by C L Miller
As it turned out, it literally is. My box-moving stint became a part time job. I found out that a pharmacist must know almost as much as a doctor and even more about drugs. And I liked the idea of being with people all day and helping them stay well. Within a year or so, John Thompson and I were planning his retirement and my taking over the pharmacy. I have my mother and John to thank for encouraging me. And in her own way, my big sister Grace.
***
Tacy Smith
My sister called me one day in tears. She was suspecting that her husband was having an affair with his secretary and had confronted him. He denied it but Gloria wanted to come for a visit and do some thinking. She asked if she could bring Stevie, and I said of course. Smitty and I never had any children so it was a nice change to have my nephew in the house.
Stevie was ten that summer. He was a great kid, still at that awkward age but growing like a weed. When they got there I knew he wanted to be helpful so I sent him to pick up my medicine from Mr Thompson, and had a quiet talk with my sister. For the next couple weeks Gloria spent a lot of time alone, and Stevie helped me around the house and did errands for me and helped Smitty in the repair shop.
Then one day Arnold showed up. He asked to speak with Gloria. Truth be told I couldn't believe that he was having any affair -- just didn't seem like what he'd do. Well he and Gloria went for a long walk, and when they came back they were holding hands. Gloria took me aside to ask if we could look after Stevie for a few weeks while they spent some time alone. I assured her that would be just fine. Arnold was in the living room talking to Stevie, and I remember this like it was yesterday.
Stevie said, "So, Dad, is your secretary cooperating on the project?"
"Say what?"
"Well I heard Momma say you were involved with your secretary. My teacher always tells us we need to stay involved and cooperate when we do class projects."
Arnold chuckled. Then he said, "No, son, we never were cooperating. And she decided to take another job. All my projects have been with your momma."
I locked myself in the bathroom and laughed till I cried.
Gloria and Arnold took off together for what was supposed to be a couple weeks, but Smitty and I asked Stevie to stay for the whole summer.
Steve Hollister
I liked visiting my Aunt Tacy and Uncle Smitty. I once asked my aunt why my uncle's name was Smitty Smith, and she told me that Smitty was a nickname because he didn't like his first name. I asked her what it was but she just smiled.
That summer I was ten, my parents left me with my aunt and uncle while they went on a trip together. My momma had been crying for a while until my dad came to get her so I was glad they could have a fun time. I knew I'd have a fun time too.
One day, after my parents had been gone a week or so, Aunt Tacy came into the living room where I was reading a book. She looked at me and then said, "Napoleon, where is the baby?"
I was confused. Who is Napoleon? What baby? My aunt was crying. I knew something bad was going on, but my uncle was on a service call and I didn't know where to find him. Aunt Tacy kept calling for Napoleon and the baby, and I was getting scared.
Then I remembered Mr Thompson at the drug store and his number was written on the wall by the phone. I called him, trying to sound calm -- like you're supposed to in a crisis -- and he told me he'd get the doctor there right away.
"It may take a few minutes, boy. I need you to keep talking to your aunt. Ask her questions and remember the answers." What questions? I asked him. He told me it didn't matter, just to keep her talking. Then he said he had to hang up and call the doctor.
I started talking to her about a movie I'd seen, I can't even remember which one now. I asked her if she'd seen it. I asked her who her favorite movie star was. I asked her if Smitty liked pancakes. I asked her if she was allergic to strawberries.
I tried to remember her answers, and was very happy to see a car pull up out front and a man carrying a black doctor's bag coming up the walk.
It turned out she'd had a seizure. The doctor told me that my quick thinking and doing what Mr Thompson said probably kept it from being any worse than it was. But she was shaky and kind of frightened to be alone, so I ended up staying all summer. I worked with Uncle Smitty and found out I liked working in his shop. He taught me some basic repairs that first summer, and the following year I begged my parents to let me go back. So began a summer job that continued until I graduated from high school.
***
Vernetta
My mother went to jail while she waited for her trial to begin. I went to stay with Gramma in Baltimore. She was disgusted with my mother and didn't want to talk about any of it. I enrolled in high school there and used my middle name; to them I was Renee McClune whose parents were dead.
My mother never called me during that time. One day, when my grandmother was out, I called Mrs Millins. She told me my mother had been charged with murder. She said my mother had not offered a defense. She said my mother would probably go to prison for a very long time. Then she paused, waiting for me to respond. I said "Thank you" and hung up. How selfish I was! But I was sixteen and my father was dead.
I'm smart and got good grades, and I wanted to be on my own, so I took extra classes and finished high school early. I think Gramma was glad to get rid of me because she made no protest when I moved out. I found roommates and started taking a secretarial course. One of my roommates was in night school so I enrolled in an evening psychology class with her. One night the instructor was lecturing about certain personalities, and was discussing people with control issues. She described people that need everyone in their family or workplace to do everything their way; a refusal could lead to violent behavior. I looked up from my book to see Dr Littleton looking at me. I'm sure my mouth was wide open. She smiled at me, and continued the lecture. I waited till the classroom was empty, then approached her desk.
