Amateur Hour

Ted

Nina had listened in to the call, as usual. There was no reason for her not to do so. When Ted wanted privacy, which was rare, where she was concerned, he relocated, or put the phone to his ear.

When the call ended, Nina was eyeing at him, with a troubled look on her face.

“What is it, Sweetheart?” he asked. “Guy and Steph were very taken with the desk and door plates you picked out.”

“It’s not that. I’m glad they like them, of course, but… it’s not that,” she repeated.

“What, then?”

Nina simply shook her head, and petted Raven’s head, which was pillowed on her lap. “I know you have to do, what you have to do, Ted,” she said, after a moment. “But, I don’t want to move, and I don’t think Hannah would want to, either.”

“Well, of course, I’m not about to snatch you both up, and drag you away. I was only explaining, to Guy, why we don’t plan to live in Gordon’s old pile. You can’t think I’d decide something, like that, without asking you and Hannah, first?”

“I… I don’t really know. Having money and power are different from thinking about having money and power.”

“What has gotten into all the women in my life, today? First, Stephanie, thinking I wouldn’t tell her, if I thought she might not be safe, and now, this.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want you to be sorry. I want you to know you can trust me. You never told me that you liked this house, so much.”

“I didn’t have to. We live here,” there was a hint of a smile, on her face.

Ted’s answering smile was a bit broader.

“If you have your heart set on staying, we’ll stay. I warn you, though — I’m closing in that garage, and installing some ceiling fans. Maybe I’ll even air condition it. Liam’s sneak attacks are getting to be a hazard. We’ll get a contractor, to make some modifications, to make it easier for Hannah, to get around, and, you can go right on, designing your nursery. How’s that plan suit you?”

Nina brightened, as he spoke. “Could we have an adjoining door, from our room, to the baby’s room?”

“That’s a good idea.”

“You don’t want a bigger, grander house, then?”

“Sweetheart, I’m not Gordon. I want my family, and I want you to be happy. The only valuable lesson I learned, from that man, was that you don’t throw away what’s irreplaceable.”

“He had everything, and nothing. Do you think he was horrible because he was sad, or sad, because he was horrible?”

“That’s a chicken and egg question, if I ever heard one, and it’s moot. He’s gone, and it’s up to me, to clean up his mess.”

***

Liam

“So, Dean of Young Women, where do we begin?” Liam asked.

“It’s so much. I suppose we each just pick a corner, and start sweeping, toward the center.”

They were seated at the kitchen table, with a pot of coffee and a plate of fresh pumpkin bread, between them (supplied by Nina, earlier in the day). Each of them had a laptop, a writing pad, and several ink pens, in various colors.

“We’re going to want to make handbooks, when we’re done, so that everyone can know the new rules,” was Liam’s first suggestion.

“Brilliant,” Janice nodded, writing it down. “The first thing on my agenda is, cell phones, and hallway phones — just in case.”

“Full access, except during class,” Liam agreed, noting it. “We can go over penalties, for abuse, later. I want to eliminate the designations of Upper and Under teachers.”

“How do you feel about tenure?”

“No tenure, either. It’s a high school; not a university.”

“I agree. It’s enough that senior teachers earn more money, and benefits. The elitism has to go. And, the uniforms, for teachers, too.”

“Absolutely. Dress code, comparable to that of any ordinary high school.”

“Maybe have dress-like-a-bum Fridays?” she joked.

“Let’s not go overboard, ” he grinned, and cut himself a slice of pumpkin bread, before handing her the knife.

“I’d like to legalize jewelry, and give the young ladies an option to wear slacks.”

“I have no objection to jewelry, if a student is willing to be responsible for it, but… are you proposing slacks, with a blazer and tie, for the girls?” Liam frowned. He wasn’t sure he liked the idea.

“Why not? It’s very cute. Besides, some girls feel exposed, in skirts.”

“I don’t know…”

“A timid girl, in a skirt, can be a confident girl, in slacks,” she insisted.

“Do you want to offer the boys the option of wearing a skirt?”

“Don’t be sardonic. It’s unbecoming. What I would offer the boys is the option of forgoing the tie. Not that many of them would. Ties are kind of a school pride thing, aren’t they? How about this — a modified women’s tie, for the young ladies? Either a bow, or a long tie, with a bias-cut edge?”

