HOPE FOR CHANGE... But Settle for a Bailout (29 page)

In the front of the lot, the workers in
orange vests were being manhandled by security, who shoved them out
of the front door. Two guards and six security from inside stood in
a line, as the workers straightened their vests and turned to walk
to their cars. Sitko and one other stood alongside a Ford F-250,
smoking cigarettes.

“Easy, now,” said Ed, slowly. “Not yet, but
be ready to drive, Ralphie.” From a side door, half-way between the
front and back of the building, came both Carole and December, each
accompanied by a security guard. Both made their way to the limo.
December looked several times at Carole, shrugged and then walked
together.

Inside the car, Ed and Larry watched as
Sitko threw his cigarette onto the ground and stormed towards the
two women, near the limo.

“Fire this thing up, Ralphie,” said Ed,
lowering Larry’s window.

“Girls!” yelled Ed, and both Carole and
December quickened their step, but not before being intercepted by
Sitko, who grabbed December by the arm.

“Let go, Sitko!”

A can smashed into Sitko’s jaw, exploding,
showering him with soda and spraying wildly as it fell to the
ground. Sitko released December, who bolted with Carole for the
limo.

Larry let loose with another soda, as Sitko
charged, taking the next can square in the face, sending him down.
Larry dove into the open door. Ed yelled, “Go!” and Ralphie peeled
forward, as Carole pulled the door closed. Ed rolled his window
down and saluted the lot guards as they passed. The guards laughed
as the limo sped passed.

“Good arm,” said Carole, to Larry.

“Breakfast, girls?” asked Ed, with a
smile.

.

Ed poured the remaining salsa onto his
Denver omelet, as December worked on a stack of pancakes and Carole
poured honey on her scrambled eggs. Larry wiped mustard from his
mouth and returned to his pastrami sandwich.

“Why doesn’t the driver join us?” asked
Carole.

“Oh, Ralphie?” said December. “He’s real
proper.”

“It’s his own car,” said Larry. “He says he
feels better staying with the vehicle.”

“Okay,” said Carole, picking up a slice of
wheat toast, “let me get this straight. You won $235 million on the
lottery, and you’re
giving
the money away. Aren’t you
worried people will just glom onto you for the money?”

“W’ull, yeh,” said Larry, “but that’s why I
hired people to help me... including Ed. He already told a bunch of
people ‘no’ for me.”

“Not to put too fine a point on it,” said
Carole, “but Ed was doing a pretty good job saying ‘yes’ at the
club.” The two women chuckled.

“I was offering my client an important
lesson in spreading capital,” said Ed, in an official tone.

“And what’s that?” asked December. “How to
get laid?”

“No,” said Larry. “It’s about smiling and
having nothing to lose.”

Ed nodded his head.

“Well, when we are done,” said December,
Ralphie’s gotta take me back so I can get my car.”

“Me, too,” said Carole.

“That’s fine,” said Ed, “unless you girls
wanna do something fun, like Vegas or something.”

Carole laughed. “Vegas. Right.”

December said nothing, but looked back and
forth from Ed to Larry.

“No,” said Larry. “If you guys want to, I’ll
pick it all up.”

Carole and December looked at one another.
“I’d need to pick up clothes,” said Carole.

“Shopping?” replied Ed.

“Uh, yeh,” said Larry. “On me.”

.

“Ralphie,” said Ed, knocking on the shaded
glass. “Pull in there!”

The Lincoln pulled into a parking stall for
PharmaGreen, with its green cross on the door. Ed grabbed his
wallet and several bills from the bundle. “Be right back.”

.

Larry drank a Diet Coke as Ed passed an
enormous joint to December, who took a long hit and passed it to
Carole.

“You are crazy, man,” said December. “But
definitely fun, Ed.”

“Ditto,” said Carole, handing the joint to
Ed, who put it between his lips and leaned back into the leather
seat, taking a long drag.

“Careful, okay,” said Larry. “This is
Ralphie’s car.”

Las Vegas, 110 miles, read a freeway
sign.

.

“Welcome to Caesar’s Palace,” said a blonde
behind the counter. “Do you have a booking?”

December made her way to the desk. “Do you
have a list of specials? For a big suite.”

