BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (99 page)

"Seen that money and come runnin' I bet, I ain't got no money, that money all gone now, I toss it out. I'm broke."

"That's not why I'm here Mr. Dane, if you would please, have a seat."

Eying him with untrustworthy eyes, Eddie Dane made his way to the chair at the table and took it.

"Okay, now - as I said, I would like to offer you my services."

"Why?"

"Well it's obvious, you need an attorney."

"How much it's gone cost me."

"Nothing, I do this as a gesture of giving back. I have clients who pay me, and pay me very well - and because of that, it allows me to offer my services to someone who might not be able to pay me at all. Today, that would be you sir."

"Why me?"

"Because we share a commonness I believe. Quite a few years back, as a very young boy, my brother and I became orphans, because - well - it had been reported that my mother, committed suicide. Problem is, my mother was not the kind of person who would have committed suicide, she had my brother and I to see about, she would have never taken her own life leaving us behind as she did. Hearing you up there, on that roof, on the news, brought it all back to me. And I guess, I need to ask, why do you think, your daughter, didn't commit suicide?"

"If you must know, for the same reason you just said. She got two little ones, she always take good care of her kids. She live with me, her and the girls. We went through hard times, like anybody else, but not so hard she kill herself. I don't care what they say!"

"You mind sir, if I use this, to record our conversation?"

"You gone get me out of here?" He asked.

"Yes sir, I'll see that you're released. Whose taking care of your daughter's little girls sir?"

"They daddy got'em."

Jeremiah nodded and held up the digital recorder, asking with the gesture, could he record them.

Mr Dane nodded and the interview began.

Chicago...

Behaving as the considerate, responsible youth that he was, Paul dropped Vivian off at the L station and went straight back to their place to load the truck with what materials he might need to do the work he planned for Jackie's place. The thought of going there, had him blushing already, and he hadn't even showed up yet. He went up the back stairs, knocking on Lydia's flat to show his face and let her know he was on his way to Sheila's. On the way, his mobile rang, it was his father. "What are you doing?" Jake asked him right away.

"I'm on my way to Sheila's." He answered.

"You driving my truck?"

"Well yeah."

"And talkin' on the phone to me?"

"Ah, you called me dad, so yeah, I am."

"Well get your ass off the phone while you're driving! Don't talk! I'll talk, keeping it brief, do not - at all today, tomorrow or any other day of the week, tell anyone else that we'll do jobs of repair...none! Not one more! Understand?"

"Yes sir!"

"I mean it! Whatever you're doing, better get done this week, because weekend comes, I'm there to get Vivian, we're out of there! Understand?"

"Gotcha!"

"Now get off the phone!"

"Yes sir." Paul clicked it off, smiling, shaking his head at his father.

He reported in to Sheila, who made him come in to eat, but he declined saying, "I'm just fine thank you. I had a nice breakfast with Vivian, so I'm set for now."

"Well where you gone be working, I needs to know."

"Just two blocks up, mid-way-..."

"Oh no Mister, right it down, address and your mobile! What time you breaking for lunch? I'll have you something to eat when you do."

Smiling, Paul did as was told and wrote it down for her. Before he left, her last instruction, "Keep that phone turned on and on you. I'll be calling on and off to check that you okay, if you don't answer, I will be around here looking for you, you better believe that! Now gone! I got stuff to do!"

Laughing, Paul made his exit, "Yes ma'am, Ms Johnson, I'll keep it on, promise."

Paul made it to Jackie Pemberton's at 9:30 on the nose. He parked, didn't see any activity at the house and wondered if he should at least unload what he brought into her back garden, or wait for her? Since they had an appointment, he decided to start unloading the things from the truck into her back garden. In process of doing so, he noted that her backyard needed some attention. The front looked okay, but the back - badly neglected. Over in the corner he could see why, the lawnmower was there, looking at it's worse for wear. He made a mental note of it and continued making trips back to the curb to bring more things with him. On the third trip back to the truck, she pulled in, driving a '99 Buick Park Avenue, burgundy four door. She looked up and saw him, smiling, she waved excited to see him there unloading to actually do the work. She was able to park right in front of the truck, and as soon as she cut the engine she jumped out calling to him, "You're here! Oh I'm so glad! I was up most of the night praying that you were actually coming to do it."