Liam chewed on the idea, and on his pumpkin bread. “I like that, better. Much better. But, no men’s ties, on the girls.”

“Deal.”

“You have more persuasiveness than is good for anyone, you know that?”

“I know,” she nodded. “Your turn.”

“You’re going to laugh at this, coming from me, but I want a more extensive athletics program.”

“I’m not laughing, at all. Those kids need sunshine, and fresh air.” Janice noted it down, on her pad. “I’d like to see an outdoor lunch area, as well.”

“Yes. Let’s have done, with formal lunches and dinners, at least. It’s not a bad thing, for teachers to have a way to touch base, with students, but that can be covered by breakfast.” He chewed on his pen, pondering.

“I’ve been thinking about meals, and meal times. Breakfast is too early, for everyone — students and teachers. Everyone is famished, by lunch time. What if we served breakfast at eight?” she proposed.

“It’s a long time between lunch and dinner, too. I think we might also slot in a kind of tea time, at four. Tea could be supervised by teachers, adding another chance to interact, and still leave the students free to choose whom they want to sit with at lunch and dinner.”

“That’s a great idea. We can’t let them run riot, during those other meals, though.”

“We’ll rotate staff at the Upper teachers’ table, to keep order, and have at least one monitor the outdoor area, too.”

“That would work. Would we do that, for both lunch and dinner?”

“Yes, and we’ll take our turn, like everyone else.”

“I can live, with that,” Jan nodded. “Would this tea time cut into study time, though? I love the idea, but there are only so many hours, in a day.”

“Let’s give them more hours, then. They aren’t babies. If they want to stay up until ten, they should be allowed to. I think we should ask Ted if we can hire a librarian who starts later, and goes home later, to extend the library hours.”

“Could we please make Honors students, Honors students — recognized for academic excellence?”

“I believe Ted would approve of that.” He wrote this idea down, with great satisfaction.

“This is all the easy stuff, you know,” Janice said, with a sigh.

“I know, but we have to start, somewhere. And, we’re going to find more, to add to this. You want to tackle Security, next, or staff?”

“Security. Staff issues are going to be a huge can of worms.”

“Okay. What are your thoughts?”

“We do need it. These are kids who could be targets for kidnappers, or worse. I’d like to do away with the PVC satchels, for the staff, and the clear backpacks, for the students. You see those things in prisons and mental institutions. In a school, it’s just grotesque.”

“It is. The scanners should be sufficient, and the metal detectors. If phones are no longer contraband, there isn’t any need for transparent gear.”

“What about drugs, though?” Janice asked, her face falling, a bit.

“Zero tolerance. Automatic termination, and prosecution for faculty and staff smuggling. The worst drugs seem already to be in the school, though.”

“Noted,” she said, picking up her red pen, to literally note it, “but let’s table it, until we get to staff issues.”

Liam nodded, admiring her efficiency, and her determination to stay on track.

“We could cut some of the security staff, for the daytime hours. If we’re going to allow and encourage the students to go outside, we don’t need the guards, who keep them in.”

“We don’t, but we need to keep them clear of the cemetery, and the river, for safety reasons.”

“Fencing, and a guard to warn them away from the fence.”

“I hate that the cemetery is there, at all. It’s an attractive nuisance.”

“Maybe Ted would wall it off, so that it couldn’t be seen. In four years, hardly anyone would be left, who knows it’s there. That would keep stray gators off the property, as well.”

“We can ask him,” she replied, writing it down. “I know you want to cut security, but another attractive nuisance is the old wing. It should either be reopened, for use, or be patrolled.”

“Let’s put that one, in front of Ted. It’s full of junk, but it’s his junk. If it were mine, I’d just tear it down. In the meantime, we don’t need more guards. Let some of the lard-asses from the front area patrol it.”

“You really don’t like the security guards there, do you?” she grinned.

“No.” His tone was flat.

“They’re contractors. Maybe we can get another firm, when their contract expires,” Jan suggested.

Liam didn’t reply, but he did write it down, with some vehemence, in red ink.

“I need a break, Sweetie,” Janice said.

“Me, too,” he admitted. “My head is starting to hurt. Let’s take Spike, for a walk, and get some air.”

“It’s eighty degrees, out there,” she warned.

“I need to stretch my legs.”

