The
Black Knight Squash Fiction League Match #2
The Handouts versus The Tin Ringers
EAST
SIDE A
Collaborative Novel
Chapter 9
The Best Laid Plans
by David Smith
Pike was not unfamiliar with the situation at hand. When
you are constantly on the prowl you tended to piss a few people
off. Husbands, in particular, tended to be sensitive
about their wives’ “activities.”
As he and Kucinich’s brother-in-law stepped toward the door, he
quickly sized up this latest distraction. The guy was not
much larger than Pike, but he appeared to be in pretty good
shape. His relative sobriety would give him a distinct advantage
over the Kiwi. Damn it, he would have to use his
guile to get himself out of this one.
Before they stepped outside, he quickly stepped over to the
bartender. “Do me a favor, would you? Let us go out
the door and step out just about 20 seconds behind us? Just check
on us and call 911 if I need it.”
The bartender didn’t want to get involved, but he did want them out of the bar, so he agreed.
As they went through the front door, Pike started talking. “You say you
are related to this woman. What did you say her name was?”
“Kucinich. Marlene Kucinich. And she is my sister, you twisted piece of crap.”
“Ah, Marlene. Leopard print outfits.” Pike wanted to push this
dude’s buttons. “Man, she looked hot in that outfit. Didn’t live
up to the expectations, however.”
That was all it took. As Kucinich-in-law started to lunge
at him, the bartender came out of the bar. The distraction
was just enough. As Pike’s attacker turned his head toward the
door, Pike hit him with right cross and dropped him.
Considering his blood alcohol level, it was a lucky shot. One
shot, down and out.
Pike looked over at the amazed barkeep. “Thanks,
mate. I think I better take you up on your offer some other
night. Looks like it is time for me to move on. Good
night.”
With that said, Pike moved down the street in a hurry and flagged the
first cab. The encounter with Marlene’s brother and his escape
from serious injury had done nothing to dissipate his anger at Kate’s
rejection. He smiled as he remembered Kate’s invitation to
roller derby. He used his phone to look up the Manhattan
Mayhem website. He clicked through the site until he found
a picture of Kate’s tattooed-shower-friend, April. The
raven-haired beauty that stared back at him looked like pure
trouble---just the kind of trouble Pike enjoyed. As his
mind worked its way through the Kate and April fantasies, he texted
Kate. “Thx 4 grt evening. Would love to go with you
Sat. to see April skate.”
He leaned back in the cab and chuckled. He laughed even louder as
he thought of the roofies that he had hidden away at home. His
laugh was an evil sound. The cab driver glanced in the rear view
mirror at the sound of Pikes laugh and shivered. It truly
was an evil sound.
_______________________________
Kate awoke to New York’s unnatural, yet ubiquitous alarm clock—the
chorus of horns which signaled the morning rush hour. Since she
had a bit of time this morning she stretched out and rolled
over. Marie came into her bedroom and stretched out on the
bed beside her. She leaned over a gently kissed her
roommate.
“Good morning. Did you have fun last night?”
Though she enjoyed the smell of citrus as Marie nuzzled into her neck,
she pushed herself away and sat up in bed. “And good morning to
you.”
As she recapped her evening for Marie, she reached over, turned on her
phone and saw the message from Pike. “Looks like I didn’t
totally piss off this Kiwi last night. He wants to go out on
Saturday.” Her voice betrayed her misgivings.
“How do you feel about that?”
“Aw, Marie. You know that I am so confused right
now. I did have a nice time last night. He was quite
cute and charming, but I was definitely getting some weird vibes toward
the end of the night. It may have been him, or it
just might have been me. Anyways, it doesn’t matter.
I invited him for Saturday, so I can’t back out now.”
Her roommate eyed her pensively.
“What? You think I don’t know what I’m doing?”
“Kate, listen. I just want to see you happy. I really think
you should see a therapist to talk through your issues.
Have you been with any man since you found out your mom was a
hooker? No. And should I mention us? Was that
evening just a lark? And most importantly, have you called
your dad, yet?
“No.”
“Damn it, Kate. You told me you would call him. He is the
one stable person in your life. You need him. You can talk to
him. And you know that he is not responsible for what your mother
has done. Give him a break and call him.”
“Yeah, sure. Hi, Dad. Need your advice. What do you
think, do I like guys or girls? Do you think I am
turned off to sex because my Mother is screwing anyone with enough
money? That conversation’s not gonna happen.”
“You still need him in your life. You love him. And he must be worried sick about you.”
Tears began to trickle down Kate’s face. As Marie
pulled Kate into her arms, Kate’s anguish escalated until she was
racked with sobs. They held each other until Kate tears
stopped and, worn out by the emotion, she fell back to
sleep.
Kate awoke about an hour later and reached immediately for her
phone. She punched in the number from memory even though
she had not called it in almost a year. She felt at peace
as she listened to the ring. She leaned over and kissed Marie
tenderly on the cheek and whispered, “Thanks.”
_______________________________
Hank was getting warmed-up for his first lesson of the day when his
phone rang. He glanced at the number as he answered, but he
didn’t recognize the caller.
“Daddy?” Kate’s tears re-started immediately at the sound of her
father’s voice, and this time they were equally matched by Hank’s own
tears. They quickly exchanged hellos, how are you's, I’m
sorrys, and where are yous in a breathtaking hurry. Once Kate
told her father that she wanted to see him, they discussed how and when
they could get together. They decided on Sunday morning for
coffee and an early walk in Central Park. Kate thought that
commitment would also give her an easy excuse to make it an early
evening on Saturday.
“I love you, Kate. I have really missed you sweetheart.”
“I love you, too, Daddy. I can’t wait until Sunday.”
As Hank wiped the remaining tears from his eyes, he spotted Jerry
sitting in the bar area meeting with a man that Hank did not
know. As he started over to say hello, Jerry spotted him
and subtly but emphatically shook his head “NO!” Taking the
cue that Jerry did not want to be interrupted, Hank veered off and
headed to his court. He wondering what Jerry was up
to.
Hank’s attention quickly shifted back to Kate. What a joy
it was to hear from her. He felt like a new man as the
weight of months of worry was lifted from his shoulders. He
couldn’t wait to see his girl again on Sunday.
Never could he have dreamed the anguish that awaited.
David Smith Long
Island-exiled Medical Device executive of questionable humor and
talent, whose unrestrained passion for Chardonnay and San Francisco is
only surpassed by his love of the Michigan State Spartans.
*This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are
either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead,
is entirely coincidental.