The desk clerk reached for a sheet of paper
and handed it to December, who studied it. “Do you have pictures?”
After scanning photos and the specials list, December nodded
approvingly to Larry, pointing to the Emperor’s Suite.

.

December popped her head out of the dressing
room, calling out to Larry. “Hunny.” Larry walked over and December
pulled open the fabric drapes, showing her body packed into a red
dress that clung to every curve and was tight enough that it
stretched across her navel, revealing that December’s was an
innie.

“It’s, um…, wow,” said Larry.

December smiled, and pulled the curtain
closed.

Larry returned to his spot next to Ed, just
as Carole carried in several outfits. She smiled sweetly to both
men as she passed.

A moment later, Carole popped her head out.
“Ed?”

.

“Hit,” said December, drawing a six to the
two cards totaling nine. “Damn!”

“Nothing to lose,” intoned Larry.

December looked silently to Larry, and then
asked for another card.

“A four,” said the dealer, as December waved
her hand over her cards.

Ed took a hit on 14 and busted.

Larry stood with 18.

Carole hit with ten and drew an ace. She
shrieked and grabbed Larry’s arm.

Larry’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He
pulled it out and saw “LORI” on the screen.

“Hullo,” said Larry pushing loudspeaker.

“Bix, where are you?”

“Las Vegas. Me and Ed and December and this
nice woman named Carole are at....”

“Vegas? And December’s there? And Ed?”

“Yeh,” said Larry. “Wanna talk to ‘em?”

“Can you put December on?” said Lori.

Larry handed the phone to December, just as
the dealer busted and slid chips to Carole, Larry and December, who
smiled and left them in front of her. The dealer dealt.

“Yeh, Baby!”

“We were supposed to go out this morning,”
said Lori.

“Oh, right, well, Larry and Ed showed up
last night and suddenly now we’re in Vegas.” December called out
“blackjack” and excitedly turned over a jack of spades and an ace
of diamonds. “Yeh, Baby! You just brought me luck!”

“I planned a morning for us,” said Lori.
“Took a break from training so we could....”

“Oh,” said December, leaving her winnings on
the table. “How ‘bout when we get back, huh? I’ll bring ya’
something real special, huh?”

“Dee, the only rule was if we were supposed
to spend time with each other, just don’t be with someone
else.”

“C’mon, Baby,” said December, whose new
cards totaled 18. She held her hand over the cards. “It’s just Ed
and Larry.”

“And some woman?”

“Someone I work with,” said December, as the
dealer showed an 18. December left her winnings on the table after
the push. “Look, I’m having fun, okay? Let’s talk when I get
back.”

Larry took a hit on seventeen and drew a
three.

December handed the phone back, and looked
at her cards. A nine and four. “Hit.” She pulled a picture card,
and threw her cards on the table.

.

Larry adjusted the new pair of knee-length
baggy swim trunks from the hotel shopping mall and then carefully
carried four tall drink glasses, two in each hand, towards the
pool, where Ed, Carole and December lay. “Long Island iced tea,
Jack and Coke, and a mojito,” said Larry, carefully setting the
four glasses onto the small table between Ed and December’s
loungers. Larry handed the Long Island iced tea to Carole.

“Thank you, Hun,” she said.

“So I still wanna know about the dude from
the club,” said Ed

“Sitko?” said December.

“Oh, they’re regulars,” said Carole. “They
take their lunch at the club.”

“They weren’t eating anything.

“They’re not there to eat,” said Carole.

“So you used to date Sitko?”

December reached for her mojito, rubbed the
mint between her fingers and dropped it into the glass. “Look, I’m
sort’a tired of being interrogated, okay?”

“He’s not beating you, is he?” asked Ed.

“Ed!” said December, loudly. “First Lori,
now you. Can’t we all just have some fun.”

Larry stood, set his soda glass down, and
walked to the pool, making a flawless dive into the water.

“What about this guy?” asked Carole “He
married? Or seeing anyone?”

“Best I can figure, nope to both,” said
Ed.

“No,” said December. “He’s just a real
sweetie.”

“Is he... normal?” asked Carole.

“Normal’s a relative thing,” said Ed. “He
doesn’t seem completely weird or anything.” Ed paused, seeming to
recheck the facts in his head. “A little slow, maybe.”

