SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
Chapter Eighty Three After the tow truck came, Margaret arranged for it to be towed to her house. The three friends grabbed their rucksacks and piled into Margaret’s minivan. Alan sat on the passenger side while Rose and Awinita sat behind him. Margaret climbed in and shut the door. She checked traffic and eased back out onto the interstate with the tow truck right behind her. “So, you guys are going across the country?” Margaret asked them. “Yes, we are,” Alan said. “Wow, you must have a lot of time and money,” she replied. “Actually, my fiancée is on a long holiday from work,” Alan said, indicating Rose. “We met Awinita while we were traveling and asked her to come with us.” She glanced back at her. “You have a lot of time on your hands also?” she said. “Yeah, I do,” Awinita replied and leaving it at that. “Well, I’m between jobs right now. My father and I used to spend the winter in Florida and our trailer got broken into and both of us got badly injured. I’m trying to recover from it and do therapy while I look for work I can do.” “Sorry to hear that,” Alan said. “I hope you can find a job soon.” “Yeah, me too, because my father is driving me crazy.” She smiled at them. “Like I said, he’s 90 and getting senile and he’s very argumentative. But don’t let him bother you. He won’t bite,” she said. “If he says anything hateful, just ignore it.” A look passed between Rose and Awinita, but they didn’t say anything aloud. After a half hour, they reached Margaret’s house in the country. Margaret paid the man despite Rose insisting on it. “It’s fine. You guys need to save your money,” she said, shrugging. “That’s very kind of you,” Rose said. They watched while the van was unhooked and set in the front yard. “I’ll call my neighbor tonight to come and take a look at it,” she said. “In the meantime, make yourselves at home.” She opened the door of the house and the three of them followed her inside. They immediately walked into the living room. All three of them noticed an elderly man sitting in a lazy-boy chair watching TV. “Daddy, I’m back!” the woman said loudly. “We have some guests.” “Huh?” the man said, keeping his eyes on the TV. “I SAID, WE HAVE SOME GUESTS!” Margaret screamed. “We do?” the man said, turning his head. “Yes, this is Rose, Alan and Awinita,” she said. “Huh?” Margaret sighed. “His hearing aid’s out,” she said, rolling her eyes. She walked over to him. “DADDY, PUT YOUR HEARING AID IN!” she yelled. “I don’t want to!” the man protested. “I don’t need to hear anything!” Margret shot them an apologetic look. “Just come with me and I’ll show you where you can sleep,” she said. She led them out of the living room into a tiny guest bedroom. “There’s the bed and I have an air mattress I can blow up that one of you can sleep on,” she said. “I will, you guys take the bed,” Awinita said. “Bathroom is right next door,” she said, stepping out and turning on the light. “Kitchen is down the hall and the other two bedrooms are beside it. And…that’s about it. It’s a small house so I apologize for the cramped quarters.” “Don’t worry, we’ve been in the van and hotel rooms for about three months now,” Alan said. “We’re used to small.” Margaret nodded. “Well are you guys hungry? I guess I could take you out to eat and get the belt tonight, that way you can be on your way as soon as possible.” “If it’s not any trouble,” Rose said. “Nah, it’s fine. My dad and I eat out all the time so we’re more than happy to take you. Oh…and my dad’s first name is Bill, just so you know. But, if you need to get ready, go ahead and I’ll get the car ready and get my dad inside it.” They nodded. Margaret walked off while they took turns using the bathroom. The three of them were sitting in the back of the minivan while Margaret drove. They were sitting together directly behind her and Bill. “So you two been to America before?” Margaret said, glancing back at Alan and Rose. “Huh?” Bill said, looking at her. “I’M TALKING TO THEM, DADDY!” “Oh,” Bill said. “Um, no, we haven’t,” Rose said. “I haven’t been too many places. I used to live in Atlanta. I lived there for thirty years until I moved back up here to take care of my father,” she said. The car rolled over a shallow pothole. “GODDAMN IT! I TOLD YOU TO QUIT HITTING THOSE DAMN POTHOLES! YOU’RE GONNA TEAR UP THE GODDAMN CAR!” Bill screamed at his daughter. “I CAN’T HELP IT, THE POTHOLES ARE EVERYWHERE!” she yelled back. “THEY NEED TO FIX THE ROADS, DADDY, I KEEP TELLING YOU THAT!” “Well, the government needs to get some Goddamn money for the counties so they can fix the damn things before the car breaks down!” Bill muttered. Margaret noticed how shocked the three of them were and gave them another apologetic look. Just then, they hit another pothole. “GODDAMIT! QUIT HITTING THOSE POTHOLES!” Bill screamed. Margaret sighed angrily. “Anyway…I’ve been to London a couple of times before,” she said to them. “It’s one of my favorite places to visit.” “Huh?” The