In the silence after his exit, Bernadine offered another sarcastic, “You’re welcome.”
Lily’s voice came over the intercom. “I’m ordering lunch from the Dog. Do you want something?”
Bernadine had planned to walk to the diner for lunch but looking out the window at the driving rain changed her mind. She gave Lily her order and went back to work.
A short while later, a knock broke her concentration and she looked up to see Mal in her doorway. In his hand was a white plastic bag.
“Brought your lunch.”
“Thanks.” She rose to take it. She hadn’t seen him since the day of her sister’s visit.
“Diane make it home okay?”
She nodded. “She sent a text when she arrived. As much as she likes to one-up me, I’m surprised she didn’t tell me she was trying to talk to you.”
“Maybe my lack of enthusiasm had something to do with it.”
“Maybe.” She took the plunge and asked, “If Tamar doesn’t work us to the bone this evening, do you want to go for coffee after we’re done at the rec?” Tamar had volunteered everyone to help set up for the Halloween party.
“Sure. At the Dog?”
She thought about all the gossip that would cause. “How about my place instead? A lot less staring.”
His eyes showed he understood. “Sure. I’d like that. You can catch me up on your week.”
“And you can do the same for me.”
They viewed each other silently for a few moments. Bernadine sensed barriers dropping right and left.
“I’ll see you later,” he said.
“Okay.”
And he was gone. She didn’t know if what she’d proposed was a date, but they’d agreed to not give their new path a name, so she’d stick to calling it, just coffee.
THE WORKDAY WAS winding down, so as Riley swept up the area around his chair, he was looking forward to the weekend. He had no plans to attend the town’s Halloween party Saturday night. Still stung by the vocal drubbing he and the movie producers received at the Dog, he wanted nothing to do with anyone in town. Once he won the election he planned to hand out a bunch of payback to people like his ex-wife and that old pest Bing Shepard. In the meantime, he’d be treating himself to some popcorn and camping out in front of his television to watch the first annual Animal Oscar Ball being shown live later on the Animal Planet channel. Cletus, the other nominees, their trainers, and a host of celebrities and industry people would be attending the black tie affair. Yesterday evening, he’d watched the Cletus Goes Home homecoming parade. Mayo and his staff shot the event on a Hollywood lot made up to look like a typical small town. There were floats, a high school band, and a small crowd of paid extras posing as Henry Adams citizens. Riley was saddened by the fact that he hadn’t been invited but took great satisfaction in booing loudly at the television when the camera showed trainer Ben Scarsdale, arm in a sling, waving from Cletus’s corn-and-hay-filled float. Cletus was dressed up in denim overalls and a straw hat. Although Riley continued to miss him terribly, he hoped his hog was enjoying his fame and time in the spotlight.
With his work area now clean, Riley removed his smock, placed it in the hamper, and walked over to get his check from Kelly. She’d been standoffish all week, which he attributed to him calling out her gangbanger husband, but he couldn’t help it if the truth hurt.
She handed him the check and picked up her coat and purse. They were closing early for the Halloween weekend goings-on. Riley looked up from the dollar amount shown on his paycheck in confusion. “This isn’t right. It’s eighty dollars short.”
“Correct. It’s to make up for the five dollars here and there you’ve been stealing and putting in your pocket.”
His heart stopped.
“Not sure why you thought I wouldn’t notice. Because I know you aren’t making a lot here, I’ve been letting it go. I figured you needed it for stuff like gas, but when you come for my Bobby like you did at that debate, I come for you.”
He silently prayed she hadn’t called the sheriff.
“And look up there.”
He followed her red-nailed finger to a small black button above the doorframe. “That’s a camera I had Mr. Payne install just for you. Have a good weekend.”
Riley’s hands shook as he put the check in his wallet. Taking his jacket down from the coat-tree, he left the shop without a word.
To make himself feel better, Riley paid a visit to his billboard. Parking his car on the side of the busy highway, he got out. He never tired of seeing his handsome confident face, and as he admired himself, the heart-stopping panic Kelly caused slowly dissipated. He reasoned that if he was paid more, he wouldn’t have had to supplement his measly salary. Viewing his face for a few moments more, he got back in his rattling old car and drove home.
