Strange Awakening by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
Download the book in PDF, ePub, Kindle for a complete version.
Chapter 9
It was still too early to sleep, so I turned the television on to some news program, not paying any attention to it, but appreciating the sound of company. While I prepared food, I thought it was about time to eliminate the wine and settle for coffee. I had to think as straightly as my brain could manage.
While I looked forward to seeing Butch tomorrow, I also realized that this project was not exactly his idea and even if that was not a problem, he probably would show up drunk and he just might do something that would result in both of us being killed.
While the news announcer showed concern he reiterated the day’s account of wars, murders and fires, my mind wandered. The odds of a team succeeding is probably very low, when that team is 50%
brain damaged and the other 50% is inebriated. Half plus half equals one; Team is at least two. On second thought, I decided that the opposing teams were similarly comprised and that Butch and I had some advantage, if only because we knew it. I also knew that this could be my last evening on earth, though that was not a high likelihood and decided to call Diane though I really didn’t know what I wanted to say to her. I certainly didn’t want to tell her tomorrow’s plans because she’d disapprove, possibly worry and definitely harangue me about it.
I dialed her number.
“Diane Jensen speaking.”
“Hi, Edward Jensen here.”
“Is this important? I’m really swamped.”
“No.” I paused, but before she could cut the conversation, I blurted out, “Only that I think I love you.”
She laughed warmly, “Why are you saying that?”
“I really don’t know. I really don’t know you, either.
But, it dawned on me that the little I know of you I like a lot and I just want you to know that.”
“Why now? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I realized I must have made this sound too urgent, suggesting some possible finality. “When are you going to visit here?”
“I hadn’t planned to for at least a month. I’d like to step that up a bit and pawn off some of this crap to co-workers, but that’s not really a good idea. I’d like to be with you now.
It must be difficult with some degree of memory problem.”
“Thanks for the thought. But, I’m doing pretty well.
Maybe this world doesn’t require anyone to be super sharp to get by. AND, I think I made a friend down the road, who.....”
She cut me off; “I’m glad you made a friend, but I’ve really got to get moving here. Love you, Chubby.”
She hung up before I could make any reply and I settled into watching and listening to the daily disaster report and was soon asleep.
The television was telling me that it was 8 PM when I woke up to a commercial between segments of a game show. I didn’t have anything else to do, so I watched the show in the dark, sitting up on the couch. It felt safe there. But, eventually I had to go to the bathroom and once I was up I decided to satisfy my hunger. I went into the kitchen and heated up some more hamburgers. The kitchen windows faced the yellow house, but are separated by about 100 feet of dense woods and shrubs. In the dark I could see lights, probably car headlights, coming into or out of its driveway. After I finished eating, it seemed to me that some surveillance was necessary. At the very least maybe I could find out how many people were possible enemies. I didn’t know if that information would be of any use, but concluded it couldn’t hurt. I wondered if I wasn’t acting like Miss Marple.
I’ve read a few of Agatha Christie’s books and have seen some TV
adaptations. I can’t remember any specifics, but wasn’t Miss Marple always nosing around where she shouldn’t be? I recall a local cop trying to get her not to be meddlesome. And look how long she lived. No sweat.
Not turning on any more lights than the kitchen chandelier, which was already on, I exited another door as quietly as
possible. My eyes soon acclimated to the dark, using the warm night’s half-moon. There was a gentle breeze, rustling around leaves, so, hopefully no small noise I inadvertently made would command any attention. I walked through the woods which separated the yellow house from mine, taking a seat on the ground approximately ten feet from the property line, hopefully covered by the trees and the darkness. The goddamn bats came back. I could see 40 of them flying low in the open areas around the house. I wondered if I was dreaming again and if so, how could I wake myself up before another bat gets on my head.
I know, in reality, that they are hunting insects, but if this was some alternative reality, they might be hunting me. When they seemed to consistently stay in the open area, shunning the woods I felt better.
