Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative From: jdeclari@is.rpslmc.edu (John-William DeClaris) Subject: Solo3 Message-Id: <1993Oct27.191713.18101@rpslmc.edu> Nntp-Posting-Host: troosevelt.is.rpslmc.edu Organization: Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 19:17:13 GMT Cleaning a bathroom has to be one of the most unpleasant jobs in the world. Just once it would be nice to Leap into the life of a millionaire, or a movie star, or even a network executive. Instead, he got jobs like this. Growing up on a farm, Sam was used to cleaning animal stalls, but a human bathroom just seemed lower and more undignified. When he was done, Mark asked him to mop the floors and clean the windows. Now that Sam was there, the diner was really starting to look good. By the time Sam was done, it was time for the dinner crowd to arrive. Business was light. For the most part, people wanted a burger, or some chicken. The need for companionship was really what they wanted. The tips were not bad by 1950's standards. As the sun began to set, The number of customers increased slightly. They were mostly the fisherman who wanted to just hang out and relax for a little while. Bob pulled showed up again. He was accompanied by Shirley. She looked very nervous and apprehensive. She scanned the crowd of people, obviously looking for her husband Jim. When she did not see him, she slumped and gave a sad sigh. Bob escorted her to two free stools at the counter. "Any luck?," Mark asked. "No. I was hoping he might be here." Shirley muttered softly. Her eyes filled with tears. "Sam, why don't you set these people up with some forks and knives, while I make 'em some dinner." Mark said. "How does that sound to you?" Bob asked Shirley. She nodded slightly, but made no sound. A small boy sitting next her started playing with his food. His mother was talking to another woman sitting next her. "Awooga! Awooga! Dive! Dive!" The boy cried out. Sam walked over and saw the boy dunk a cracker in the soup he was eating. His mother paid scant attention. "Ready for depth charges! Fire!" The boy ordered. He began dropping peas from his mother's dish into his bowl of soup. "Tommy, stop playing with your food." His mother took the plate away from him. The boy sat sadly on his stool. "I used to do that when I was your age. I used to pretend that there was buried treasure at the bottom of the bowl." Sam remarked to Tommy. "I was hunting communist submarines!" Tommy smiled proudly back at Sam. Mark placed two burgers in front of Shirley and Bob. He also left a large basket of french fries. Tommy reached over and grabbed a frie. "Look, a communist submarine. Awooga! Awooga!" Tommy announced. His mother reached over and took the frie from his hand and then slapped his hand. "Tommy, if you don't behave, I am going to slap you silly. Now sit down and act like a gentleman!" His mother ordered. "That is some imagination you have," Sam said. "If you ask me, it is a little too strong for my taste." His mother said. "Could I have some more coffee? And could you get my boy some ice cream?" Sam went to get the latest order. He noticed Shirley staring at him. It was an intense stare, but not directed at Sam, but at his shirt. Bob noticed also, and looked at Sam, and then at Shirley. "What's wrong?" Bob asked Shirley. "I know that's Jim's shirt. I just know it." Shirley stated. "Shirley, there are hundreds of shirts like that." Bob said. Sam got a bowl and put two scoops of vanilla ice cream in it. He saw a container of fudge and put some of that on the ice cream. When he was done, he took the bowl and put it in front of the boy, who thanked him quickly and stared to attack the ice cream with the enthusiasm that only a little boy can have. Sam than got a pot of coffee and poured a cup for Tommy's mother, who was engrossed in her conversation with her friend. Tommy continued to devour his desert. Sam tried to be cool and appear calm, but his mind was distracted and he did not pay attention to what he was doing. The coffee pot he was holding slipped from his hands and crashed down on the counter. Its hot contents flowed to Tommy, and spilled on him. Tommy cried out in pain, pulled back. He slid off the stool. Sam reached over the counter to grab the boy, but he only succeeded in knocking the bowl of ice cream off the counter and into the mother's lap. She cried out in surprise and stood up. "My dress! Oh my dress." The mother called out. She looked at Sam with a mixture of anger and disgrace. Sam apologized profusely and got a clean wet towel to help the woman clean herself. The boy sat on the floor and howled. Mark came out to see what