These Are the People in Your Neighborhood (Chapter Four)

8/9/2019 These Are the People in Your Neighborhood (Chapter Four)

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These are the people in your neighborhoodin your neighborhoodin your nei bor- hood.

Theyre the people that you meetwhen youre walkin down the streettheyre the people that you meet each daaaaay.

Opal was singing the Sesame Street song to herself as shewalked back to her apartment after visiting with Tamara.

Tamara was just pulling into her parking spot, her big loudcar sounding worse than usual, as Opal was stepping out ofthe laundry room. Each parking spot had a corresponding

storage closet facing it, except Tamaras hers had amodified storage closet with two stacked coin-op washerdryers. Opal set down the laundry basket of clean warmclothes and rubbed Rommels ears as she lunged from thewindow the dog was sweet to kids and the other moms inthe complex but barked ferociously at any man, even thoseshe knew well.

Tamara was what Bea called colorful. She wore very flashy

clothes and the first time Opal had been in her apartmentshe discovered that her closets were like a theater dressingroom. There were sequined and velvet clothes that lookedmore like costumes for a baton twirler or one of those mardigras dancers. One closet was just shelves of shoes and boots

One of the two bathrooms in Tamaras apartment was amake-up and wig room. The small counter mushroomed withoverflowing containers of lipstick tubes, ointment viles andpowder brushes of all sizes. In one large basket nested multihue pots of glitter shadows and out of a yellow smiley facemug spiked a dozen eye pencils. A clear plastic cratehoused hot rollers and curling irons and a blow dryer. Thedrawers yawned open spilling hair clips and ornaments andribbons. Above the towel bar was a mounted magnifyingmirror with a row of bright light bulbs and on a hook a hand


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mirror hung by its handle. All around on the large mirroredwall over the sink were taped up photos of models torn frommagazines. Wigs were perched on foam heads on a row ofshelves that ascended from the back of the toilet. She let

Opal try on the long red wig once. It squeezed her scalp butshe was amazed at how different it made her feel to havethick straight raspberry red hair with bangs. Tamarasuggested a blush and painted her lips bright pink. It wasastonishing. She made sure there was not a trace ofpigment left on her lips when she left Tamaras apartment.

Tamara was one of the few adults who was home during theday. Opal knew she worked nights, and had assumed she

was a nightclub performer. There had been evenings whenOpal had seen Tamara get picked up by a large Cadillac.

The car looked white from a distance, but once when itpulled up to Tamaras door when Opal was near, the paintlooked more pink, like a pearly pink nail polish her mothersometimes wore. The man driving was very dark skinnedand wore sunglasses and a hat. He didnt get out of the car,

just sit there with the engine running. Rommel ran fromwindow to window barking like crazy. Tamara would emerge

with all her sparkles and spangles on and very high heels.Sometimes she was blonde, sometimes brunette andoccasionally she had on the red wig Opal had tried on. Shelocked her door and said something calming to Rommel andthen shed get into the big pink pearl Cadillac.

Opal had not lived in the apartment long before she hadoverheard some adults speculating about Tamara. Thethings she heard the adults saying didnt tarnish her opinion,or make her want to stay away from her. If anything it made

Tamara that much more interesting. Opal could never bringherself to ask Tamara why she dressed the way she did. Ifshe were doing something Opal didnt want to talk about,and it seemed to her that nobody ever really knew for sure,it would ruin the fun of visiting her. Still, Opal wasnt goingto advertise that she had hung out with Tamara and tried on


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wigs. She knew enough that that wasnt going to be apopular decision. Plus, most impressive of all, she had twolarge color TVs: one in the living room and one in herbedroom. Opal knew very few people with one color TV, and

none with a TV in both the living room and the bedroom.

Laundry day, huh? Tamara asked. She was smoking,which was the one thing Opal didnt approve of. Lucky forme nothing I own can go in the machines.

Why not? Opal was constantly learning things fromTamara.

Most of my wardrobe is dry clean only. Or spot clean asneeded. Tamara made kissing noises to Rommel andcaught her by the rhinestone collar.

