“Point taken,” Harris said with an amused grin. “But you should call him though when we get back to the house.”
“Fine,” Ellen said in an indifferent tone.
“Okay, well, we should get going,” Allyson suggested.
“Once I grab my luggage from the carousel, we can be on our way,” Harris told them.
“I guess we’ll let you do that,” Ellen playfully said.
Harris grinned before gesturing for Ellen to go first with Sonya.
Harris and Allyson walked slightly behind Ellen as Ellen pushed Sonya’s stroller to the luggage carousel.
Once Harris grabbed his single suitcase, they went straight to the SUV. Sonya began to fuss soon after getting there that music or live singing couldn’t solve.
Sonya’s pamper didn’t need changing either, and after Sonya was fastened in her car seat, Ellen sat next to her, grabbed the bottled formula that was prepared before leaving the house and held it so Sonya could drink. Once Sonya realized that the bottle was there, she stopped crying as she drank eagerly.
Allyson was the one to take the driver’s seat and once everyone was in, Allyson drove away.
Friday morning, after Harris had dropped Ellen off at school for her final school day in Kansas City, Harris went to a U-Haul facility and rented a small trailer for the items that were being kept.
Mitchell and Brandon were to help move Ellen out and to help sell off the items that weren’t being taken to Georgia, and as Harris was getting back to the house with the trailer hitched to the SUV, he saw that Mitchell’s pick-up was already parked at the house.
When Harris entered the house, Brandon was holding and cooing at Sonya with Allyson and Mitchell standing a few feet away. The stereo was playing a CD in the background at a comfortable volume.
“Good morning, gents,” Harris told them.
“Good morning,” Mitchell and Brandon echoed.
“So the things you’re taking are everything in Ellen’s bedroom, Ellen’s bike, all of Sonya’s stuff, the two laptop computers, the printer and everything on the entertainment center?” Mitchell questioned.
“That’s all; we have no use for the remaining items,” Harris replied. “And Jack Hart from the Hart Realty Agency will be here around three to get the house keys from us.”
“So everything has to be out before three?” Brandon asked.
“Well, I’m sure if everything isn’t out by three today that Jack Hart will give you two until tomorrow to move the rest of the items,” Harris assumed.
“I think we can have everything out before three,” Mitchell said as he glanced at his watch. “One of my drinking buddies at… at this bar that I hang out at is actually a used furniture dealer and I had invited him to come by. If he shows up, he should be here in an hour.”
“Very good,” Harris said.
As Brandon was handing Sonya back to Allyson, he said, “Well, we might as well get started with loading the items that are going to Georgia.”
“You may want to take the stereo last,” Allyson suggested. “Otherwise you will have Sonya making her high pitch sound.”
“We can’t have that,” Harris agreed jokingly before stepping up to Allyson and Sonya, and kissing Sonya on the forehead. “Can we, love?” Sonya’s eyes had locked on Harris before making her short monotone sound. “The music is on, Sonya, and I promise it’s not going off.”
Once Sonya again made her sound, Allyson said with a grin, “I’m not sure, but I think she wants to hear you sing, Harry.”
Harris grinned before saying, “Sorry, love, but I’m not the singer that your mom was. Besides, I have to go to work, so you’ll have to settle with the stereo.”
Sonya made another sound that Harris ignored as he gave Allyson a kiss.
As Harris was walking away, Allyson whispered, “I’ll sing to you, Sonya.”
Sonya was staring indefatigably at Harris as Harris, Mitchell and Brandon were leaving to move the items into the trailer.
When Allyson began singing along with the stereo, Sonya faced her while squirming pleasantly and excitedly in her arms. Allyson had easily held onto Sonya, and as Allyson continued to sing, an amused tone was momentarily heard in her voice.
Alvin Goodman (Mitchell’s drinking buddy) and Carroll (an eighteen-year-old teenager) had showed up with a large truck ten minutes later than what Mitchell had indicated, and after Alvin had inspected the furniture, he attempted to lowball Harris.
Harris chuckled before saying, “If you’re here to make jokes, you and your partner might as well go.”