“I’ll throw on something cooler, then. Why don’t you put some ice water, in our go-cups, and take an aspirin?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

*******

Janice

When she joined Liam and Spike, on the front stoop, Janice was immediately struck, by two things — the gathering storm clouds (which made the ambient light seem somehow green), and the eerie quiet of the neighborhood. It was Saturday, and no dog barked; there were no kids riding their bikes, skateboards, or scooters. There were no lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, or blowers. There wasn’t so much as the hiss of a lawn sprinkler.

“I guess we’re the only ones dumb enough to be walking around, before a thunderstorm,” Liam remarked.

Janice looked at him. His voice had lacked conviction, and he was nervous. Spike was raring to go, however, so they walked down to the sidewalk, and in the general direction of Ted’s and Nina’s house.

“It’s… pre-apocalyptic, if there’s any such thing,” Janice said, in a low voice. “Like a catastrophe is looming.”

As they passed their neighbors’ houses they saw no fewer than four ‘For Sale’ signs, and two moving vans, being loaded, in a way that was somehow furtive. None of the few people who were out of doors greeted them.

“It’s like we’ve become ghosts,” Liam observed, as one couple looked directly at them, almost through them, then turned back to the car they were loading, with various small household items. Even some of the houses without signs seemed empty.

Janice was about to say something else, when they spotted both Ted and Nina approaching, with Raven. She and Liam exchanged a look of mild astonishment, while Spike watered a shrub, unconcerned.

“It’s the same, on our block,” Nina said, without preamble, when they were close enough.

“Only, more so,” Ted added.

“Are you okay, Nina?” Janice asked.

“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” She did, in fact, appear to be fine.

“You usually don’t walk the neighborhood, even with Ted.”

Nina smiled. “When bees swarm, in nature, they don’t usually sting. They’re too focused on finding a new home. It’s creepy, out here, but not dangerous.”

“Guy called it Creepy Hollow, this morning,” Ted said. “I can hardly wait to tell him about this. Nina noticed a virtual convoy of moving vans, rolling down our street, an hour ago, so we came out, to have a look.”

“It’s going to pour,” Liam observed. “You guys want to come back to our place? If you don’t want to visit, we can load up in The Hulk, and I’ll give you a lift, home.”

“I don’t mind having a natter,” Ted replied.

“We can offer you coffee, and some of Nina’s pumpkin bread. It’s delicious, by the way,” Liam smiled at Nina.

“That would hit the spot,” Ted answered, for both of them.

Liam started back to their house, and Ted fell in, beside him.

Nina grinned at Janice, and linked arms with her. “Come on, Janice — I’ll protect you.”

“I hope so,” Janice said. “I don’t mind telling you, this emptiness freaks me out.”

“Really? It’s like every Western movie, when there’s a new Sheriff, in town. The bad guys skedaddle.” She said the last part in an accent that was somewhere west of Louisiana, and chuckled, merrily.

Janice forced a smile. “I was a little worried, that we’d just keep walking on, and on, only to find that you and Ted were gone, too.”

“We’re not going anywhere. We settled that, this morning.” Nina went on to confide the particulars about the house, and their decision to stay in it. “So, it’s safe to say there’s probably more pumpkin and banana bread, in your future,” she finished, as they turned up Janice’s walk.

“It’s like a bad dream I have, sometimes,” Janice confessed.

“It’s not a dream, and it’s not bad. It’s a bunch of people trying to outrun their Karma, is all.”

She was right, and Janice knew it, but the world was truly upside down, when she was the frightened one, and Nina was the brave, cheerful one.

*******

Steph

There was no flurry of activity that came with getting Galen and her mother settled. After they had all finished their hot drinks, Steph washed the cups out, and they all trooped upstairs, with herself, in the lead, and Guy bringing up the rear, with Ruth’s overnight bag.

“It’s so comfortable, and airy,” was Ruth’s assessment of the living and dining area. “I love that you have a balcony.”

“Your truck should be just behind that door,” Guy pointed Galen to the dumbwaiter.

The boy trotted over to it, and opened the door. “Slappin’,” he grinned, extracting his model. “Are any of my shelves up, Mom?”

“They’re up, and no one touched your models. We figured you’d want to do that, yourself. Your room is the first door, on the right, and it’s directly across, from mine.”

“The guest room is on the right, too, Ruth, across from me,” Guy said, leading the way, with her bag.