Opal nodded at that. She picked up her laundry basket andhugged it to one hip while she shut the laundry room door.

Come by if you want to watch Bewitched later. I got someFresca! she clamped her bright berry lips together to hold

on to the cigarette while she wrangled Rommel and hipbumped her car door to squeal shut.

Opal liked to watch reruns of Bewitched on Tamaras bigcolor TV. Tamara once sat behind her on the couch andFrench braided her hair. Whatever Tamara did to her hair orface had to be erased by the time Bea came home fromwork or she would have to explain how and who and it wasbest not to provoke questions.

Opal learned that Rommels aversion to men originated withthe man in the fancy Cadillac, who was called Allen.Enough said, was all Tamara was telling her about that.Hes my boss.

So he picks you up and drives you to work? Opal asked,


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feigning innocence.

My car wouldnt make such a good impression where I getdropped off to work, Said Tamara matter of factly.

Well, you save on gas. Was all Opal could think to say.Tamara laughed a smoky laugh.

It was just last summer when her dad had dropped her offafter her tumbling class and Opal had seen Tamara chattingwith him in a flirty way. Opal spied through the ornamentallattice of cinderblocks that formed the front wall of theapartment breezeway. They talked for much longer thanOpal was comfortable and Tamara had written something

down on an envelope he had handed her. The whole scenehad made Opal kind of queasy. Her dad had been wearinghis most phony salesman smile.

Things werent always as they appeared. Tamaras looksindicated to strangers that she would know how to

accommodate their cravings. It was no different withClayton Gage. After saying goodbye to his daughter Claytonwas on his way towards his second hand black Lincoln, whenhe caught sight of Tamara. They exchanged pleasantriesand moments later he had a number to call which led toClayton forming the supply side of the business partnershipwith Ben. Now, just as quickly it disintegrated to Claytonhitchhiking from Albuquerque back to Phoenix in a VW vanwith his new pal Leo.

Leo as it turned out was not a morning person. As theypulled out of the hotel parking lot and headed towards thehighway, Leo suggested they get breakfast before theysettled in for the drive South. He was squinting and hunchedover the steering wheel.


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No offence chief but you are not looking your brightest thismorning, Clayton tried to keep the edge out of his tone butfailed. He wanted to get to Phoenix and head off whatevershitstorm might have followed him from Albuquerque.

I am not at my best in the morning. This morning my headand belly are punishing me for way too much red wine.Usually I just need coffee to .and then my eyes will, Leomade an incomprehensible pinching gesture with one handin front of his face, willingly focus. Coffee is my friend. Myindulgences last night made mere coffee, not enough. Imgoing to need all the breakfast soldiers to do their part thismorning. Toast, eggs, bacon, hash browns, orange juice andmaybe even a waffle. I need the entire brigade. Leo was

rocking a little and pulled off the highway and into the IHOPparking lot. Clayton scowled. Alright, hell.

Inside the hostess smiled and walked ahead of the men, herwhite lace up shoes squeaking on the linoleum. Her hair waspinned and sprayed into a stiff steel grey cone. They satopposite each other in a turquoise vinyl booth and took theplastic menus she handed them. Coffee? she asked. Bothmen nodded.

Leo researched the combo meals and was trying to decidebetween pancakes and waffles when she returned with thecoffee. Clayton tapped his menu and suggested sharply thatthey order while she was pouring.

Full breakfast combo with waffles, and a small orangejuice, Leo decided and refolded the menu and handed it toher.

The waitress pulled a pen from behind her ear and the padfrom her apron and wrote. How you like your eggs?

Oh, over easy. Thank you. Said Leo.


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She turned to Clayton without looking up from her writing,And whatll you be having Mr. Im in a hurry? she didntcrack a smile and looked down at Clayton over her glasses,which were attached with a white plastic chain.

Clayton was irritated with her but wouldnt let her know shehad gotten to him. Ill have raisin bran and cinnamontoast. He smiled the smile of a predator who wasnt all thathungry, just bored.

She snatched the menu from Claytons grip and tucked itunder her arm with the other one, picked up the coffeecarafe and walked away.