“You’re not going to get a better deal than what I had just made you,” Alvin insisted.
Harris gestured towards the direction of the street before saying, “There are many U-Haul trailers bigger than what I had rented, and I wouldn’t have a problem with trading it in for one of them or for a large truck in order to move everything to Savannah. Now, either give me a serious offer for the furniture or leave. Either way, stop wasting my time.”
Alvin stared at Harris and determined that Harris was serious; however, while still thinking that Harris didn’t know better, he barely raised his offer.
“Mr. Goodman, you might be used to dealing with people who sell things to you at a ridiculously low price because they are in a hurry to unload the items and get on with their lives,” Harris began. “I assure you that my wanting to sell the furniture is out of convenience for me not having to haul the furniture across the country, so don’t confused the two. And I will haul the furniture across the country if the next offer out of your mouth is anything less than four times your latest offer.”
“You can’t be serious!” Alvin retorted.
“I know how much I can sell the furniture for elsewhere, so I’m very serious, Mr. Goodman,” Harris countered. “Even putting the items on EBay I can make more than what you’re offering.”
“I have never paid the price that you’re asking for, for almost-like-new used furniture,” Alvin told Harris before saying another offer, which was slightly more than doubled from his previous offer. Alvin could see another rejection forming on Harris’s lips, but before he had a chance to verbalize it, Alvin continued with, “The sum of the most you can get for the furniture minus the price of a larger U-Haul truck will equal less than my current offer.”
Harris took a deep breath, and after making a quick deliberation he answered with, “Alright. I accept your current offer.”
“Yeah, well, good thing I don’t buy things from you often,” Alvin quipped. Harris gave him a curious look. “I won’t be making much of a profit from this transaction.”
Harris grinned before saying, “Okay, well, once I get your check, you and your partner can start hauling the furniture away.”
Alvin nodded before getting out his checkbook. Once Alvin handed over the check to Harris, Alvin and Carroll went to work, moving out the furniture.
The house became completely vacant by 2:45 P.M., and within seconds after the last item was loaded onto Alvin’s truck, Scott—Billie’s nineteen-year-old brother—was driving up to the house. Billie was in the front passenger seat and Ellen was in the backseat behind Scott.
As Scott was parking his car, Ellen and Billie saw that Harris, Allyson, Mitchell, Brandon, Alvin and Carroll were gathered in the front yard near a playpen that was set up in the yard.
“Why is everyone standing outside?” Billie asked as the six in the yard turned towards the car.
Ellen stared at the six in the yard while shrugging and saying, “Beats me. My dad and his twin brother are a part of the crowd though.”
“I’m guessing that your dad and uncle are the two who look alike… somewhat,” Billie began. “Who’s who though?”
Ellen pointed out her dad and uncle by describing the clothes that they each wore.
When Scott’s car came to a complete halt, Ellen and Billie opened their car doors. Scott shut off the engine before opening his door.
Billie had closed her car door, an
d because of the distance between her and the six in the yard, she uttered somewhat loudly, “Hi, Harris! Hi, Allyson!”
“Hi,” the six said at a normal volume along with a wave. Billie didn’t hear their greetings, but she saw their lips move and their waves.
As Billie was approaching the larger group, Ellen caught up with her.
“Why is everyone outside?” Ellen asked the larger group.
“The house is now vacant,” Allyson said as Ellen and Billie were walking up to them. “And Jane’s at one of her jobs; otherwise I would’ve had her watch Sonya.”
Scott was catching up as Ellen continued to the playpen. Ellen chuckled when she saw Sonya snoozing comfortably while wearing warm footy-pajamas. “You guys did all the work and Sonya looks like the one who’s exhausted.”
“Believe me, in a couple of hours from now, I’ll be imitating Sonya,” Carroll supplied as Billie and Scott were joining Ellen next to the playpen.
Ellen looked at Carroll before asking, “You’re out of shape after four months?”
Carroll shot Ellen a curious look before asking, “What do you mean?”
“You were on the high school’s football team last year…” Ellen was only able to get out.
