Nine Lives To Die

The shopping centers in Charlottesville had cars circling in vain through the enormous parking lots looking for spaces. The snow, pushed up in piles, took up valuable parking. Tempers flared.

Looking for last-minute affordable gifts, Harry and Susan managed to find a parking place in the large Seminole Square center. The Office Depot drew their attention because here they could buy all manner of useful things. The two women, pushcart in front of them, trolled the aisles in search of stocking stuffers. Other shoppers hovered in the electronic section, buying far more expensive things than these two. After getting red and green paper clasps, colored paper clips, tablets with sparkly covers, and lots of ribbon spools, they stood in line, way back.

“Check your list again,” Susan told her friend.

Harry fished the list out of her back jeans pocket and read it aloud.

Susan checked down in the cart. “Think we got it. Once we’re out of here we should head over to Dover Saddlery.”

“Susan, the place will be jam-packed and jelly tight.”

“Listen, just endure it because we can pick up Farriers’ Fix, saddle soap, vet wrap, all kinds of little gifts for BoomBoom, Alicia, Big Mim, and Little Mim. You know you always run out of vet wrap just when you need it.” Susan referred to the useful thin wrap that would stick to itself.

“Okay,” moaned Harry.

The line took forever. After Susan paid, the cashier asked her if she wanted her receipt sent to her computer.

“No, thank you.”

As they left the big windowless store, Harry carried one bag, Susan the other. “Why would you want the receipt sent to your computer?” asked Harry.

“A lot of people do their accounting that way.”

Harry was horrified. “Once your information is out there, anyone can steal it.”

“Harry, it’s out there anyway. People send pictures of their private parts before going on first dates.”

Completely scandalized, Harry gasped. “You are making that up.”

“I’m not. I have two twentysomethings.”

“Your children don’t …” Harry’s voice trailed off.

“They showed me.” Susan’s eyebrows raised. “Danny called me over when he was last home. ‘Mom, look at this.’ I about died. He swore he never sent photos of himself, but he couldn’t help but look. Well, then I couldn’t help but take a gander at the girl. She was pretty but clearly had no sense.”

“If a congressman from New York did this, why am I surprised?”

“Because in your own way, Sugar, you really are sweet and naïve. There is no shame anymore. Women send pictures of their bosoms and everything else.”

“Dear God.” Harry gasped as they reached Susan’s Audi.

They tossed the Office Depot purchases in the back of the station wagon, then Susan pulled a vinyl cover over the goods. The cold air condensed their breath.

“We’d better walk over to Dover.”

“Right,” Harry agreed. “We’ll never get a parking place.”

Watching traffic since the holiday drivers were so distracted, a few inebriated as well, the women crossed the shopping center highway, then hurried into the parking lot in front of Dover Saddlery.

Before they reached the store, they heard a loud voice to their left.

“Stop telling me what to do!” On the sidewalk, Flo Rice shook her finger at Esther Mercier.

“Calm down.” Esther crossed her arms over her chest, her cap pulled down over her ears for warmth. “Calm down right now or I am not taking you into Dover.”

“I’m the older sister,” pouted Flo. “I’m supposed to tell you what to do. You leave me alone. I don’t need you following me everywhere.”

“Flo, I am not following you. I brought you here. You wanted to see Christmas decorations, the stores. Well, here we are, but you have to behave. And while you’re thinking about being quiet, why did you put your name on the St. Cyril’s need list? Al and I take care of you.”

“You keep me from everyone.”

“Flo, all you have to do is get in your car and visit old friends. Cletus Thompson doesn’t live that far from you.”

“I like him when he’s not drunk, though he rarely is.”

“All right. All right.” Esther wearied.

“And I am not driving that ancient Toyota anywhere. It makes me look poor.”

“Flo, you are poor.”

“You took all of Mother’s money.” Flo pushed her sister, not hard but hard enough that Esther had to step back.

“Dammit, Flo, I did not.” Esther looked around to see if anyone overheard. She didn’t spot Harry and Susan near the discarded shopping carts. “You aren’t good with money. Don’t blame it on me. And there are people who would like to see you. But this putting your name on a list of indigents, Flo, that was deeply embarrassing.”

Neither Harry nor Susan moved. They didn’t want to call attention to themselves.

Flo, however, scanned the packed parking lot, hoping to find an ally. “There you are!” She pointed straight at the two friends.

“Now what?” Susan whispered.

“We go over and pretend we haven’t heard a thing.” With a big smile, Harry walked over. “Esther, Merry Christmas. Miss Rice, Merry Christmas.”

Susan followed suit.

“You didn’t really remember me when you came to my house, but I remembered you. Sometimes I’d see you at the horse shows when I worked for Mrs. Valencia. I was nice to you. You didn’t remember me.” Flo indicated Harry.

“We were young.” Harry tried to smile.

“I look different now. I’m older, and she”—Flo pointed at her sister—“treats me bad. She keeps me away from people.”

On the thin edge of fury, Esther said through clenched teeth, “Flo, that is enough!”

Susan stepped between Flo and Esther. She engaged Flo while Harry moved Esther a slight distance from her very loud sister.

“Esther, can we help you?” Harry asked.

Esther’s face crumpled in relief. “I don’t know what to do. We were getting along pretty good. Flo wanted to do Christmas and—” She couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Miss Mercier, why don’t Susan and I try to get her in your car? I mean Mrs. Toth.”

Esther’s eyes misted over. “I’m afraid she’ll jump out when I start driving.”

“Let’s try.” Harry was thinking of alternatives if Esther’s prediction came true.

She decided if worse came to worst she and Susan could drive Flo home.

Having greatly calmed Flo while exhausting herself, Susan was grateful as the other women approached her.

“Miss Rice.” Harry used her brightest voice. “It will be dark soon, traffic is fearsome, we thought we’d go home, too. Just way too many people. Maybe you should convince Miss, I mean, Esther to go, too.”

A beady look crossed Flo’s face. “Oh, she won’t be happy until she spends tons of money.”

“I promise I won’t spend a thing.” Esther managed a smile. “Harry’s right, it’s going to be a mess. If we leave now, we’ll get home at a reasonable hour. If we wait, we’ll sit in traffic.”

“I don’t know.” Then a determined look came over Flo. “Don’t talk to me anymore about Cletus Thompson.”

Esther led the way across the parking lot to her car. “I won’t. We’ll talk about whatever you wish.” She slid behind the wheel.

Harry opened the passenger door while Susan, quietly taking Flo’s elbow, guided her in. Before the difficult woman ducked her head in, Flo whispered loudly, “She keeps me from everyone. Don’t believe a word she says.”