By the time he had dinner and popped his corn, Kelly was no longer on his mind. Remote in hand, he settled in on his couch and clicked on the TV and Animal Planet.
It was a red carpet event. There were actors in tuxedos and pretty actresses in glittering designer gowns. The lady commentator spoke with the producer of Cletus’s movie, Alvin Malone, and his young blond wife, Helga, clad in a shimmering pink gown. Malone was the very tanned man who’d accompanied Chaunce Mayo to the Dog earlier in the week. Having met him, Riley felt like a Hollywood insider. Their interview done, the Malones went on their way and were followed by other top-notch industry people. And then, much to the delight of the people behind the barriers that lined the carpet, the nominees arrived. Cletus strutted into view wearing a black tux with tails and dark glasses. Riley cheered. His hog was dressed similarly to the way he’d been attired for his wedding to Eustacia Pennymaker’s pet sow, Chocolate. Riley wondered if Eustacia was watching. He wanted to call her and find out but remembered she told him to never contact her again after he reached out to her a few weeks ago to ask if she’d contribute to his campaign. Her loss, he figured. The commentator was now talking with Riley’s nemesis, Ben Scarsdale. His arm still in a sling. When asked about it, the trainer attributed the injury to the fall he’d taken on the daytime television show a few weeks back. Riley took a perverse pleasure in having seen it happen. Then the mic was lowered to Cletus. She asked him how he felt about his nomination and all the hoopla tied to the event. Cletus replied with a happy squeal. Riley was so proud tears stung his eyes.
Cletus and Scarsdale went on their way and were followed by the other nominees: Brutus the goat, Charley the chimp wearing a tux and white sneakers, a pit bull named Maxine, and Feathers, a red-tailed hawk. Riley had seen all their movies and enjoyed them but expected Cletus to walk away with the award for Best Actor and Best Picture. Hands down.
The lady commentator and her camera crew moved into the ballroom where the gala was being held. There were huge pictures of the animal actors on the walls. A quartet on the stage played classical music and the guests mixed and mingled, while white-coated waitpeople floated through the crowd carrying trays holding drinks and frou-frou bites to eat. The animals being feted strolled through the room. Cletus walked beside Scarsdale, while the chimp and goat walked with their female handlers. The pit bull was on a pink ribbon-like leash. Feathers rode on the shoulders of his tuxedo-wearing trainer. The lady commentator stopped the Malones as they spoke with Scarsdale.
“Mrs. Malone, can I get you to pose with Cletus?”
Mrs. Malone gave the reporter a fake smile and declined but her husband encouraged her. Obviously not happy, she bent low, put her hand on Cletus’s neck and the hog bit her on her thigh. She screamed and jumped. Furious, she smacked Cletus hard on the head with the program in her hand. Cletus protested with an angry squeal and charged her, knocking her to the floor. Her outraged husband kicked Cletus in the side, reached down to help his wife, only to have Cletus sink his sharp teeth into the man’s hand. Malone howled and tried to free his fingers, but Cletus wouldn’t let go. The one-armed Scarsdale attempted to grab Cletus, only to be bitten, too. Squealing, Clet
us went on a rampage, knocking over tables, using his bulk against guests and waiters. Women screamed, trying to get out of his path. A few men tried to corral him, but wound up being chomped on as well. Pandemonium ensued as Brutus the goat joined the melee, biting and ramming. Charley the chimp broke away from his trainer and began throwing whatever he could get his hands on: the plastic champagne glasses, dropped purses, the frou-frou appetizers, and the small plates from the trays abandoned by the terrorized waitstaff. Feathers took to the air and began dive-bombing the guests now running in panic to the exits. A wide-eyed Riley jumped to his feet. His popcorn fell to the floor. The scene was a madhouse. Women in stilettos fell off their shoes in the stampede to the doors. Men stopped to help them up, only to be bowled over by other guests intent upon fleeing for their lives. Someone pulled the fire alarm and while it clanged, the camera showed people holding programs over their heads to protect themselves from the attacking hawk. The only animal that didn’t go berserk was Maxine the pit bull. She sat calmly on the stage with her trainer and the gaping classical quartet.
