Second Street // Part Twenty One

              Second Street

     Part Twenty One

Christmas Eve day had finally come and Pam was up early. She was going to have a very busy day ahead of her. She quickly took care of her morning grooming necessities, threw on a pair of jeans and a sweater, grabbed her coat and was off. First stop was at the local police station to file a report and be done with that bit of unpleasant business. She approached the desk and told the desk sergeant who she was and what she was there for. He looked her square in the eye and smiled broadly. I booked that guy last night and just got a chuckle out of it. Now I see you standing here and it is even funnier! A beautiful young woman just kicks that punk’s a*s. Just to let you know, he had one miserable night with that mace in his eyes. She smiled. The sergeant handed her a blank report and asked that she fill it out. He told her she did not have to be all that explicit just give the general details. Your little parking lot friend isn’t new at this and will probably do a year or two. She thanked him and took the report. Looking around for a place to fill it out, the sergeant motioned to a table around the corner. It only took her five minutes and she handed back to the sergeant who thanked her and wished her a Merry Christmas.

She was a bit hungry, having skipped dinner last night, so she stopped for a bite at the local hole in the wall breakfast spot. It wasn’t fancy but was quick and that was her priority this morning. She entered and sat at the counter. Good morning Pam, said the waitress. Haven’t seen you in a dogs age! How have you been? Any new fellas hanging around? Pam smiled and said, Hello Sue, I’m fine and yes maybe? How have you and yours been? The woman muttered something about teenagers that slipped right past Pam’s hearing. She went to the coffee station returning with a nice hot cup. Pam said, I’ll have a toasted onion bagel with cream cheese ok? Coming right up, sue replied, want the paper? Pam scanned the headlines not caring much about political corruption on Christmas Eve. She didn’t need a recipe for pumpkin pie and could care less about car sales. What she did find was an ad for a weekend getaway to New York City. This piqued her interest and she read on. Her bagel arrived and she thanked Sue. The ad read “Three Day Two Night Getaway to fabulous NYC.”Includes hotel and breakfast. Preferential treatment for tickets to shows and sightseeing. Four Hundred Dollars for Two. She tossed this over and over in her mind as she finished her bagel. Sue, can I have the bill and something to write on please? Sue brought the bill and a piece of notepaper. Merry Christmas honey she said. Pam wrote down the address and phone number for the agency, wished Sue a Merry Christmas, leaving a five dollar tip.

She headed for the address in the ad and soon realized in was the mall she was headed for. She hadn’t remembered seeing a travel agency there before. She parked what seemed miles away and made her way to the entrance and through the crowds. There it was, Garber Travel. They were just opening and she was warmly greeted by a woman in her fifties. She was well dressed in a business suit, her hair cut short with just a touch of grey. Welcome she said, I’m Allison, extending her hand. Pam shook her hand and asked of the New York advertisement. Sure she said, have a seat right here. Allison took out her book and began describing the package. You will love this, you get your choice of three different hotels all in Manhattan. You get to stay Friday and Saturday nights and don’t have to check out until two pm on Sunday. This includes breakfast for two mornings and all taxes included. Pam asked, what about New Years Eve? Allison leaned in as if to tell her a secret. I don’t know why but someone screwed up badly. You can even stay for New Years Eve. Maybe it’s a misprint, maybe not but they will have to honor it. Pam told her, I’ll take it and by the way can I get train tickets from you here? Why sure Hon Allison replied. So do you want to stay New Years Eve? Pam scrunched up her mouth and the woman grinned. Foolish me she said. Pam paid and wished Allison a Merry Christmas and proceeded to do some small shopping. She wanted Charlie to have something to open, something under his first tree with her. She visited a music store and got him a few Cd’s she knew he would like, she headed to the bookstore. She found a beautifully bound leather journal. She knew he would like that being that he was currently writing in spiral binders. It was noon and she was done. Now to head home, wrap her gifts, bath and get beautiful.

