watched her interact with each resident she passed. She greeted everyone by name. She stayed cheerful and uplifting, touching everyone she passed on the hand, arm or shoulder. The residents loved her and it showed. She gave much of herself to the people here. She willingly gave of herself constantly and put others first. It was as if she had no personal problems of her own.
They talked for an hour before Jeremy excused himself. He had learned a great deal from Sharon Grant about Blake Kudrow and some about life. He stayed in his car writing in the journal until he lost track of time. His stomach reminded him that he had not eaten. Yet, he continued writing until he was finished.
He thought that he would probably end up rewriting his journal before it was over. He was beginning to see a connection between the traits of some people he had talked to. If nothing else, he was becoming a quick study on the human condition.
It was odd that he had felt somewhat dirty and in need of a shower when he left the used car lot. But now he felt somehow cleansed and uplifted. Jeremy was glad he had met Sharon Grant. Now he was actually looking forward to meeting the next person on Blake Kudrow’s list.
Chapter Ten
Jeremy stopped at a small restaurant to have a hamburger and fries. It was a simple meal that solved his hunger and gave him energy. He still felt good from his visit with Sharon. He eagerly drove to the next name on the list with anticipation.
Adam Hogg lived in a nice neighborhood in a two story brick home. It caught Jeremy off guard when the door opened to reveal an overly large man who stood five feet, ten inches tall and tipped the scales at almost three hundred pounds.
The man wore a stained robe and slippers. He carried a glass of liquid that must have held thirty two ounces. Jeremy had never used such a large glass in his life. “Yes?”
Jeremy cleared his throat. “I’m looking for Mr. Adam Hogg. Is he home? My name is Jeremy Worth.”
Adam’s large eyes bulged as they looked around trying to assess the situation. “That would be me. How can I help you?”
Something in the way Adam carried himself intimidated Jeremy. He tried not to let it show. “I was sent to see you. I am writing a eulogy for a man named Blake Kudrow. He wanted your input.”
Adam stepped aside gesturing for Jeremy to come in. He was not totally comfortable entering the man’s house. He followed anyway, looking to get through this one as soon as he could.
Adam led Jeremy upstairs into a bedroom that had a computer desk set up in one corner. A soap opera was on the television screen. Adam sat in a chair and motioned for Jeremy to do the same. The chair was full of trash.
Jeremy looked around the room. The bed was unmade. Multiple take out and fast food containers were piled in a semi-circle around Adam’s chair. They had obviously been accumulating for a long while. It looked as if Adam had no direction, motivation or goals in his life.
Adam moved several food containers from the chair and pointed gesturing for Jeremy to have a seat. Jeremy resisted the urge to wipe off the chair and sat down. “Mr. Hogg, what can you tell me about Blake Kudrow?”
Adam took a long drink from his glass and then absently pulled some food from a nearby container and ate it. “Not much. I only met him twice. The first time was at a food and wine tasting fund raiser. We shared the same table. Good food, I remember. I left full. It was the first time in a long time that I ate with such abandon. I don’t normally eat that much food.”
Jeremy suspected that Adam Hogg always ate a lot. The quantity of food containers and size of his drinking glass gave him the impression that Adam ate a lot as a way of compensating for some deficiency in his life.
Jeremy tried to keep the conversation on track. “What did you and Blake talk about at the fund raiser?”
Adam looked through the food cartons on the desk. He rolled out one that had French fries in it and began eating them while he spoke. “That was the odd part. Blake ate a simple plate. I asked him why he didn’t eat more and he told me that it was all he needed. All that food, and he only ate a small plateful.
He talked to me a lot about the difference between need and want. Smart guy! He had an unusual personal philosophy about things. We were just different people.”
They talked for awhile on what things Blake had passed on to
Adam. Adam also showed Jeremy a lot of things about himself with the pure gluttony with which he constantly ate. Adam did talk about many diets and exercise programs that he started and soon failed at. It was another sign that Adam lacked direction or follow through.
Jeremy had plenty to write about in his journal. He noticed that his journal was getting longer with each entry. He was gaining more and more insight with each person he talked to.
Blake Kudrow was still an elusive image to try and write a eulogy about. Almost every conversation so far had offered little about what the man did. The most that Jeremy picked up was where Blake had gone at times in the city. Even that was not enough for adequate accuracy to pay homage. The eulogy was still incomplete.
Jeremy was a little surprised to see that he was only a few blocks from Amber Covet’s shop. The road that Adam Hogg lived on led right to her street. She was outside of her shop looking a little upset when he drove by. He pulled over to help.
Amber seemed on the verge of tears. She did not see his car right away. He turned the engine off and stood outside the driver’s side of the car. “Amber, are you alright?”
She looked up somewhat startled. Jeremy could see her smile a little when she recognized him. He walked over to shake her hand. “Jeremy Worth, right? It’s good to see you again.”
Jeremy could tell she was visually upset. “Is something wrong?”
She nodded. “Oh, just t
he usual, when it rains, it pours. I just paid all of the bills for the month. Wouldn’t you know it; my car did not start this morning. I had to take a taxi to work and now it will dip into my grocery money to get home.”
“How about a ride?” His smile calmed her some.
“You don’t mind? I could really use it.” Amber relaxed.
“Get in. Just tell me which way to go.” Jeremy gestured toward his car.
Amber climbed in the passenger seat. “That’s what I need, a good car like yours.”
Jeremy started the car and followed her directions. “It’s going to be alright.” He reassured her.
Amber Covet lived in a low income neighborhood. There were no yards or parks. Every street corner had a liquor store or bar and those had burglar bars on the windows. Jeremy pulled up and parked in front of her apartment building. It was run down and shabby. He made a mental note that the way she dressed matched her work, but was way above her home.
She pointed to an old car parked on the street. “That’s the beast there.” Her car was still parked in the same spot as the night before.
“Want me to take a look at it?” I’m not a mechanic, but maybe I can help,” he offered sincerely.
“That would be a big help. I have to go up and check on my boys. Here are the keys.” She entered a security code and went into the apartment building.
Jeremy got into her car and tried to start it. Nothing happened. He opened the hood and inspected the engine. Everything appeared to be connected correctly and wired properly. He surmised it was the battery.
He took out a small tool chest from the trunk of his car and disconnected the battery. The connectors were corroded. He took out a wire brush and cleaned them. He reconnected them and tried to start the old car again. The engine cranked to life. It was a simple fix and fortunately within his mechanical skill level.
The Legacy Inheritance Page 4