"Oh yeah, I would never say something and not do it."

"Okay, well, you have me at your disposal until I have to pick up my kids at 1:30! Tell me what to do and I'll do it!" She eagerly volunteered to pitch in.

"Well, let's see, we can finish unloading the truck, not much left to take back." He stated. Right away, she was there grabbing whatever she saw and could carry. "Now leave the heavy stuff for me, you are - a - a lady, and - well - just leave the heavy stuff for me." Again, his face burned from blushing.

Enjoying his company, his fresh young face, and pretty soft eyes, she fought with herself, determined to behave and not be a flirt with the boy, he was after all doing her a favor, and he was blushing enough, but the imp in her just couldn't resist it, "So you think I'm a lady, huh?"

Paul figured any second now, his face would catch aflame and burn his head straight off his neck like a match being struck, he was blushing so uncontrollably. "Well yeah, of course I do." He distinctly heard a chirp of laughter out of her, making him blush even more.

"My goodness boy, you always blush like that around girls?"

With his head ducked low, he shrugged, "Guess I'm not around them that much." He admitted carrying the last of everything to the back. And then volunteered more of his services while he was back there, "See your lawn needs cutting."

"Yes, it does, I started cutting the front and then that lawn mower went on me. I figured, at least the front's done and doesn't look as jacked up, like the back! Just another thing on my list of things needing done! And when the money frees up, I'll get to them."

"You don't mind, I'll look at it for you, see if I can get it working."

"Would you know how?" She asked standing in the backyard, gazing up at him, her hand over her eyes shielding them from the sun. Noticing, Paul looked back and up and then back around and moved to block it, asking, "That better?"

Her mouth came open a bit surprised by him, "Yes, thank you." She stated softly. 'Wow.' She thought, impressed by him.

"No problem, and yeah - I can fix that, well - I think I can, all depends on what's wrong with it I guess. Thing is, I'm gonna be here all week, after that, I'm heading home to Wisconsin. So, anything you need doing, best take advantage of me being here now, I'll help where I can."

"You here by yourself, Paul?"

"Kind'ah - my brother and dad's gone home, but they left me behind because - well - I promised you, didn't I?"

"Baby you just scarin' me! I can't believe you! That your daddy would leave you here alone."

"Well, I am 18! That makes me grown."

"You can't buy no alcohol!" She pointed out.

"No big deal, I don't drink. But I can vote, and I can join the army if I had a mind to. Besides that, my family trust me."

"Where's your mother?"

"In Wisconsin."

"And she's not worried about you here? If you were my son, as kind as you are, I would be."

"My mother thinks if I'm going to become a man, I need to learn independence and make my own way and decisions in life. Only way for me to do that, is to start living it. Well, that's what she said anyway - I agree."

"Oh my goodness - well - okay - if mama says go ahead, then, let's get busy! What would you like me to do?"

"I hadn't really planned on you helping me, I mean, you might get hurt, it's man's work what I'll be doing."

Jackie exploded into laughter, she had to laugh a few minutes before she collected herself, "Are you serious boy? I just know you not serious?!"

Paul stood tall, squaring his shoulders, suddenly getting a very serious look about him, "Well yes I am. My grandfather taught us to treat a woman as the delicate creature that she is and not put on her shoulders work made for men."

Once more she stood with her mouth open in surprise. Then thinking he was joking, she started laughing again waving her hand at him, "You so crazy, I can see that now! You do that well chile, almost had me thinking you serious! Women today ain't like that baby, we get it on! 'Cause ain't no man around you can depend on, you have to take care of yo' thang yo'self!" She stated leading the way back around to the front and then into the house. "Chile, if I waited on a man to get things done around here, the roof be done fell to the floor by now! Seriously now, what you want me to do?" She asked, standing in her living room waiting on him to say.

Paul sighed long and deep, "Mrs Pemberton-..."