three of them stifled their laughter when Margaret gave Bill an exasperated look. “I went around Europe with a friend when I was younger,” she said, trying to ignore him. “Huh? I can’t hear you. You’re gonna have to talk louder.” “I’M NOT TALKING TO YOU, DADDY! PUT YOUR HEARING AID IN FOR CHRIST’S SAKE!” Mercifully, Bill finally put his hearing aid in as Margaret breathed a sigh of relief. “Anyway,” she said. “I went around Europe when I was younger and I loved it. I…” “See that house over there,” Bill cut in, pointing to a dilapidated farmhouse. “I lived in that house right there and the one next to it and the one across the road from that one!” “You did?” Alan said, trying to be polite. “Yes, I did. I used to go fishing and swimming at a pond right behind it when I was little and my brother and I had a little pony cart that we would take into Shelbyville.” Alan nodded, not really knowing what to say to that. “And that house right there,” Bill said, pointing to a white two story farmhouse, “belongs to an asshole that owes me money.” They stared at him silently while Margaret looked over her shoulder. “The man has owed him money since 1948 and he’s been dead for about twenty five years now,” she said. “He’s a Goddamn son of a bitch. I used to do electrical wiring for houses and I put the wiring in his house and the asshole never paid me!” The three of them stared at him with wide eyes. “Um…” Alan finally said, “the man’s been dead for twenty five years, I don’t think you’re gonna get paid now.” “Well, I hope the asshole is roasting in Hell then.” Rose put her fingers up to her lips trying to hide the smile while Alan glanced at Awinita. “See that,” Bill said, pointing to a dirt lane. “My grandmother told me when I was a little boy that she walked with her two brothers down that road and stood with them while they waited for a carriage that would take them to the Civil War.” “Really?” Alan said, “That must have been interesting to hear.” Bill nodded. “She’s dead now, they all are. All them sons of bitches are dead, I’m the only one left and I’m gonna be goin’ any time now if I’m lucky.” Rose put her head against Alan’s arm trying to stifle the laughter while Alan and Awinita bit down firmly on their lips. They heard Margaret let out an exasperated sigh while she glared at him. While she was looking at him, she failed to see another pothole in the road and hit it. “GODDAMN IT! YOU’RE GONNA RUIN THIS GODDAMN CAR GOING OVER THOSE GODDAMN POTHOLES!” he bellowed. “GODDAMN IT, CAN’T YOU EVEN DRIVE?” “I didn’t hit it that hard, Daddy.” “I don’t care how hard you hit it; you’re not supposed to hit them at all! You’re gonna ruin the Goddamn car! I didn’t work most of my life so you could tear up things!” “I told you, Daddy, I can’t avoid all the potholes, the road’s filled with them.” “Well, the government needs to get some Goddamned money for the counties so they can fix the Goddamn things.” Alan turned his head and put his lips to Rose’s ear. “Suddenly, I’m regretting not getting a hotel room,” he whispered. Rose bit down on her lip so hard she was sure it was gonna draw blood. Finally, they reached Shelbyville. Margaret drove to a little diner and parked in front of the front door. All of them climbed out. Rose noticed Bill slowly getting out on his side while he was holding onto the car door with one hand and his cane in the other. Rose saw it wobbling back and forth while he put his weight on it. Concerned for his safety, she walked up and took a hold of the side. “GET AWAY FROM THE DOOR, I DON’T NEED ANY HELP!” Bill screamed at her. Rose bolted from the door as Alan and Awinita bent over in silent laughter. “Goddamn it,” Bill said loudly as he slammed the door hard and leaned on his cane. “I don’t need any Goddamned help to get inside. I can do it myself!” “Geez, sorry I touched the bloody door then,” Rose muttered under her breath as Alan patted her on the head. “Hey there, nice to see you again,” a waitress said as they entered the diner. All of them smiled at her except for Bill. “How ya doin’ hon?” she asked Bill. “I’m not dead yet, I guess,” he said, slowly walking towards a booth. “Any chance we can get the booth behind them?” Awinita muttered to Alan and Rose. They snickered. Margaret and Bill sat on one side of the booth while Alan and Rose slid into the other side. They gave Awinita an envious look when she slid into the booth behind them. “Just tell the waitress you’re with us, dear,” Margaret said, “and order whatever you want.” “Huh?” “I was talking to her,” Margaret said, gesturing to Awinita. “Oh, well I don’t know who you’re talking to half the time, I don’t have all my marbles like I did when I was young!” he said. The waitress walked up and handed them some menus. “That girl is with us too,” Margaret said, pointing to Awinita. The waitress nodded. “Can I get you something to drink?” “I’d like some coffee,” Margaret said. “I want some coffee too,” Bill added. She looked at Alan and Rose. “I want a