Charmed Life (23 page)

“Thank you. I don’t know why you are so protective over it. I saw the dog painting.” She kissed him on the cheek.

A clearing of a throat rang out.

They both looked.

Louise walked to them, arms folded “It’s against the rules to fraternize with the customers, toots.”

Bobby turned with an ornery smile. “Hello, Louise.”

“Oh, Bobby Dawson, doesn’t it just figure you wreak havoc in men’s underwear now you gotta wreak in women’s?”

Bobby chuckled.

“Go on, laugh,” Louise said. “You won’t be laughing when I turn her in to Chip.”

Rhoda huffed. “Not like she can’t get another job somewhere else. It’s Bargain-Mart.”

Slowly Louise faced Rhoda. “Well if it isn’t Rhoda the Bad Seed.”

“If it isn’t Louise the Bargain-Mart Lesbian.”

Bobby stepped forward to his daughter. If there was on thing he couldn’t stomach was when a child was disrespectful to an adult. And really, he never worried much about Rhoda being disrespectful. But right then and there, he did. The short elderly woman, not much taller than his daughter who was almost nine stood toe to toe, eyes locked in nasty gaze to nasty gaze. They faced off. Bobby swore they were ready to encircle each other.

Instead of his typical worry about what his daughter would project, he feared what she would say. He had to interject.

Grace stopped him and whispered. “Please don’t stop Rhoda.”

Reluctantly, Bobby backed off. There was something in her face that conveyed, Louise was ready for her ‘due’ and Rhoda could be the one to deliver it.

Louise swished her mouth around. “No one asked you to comment.”

“Yes. I know. But I was defending my father’s honor.”

“Children should be seen ad not heard.”

“They say the same about the elderly. Why are you so mean?”

Louise laughed once. “Look who’s calling the kettle black. Take a good look at me, little girl. At your current rate. I’m your future.”

Rhoda scoffed. “I highly doubt that one day I will be a mean, bitter, ex con in a Bargain-Mart uniform. The lesbian part alone throws your theory through the window.”

“I ought to throw you out of the store myself.”

“Oh, yeah,” Rhoda put her hands on her hips. “Touch me and I’ll have your job.”

“Ok!” Bobby leapt forward taking hold of Rhoda. “All right. We’re out of here, Grace …. I’ll see you later.”

Grace smiled and waved to Bobby, then winked at Rhoda. Bobby just looked so perplexed as he led his daughter from the store, a daughter who continuously, as she walked, glanced over her shoulder and gave evil looks to Louise.

With a smug look, Grace returned grabbing packs of underwear.

“Yeah, laugh,” Louise said. “It’s all funny now. But it won’t be so funny when the evil child kills you in your sleep. Evil little brat.”

Grace hesitated before stocking another bag of underwear. Louise turned and started to walk away. Underwear pack in hand, Grace flashed back to the story that Bobby told her about his first encounter with Louise. And with that and the remark about Rhoda on her mind, Grace revved back and sailed the bag at Louise.

It didn’t hit her hard but it hit her nonetheless. When Louise spun around with a possessed look, and eyes that she swore turned demon red, Grace realized her one option.

Run.

+++

Suspension wasn’t too bad. Grace would handle that. Being written up for physical violence against a coworker—Louise—was worth it.

At least she didn’t lose her job.

She was finished for the day before lunch, and called Bobby to pick her up. She told him that once Freddy got home from work, they’d head on over and get the girls.

Bobby laughed about her being suspended and the reasons for it. Bobby laughed about everything.

He was special and Grace knew it.

She also knew Freddy had a point about telling him the truth.

She did trust him, she just needed to find the right time.

Bobby dropped her off at the house and told her he’d be back, and wished he could stay but he had things to do.

Grace was pleasantly surprised when Rhoda showed up on her doorstep.

“I know I’m early, but I didn’t think you would mind,” Rhoda said.

“Not at all, come in.”

“Thank you, Ms. Berkowitz.”

“You know … you can call me Grace.”

“Yes, I know. But I prefer to be proper.” She handed Grace a bag.

“What’s this?” Grace asked.

“My grandmother was fearful that you would be able to prepare a meal for us, so she sent food over.”

“I have food.”

“Do you have easy food?” Rhoda asked.

“I don’t know.” Grace shrugged. “I don’t cook.”

“There you have it.”

Grace opened the bag. “Hot dogs.”

Rhoda nodded.

Grace proceeded to turn the package about, looking.

“May I ask what you’re looking for?”