the commotion was. "My dress!" The woman repeated. "Just look at my dress!" "I am really sorry." Sam apologized again. "Here let me try to wipe the chocolate off." Sam succeeded in smearing the chocolate and further ruining the dress. "Get away from. Look at this! Are you going to pay for this?" The woman demanded. "Maybe a dry-cleaner can get it out?" Sam suggested. "A what?" The woman asked. "You know, a cleaner. You take your clothes to them and they clean them," Sam said. "I know what a cleaner is, but there ain't no such thing in Chesapeake Beach!" The woman exclaimed. "Bob I want you to arrest this man." "Now what would be the charge? Reckless pouring? I don't think so. Sam here will pay you for the dress and then you can go out and buy another one. How much did it cost?" Bob said. "Thirty dollars." The woman stated. "Sam, give her the money, and that will square everything." Bob motioned. Sam reached for his wallet and pulled it out. He opened it and took out the money. Thirty dollars was a lot of money and he would sorely miss it. "That's Jim's wallet!" Shirley cried out and grabbed the wallet from Sam. "What?" "That's Jim's. What have you done with my husband? WHat have you done?" Shirley accused. Bob took the wallet and examined it. He found the driver's license and examined it. He looked up at Sam. "What do you have to say?" Bob asked. "I found it," Sam replied weakly. "Oh, that's a lie. What have you done to Jim?" Shirley cried out again. The diner had gotten quiet. Everyone inside stared at Sam, their eyes silently demanding an explanation. "Sam, I want the truth. How did you get this?" Bob asked. "He stole it. He murdered my husband and stole it. Where is Jim? Where is my husband, you ...."Shirley stopped and clutched her abdomen. She cried out in pain and sat down again. "Shirley! What's wrong?" Bob asked. "It's the baby! I am going to have my baby!" "Quick get her in the car, we'll..." Bob started to say, but was interrupted by a loud cry from Shirley as she collapsed onto the floor. Sam leapt over the counter and was by Shirley's side. He took her wrist and tried to get a pulse. Bob pushed him away. "Get away from her" Bob snarled. "She has gone into labor. How far are the contractions?" Sam asked. Shirley just cried out again. "We've got to get her to a doctor." Bob said. "There isn't time. We will have to deliver it here." Sam said. Bob looked at Sam, and realized that he was right. He looked around. Shirley cried out again. Bob saw an empty table. "We will put her on that table. Ready! Lift!" Bob and Sam lifted Shirley and put her on a table. Shirley cried out once again. "Get some towels and hot water," Sam told Mark. Mark stared at the prostate form of Shirley. "Do IT!" Sam yelled. Mark looked at Sam and then raced to get the water and towels. "You can not be serious." Bob said. "She is going to have this baby. We will have to help her deliver it. All the stress from Jim's disappearance has upset her." Sam said. "Which would not have happened if you hadn't robbed him," Bob accused. "I did not rob Jim. I told you I found that wallet." Sam growled back. "Oh Jim. My husband. My baby will grow up without his father." Shirley sobbed. Then she howled in pain. Mark reappeared with the towels and water. Sam immersed himself in the hot water and cried out. The water was almost boiling! He took a towel and dried his hands. "Oh my God!," Mark said. All eyes turned to the door where Mark had been staring. There stood a man with red hair. He looked a little worn out and harried. "Jim. where have you been?" Bob asked. "I got a call to help old man Berkley. His boat had stalled and he could not make it back. What's going on? Shirley! Oh my God, what's wrong" Jim ran to his wife's side. Shirley saw her husband and called his name. "Jim, where have you been? I was worried." "I left a note. Old man Berkley needed me. I did not expect to be out so long." "The baby. It's coming." "We have to get her to a doctor." "There's is no time. The baby is coming out right now!" Sam said. He maneuvered himself so that he could monitor the babies progress. "Okay, when I say, I want you to push! OK? Ready! Push!" Sam ordered. Shirley cried out. ""Oh no, I can see a foot. It's a breech! Don't push any more. I know you want to, but don't push anymore. I want to see if I can move the baby around." Sam explained. Sweat dripped off his brow. Shirley cried out again. "I said, DON'T PUSH!" Sam yelled. -- John-William DeClaris All comments made by me are mine and not reflective of RUSH or anyone else... even any spelling errors I most likely made. Live each day as if it were your last, because someday it will be.