It was not a memorable meal, but both men were better offhaving eaten. Clayton paid at the cashier and even left a tipfor the waitress despite having mentally decided not tobefore hed eaten. Leo ran out to the van to get his thermosso they could fill it up for the ride down to Phoenix. While hewaited, Clayton tried to catch the waitresss eye and get herto return a smile, with no success. Shed had too manyClaytons in her life to play along.

Ben needed to get to the VA clinic. His back was hurtingmore and more and the Tylenol wasnt helping. Sitting onthe airplane and stressing out about what had happenedwith Clayton didnt help. He called and made anappointment and planned to take the bus downtown toswing by the library and then meet with a doc and see whattheyd give him.

Phoenix was an easy city to navigate, laid out on a grid andthe bus system was fairly reliable. Ben caught a bus onCentral and headed south. It was a straight shot to thelibrary. He had an hour to spend looking for a follow up tothe Milagro novel. He settled on a new hardback, the OnionField, which had a positive review on a handwritten note


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card featured on the New & Notable display, and spent therest of the time roaming the stacks looking at art andphotography books in the reference section. He read for awhile about Jackson Pollack and tried to feel something other

than baffled at what he had been trying to accomplish withhis paintings.

Ben left the library with the new book under his arm andwalked north on Central Avenue for several blocks. Hepassed the Heard Museum where he would have enjoyedspending the rest of the afternoon looking at Indian artifactsif his back wasnt in such agony. Walking actually helpedand he continued north until he hit Thomas Road and turnedeast towards the Country Club. He was taking a more scenic

route, and turned north again on 7th Street until he found a7-11 and stopped inside to get a cup of coffee. He bought apackage of beer nuts and continued walking. The buildingswere all one and two story stucco and housed auto repairand accountants. Many of the windows were darkened glassor peeling some reflective material. Landscaping consistedof lava rock, trash and the occasional lone palm. He finallyarrived at the corner of Indian School and 7th, across fromthe VA medical center. The white washed cinder block

building did not exude warmth, even in the desert. Theentrance was gravel, larger lava boulders and what lookedlike live tumble weeds. It didnt look like a place anyonewould go for help, which was the only reason anyone everwent there.

The light changed and Ben walked, careful not to spill hiscoffee and headed toward the entrance. Inside he set hiscoffee and the book down and took out his wallet to get hiscard, and signed in. The receptionist was as lively as onecould expect in this place. He only waited a little over anhour, which gave him a chance to start his book. When anurse appeared and called his name, he followed her downa hall. Somewhere in an office he could hear Linda Ronstadtsinging Silver Threads and Golden Needles a song he likedand he hummed along.


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He entered the exam room and sat on the table crinkling thepaper. The nurse started with the basics and made notes onBens chart. She took his blood pressure and the asked him

why he was there. He told her about his original injury andwhat he was doing for it but that he had been in more painthan usual and the Tylenol wasnt helping. She wroteeverything down and said the doctor would be in as soon ashe was available. He was able to read two long chapters ofthe Onion field before there was a knock and a very younglooking doctor appeared. So your back is giving youproblems? he smiled.

It has been for a few years, but its been fairly intolerable

for the last few days.

Tell me about your injury. The doctor sat down and had apen that he tapped on his knee.

I pulled something out of whack helping a buddy whodstumbled on a land mine. I got him to the chopper and wemade it out, but he didnt make it home. Bled out. I got theback pain to remind me. Ben was very quiet with the

memory. He tried not to think about how the injuryhappened but there wasnt really any way around it.

I see. Im sorry about your buddy. You are a hero forgetting him out of there.

Got the medal to prove it, Ben snarled. He hadnt meantto be rough, it just came out that way sometimes with thepain.

Well, I can give you a muscle relaxer for the pain. Haveyou had a diagnosis? Is there a disc problem or :

Just give me something for the pain. Then I can sleep andthen itll get better. I dont want to waste your time. Imsure theres someone in the waiting room who needs you


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more than I do.

Id like to help you get to the bottom of your pain and dowhat we can to fix it. But thats up to you.