The lady commentator did her best to report on the chaos, but as she wrestled with Charley the chimp for possession of her microphone, she was butted from behind by Brutus and the feed died.
Speechless, Riley eyed the black screen and fell back onto the couch.
The spectacle, which had streamed live, immediately lit up social media platforms worldwide. Television programs were interrupted by stern-faced anchors while chyrons touting Breaking News scrolled across the screen. Cable news networks promised live reports as soon as their crews were in place. Inside the rec, the people of Henry Adams getting the gym ready for the Halloween party watched the ball via the flat screen. When the screen went black, they were so stunned by the pandemonium, no one made a sound at first, and then, they laughed until they almost fell down.
Afterward, at home, Bernadine made coffee, while jazz played softly and Mal hung out at the counter. “So how many lawsuits do you think Cletus’s studio will be dealing with by this time tomorrow?” she asked.
“Probably one for every person there. That hog’s been involved with some crazy stuff over the years, but that mess tonight had to be the craziest.”
She chuckled. “It really was.” When the coffee maker was done, she grabbed one filled cup, Mal took the other, and they sat at her dining table.
“I did feel sorry for all the people he chomped on. No telling what kind of germs that hog has in his mouth.”
“I’m sure Scarsdale had him vaccinated, because there are diseases that can jump from animals to humans. They’re rare though, but one not so rare is rabies.”
“Yikes.”
“After what we saw tonight, I don’t think they’ll be awarding Cletus anything but a one-way ticket to a sausage-making factory.”
She laughed. “As long as they don’t send him back here, I’m okay with whatever happens to him.”
“Me, too.” He took a short sip, before asking quietly, “So how are you doing turning the world?”
She answered truthfully, “I’m good. Trying not to work myself into a heart attack. I’ve stopped bringing work home on weekends.”
He raised his cup. “Congrats. That’s a good thing.”
“Makes me a bit anxious, still, but I’m getting better at just sitting. What about you?”
“Still hoping folks will forgive a foolish old man. Seeing Paula once a week to try and work out how I got myself in this mess.”
Bernadine stilled. She’d had no idea he’d been seeing Paula.
“Talking to her was easier than I thought it would be, maybe because I’ve had to put myself on the line at AA all these years. Men tend to bullshit themselves about their insecurities and whatever else they have going on inside, and sometimes all that denial leads to doing stupid stuff like my embezzling. More men need to sit down with someone like Paula. She’s been a big help.”
She didn’t know what to say.
“I’m not telling you this to get pity strokes. Just letting you know what’s going on with me.”
“Okay.” Bernadine was impressed, though. Very much so. A few months ago, Mal had acted as if a slap on the wrist was all he deserved for his crime. When no one agreed, he tried wallowing in victimhood, which made his relationships go from bad to worse. Getting his nose broken from a sucker punch and having an angry Luis call him out apparently forced him to take an honest look at himself in the mirror. She assumed he hadn’t liked what he’d seen if he was talking to Paula, and she had to give him props for that.
So they sat, drank coffee, and talked about everything and nothing: Tina’s rehabbing mom, the nefarious Leo and his equally nefarious pipeline plan, the latest on the Three Spinsters, the election, and Halloween.
Bernadine asked, “Did you all ever have Devil’s Night in Henry Adams?”
“No. Never heard of it until I saw the pictures of Detroit burning itself down.”
“It didn’t start out that way. When I was growing up, Devil’s Night was a night for pranks. Trash cans turned over, soaping people’s windows—that kind of stuff. Of course, my parents never let their daughters participate.”
“So how did it turn into houses being set on fire.”
“Arson. Tied to suburban folks wanting to get rid of their abandoned Detroit property. You pay someone to torch your place, get a fat check from your insurance company, and you walk away.”
“Wow. Never knew that, but no Devil’s Night here. We did trick or treat when we were growing up, but once people began moving away, and there were fewer places to go, my friends would come to Tamar’s or to Marie’s and we’d do stuff like bobbing for apples, play hide-and-seek in the dark, cook hot dogs outside—if it wasn’t raining or snowing.”
