Charmed Life (25 page)

So did half the staff.

“Mr. Greensboro will see you now,” the secretary said to Gregory. “May I have your autograph?”

He signed the old magazine with his picture on it, and walked into the office.

Hef Greensboro was a slick man, early forties, well dressed, and arrogant in presents. “Mr. Benson, so nice to see you.”

“Mr. Greensboro, thank you for taking the time.”

“Boy I’ll tell you, this must be important.”

“It is.”

“Have a seat.”

Gregory did. “I’ll make this short and sweet. Your paper is doing a story on my daughter.”

“The missing Cara Mia, yes.”

“I would like very much for you not to do the story.”

Hef chuckled, sat back, and folded his hands. “Mr. Benson, this is a good story. She vanishes without a trace. Why? Where?”

“Again, I will ask you not to run this. It’s very important. I don’t know where she is. But I know she is fine. Leave it at that. I’m coming to you as a gentleman, asking for you not to do this.”

“I’m sorry. Time has been put into this, money has been put into it. Our reporter has done a lot of work.”

“I understand,” Gregory said. “Just tell me. You’re a business man. What will it take for you to kill the story?”

“You asking me if you can make a deal with us?”

“Absolutely.” Gregory nodded. “Anything.”

Hef smiled.

CHAPTER TEN

The Lodi Summer Sweet Corn festival was a tradition that people from all over Medina partook.

A huge festival, like a fair, was set up with rides, games, and food.

Amongst other things.

Freddy and Grace had heard about the festival, and looked forward to it. Asking for the day off from Bargain-Mart as soon as they knew.

The small town conservative nature didn’t stop Freddy from being himself. He sported a grand, wide brim hate with flowers, to protect his delicate skin from the sun. After all, they’d be there until well into the evening.

Freddy rode to the festival early with Marybeth for her crafts booth, stating he’d help her setting up, but planned on totally enjoying the festivities.

“I say we divide up the kids,” Grace told Bobby as they arrived.

“How do you suppose we divide three kids?”

Rhoda said, “I would like to go with Ms. Berkowitz.”

“Well, that’s settled,” Grace said. “Rhoda is with me. I’ll take the baby, too.”

Damian looked so lost, blinking her eyes up to Grace. “What about me? Why don’t you want to take me?”

Bobby shook his head. “This isn’t going to work. Let’s just do this together. We’ll walk around, then go over to the tug of war …”

“Bobby, no,” Grace said. “You have to set that up. How much fun will it be for the kids? How about this. We walk around together, then when it’s time for you to set up. You go. I’ll take the girls with me and Freddy and meet you there.”

“That’s a lot of work.”

“Bobby, please.”

Damian said. “We’ll be good for her.”

Rhoda added. “Yes, it’s been a month since Damian has hurt anyone in her care.”

Grace smiled and held out her hand. “See?”

Bobby grumbled.

“I hate when you do that,” Grace said. “Why don’t you like when I’m alone with the girls.”

“You spoil them.”

Grace laughed. “I do not. Stop it.”

“Ok, I give,” Bobby said. “But at least find my mom if you need help.”

“Your mom has a booth. And I’ll be fine.”

“Hey.” Bobby pointed. “There’s Freddy. Let’s go show him.”

“Yeah,” Grace said, pulling forth the National Enquirer. “Maybe he’ll shed some light on this.”

“I’m sorry, Grace,” Bobby said.

Grace shook her head. “There’s a reason. There is a reason.” She twitched her head. “Let’s go.” Holding Damian’s hand, Bobby with Regan, they walked to the booth where Freddy stood.

“Delightful,” Freddy said, taking a picture of Marybeth’s booth. “You will do so much better than Mrs. Barnet’s wooden door stopper booth. So cheesy.”

“Aw, thank you Freddy, you are such a big help. Oh, look here comes Grace and Bobby.”

The wind blew some, and Freddy holding his hat, turned. “I may duck behind the booth as cover for the demon child.” He forced a smile. “Hello, crew.”

Damian stepped close to him.

Freddy eked back, his face tensing up in worry.

Damian extended her hand to Freddy. “Truce, yet?”

“I still tremble in your presence,” He held out his hand. “But, yes, forgiven. I’ve had a month to heal.”

Damian smiled. A sinister smile.

Freddy quickly retracted his hand and jumped back. He regained his composure. “So, are you folks ready for the festival?”

Grace answered. “Yes, but before everything gets crazy. There’s something you have to see.”

“What is it?” Freddy asked.

“The National Enquirer. Bobby’s mother subscribes to it.” She handed the rolled up magazine to Freddy. “Take a look. It’s not pretty.”

+++

The picture on the front cover was huge, the words bold; “I was a transvestite alcoholic’ were above a very unflattering picture of Gregory Benson.

Freddy read aloud: ‘It was a very difficult time in his life, a source close to Mr. Benson told the Enquirer. He was confused and it relaxed him. The source told the enquirer that for a few years after his wife had died, Mr. Benson turned to booze and lacy woman’s lingerie to ease his pain. Often times, just a good shade of lipstick would calm him. He had good taste.’

Freddy closed the paper. “I knew him and I had something in common.”