Thanks. I can get over to the YMCA this weekend and usetheir whirlpool, that will help.

OK. The doctor wrote out a scrip and handed to Ben. Illbe here if you change your mind.

He wrote a few notes on Bens chart and hung it up on theback of the door in the Lucite slot. Take care.

Ben stood slowly and made his way back down the hall.Sitting always made it worse for a while and then his hipsand legs loosened up enough that his back wasnt feelingfrozen.

He bookmarked his spot in the library book with the paperthe doctor had given him and walked out into the parking lotand headed down Indian School Road back towards CentralAvenue to catch the bus back north back to his apartment.

He was walking west with the residential Indian BoardingSchool on his right. Kids were taken off reservations andeducated and housed on this government land in the centerof down town Phoenix. Then what did they do with them?Most recently the boys were recruited to Viet Nam. Out ofthe desert and into the jungle.

On Central Avenue Ben waited for the bus. Phoenix hadrecently held a public contest to name the bus mascot, asmiling sun in a sombrero. A kid had won with the name

Tico. Ben was glad it was a kid that won, but was baffledwhat Tico was supposed to mean and why they would haveawarded it as the winning name.

His Tico bus arrived, belching exhaust and he got on and


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walked to the back. The hard molded plastic seats were theworst for his back, so he stood and held the hand rail abovehis head. After several intersections he hit the rope that wasstrung over the windows and rang the chime. At the next

stop he got off and walked a block to Walgreens and filledhis scrip, showing his VA Vet card and therefore didnt needto pay. He bought some saltine crackers and several cans ofCampbells tomato soup, and a box of Ding Dongs. Benloved frozen Ding Dongs. They really had no flavor and verylittle to offer by way of texture. He liked to peel off theplasticy vinyl chocolate flavored coating and dissect them ashe ate them. He also got a bag of sunflower seeds and abottle of Jose Cuervo silver.

He was able to make it back home by six oclock and watchJeopardy. Ben heated two cans of the tomato soup, whichhe mixed with milk instead of water to make it more like abisque. He added pressed garlic and dried basil to give itsome flavor. He poured the soup into a large doublehandled chili mug and crumpled a handful of saltines overthe soup. He had put the box of Ding Dongs into the freezerfor later, and removed a metal ice cube tray and set it in thesink. He lifted the lever and rocked it back and forth to

release the cubes with a screech and then poured them intoa bowl. He took a long handled utensil from the drawer thatended in a stainless steel ball. He whacked the ice cubesuntil they were mostly crushed and then scooped a glass fulland poured the tequila to the brim. Ben then sliced one ofthe limes that hed filled his pockets with when he took ashort cut from the bus stop through a back alley. One of thelarge homes that sat back from the road and had a hugefront lawn had a small citrus orchard in the back. Several ofthe trees had limbs that hung over in to the alley and todayhe noticed all the limes. He unburdened the limb of a manyas he could stuff into his pockets.

Ben sat at the table with the tiny black and white televisionfuzzing in and out of tune. Alex Trebeck was reminding theaudience of the categories: in other words feline qualities


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because I said so the more the merrier last dance andAsian forests

Asian Forests? What the hell Alex? Ben swallowed his

meds and took a long sip of the icy tequila.

When his soup was gone he added the bowl and spoon tothe dishes in the sink. The little fuzzy TV was more in thanout so Ben turned it off and unplugged it and wound the cordup and stuck it into the cabinet next to the phone books. Herefreshed his drink and realized he hadnt refilled the icetrays. He repositioned the insert and pressed the handledown then set the tray into the slot in the freezer. Therewas at least three inches of frost on all four sides of the

freezer with the available storage space becoming smallerand smaller. He palmed a silver Ding Dong and shut theplastic door, which was also becoming difficult. The day itwouldnt shut would become the day the freezer wasdefrosted.

Drink in hand and frozen Ding Dong balanced on his librarybook Ben headed back to his bed room. He was now deep intwo books, one fiction and one non fiction. He took up where

he had left off in the Onion Field and when he had finishedhis drink and peeled and dissected his Ding Dong he got upto reload his drink and snack arsenal and then spent an hourwith The Milagro book.