Coke,” Alan said. “Coffee for me,” Rose said. She wrote it down and moved to Awinita. “How ‘bout you, hon?” “Coffee please,” she said. Rose smiled at Alan. “You’re the oddball in this group,” she teased. “Aren’t I always?” he said, winking. The waitress walked back to them. “Do you need some time before you order?” They glanced at each other and nodded. The waitress walked back to Awinita. “How about you?” “Yeah, I need a few minutes.” “Okay, I’ll be right back then.” She walked away. “So, are you two together?” Margaret asked. “Huh?” Margaret sighed. “I’m talking to them, daddy.” “Oh, well I didn’t know who you were talkin’ to,” he said. “Yes,” Alan said, “We’re engaged.” “Really? How long?” “A few weeks.” “Well, congratulations.” “Thanks,” Alan said. They looked at the menus. “What are you gettin’?” Rose said to Alan. “Huh?” Alan fought to keep from laughing. He put his fingers over his mouth while Rose gave him a polite smile. “I was talking to him,” she said to Bill. Bill stared at her. “Who are you?” he said. “I’m Rose.” “You British?” “Yes, I am.” “I knew a British woman when I was stationed overseas during World War 2. I was on leave and I went to London and met her and we had sex every night I was there.” Margaret groaned and put her head in her hand while Rose stared at him, not sure how to answer that. Alan was shaking with silent laughter and she heard Awinita snickering. “You’re very beautiful,” Bill said to her. “I got a girlfriend who’s about your age. She’s in Florida right now and I wanna go back to the trailer I have down there but my asshole daughter won’t let me go down there!” Rose glanced at Margaret who was mortified beyond belief at this. Alan was barely able to contain himself and Awinita was giggling softly. Thankfully, at that moment, the waitress came back. “You ready to order now?” she asked. Rose took a quick glance at the menu. She had been so shocked at the whole conversation that she hadn’t really looked. “I want breakfast, you still servin’ breakfast?” Bill said. She nodded. “I want two eggs and hash browns,” he said. She wrote it down. “I’d like the chicken fried steak dinner with white gravy please,” Margaret said. The waitress looked at Rose. “Um…I’d like a cheeseburger platter,” she said. “You, hon?” the waitress said to Alan. He was still reading the menu. “What’s a pork tenderloin sandwich?” he asked her. “They’re good. It’s deep-fried breaded pork on a bun,” Margaret said. “Hmm, I’ll try that then,” Alan said. “And some…French fries with it.” “I’ll be back with your orders then,” she said. She walked over to Awinita. “What do you want, hon?” “I’ll have the cheeseburger platter,” she said. The waitress wrote it down, gathered up all the menus and walked off. “The pork tenderloin sandwich is good. I think you’ll like it,” Margaret said. “Huh?” Margaret ignored Bill and kept on talking. “We also have sugar cream pie here in Indiana and as far as I know, this is the only state that makes them.” “Really? Sounds delicious. Do they have that here?” Alan said. “Yes, they do and I’ll be happy to pay for some slices if you wanna try it.” Alan looked at her. “Interested?” he said. “Yes, sounds good.” “Me too, I’ll try it too.” “Excuse me; do we know you, weird lady behind us?” Alan said, looking around. Rose giggled when Awinita flipped him off. Alan was in Heaven. Rose giggled at the ecstatic look on his face while he munched on his pork tenderloin sandwich. “I take it you like it then?” she said. In response, Alan tore off a piece of it and fed it to her. “Mmm, this is good,” she said. Alan tore off another bit and gave it to Awinita. “Yeah, it is,” she said, looking around at them. “I’ll have to get this more often,” Alan said. “Me too,” Rose replied. “Have you guys ever had White Castle hamburgers?” Margaret asked. Alan frowned. “No, are they good?” Margaret nodded. “We’ll stop and get you guys a sack of them.” “Thank you,” Alan said. “He loves when people buy him food,” Rose said. “Buy him dinner and he’s your friend for life.” Alan eyed her when she and Awinita giggled. Alan was now in seventh Heaven. The sugar cream pie melted in his mouth. He looked at Rose who was enjoying it as much as him. “We definitely have to get this while we’re in Indiana,” Alan said. “If you go to the store, they have Wick’s Sugar Cream Pies that you can take home and eat. They’re ready made.” “Really?” Alan said, delighted. “Oh Lord, Awinita, now the back of the van’s gonna be stacked to the ceiling with sugar cream pies,” Rose said to her. “I’ll help em eat them,” Awinita said. “This is good! I wouldn’t mind having a bunch on hand to snack on.” Alan smiled graciously at them. “Thank you so much for doing this for us,” he said as Rose nodded in agreement. “It’s no problem. I’m always happy to help and I’m glad I introduced you to our local cuisine in the process.” The waitress brought over the check. Margaret paid it and waited while everyone finished eating.
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