“Freddy,” Grace grabbed the paper. “That’s not funny.”

“The article is a hoot,” Freddy said. “No one will believe it.”

“You think?” Grace asked.

“Positive.”

An ‘excuse me’, caused Grace and Freddy to step aside as a man, squeezed his way through them to the booth. He noticed the magazine in Grace’s hand. “Hanging on to that one, too, myself,” he said. “Goddamn shame about Gregory Benson. And here when I thought he was a man’s man, he really was.”

Grace’s mouth opened.

Freddy laughed.

Bobby interjected, pulling Grace away, flashing a smile at the man and moving them along.

+++

The stroller made things easier; they couldn’t believe they forgot it. Bobby went back to retrieve it just before he left to set up the tug of war.

He told the girls to be good, and after instructing Grace to make sure she watched what Rhoda ate, he took off.

Grace didn’t think much about it.

There was moonwalk set up. A huge balloon style building. Rhoda and Damian took off their shoes and went inside. Grace and Freddy waited for them outside the door.

“I wish I could do that,” Freddy said. “I bet I do it with grace and poise.”

“Oh, without a doubt.”

“You are doing very well with this all,” Freddy told her.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean the woman who couldn’t heat water, is suddenly changing diapers.”

Grace cringed. “I still don’t do that well.”

Freddy laughed.

George approached. “Having a good time?”

“Splendid,” Freddy said. “Do you like my hat?”

“No.” George shook his head

Freddy gasped.

“Anyhow, wanted to let you two know,” George said. “They don’t expect the Grand Jury to be out long on the case. Maybe even back today.”

“That wasn’t very long,’ Freddy said.

“Not at all. Your testimony made it pretty cut and dry. I think…”

George’s sentence was cut short when Larson plowed his way in. “Grace!” He leaped her way, embracing her. “Grace!”

Grace laughed. “Hey, Larson.”

“I miss
 
... miss … I miss you!”

“I miss you, too.”

“Bargain-Mart …” he twitched his head. “Sucks. Too my friend... took my friend way.”

“Yeah, they suck,” Grace said.

“Moon walk?” He asked, pointing.

“No, I’m too old,” she replied.

“Ok.” Larson nodded. Took a step, stopped and yelled, “Monsters of Maui!” and he darted into the Moonwalk.

George’s eyes bulged. “Did he just say …”

Freddy shook his head. “Don’t worry about him. He’s Larson.”

Grace added. “My number one fan.”

“Her only fan.”

Grace gasped, and in fake offense walked away from Freddy.

++++

Clyde didn’t look amused. In fact, he looked as if he’d rather be anywhere other than behind that booth.

Polly made the best of her job. Pleasant while greeting those she dealt with.

Freddy was truly interested in what kind of booth a hardware store would run at a fair.

He and Grace approached the both, Rhoda and Damian ran behind to see their grandfather.

“What are we selling?” Freddy asked.

“Chances,” Polly replied. “It’s bingo.”

“Oh, I love bingo. I am such the champ at the senior home,” Freddy said. “Where do we play?”

“You don’t. You do, but don’t. You buy a bingo square. It’s Cow plop Bingo.”

Freddy turned his head slightly, peering at Polly through the sides of his eyes. “Cow plop bingo? What is that?”

Polly explained. “They got a huge field out on 83, and they made it into a super bingo card. You buy a chance on a square. Three bucks for one. Five for two. Then they put Bessie the cow out to graze and whatever square she goes on, is the winning square.”

Freddy’s eyes widened. “We buy chances on which square a cow will poop in?”

“Yep.” Polly nodded.

“How much do we win?”

“Three hundred.”

“That’s a lot of money. Does the house keep the money if she fails to … drop?”

“No, she’ll go.”

“How do we know?” Freddy asked.

“She’s a cow.”

“What if she’s not inspired?”

“She’s a cow. She’ll graze and she’ll go.”

“Do they feed her a special diet for today?” Freddy asked. “Like a laxative? Although, grass is high in fiber.”

“Freddy …”

“One would think there has to be some sort of guarantee that she’ll go.”

“She’ll go,” Polly grew aggravated.

“Is there a time limit?” Freddy asked. “I mean what if she gets stage fright. I know when have to use a public rest room and someone walks in, I totally bind up.” He shuddered. “What if she gets like that when people are …”

“Freddy!” Polly yelled. “Buy a goddamn chance or not. Just stop talking about the cow going.”

“Fine.” Freddy laid a twenty on the counter. “Two for five? Give me eight random squares.”

Polly picked out his chances and handed them to Freddy.

He faced Grace. “I’ve wagered on a lot of things in my life. Never on a cow going to the bathroom.”

“Maybe you’ll win.”

“Perhaps we should go out to the field and cheer her on. It wouldn’t even have to be original,” Freddy said. “We could just yell, go, cow, go.”

It took a second for Grace to get it, and when she did, she laughed.

+++

It figured that they would run into Louise and Tina at the festival. With all the people, all the activities, Grace had hoped they wouldn’t.

She issued a small warning to Rhoda to not say anything, the best thing to do was keep silent and hope they moved along.