This went on back and forth until the Ding Dongs ran out andBen was beyond drunk. His back felt miraculously pain free.He figured it must have been the Ding Dongs.

Mela heard her daughter moaning and her body wasinstantly tense, adrenalin surging. She hopped out of bedand tip toed quickly into the office where Dharma was curledon her side on the futon and doing deep breathing.


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How long? Mela asked rubbing her lower back.

Just started getting heated. I was a little crampy earlier butI was able to sleep. My back was aching but that isnt

anything new. They arent very close together. Like twentyminutes or more. Irregular. Dharma sucked her breaththrough her teeth and blew out slowly.

Ok, Im going to make some tea and get my bag packed.You want tea? Mela stood up.

No. Cold water. She tried to relax and made a mentalchecklist of what shed packed for the birth and what sheneeded to put in the bag.

Mela put the kettle on and turned on the light over the sink.Roofus was not amused at being woken up at this hour andrubbed the back door. Mela opened it and let her out.Have fun. Then she went back to her bedroom and put herslippers on and put on a sweater. She got her book from herbedside table. It was a horror story a friend had loaned her.Carrie, about a messed up teenaged girl who is hazed atschool and has telekinetic powers and a jesus freak mother.

Pretty entertaining.

Do you want to call the dula and let her know or wait a fewhours? Mela called out.

Wait. Dharma breathed loudly. I could go on like this fora while. Or so Ive read. First babies take their time.

You didnt. And birth patterns are hereditary. Dont secondguess this guy. Mela opened a teabag and put it in the cupand poured the water.

She walked back to the office with the tea and a glass of coldtap water. She sat at the desk and looked at the designsDharma had doodled for the blankets. They were reallystriking and Mela thought they would be very successful. I


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love these. We should do some proto-types for the New Yorkmarket. I really think these would sell. What kind of bug isthis? Mela held up the pad.

Thats what the baby feels like when its kicking. Lets justsay its an alien and leave it at that. Dharma was rockingside to side with her knees pulled up on either side of herbelly. It made her back feel better.

What is today? If the baby is born this morning what day isits birthday? Mela looked for her calendar and shuffledsome things around on her desk. She found it. November21. So that would make the baby a Libra? No, whats afterLibra? Scorpio?

Scorpios are very sensuous, right? Oh man this hurts.Dharma started moaning and breathing.

Mela stood up and leaned over her daughter and rubbed herlower back and then her feet with their toes curled tight. Thecontraction peaked and Dharma was flushed. That was notwenty minutes. Im going to call the dula and just let herknow.

Fine. Good. Do that. Uh. Dharma wanted to sleep but shealso wanted to go outside and breathe some cold fresh air.She pushed herself up to a sitting position then lurchedforward to a stand. She held the counter as she shuffled tothe door then stood in the open door and enjoyed the coldon her skin. Roofus returned and rubbed her legs mewingfor attention or food.

I woke her up hazard of the trade and she said to callagain when the contractions are at five minutes apart. Sothat one was right at three am, I looked at my watchbecause I knew it hadnt been twenty minutes since I firstheard you moaning. Im guessing this was a nine minuteinterval, unscientifically speaking.


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Great. You keep score, Ill have the baby. Or we couldswitch. Dharma rested her head on the counter and keptthe bulk of her body in the doorway to cool off.

No Im very content with the scorekeeper role. I did thebirth thing. You get that honor this morning. Mela pattedand rubbed her daughter on the back. Dharma moaned andmoved side to side, and Mela realized it wasnt a moan ofrelief from her back rub, but another mounting contraction.Whoa, ok that was um. Huh. Im calling the dula again.When youre done.

Dharma waved wildly at her mother, keeping her head onthe cool tile of the counter, Call! Go Call!

Mela called and within thirty five minutes the dula wasjogging up the path to the door. Dharma was still in thedoorframe, not willing to leave the cool air.