Bernadine thought back and replied wistfully, “Our streets would be filled with kids. No one could afford real store-bought costumes, so you’d dress up with whatever you could find at home. I went as my daddy one year. Wore one of his old coats and a hat. Momma used a piece of charcoal to draw me a mustache and a beard.”
They shared a smile.
“So do you have your costume for tomorrow?” she asked.
“I do. You?”
“Yes.”
“And it is?”
“You’ll have to wait until tomorrow. It’s supposed to be a surprise, remember?”
“Okay, be that way, then.”
She was enjoying his company and he seemed to be enjoying hers.
When time came for him to leave, she walked him to the door.
“Thanks for the coffee,” he said quietly.
“You’re welcome.”
“Would it be okay if we had dinner Sunday?”
“Your place or here?”
“Here, if you’d be more comfortable.”
“I would. How about we have Crystal cook if she’s not busy?”
“That works for me.”
“Okay. I’ll see you at the party tomorrow and we’ll talk about time and all that.”
His eyes and voice softened. “This was fun.”
“I had a good time, too.”
“You take care.”
“You, too.”
And he was gone.
She closed the door and stood there for a moment. Another step forward in whatever they were doing, and she was okay with that.
AS MEGA SEED president Virgil Quelp angrily berated Leo on the phone, Leo ran a hand over his perspiring face. “No, sir. I didn’t know someone here had sent the seeds out to be tested. Yes, sir, totally my fault. Totally.”
The verbal flogging continued. Quelp called him incompetent and inept and promised Leo he’d never work anywhere ever again if he didn’t get the mess with the seed fixed. “Yes, sir. I understand the importance of what the company is trying to achieve and how crucial this mission is.”
In truth, Leo wanted to tell him to go to hell but knew he’d be fired in a heartbeat and he needed his job. “Of course, sir. I’ll take care of it right
away. I’ll have it done by end of business on Monday. Yes, sir. I won’t let you down.”
The call finally ended, and Leo threw the phone across the room. He didn’t know what caught him more off guard—the fact that someone had sent seed samples to the college for testing or that Quelp knew about it and Leo hadn’t. Either way he was caught between a rock and a hard place and didn’t have a clue as to how to make it all go away. He got up and poured a hefty amount of cognac into a glass. As he tossed it back, he thought about how the well-heeled burn of the aged liquor would be one of the things he’d be giving up if he couldn’t find a way out of this mess. Quelp and the men in charge of Salem Oil were influential enough to ensure he’d have trouble finding work as an elementary-school cafeteria worker if they put the word out on him. In reality, Leo realized his plan had been doomed from the start, mainly because he’d considered himself so much smarter than the people he’d been sent in to scam. That and the fact that he’d hitched his wagon to the annoying little madman Riley Curry. Thinking of Curry, Leo remembered the Hollywood ball the hog was supposed to be attending and he checked his watch. The event was undoubtedly over, so he opened his laptop to see if he could catch a replay. He found it, and as he sipped his cognac and watched the horror unfold, his jaw dropped. A knock at his door interrupted his viewing. Wondering who it could be at this hour, he looked through the peephole and sighed. Pulling the door open, he started to chew out the person on the other side, only to have a fist explode in his face. He was out cold before he hit the floor.
THE NEXT MORNING, it appeared as if Devil’s Night had come to Henry Adams. While folks were sleeping, someone climbed up to Riley’s billboard and added hog’s ears and a snout to his face. The transformation was so well done, it was obviously the work of a person with artistic skill. The sight drew morning television news reporters to the spot and caused a big backup on the highway from gawking drivers. Riley’s campaign posters in town were given the same piggy makeover. Views of his pranked face drew amused head shakes and laughter from those watching the reports over breakfast at the Dog. However, Riley, upon seeing it on his TV, was hopping mad. He called Leo, got no response, so he called Sheriff Will Dalton who came out to take the report. Riley insisted the Julys were the culprits and wanted every last one of them arrested. Will asked for proof. Riley had none. Will took down the report and went out to Tamar’s. No Julys confessed, so he cautioned Thad and his kin as he always did when they were in town and drove back to his office.
On the Corner of Hope and Main Page 21