"Jackie - Paul, just call me Jackie."

"Yes, well - Jackie, I'm here and - I'm a man - a young one, but a man just the same. I know how to do a lot of things, because that's the way my grandfather raised me. My father too, taught me a lot. So - you just tell me, what you think needs doing the most and well - that's where I'll start, ma'am - Jackie."

Jackie stood a moment staring at him in disbelief, she couldn't believe her eyes, nor her ears. "Oh - my - goodness! Chile what planet they beam you in from?"

"I'm from right here, just like you. I think the difference in me ma'am, Jackie, is that well - I'm a McPherson, my grandfather says, that means we're not like the rest. He said, we need to give our best in what we do, because his name is our name, and no McPherson would be known for laziness, for not doing what he needs to get the job done. And - he said, women were special creatures, and no matter what, we were to treat them with the respect God intended them to have. That includes you, so - lead the way, I'll follow."

Jackie stood a moment with her mouth open, once more and her eyes glued to him in sheer disbelief.

Shaking her head, she gave in for the time being and lead the way to her sons bedroom, "Okay, here it is, the worse room in the house. Actually, this whole side of the house bad, here let me show you." She walked over to his bed moving it aside. Against the wall, the house had settled, pulling the floor from the wall, and lots of cold air came up during the winter as well through the window that had several cracks around it, letting in more cold. From her son's room, they went to the bathroom, same thing, because it too was on that wall and then her daughter's bedroom, same side, doing the same things.

"Right now, that's eating me alive in heating. If you can do anything about that, I would be eternally grateful."

Paul stood thinking about it, remembering doing a similar job with his grandfather on his farm. "I can do this, but I need a favor?" He asked.

"Whatever I can do!" She returned.

"I need to call my grandfather, which would be long distance from here to Wisconsin. While I know how to do it, I need to ask my grandfather for a few tips to make sure it's done right. Also, what I will need since it's just me."

"And me! And yes you can use my phone to call long distance! You doing me a favor, that's not doing you one! Phone is right there!"

"You can listen in case you wanna make sure that's what I'm calling about."

Jackie shook her head, "Mr Paul McPherson, I get this feeling, you're a man of your word! Use the phone."

She turned from him and made her way back outside, to unload her car. She had a book on how to change her oil and plugs and she was going to do it. So while he talked on the phone, she brought her car around to the alley behind her house and on to the carport where she planned to do what she had to do. She couldn't afford to take it in to get it serviced. And it was due for an oil change. Weeks before, it was due, she started buying everything she needed, a little at a time, because she couldn't swing buying it all at once. One week, a few quarts of oil. The next week, some more. And the next, some more. Then when enough oil, she bought the filter and tool she would need. And the next week, she bought the plugs. She knew what she had to get, because she went to the library and borrowed the Auto Mechanics book for her year car. She asked questions, had various mechanics point out what needed to be done, jotted it down and did what she had to do. The car was left from her husband who was now in jail. He had a five year sentence to fulfill before they let him out. He had two and a half down, and two more or so to go. In the meantime, she had to carry the load. Which meant, keeping that car on the road. She'd contemplated divorcing him, but she couldn't afford that either. Two children, home owners insurance, car insurance, telephone, electric and heating, bills from credit cards, food, school supplies, and clothing had stretched her income to it's very limits. Too often there had been just enough, if the house hadn't been paid for already - and she had to pay a house note, or rent, there would be no way she could make it on what she earned. For all that needed to get done, it had to wait until it could wait no more. And then she had to do it - her blessing - Paul McPherson.

She'd come back into the house from the backyard to change into her raggedy-wear to start on the car, in her rough attire, she came out of her room when Paul hung up the phone to come looking for her.

"Okay, what's the verdict, Mr Man." She teased.

Paul shook his head, grinning and explained what would also be required, "Most of it I have, I have to go pick up a few more items and I can get started." He informed her following out the back door. She reminded him of a busy little hummingbird, all over the place when you were talking to her, she was constantly going, a ball of energy. She stopped at her car, turning to him asking, "Is what you need going to cost me alot?"