Youre on your feet! Thats good, gravity is your friend!the dula was a teensy hippie pixie. Her grey hair stuck out inall directions, a tiedyed silk scarf wrapped around her headand little bells dangled from her ears. We are going to meet

your baby this morning.

Mrs. Mintz sat in her sunny breakfast nook with her thickThanksgiving file and a legal pad and went over her list. Theturkey, pies and flowers were all ordered and the linens hadbeen delivered that morning. Her event staff that sheemployed for functions was busy polishing service pieces,dusting and vacuuming. Next to her legal pad she had asmall box of cream colored Cranes place cards with a goldbevel edge. She shook two blank cards from the bottom ofthe box and with her calligraphy pen she expertly scriptedBea and Opal and blew on each to dry. She then flippedover a page on her legal pad and penciled the same namesin on the seating chart.


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There was little that Mrs. Mintz was more familiar with thanorchestrating a function in her home. She had hosted morecharity luncheons and school fundraisers than she could

have counted. She could tell you in accurate detail the date,fundraiser, amount of money raised after expenses, whoattended, where they sat and who didnt pay. She had veryaccurate files on caterers, florists and rental companies forlinens, dishes and glassware and even a per head cost forsalmon salad versus curry shrimp. Thanksgiving dinner wasno different, just minus the sales pitch. The whole meal fromcocktails and appetizers to dessert and coffee waschoreographed and the template had been drawn overtwenty years ago.

Bea was growing impatient with Opal. This was becomingmore their routine than a rare occurrence. Opal had nothingappropriate to wear to Pablos mothers house for

Thanksgiving dinner. Every dress she owned was a hand medown Sunday School dress that had been through at leastthree of her older cousins before it arrived in a box wrapped

in newspaper from her aunt. Each dress was just out ofstyle enough to be a total embarrassment and thankfully atleast two sizes too big. Most were high neck with shoulderruffles and a big sash that tied in the back. They werehandmade and often she received two that were identical

just a couple sizes off. There was liberal use of rick rack.

Opal had been dragged to Bob Fox, a childrens clothesboutique in the mall. They had narrowed the pile down to aribbed turtleneck bodysuit matched with an A line calicoquilted maxi skirt. Bea thought the turtle neck was toobland and wanted her to wear a blouse. Opal hated theword blouse and refused to try one on. They were at animpasse until the saleswoman sided with Opal. Opal likedher tiny kachina dangling earrings and told her so when shewas at the register. The saleswomans nametag said Inez


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and Opal wondered if that was a real name or not.

Bea was in a grumpy mood after losing the wardrobe battlewith Inez and Opal. Opal wanted to get an Orange Julius out

in the mall, but Bea just wanted to go home. She wasnervous about the meet Mother aspect of the Thanksgivingdinner. When Bea had asked Pablo what to expect at hismothers house, he described a familiar setting that matchedher own upbringing. When she had married and become amother her lifestyle was more carefree, and not constrictedto the rigid social rules of the church. Unfortunately Clayton,once he had moved away from his mother and the frathouse, had become a person she couldnt stand. He foundher conventional, even without the couples bible group or a

bra for that matter, and the idea of fidelity constricting. Beafound his total total lack of a moral compass incorrigible.

But now she had found a man with a moral compass, butsomehow felt shed landed right back where she had started.Dinner with mother, complete with catered turkey and waitstaff. She wasnt sure this was the direction she wanted togo.

Is Inez a real name? Opal asked as they got into the car.

Yeah, why not? Whatever you are named is a real name.Bea was trying to not be grumpy.

Is Pablos real name Pablo? Opal was needling her onpurpose.

It is now. He had it legally changed. His name before wasSimon. He didnt like it so when he became an adult he hadit changed.

You can do that? Cool. Was his mom mad? Opal prettymuch knew the answer would be yes. She had overheardPablo talking about how straight and proper his mom is andshe could bet having her blond son change his name to


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Pablo was not her best day.

Yeah, I think so. Well, I shouldnt say that. I really have noidea. Ive never met her so I shouldnt assume that. But,

yes, I think she was not too excited about it. Plus he wasnamed Simon after her brother I think. Her brother died inworld war 2, so it was an honorary name. In the Jewish faithyou dont name a baby after a living relative, so theres noFrank Jr. or whatever with Jews. Youre only Jr. if theperson youre named after is alive.