Larry climbed out of the pool and made his
way to his lounger, which he covered with a towel before laying
down. “Nice pool. Like Harris Ranch’s better, though.”

“So, do you have a girl?” Carole asked
Larry, who appeared to miss that the question was aimed at him.
“Larry?”

“Huh,” said Larry.

“You got a girl?”

“Oh,” said Larry, “no. I’m, uh... no.”

“You seem nice,” said Carole. “Do you want a
girl?”

“W’ull, uh,” said Larry, laying flat, his
belly rising like a small mountain. “I mean, maybe.” Larry lay
silent for a moment. “Actually, no.”

“Dude,” said Ed.

“You don’t want someone?” asked Carole. “Not
even someone nice? And pretty?”

“No,” repeated Larry, more convincingly. “I
don’t want a girlfriend. I don’t want to get married. I don’t want
babies. I want it all to end with me.”

“Aww, hunny,” said December.

“All of what to end, Larry?” asked
Carole.

“The whole family line. It’s ending with me.
I am not going to get weak like my dad, cuz if I do, then this
awful family will keep going, and I won’t let it. The van der Bix
name is done.”

“That’s a lot of anger about other people,
dude,” said Ed, sipping his Jack and Coke.

“Why not live for yourself, instead of being
angry over others?” asked Carole.

Larry stood up and walked back to the pool,
diving in.

.

“Who’s date am I tonight?” asked Carole,
stepping out from the master bedroom of the Emperor’s suite in a
form-fitting, low-cut, bright floral-print dress.

“I don’t really wanna see a show,” said
Larry, in a tuxedo purchased from the men’s shop in the hotel. “I
feel silly.”

December snuggled up to Larry and put her
hands on his shoulders. “C’mon, hunny. Let’s have some fun. And
besides, what if someone messes with us and we need that arm of
yours?”

Carole stepped forward, offering her arm to
Larry. He slowly approached, touched her elbow and then inserted
his arm to link with hers, as Ed, in a suit jacket and black jeans
with a high-end tee, offered his arm to December, who ceremoniously
linked arms.

.

December sat silently, smoothing down her
blouse, as Sitko Bladich rowed slowly away from Cabrillo Beach, out
towards his friends treading water, for the midnight swim to Fish
Harbor.

“It’s a school night, Sitko,” said December.
“I have dance first period.”

“You can dance for my grandfather, Sweet
Pea.”

.

December and Ed, each giddy, bumped their
way back into the Emperor’s suite and made their way to a leather
couch. They plopped down, laughing and groaning alternately.

Larry, wearing a serious expression, and
Carole entered, each sober and sure footed.

“Let’s do room service,” exclaimed
December.

“That would be nice,” said Carole, looking
to Larry. “Sound good?”

“Um, okay,” said Larry.

Carole sat next to Larry at the table in the
kitchen, pointing to different selections and calling out items to
Ed and December. Larry said less and less. When all had been agreed
to, Carole placed the call, warmly running through an assortment of
meals, beverages and desserts. “Do you want to join them in the
living room?” asked Carole.

The two walked into the sprawling main room
of the suite, where Ed and December were making out on the couch.
Ed held one of December’s breasts in his hand.

“Oh,” said Carole, in a cooing voice. “Here,
you think?” she asked, standing at a second sofa, in clear view of
the other couple. They sat and for almost a minute, Larry just
looked at the two people kissing. Neither Ed nor December broke
away.

“Larry?” said Carole. “Do you wanna do
that?”

“What?” said Larry, in a voice that rose and
broke. He turned towards Carole, who had undone the top two buttons
to her dress.

“Nothing to lose, man,” came a low voice
from across the room.

Larry turned to face Carole, who smiled up
to him, as she lay back in the couch, offering herself.

“It’s okay,” said Carole. “Really.” She
reached for Larry’s hand and placed it on her breast. “Really.”

Larry’s phone rang and he quickly drew his
hand back, pulled his cell from his pocket and saw “LORI.” He
looked to the other couch. “December, it’s Lori,” said Larry.
“She’s probably gonna wanna to talk to you.”

December, breaking to catch a breath, said,
“Little busy here. Let it go to voicemail.”

“Larry?” said Carole, pleadingly.

Larry stood and walked to the window, away
from the couches, taking the call.

Carol buttoned her dress and sat upright. Ed
and December continued necking.