“You know who I am?” Carroll asked.
“I don’t know your name, but I’ve seen you around… with the rest of the football players,” Ellen explained. Carroll gave Ellen a curious look. “I was a freshman last year while you were a senior.”
“You had never come to the games though, have you?” Carroll accused.
“I’d gone to a few games, but your coach had you warming the bench,” Ellen said.
Scott chuckled before saying, “A benchwarmer was Carroll’s position.”
“Screw you, Colton,” Carroll hissed.
“Have you ever played?” Scott quickly asked as if to make a point.
“I’d played… a couple of plays,” Carroll humbly said.
“That’s right,” Scott agreed. “I wasn’t there to witness it, but I did hear of you playing in one of the games. The coach pulled you after making a safety.”
“I didn’t see your ass on the field, Colton,” Carroll retorted.
“My sport was basketball and the coach did play me,” Scott informed.
“Fellas!” Allyson interjected. “You two obviously have issues with each other, but this isn’t the place to air them out.”
“And definitely no fisticuffs near the baby,” Ellen strongly added.
“There won’t be any fisticuffs,” Carroll assured Ellen.
When Ellen shot Scott a skeptical look, Scott added in a surrendering manner, “No fisticuffs, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to start anything.”
Ellen nodded before saying, “Okay.”
“Since there are two people here with the name Colton, can we use first names?” Billie requested before seeing the curious look that she was getting from Carroll. “I’m Scott’s sister, Billie.”
When Carroll nodded with a polite grin, Ellen asked, “What’s your first name, Carroll?”
Carroll shot Ellen an annoyed look before telling her, “Carroll is my first name, and there are many men with the name Carroll—like Carroll O’Conner, the actor.”
“I wasn’t dissing your first name,” Ellen retorted. “I just thought that since you were calling Scott by his last name, that Scott was too.”
“Oh… I’m sorry,” Carroll said.
“It’s fine,” Ellen assured him.
“And what is your name?” Carroll asked.
“Ellen,” she simply replied.
“And you were noticing me last year, Ellen?” Carroll pleasantly questioned.
Ellen shot him a ‘not in your dreams’ look before saying, “Uh, I had noticed a lot of people last year, so don’t read anything into it, Romeo.”
“Okay, you certainly know how to deflate a person’s ego,” Carroll quipped.
“Okay, Romeo,” Alvin began. “We need to get back to the shop and unload the truck.”
“Right,” Carroll agreed. “Bye, everyone.”
“Bye,” everyone echoed.
“Oh and I’ll see you Monday, Brandon,” Alvin added.
Ellen shot Brandon a curious look as Brandon told Alvin, “I’ll see you then.”
As Alvin and Carroll were walking towards their truck, Ellen asked Brandon, “What’s happening Monday?”
“I start driving a truck for him,” Brandon replied while gesturing towards Alvin.
“You live in Hannibal, Missouri,” Ellen pointed out.
“Not anymore…” Brandon was only able to get out.
“What about your family?!” Ellen quickly demanded to know as Alvin and Carroll were climbing into their truck. “You’re abandoning them… or did your wife tell you to stay gone?”
“Neither,” Brandon quickly replied. “Margo and my sons are moving here… in fact, your dad and I will be driving down to Hannibal tonight, and all of us will be coming back Sunday. And you sure have a cynical outlook for me and your dad.”
Ellen smirked before saying, “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to quit your job and uproot your family like that.”
“Yes, well, when I called home last Sunday evening to tell Margo that I was on my way home, she informed me that my boss had fired me for taking off work as I did,” Brandon began as Alvin and Carroll were driving away in their truck. “She then suggested for her and the kids to join me here rather than for me to go back home.”
“So it was Margo’s idea to move here,” Ellen verbally took note of.
“It was,” Brandon said. “Too bad you’re moving away.” Ellen gave Brandon a curious look. “I think that your little cousins would’ve liked having you around.”
Ellen delightfully grinned before glancing towards Billie and saying, “I have friends here, and I have plans to visit when I can.”