Charlie was nervous about this cooking thing. He knocked on Andy’s door.  She answered and bid him to come in. Well hello she said smiling at him. He explained his visit and she said not a problem hon. Let me get a coat and I’ll come over and we’ll see what lies ahead of us. Do you have a food processor, she asked? Just as quickly said never mind and took one from her cabinet, handing it to him. Here you take this. She retrieved several plastic containers, got her coat and said let’s go. Charlie opened the door, standing aside so Andy could enter. They headed to the kitchen, Andy removing her coat, setting in on the back of one of the chairs. Ok, what is it you want to cook? You know, what everyone has at dinner at Christmas, he stated. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, that green bean thing, the one that is all crunchy. Andy laughed loudly. You mean, Green bean Bake. I guess so he muttered. He relayed his experience at the Laundromat and said, I guess this will be much more complicated! Just hope I get it. Andy patted him on the back and told him to calm down and take it easy. We’ll get through this without any problems, she said. What we’re going to do is this. You and I will make up the stuff we can make ahead of time, just keep it refrigerated and I’ll leave instructions on how to cook it. You get a pot and peel some potatoes, I’ll get the stuffing going. She plugged in the food processer. She diced up some celery and onion, throwing the pieces into the blender. She pulsed a few times and removed the contents to a separate dish. Next she diced the Italian bread into cubes and added them to the mixer. She pulsed this until the chunks had been reduced to a nice sized mixture, this too she set aside. Charlie was awkwardly plodding ahead. Andy added some butter to a pan and sautéed the celery and onion adding it to the crumbs adding salt pepper, a touch of worcestshire adding just the right amount of white wine. She popped this into a plastic bowl and covered it tightly. Charlie was done peeling and Andy had him fill a pot with water and instructed him on how to cut the potatoes to the proper size and she proceeded with putting together the green bean bake covering it with tin foil everything right into the refrigerator for cooking at a later time. Charlie was done and Andy had removed the turkey from its plastic wrapping, putting in the sink. Charlie got a couple of glasses of white wine handing one to Andy. She leaned back against the counter and gave instructions to Charlie on how to clean and wash the bird. Charlie reached into the cavity of the bird quickly retracting his hand with a strange look on his face. What the hell is in there, he said in a surprised tone. Andy just cracked up laughing. She was doubled over holding her sides. I’m gonna pee myself she said almost crying. Charlie blushed and felt foolish. Andy finally recovered and took the gizzards out of the bird, Charlie looking on cautiously. Andy told him don’t worry about this stuff. I’ll take it home and cook it up for the dogs. Great he said, hope they enjoy it, whatever it is. Andy stood the bird up and packed the cavity with the stuffing, leaving the extra in the container to be cooked separately. Andy put the bird in the tin foil pan Charlie had purchased and showed him how to make a butter baste. Everything was pretty much in place and they sat at the table sipping their wine, Andy writing down cooking instructions, step by step not leaving out one single instruction. Charlie refilled their glasses and went to the living room, returning with an envelope and two packages wrapped in vibrant Christmas paper. He placed the packages on the table in front of her placing the card on top . He sat down and said to her, I hope you won’t feel awkward but you have been so kind to me and I just wanted to get a little something for you. I am guessing what you’ll be getting at home and hope you’ll accept my little token of friendship. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at the packages and back at Charlie. She was choked up and could not speak, so she opened the card, reading the handwritten sentiment. She could hardly hold back her tears and wiped away the few that had escaped. Oh Charlie! Can I have some more wine please? He smiled, gave her a kiss on the forehead and got her more wine. Andy thought to herself, I should not take these gifts. Danny will have a fit. She then thought, who cares what he thinks. He hasn’t bought his wife a gift in twelve years, how ridiculous is that? That seemed to settle her mind completely. Charlie, this is so unexpected but ever so appreciated. It could be a dog bone and I would treasure it. Just the idea that someone thought of me! You are a valued and trusted friend he told her. I hope you enjoy your gift and maybe we’ll have lunch soon and you’ll get a chance to show off. Andy looked at her watch, it was three thirty and she needed to get home to take care of the dogs, and start supper. The kids could be passing by tonight and she was looking forward to seeing them. Merry Christmas, Andy said to Charlie, giving him a hug. You too sweetheart came the reply. Hope you enjoy your kids tonight. Andy left for home carrying her gifts, Charlie watching as she made her way.

Charlie’s phone rang. It was Pam. Hello sweetie, how are you? Charlie was never happier to hear that voice. I’ve missed you he, he said into the mouthpiece. There was a short silence and Pam said I’ll see you around five ok? I’ll be here and waiting he told her.