I couldn’t see any activity. There were four cars in the driveway, including the red Toyota hatchback. The shades and blinds were all pulled down, but revealed that lights were on in every visible room window. I soon changed my mind and decided that it was a very stupid idea for me to be here under the circumstances. I thought that the best thing to do was to go back to my house quietly. When I started to get up, one of the doors opened and two men came outside. One was the guy who had already given me two warnings and he was talking heatedly to another guy, sizeable, but a bit smaller. I didn’t see any guns
and sat still. Their voices carried very well in the night’s quiet. The first guy, my acquaintance spoke first; “I’m not giving you any money. Things are just not working.”
The second guy waved his arm across his lower body and said; “I was told that my job was just to deliver them.
Anything else is your problem.”
“Not exactly. Yeah, your job is to deliver them, but they’re supposed to be cooperative. I can’t get these two to do anything.”
“They were cooperative until they met you. It’s your problem and I want my money.”
“The bottom line is that I’m not paying you a god damn thing until they perform as required.”
“This is getting to be a real pain in the ass. I delivered them, you fucked it up and I get screwed out of my money? Bull-fucking-shit.” The second guy moved forward and re-installed his face one foot from number one’s and looked directly into his eyes, intending nothing amorous.
The lady in black came out of one of the doors and the two silently watched her walk over to them. She said; “While you two jackasses were out here arguing, I got some cooperation going. They’ve gotten their clothes off and are being filmed.
Is everybody happy?”
The first guy said; “Yeah.”
The second guy had a slightly different take and said;
“Yeah, as soon as fat boy gives me my money.”
The first guy showed some annoyance, pointed a finger toward number two’s face and said; “You always have to push, don’t you? You’ll get it as soon as the film is fucking completed.”
The lady in black said in a bored tone; “End of conversation. Everyone gets what they want. In the meantime, I don’t want either of you two loudmouths scaring the kids again.
So stay out of the filming room until I come get you.” She quickly walked alone back to the house and went in. The other two held back silently for a while.
The first guy had to keep talking; “It sounds like you will be getting your money, but I want to get one thing straight with you for next time.”
The second guy grimaced disparagingly and answered; “What makes you think there is going to be a next time?”
The first guy affected the same look and said; “Cause scumbags like you always come back for the easy money.”
The second guy showed that he was no slouch in the finger department and said; “Fuck you, fat ass. You’re not the only producer in the state.”
The first guy, feigning disgust, said; “Whatever. I just want to make this clear for you. If you decide to chauffer kids
here again, you’re not getting a nickel until the movie is finished. If you bring over willing kids who get unwilling when they’re here, it’s your tough shit.” Not seeing any reason to continue the conversation, he turned away and went back to the house, entering a back door not used by the lady in black and avoiding the filming room. After about fifteen seconds, the second guy went the same route as the first.
I was relieved that I was again alone outside and headed back to my house. As I walked I realized that I was again disturbed. To listen to two adult males, without any physical signs of sickness talk about willing and unwilling kids, films and payments was just too low to me. Don’t people engaging in these kinds of activities develop some physical sign of it, like drooling at the mouth; hands stuck in their pants or hunched backs. When they look like anyone else you can meet at a suburban mall, where can you go? I made it back to the house, apparently unnoticed, made something to eat, sat in front of the television and eventually fell asleep on the couch. I really didn’t see what was on the TV in the least, my mind not able to extricate itself from what had been heard, confirming my previous thoughts of serious trouble.
I had an unusual dream, in that I knew that I was dreaming while I was in it. I was walking by the yellow house and the lady in black was alone in front of it. She gave me what was
getting to be our customary greeting. I made an exaggerated kiss in her direction while turning the same way. Her demeanor changed a bit and she said; “Want to make a movie?”
“Sure, if you’re the co-star.”
“I’m a producer, not an actress.”
“You are too an actress, perhaps not yet on film.”
“And never will be.”
I said; “All right, let’s leave the camera off.”
She smiled at me and said; “What kind of roles do you specialize in?” pulling open her long suede coat to reveal that her only other adornment was her high heeled boots.
Goddammit, just when the conversation was starting to get interesting the line between dream and reality returned and I could no longer see the interesting lady. In place of her was a very uninteresting television set, so I closed my eyes to again sleep, thinking about the dexterous one and hoping to see her friend who carried Tootsie Rolls.