“You don’t need friends in Kansas City to visit,” Mitchell pointed out. “I’m here and so is your uncle. You’re even welcome to visit as long as you want. I’ll make room for you.”
Ellen cleared her throat before saying, “Dad, I appreciate the offer… I really do, but—to be perfectly honest with you— my fight or flight instinct is still active while I’m around you and… and Uncle Brandon.”
Mitchell grinned and slightly chuckled before saying, “I guess I am trying to put the cart before the horse with you, but I just want you to know that you… and even Sonya won’t be turned away. I will always find room for you and her.”
Ellen pleasantly grinned before saying, “Thanks.”
“Harris, how much longer do you have before you, Ellen, Allyson and Sonya leave?” Billie asked.
Harris glanced at his watch while saying, “Jack Hart will be here around three for the door keys, and as soon as he gets here, we’ll be on our way.”
“I would like to say ‘bye’ to Jane before we leave,” Ellen informed him.
“She’s working,” Allyson said.
“Yes; at… at ‘Mickey’s Last-Call’ saloon,” Ellen said. “I know where it’s at too.”
“You want me to take you—a minor—to a public house?” Harris asked. When a confused expression came across Ellen’s face, he amended, “A pub… a tavern.”
“Michael was a karaoke DJ on the weekends and he had taken me to a few of his gigs,” Ellen pointed out. “So I’m no stranger to a… public house as you called it. Oh and I’ve been in Mickey’s also.”
“Okay,” Harris agreed in a defeated tone. “We’ll drive by Mickey’s so you can say ‘bye’ to Jane.”
“Your brother just worked on the weekends?” Scott asked.
“No,” Ellen said while shaking her head. “He delivered parcel packages Monday through Friday.”
“I told you that before,” Billie told her brother.
Harris noticed a car approaching that had an advertisement sign on the side of the car, but the car was still too far away for Harris to make out the sign.
“I forgo
t,” Scott admitted. “Okay?”
“Okay,” Billie shot back as Ellen saw Harris staring fanatically at something.
Ellen turned to look while asking, “Anything wrong, Harry?”
“I can’t read what’s on that car, but…” Harris got out before the car was close enough to make out the advertisement. “Oh, I can now. Jack Hart is pulling up.”
“So I guess this is goodbye for now, Ellen,” Billie said. “I’ll miss you.”
“Ditto,” Ellen told her before giving her a hug.
When the hug between Ellen and Billie ended, Scott playfully asked, “What about a hug for your best friend’s brother?”
Ellen grinned before saying, “Sure.”
During the hug between Ellen and Scott, Scott told her, “I didn’t expect to get a hug from you; I was actually messing with you.”
“Well, you got a hug from me anyway,” Ellen said in an amused tone before breaking the hug. She then saw that Jack Hart was out of his car and was a few feet from them while approaching.
“So is everything in order?” Jack asked as he was stepping up.
“It is,” Harris replied. “You and I can do a one last walk through if you’d like… in fact, I kind of prefer it.”
Jack slightly hesitated before agreeing, “Alright.”
“I’ll stay out here with Sonya,” Allyson said.
“That’s fine,” Harris assured her. “This shouldn’t take long anyway.”
Ellen, Allyson, Mitchell, Brandon, Billie and Scott casually talked during the ten minutes that it took for Harris and Jack to walk through the house and rejoin the group. Soon after Harris and Jack stepped up, everyone said his or her final ‘goodbyes’ and went his or her way.
With Ellen giving directions, Harris drove to ‘Mickey’s Last-Call’ saloon; however, the only spot available that was big enough to park a SUV with a trailer hitched to it was one block away. Once Harris had parked the SUV, he and Ellen walked back to the tavern as Allyson and Sonya stayed at the SUV.
Inside, the tavern was one good size room. The entrance door was on the north wall near the northeast corner and it opened across from the short section of the ‘L’ shaped counter. On top of the short section of the counter, near the east wall, was a counter-top touch-screen video game. In the northwest corner was a dartboard that faced the east wall.
Legacy Page 21