"Vernetta McClune? How's your mother doing?"
We had a long talk that evening and many more over the next few months. She helped me put the pieces together and see the big picture. I wrote to my mother for the first time in almost three years and she wrote back. Mr Millins offered to pick me up and take me to visit her, which I did. I decided to finish my secretarial course and move closer to the prison so I could see Mama more often. That's how I happened to be driving through town the day I got the job with David Baker.
Of course I told David Baker and Nathalie about my mother, and Nathalie just hugged me and cried. David Baker said he would be willing to look into the case any time I was ready, but I wanted to wait a while before I asked him to do that. I think he did it anyway, because when I finally felt like I could ask he already knew everything in the police report and had talked with Mike Millins.
The upshot was, my mother was given a new trial. This time I testified to what I had witnessed and the episode around my sixteenth birthday. Mr and Mrs Millins came forward, as did some of the neighbors and my father’s co-workers. Even Dr Littleton was there, although she could offer no evidence. My grandmothers ignored the entire trial.
The verdict was changed to manslaughter and the sentence reduced to seven years; then the judge commuted it to one week longer than she had already served.
My mother came to live with me. She kept to herself, hardly going out, but she was happy. We talked about Vernon McClune for a while, then agreed that almost everything worth saying had been said and dropped the subject forever.
***
Charlie
I envied Freddie his goals. When I graduated from high school, the only thing I was sure of was that I was done with studying. I wanted to DO something. I liked working with machinery on the farm, but I wanted to go further than that.
One summer day a couple years after graduation, I was sitting at the edge of our property trying to figure out which direction to take. I saw a car creeping along with out of state plates. I knew someone was lost since the road pretty much ended over the next rise. I st
ood up and flagged down the driver. He was in a military uniform and looked aggravated. But he grinned at me. "I've been around the world but can't find my grandmother's house."
I knew where he meant to be going but it was easy to miss, so I offered to go along for the ride. He barely hesitated then thanked me. I ran back up to the house to leave a note for Mama and got in his car. Of course we got talking about the military and suddenly it seemed like what I was looking for. It was the most important car trip I ever took.
When we got to his grandma's house he insisted I come in. He wouldn't hear of me walking back home. His grandma invited me to stay for supper, so I cleaned up a bit. Just before supper Jeff's cousins came by to visit and that's when I saw Charlotte for the first time. I thought she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. I think I was in love before dessert was served.
That night I talked to Mama and Dad about enlisting and they listened. The following week Dad went with me to the Army recruiter's office, and a month later I was in basic training. Of course I got Charlotte's address and we wrote back and forth once a week for my entire tour. When my time was up I had learned to work on almost anything with an engine, so I opened a garage. Char and I got married just after we both turned twenty five, bought a place in town, and started a family of our own. By now Freddie was done with school and was a full partner with Mr Thompson.
***
Steve
After high school I knew I needed to find a full time job. One day I was getting a flat tire fixed and struck up a conversation with a guy waiting for his car to be done with some repairs. He was the manager of a local dinner theater that sometimes hosted tours of musicians and other shows. His technician had given notice so I told him about my summers with Uncle Smitty. He gave me his number and told me to call his secretary and set up a meeting.
I started the job the next week. I helped set up the shows and stayed through each performance in case there was a problem. I worked evenings and weekends, but I liked the work. Jeff was a great boss and paid me decent wages.
I'd been with him about six years when Aunt Tacy told me about Uncle Smitty's cancer. It was bad and he went downhill fast. I told Jeff about him and said I'd need time off when he got close to the end.
One morning Aunt Tacy called. Uncle Smitty had taken a turn for the worse; could I get there soon? I got on the road but it was late that night before I was at the hospital. I missed saying goodbye by only an hour or so. Aunt Tacy was grieving but holding up. I helped with the hospital arrangements and contacted the funeral home.
Jeff had told me to take at least a week so I stayed with Aunt Tacy for a few days after we buried my uncle. Then one morning over breakfast she dropped a bombshell: Uncle Smitty wanted me to have his repair shop business, lock, stock, and barrel. Aunt Tacy sent me to see David Baker and that day I met the rest of my life.
She was so beautiful I nearly couldn't breathe. I told her who I was, but she said I was expected. Then she said that with all she'd heard from Aunt Tacy, she expected me to be taller. I'm six-foot-three so at first I didn't get the joke.
David Baker talked to me for a while then brought in Aunt Tacy and Vernetta. We hashed out the details and I walked out of there a business owner.
Tacy
It was hard losing Napoleon, but I was glad to have Stevie back. The meeting with David Baker went well but it was obvious Stevie was smitten with Vernetta. In all the years she had been in town I'd never heard of any man she was dating, so I figured Stevie didn't stand a chance.