“Directions to make them. Oh,” Grace waved out her hand. “I’ll go on the net.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“About?”

“You don’t know how to make hot dogs?”

Grace shook her head.

“I can help you with that one. Put them in a pan of water and boil them.”

“That easy?”

“It’s that easy,” Rhoda said.

“I can’t wait to try them.”

“Wait. You haven’t had hot dogs either?”

Grace shook her head.

“Oh, we so have to make a list of things you never had before. Maybe we can do that today.”

“I was thinking of you and I making a collage,” Grace said. “When I was your age. I used to make them all the time. I’d pick a theme and go for it.”

“Why don’t we make the theme foods you never tried?”

“Oh, that’s a good idea.”

And Grace was genuine about thinking it was a good idea. But they needed more magazines if they were going to do one on food, Grace wasn’t sure what she had tried or hadn’t. Under the suggestion of Rhoda, they went to Polly’s to get the Sunday coupons, then to the Rite Aid for more magazines.

Polly was slightly apprehensive about dropping off Regan and Damian. Not so much for the children, but rather Grace, Freddy and Marybeth.

But it was only a couple hours, how much damage could be done?

Regan barked, but not much after Polly left. She devoured the bone shaped cookies that Marybeth inventively created for the girls’ day.

Regan sat in a chair, secured by a belt, as Grace, Freddy, Marybeth and Rhoda sat around the able, working on pictures.

Damian didn’t seem interested.

Freddy took notice.

She wandered around as if she were looking for something specific.

“Maybe, I should take charge of her,” Freddy suggested. Just as he was going to call out, he noticed, the pockets of the child seemed to bulge. “Little girl,” he called her. “What do you have in your pockets?”

“Stuff,” Damian answered.

“Like?” Freddy asked.

“Just stuff and my slingshot.”

“You don’t plan on shooting anybody with that.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Just small animals and targets.”

“Oh, good. Don’t you want to do the collage with us?” Freddy asked.

“No, I want to play.” Damian said, her folded behind her back. “Do you want to go outside and play a game with me?”

“What kind of game?” Freddy asked.

“One I made up.”

“Oh, I love made up games. You’ll share the rules, right?”

“Yes,” Damian nodded.

“Ok, great.” Freddy put down the scissors. “Let’s go play. Grace, we’ll be outside.”

“All right. Have fun.” Grace worked with her scissors, then noticed Rhoda shaking her head. “What’s wrong?”

“He’s in trouble. I know her games.”

Marybeth giggled and waved out her hand. “Freddy’s a big boy. He can handle himself.”

“I’m sure.” Rhoda comment. “Ms. Berkowitz, what about Tequitta have you had those?”

“What’s a taquitta?”

“I’ll take that as a no.” Rhoda began to cut the picture.

Marybeth perked up. “Got one. Pop tarts.”

Grace shook her head. “Never had one.”

Marybeth gasped out. “I can not believe you’ve never had a pop tart.”

“Maybe we should ask what she has eaten,” Rhoda suggested. “What kind of food did you eat?”

“Food with names most people can’t pronounce,” Grace chuckled. “Oh, this looks good.” She showed the picture.

Marybeth giggled. “Spaghetti in a can. Grace, honey, we have to look at this collage when we’re done and get you to try every item on here. No wonder you can’t cook if you never had these foods. These are easy.”

A knock came at the door.

Regan barked.

Marybeth stood. “You think Freddy locked himself out?”

Grace reached to lift Regan from the chair. “Can you get it?”

“On my way.” Marybeth walked to the door. She opened it and stepped back. “Can I help you?”

Angry, Tina, Louise’s girlfriend, shouted. “Where is Grace?”

Sweet as pie, Marybeth glanced to the table “Grace, honey, it’s for you.”

Holding Regan, Grace walked to the door.

Rhoda peeked and shook her head, commenting softly. “She’s in trouble.”

“Who …” Grace froze when she saw Tina. “Can I help you?”

“Oh, you’re the one who needs help.”

“Excuse me?”

“You attacked my girlfriend today,” Tina blasted.

Marybeth’s eyes widened. “You beat up Louise?”

“No,” Grace said. “I threw underwear at her.”

“Attack,” Tina said. “Step outside so I can kick your ass.”

“Stop. Stop.” Marybeth held out her hand. “Honey, this isn’t a good time. There are children here. Perhaps if you want to make Grace pay, you can do it later.” She crinkled her nose. “When she’s not so busy.”

“If you don’t shut up, you’re next.”

Marybeth pretended to zipper her mouth.