So if youre Franklin Winston Winthrop the 3rd both yourdad, Franklin Winston Winthrop, Jr. and your grandfatherFranklin Winston Winthrop the original have to be alive?

Opal was enjoying this.

I think thats how it works. When your grandfather diesthen you become Franklin Winston Winthrop Jr. but if hesalive and heaven forbid you dad dies you are still FranklinWinston Winthrop the 3rd.

Whoa. So many rules. Confusing. Opal loved this kind ofstuff.

Tell me about it. So Pablo named himself. Bea was notcertain all that she had said was even true, but that was howshe understood that it worked. She hated all that crap.

Cool. Opal bet that Pablos mother was mortified by his selfchosen name. She probably thought it sounded like thegardener and was embarrassed when her friends found outat the country club.

Bea was less nervous now. Talking in circles with Opal washelping.She had decided that she would wear a hybrid outfit herself.A little from her stilted past and a little from hercontemporary wardrobe. It would be a careful balance ofyes I get the rules and a subtle subtext of and while I


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respect them I reject them on my own terms. That could beaccomplished she thought with a combination of a tweedblazer over a black shiny leotard top and an emerald silkpeasant skirt with her Frye boots. Maybe a beret? She was

shuffling the wardrobe combos in her head as sat at thelight.

Out the back window Opal was watching two men in greencoveralls and dustmasks slowly walking backwards in thestrip of dead grass that surrounded the malls parking lot.

They each had tanks on their backs and long spray-nozzledhoses that they pointed down, swaying back and forth likean elephants trunk and transforming the grass from goldenbrown to dull green.

Mrs. Mintzs spread was traditional Thanksgiving fare rightout of Sunset magazine. There were silver chafing dishesperched on warmers filled with whipped potatoes, greenbeans with tiny onions in a cream sauce, stuffing with andwithout oysters, homemade cranberry sauce and bothblended yams with teensy marshmallows baked on top and

whole baked yams to dress with butter. The Turkey nestedin a wreath of rosemary sprigs on a huge carving platter.

Before they sat for dinner there were drinks served in thefamily room. It was a very cozy room with a large floral sofaand two big soft chairs. There were several lit candles andlittle bowls of spiced nuts on several coffee and end tables.A waiter walked through with a tray and passed out littlesnacks. OR-dervz Bea whispered to Opal. The first was asmall spear of asparagus wrapped in a buttered piece oftoast. Opal thought it wasnt bad for asparagus.

Mrs. Mintz was intimidating at first glance. Her hair wassleek white and caught at the back of her neck in a ornatesilver and turquoise barrette. She was wearing a blackvelvet long coat embroidered with curling vines and bird in


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deep jewel tones, over a deep crimson silk shell and blackvelvet slacks. On her feet were red velvet ballet flats. Butwhen she smiled her bright red lipstick and perfect whiteteeth were not bitter or cold. She had a warm smile and was

very welcoming to both Bea and Opal. She introducedherself to Pablos guests and chatted with Bea for a fewminutes but spent most of her time getting to know Opal.

They had a shared passion for cactus and reading.

I collect prints and paintings of cactus. My backyard is filledwith them. Im trying to arrange to buy two maturesaguaros for the back gate. They are protected you know,its hard to buy large ones.

There were only four other people in the living room enjoyingcocktails before dinner. Pablo took Bea on a tour of thehouse and Opal started snooping around the room looking atthe collection of glass paper weights on the table andstudying the framed family photos. The doorbell chimed thearrival of another guest who entered the room handing hercoat to the housekeeper. Opal was surprised to see Mrs.Womack. She was wearing another loud floral suit, this time

brown with a thin turquoise abstract floral print that lookedlike very loose and sloppy handwriting. She was alsowearing brown patent leather knee high boots. Shed hadher hair colored a vibrant and ambitious orange. Opal wasstill completely sure it was her, and she approached Mrs.Womack, Hi. Do you remember me?