At the end of the meeting Stevie looked at Vernetta and said, "And now, Miss Vernetta, I'd be honored to take you out to supper." Both me and David Baker started to say something to head him off, but before we could get a word out Vernetta said she'd be delighted. Neither me nor David Baker is given to profanity, but when the office door closed behind them we looked at one another and said, "Well, I'll be darned."
***
Charlotte Wheeler
I love Freddie. He is a great guy and a better catch. I used to invite him to parties at our house, hoping he'd hit it off with one of my friends. I tried to make it look innocent but I think he figured it out and started declining invites. Charlie told me not to push it but Freddie was nearing thirty and it was time to get a family going.
Then I heard from my best high school friend, Naomi. We had kept in touch over the years and she said she would be coming through town that Friday. Naomi worked for the State Department of Education and traveled all over. She doesn't like to fly but loves train travel, so she asked if I could pick her up at the station about five o'clock. I told her I'd be there with a carnation in my lapel.
Then I had an idea. I called Freddie and told him my friend was coming into town on the afternoon train, but I was tied up and couldn't meet her. Would he fetch Naomi and let her wait at the drugstore?
I didn't know Charlie was standing behind me. "How are you tied up?" he asked me. I shrugged. "Charlotte ... “ he said. Okay, I told him, I kinda lied, but I think Naomi would be perfect for him. Charlie likes and admires Naomi, but he doesn't like me to interfere. I said I'd give Freddie an hour and if he hadn't offered to drive her out I'd concede defeat.
I waited by the phone and finally had to admit I'd made a mistake. I was about to lift the receiver when it rang. It was Freddie.
Fred
Charlotte is a matchmaker. I don't hold it against her because sometimes she brings people together that are perfect for each other. But her attempts to set me up just made me uncomfortable and I quit going to her little parties.
One day she called me and asked me to meet the afternoon train. I agreed without even thinking about it. The station is right down the street from the pharmacy, so I could go over when I heard the whistle.
Naomi and I had so much in common it was amazing. After about an hour of talking I realized Charlotte wasn't there yet, so I called her and offered to drive Naomi out to their place if I could stay for supper. I swear I heard her shout "Yes!" just as I hung up the phone.
***
Vernetta
I took Steve home to meet Mama. I could tell they were going to get along from their first hello. We were going out to Joe’s for Friday dinner that night and suddenly Steve invited Mama to join us. She told him she still wasn't comfortable going out, but he told her it was about time to make that change. He said he'd go get his Aunt Tacy and we'd make it a foursome, told us "girls" to get fancied up and he'd be back in an hour.
Loretta McClune
I'm still amazed at Steve insisting I go out with him and Vernetta and Tacy. We had a wonderful evening and I soon realized I had overestimated the interest the townspeople would have in my previous life. A lot of other diners stopped by our table to say hello -- they asked Tacy how she was doing, said thanks to Vernetta for something she had done at David Baker's, told Steve they needed him to check out their hot water heater. I was Vernetta’s mama and Tacy’s friend and Steve’s guest and that was all I needed to be.
Tacy and I hit it off from the start. She'd lost her husband recently and was getting over it slowly. She asked about me and Vernetta told her I was a great seamstress and beautician. Hmmmm, she said, and gave Vernetta a look. Vernetta nodded.
The next day David Baker called and asked me to stop by his office that afternoon. When I got there Tacy was waiting. She offered me a business deal. She was going to buy a beauty shop that had come up for sale. She wanted me to be her business partner and run the place. I was astonished but she talked me into it.
So, thanks to Steve I embarked on my new life. The Glamour Stop became a successful business. I hired Dolores to work with me. She's the kind of person who listens to everyone and cares, and she is a great stylist in the bargain.
***
Charlie
I will never forget that day. Chip had a bad cough and I wasn't feeling so good myself. My chest hurt and my stomach was upset. I figured I was coming down with the flu.
Fred was working the soda fo
untain and I told him to take his time. Suddenly I heard him shouting something to Naomi in the back office. It sounded like he was telling her to call an ambulance, and I looked around to see who had gotten hurt. Then the room went black and white like a negative, and everything sounded like it was coming at me through a tunnel.
The next thing I knew I woke up in a hospital bed with tubes in my arm, and Charlotte having a death grip on my hand. I told her to lighten up on the fingers and she burst into tears and called the nurse.
Joe
Most days during the week the diner serves breakfast and lunch and closes at four o'clock. But a bunch of years back, when Marie started the church school, she talked me into staying open on Friday nights. I serve an early dinner, but most of the folks hang around till about ten. I hire high school kids to come in and pour coffee and clean up, and I have a long waiting list for the job.
A lot of nights it was just about having an evening out. I liked giving those busy folks a place to relax and spend time with their friends. My helpers were chosen with care and I told them if I even suspected they were talking out of class about what they heard, I would personally tar and feather them. I never heard any reports of any of them violating the confidentiality of the diner. A good bunch of kids.