This time, it was Steph, in the rear position, as they all proceeded down the hall. “The bathroom is at the end of the hall, Mom, if you need to visit it, first.”

“You read my mind, dear,” she smiled. “Just drop my bag, wherever, Guy. I know you probably have things to do, today.”

“Just put it, on the bed,” Steph advised him, as Ruth closed the bathroom door behind her.

“Mom, you have a knife? They must have used a whole roll of tape, on each box,” Galen said, appearing at his door.

“Is the box cutter still downstairs?” she asked Guy.

“Yeah, but I got this.” He felt around, in his front pocket, and found his knife.

“Don’t give him that.”

“Why not? He’s not a toddler.”

“It’s a folding knife.”

“With a locking blade.”

For a moment, they regarded one another. Guy was incredulous and amused. Steph finally glared him down.

“I gotcha, covered, Galen,” he said.

“Thanks, Guy. It’s just two boxes.”

Ruth emerged, in a moment, and joined her outside the guest room. They walked in, together.

“Very nice. So is the bathroom — I like the separate tub and shower; always wanted that kind of setup, myself.”

“Can I help you unpack?” Steph offered.

“No, Honey. I’ll just yank things out of the bag, as I need them.”

“If you’d like to have a little nap —”

“I’d like to have a nice visit, with my girl. It’s been too long. I haven’t seen you, since Galen’s birthday.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am. Let’s go back out to the front room. The boys will find us, when they’re ready.”

Steph led the way back up the hall, and they sat down together, on the sofa.

“You’re too thin,” Ruth observed, when they were settled.

“You’re too thin,” Steph countered. “I’m exactly the same weight.”

“Maybe it only looks that way, because your hair is getting longer. You’re a sight for sore eyes, all the same. Galen and I have missed you.”

“Trust me, I won’t ever take another longterm undercover job, that takes me away from him.”

“I know it wasn’t easy for you, either. How did it all end?”

“It didn’t, exactly. It’s all just… changed.”

“Didn’t you quit the agency? Your business isn’t a part of that one, is it?”

“No, no. Serrano had us working in conflict with another client. That client died, and Serrano is out. We’re working directly, for our original client. It’s messy and complicated, to explain.”

They were interrupted by the arrival of Guy and Galen.

“That was fast,” Steph said.

“Guy got the high shelves.”

“Now I’m off, to see what I can find, in the way of cameras, for the front door,” Guy said.

He didn’t elaborate, on this point, but he and Steph had agreed, over brunch, that more than one camera should be acquired, for the property.

“May I go?” Galen asked.

“Ask the boss,” Guy said.

“Mom?”

“I don’t see why not. But, you ride in the back seat.”

“Aw, Mom!”

“Classic cars didn’t come with airbags.” She gave him a stern look.

“Which is why I had them installed, during the rebuild,” Guy put in.

“I didn’t know that,” Steph said.

“Sure. Not everyone drives as well as I do.”

Steph managed not to roll her eyes, but it was an effort.

“Okay, but no junk food, Guy.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, a little too meekly.

Guy

“Wow!” Galen exclaimed. “She’s a beauty!”

“I like her,” Guy replied, fastening his seatbelt.

“She got a name?”

“I call her, ‘Mi Perla’. It means, my pearl. When the sun shines, the paint is luminescent, like a pearl.”

“Did you paint her, yourself?”

“No. I rehabilitated her, but a buddy of mine, did the paint job. When I got her, she had all kinds of rust, and a few dents, and ugly, faded red paint.”

“Why did you go for white? She’d be a real chick magnet, in red.”

Guy laughed. “Couple of reasons. First, I’m a PI. A red Mustang stands out, more than a white one. Second, a red Mustang is also a cop magnet.”

“That makes sense,” Galen allowed. “Funny, how chicks and cops are drawn to the same things, isn’t it?”

“I never thought about it, but you’re right. In different ways, but yeah.” It was the kind of observation Steph would have made.

“Maybe it’s a good thing my dream car is a truck. 1936 Chevy pickup. It’s badass.”

Guy flicked him an amused look.

“Sorry,” Galen said.

“No, you’re right. The old ones are pretty badass. When it comes to a truck, I like the models, from the 50’s, myself. Anything with a leather jacket vibe.”

“I’m more of a fedora guy. I guess, if I were a detective, I’d be Dick Tracy.”

Guy laughed. He was going to enjoy having this kid around.