Mrs. Womack looked at Opal and opened her mouth inconfusion. She furrowed her brow and said, Well, yes!What on earth? How are you here? Opal how do you knowMrs. Mintz?

Opal started to laugh and said, I dont. I just met her.

Mrs. Mintz came to greet Mrs. Womack. Youre here anddont you look wonderful? Mrs. Mintz held Mrs. Womack by


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the shoulders and looked pointedly at her new hair color. Ithink its great.

This is my new friend Opal, Mrs. Mintz introduced Mrs.

Womack, She is a cactus fan, too.

I know Opal, were old friends. Smiled Mrs. Womack.

Really? Mrs. Mintz beamed with the confirmation of herhunch. Now how can that be? I only just met her myselfminutes ago?

Get me a vodka tonic and Ill tell you the whole story. Mrs.Womack smiled at Opal.

Opal was having much more fun than she ever thoughtpossible. She wasnt clear on how she would explain all thisto her mother, but her mother was touring the house so thatwasnt an issue yet. Mrs. Mintz sent the waiter to the bar forMrs. Womacks vodka tonic and waited for the story shealready knew.

Well, you remember my telling you all at book club the

other day, about my tumble? Remember how Mrs.Greenburg was so ugly to me about my scraped chin? she

jutted her chin out and pointed. its much better now, thescab came off and Ive been putting some salve on it that Ipicked up at that health food store. The one by the shoerepair place at the Park Central Mall? Anyway, this is thesweet girl who helped me back to my apartment. This myOpal. She patted Opals arm and smiled. Shed beenclaimed.

Your Opal? Well we will see about that Mrs. Womack. Opaland I share some passions for reading and like I mentioned,cactus. Opal is the daughter of Pablos lady friend, Bea. Shecame as Pablos guest. We have been enjoying getting toknow one another this afternoon, havent we dear? Mrs.Mintz was teasing Mrs. Womack, but to Opal it seemed there


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was an undercurrent of competition and a slight edge to hervoice.

Mrs. Womack blew air through her pursed lips and rolled her

eyes. Oh refresh my drink, will you? Mrs. Minz laughedand took the empty glass and walked towards the waiter.She took up the thread of another conversation with anothercouple who had just arrived.

Your chin looks better. How is snowball? Opal waslearning how to make small talk.

I am so pleasantly surprised to see you! Yes Im quitehappy with how quickly that salve did the trick. Snowball is

still a bad dog, but that wont change. Im stuck with her Imafraid. I do hope we are seated together at dinner. Imgoing to go look at the table. Want to come and peek? Itdrives Mrs. Mintz nuts if people sneak in and look beforeshes ready to reveal it.

Im right behind you. Said Opal.

They walked slowly to the hallway and after checking to see

that no staff was watching, Mrs. Womack quietly andcarefully slid open the pocket door to the formal diningroom. The candelabras had been lit and the silver servingdishes were on the table and covered. Mrs. Womack tip toedin and quickly read the calligraphied place cards. A Ha! she whispered in victory and reached out and plucked a cardout of its holder and pranced around seat to seat until shefound the one she wanted and switched it. Then she quicklytip toed back to the empty holder and put the switched cardin the slot. Lets get out of here before were caught! shegrabbed Opal by the hand and the two of them hurried outthe door and Mrs. Womack turned and closed it very quietlybehind them.

Opal was in heaven. Mrs. Womack was flushed and fightingthe giggles. The waiter looked exasperated when he found


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her and handed her the vodka tonic. I know youre up tosomething. Dont get her mad, shes been in a mood allday, he whispered to her.

Opal was very surprised that the waiter would be so informalwith Mrs. Womack. Mrs. Womack got defensive, Leonard,Mrs. Mintz has been in a mood for thirty years. Youveworked here almost that long you should know. Leonardnodded and raised his eyebrows then continued his roundsof taking empty glasses and refreshing drinks.

Well, that was a success, Mrs. Womack smiled and raisedher glass to the room. Let the games begin.

Documents

These Are the People in Your Neighborhood (Chapter Four)