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LYNN
I washed my face clean in their dorm's bathroom, then we were racing out of the building and down University Drive faster than Alex Van Halen can play a drum solo. Kanu merged her Jeep onto the local highway, and we were on our way to the town of Stonyfield.
As she drove, Angie and I chatted about the plan. Jim's usual nights out were to be around music, so I wondered out loud if he was at a show. The others agreed to check it out, and since Angie remembered that the record store had some flyers on the window, Kanu turned off at the Monroe street exit. As we pulled up to the curb I leaped out to read the posters while Angie and Kanu stayed behind. A short few seconds later I was back, and spoke to the pair through the Jeep's open window.
"The Ramones are playing at the Scrappy Pup, and the Flamingos have the 9 o'clock set at the Dirty Socks." I opened the car door and climbed in the back, and continued. "That's all there was. I think both places are in Keithson city."
"Okay, let us check out the Pup first," said Angie. "I know where that is, I have tickets to an event there next week. It is right on Main Street, next to a little place I know. They have great fries and gravy; the diner, I mean, not the Scrappy Pup." She grinned.
Kanu nodded, and the engine started with a purr.
Angie gave Kanu the directions, then put on the radio. She tuned to a station that was playing "The Mayor of Simpleton" by XTC.
My mind wandered and I ignored their conversation. The tune was catchy, and cute. Suddenly Angie's words registered with me. "Did you say that this place, the scrappy dog or whatever, sells tickets for shows? It's not just a bar or a club with a drink minimum?"
"That's right," replied Angie. "I had to wait on line at the record store to buy them, and there was a fee for not buying them at the theater. It was a lot, too, $18.50 for the tickets plus another $2 on top of that. Also, they nearly sold out, the guy behind me got the last ones. I was really lucky to get them." She sounded excited. "It should be a great show, actually. I'm sorry we got to be friends after I bought them, or maybe we could have gone together."
"What show is it? Not that I can afford such things."
"Um..it's Mary Poppins." She said it quietly, so I didn't really hear. But I nodded and said, "Hmm. Yeah, well I can't manage enough money for pizza this week, so a musical show is definitely out. But thanks anyway."
"Yeah, sure." Did she sound, relieved? I wonder why?
"So, Kanu, I think it's clear we can cross the scrappy dog off of our list and head right for the Dirty Socks. There's no way Jim could have managed a ticket, either." I sighed.
Kanu made a rude noise from the driver's seat, and then spoke. "It is the Scrappy Pup, not the scrappy dog, and why do you say he cannot afford it?" She made an axe shape with her hand, and banged it into the steering wheel, reminding me of something. She continued, "Jimmy has taken me to the movies, to shows. He always has enough money." Her free hand moved again, right to her necklace. "He is not broke, that does not make sense. Are you lying? I do not believe you."
Her tone was grating on my ears. Who does she think she is? "Well, I don't know what you thought he was spending on you, or where you thought he was getting the money from." I folded my arms and leaned back in the seat. "So, you think he has money? He doesn't have money. I don't have any money, unlike you, I imagine. Did you ever ask him where the money came from..to buy you fancy things?"
"I....I do not...know...he is good to me, " Kanu tried to answer me, but I didn't let her finish.
"Fine. Then we'll go to the scrappy mutt or whatever it's called, and you can search for him. Let us know if you find him, it doesn't..." I gulped. "It doesn't matter to me." I turned and faced the window so she couldn't see my face, and pretended very hard to be interested in the shopping malls and chain restaurants zipping past. Nobody spoke, and the music went on. The song was almost over, and the lyrics were directly opposite of how I felt right now.
Well I don't know how many pounds make up a ton,
Of all the Nobel prizes that I've never won,
And I may be the Mayor of Simpleton,
But I know one thing and that's I love you
A few minutes later Kanu had pulled up to the Scrappy Pup, which was crowded with punks and rockers standing in line waiting for the show to start. She turned off the engine, but nobody got out.
Angie spoke first. "Lynn, and Kanu. C'mon. We're all here for the same reason, to find Jim. I know you both care about him."
She touched Kanu's arm, gently. "Do you think it's possible that Lynn knows her brother a little better than you? Or at least, we should hear her ideas, right?"
Kanu didn't look at Angie, but she shrugged.
"Lynn, please, can you let Kanu explain? Is it possible that Jim's money situation could be a little different than you realize? You said that you hadn't seen him much since you've been here. C'mon, Lynn. That was too much."
"What do you mean?" I asked, still annoyed.
"You know what I mean. You totally laid into Kanu, for no reason. I know you are worried about your brother, but why did you leap down her throat? She's trying to help you, and that's her boyfriend too - he's out lost somewhere."
My thoughts were whirling. I'm a better person than this. I should try to see her side. I tried to force myself to smile at Angie." I, I suppose you are right." Then I mumbled, "Smart people, smart people have to be right all the time." I sighed. "Okay."
Then Angela turned back to our driver. "Kanu, can you trust Lynn, just for a little bit? Maybe Lynn didn't lie, right?"
Kanu replied, "I was telling the truth. Jimmy has spent money, on me, on us. He has not told me he had any problems with money. But he does not talk about money. If he did have problems, then I am confused. I do not understand his behavior."
She turned to face me in the backseat and asked, "Why would he take me to nice restaurants for dinner, if he could not afford to? Where did he get the money for the presents he has bought me? Perhaps what you are saying is, I do not know him at all?" She paused, and turned to face forward again.
She loved him. Clearly. Why did I say that stuff? We both loved him, and were both worried about him. I mumbled, "I don't know. I'm sorry." but it came out like "mwur mrah, mruple mrah".
Angie looked at me. "Hey, what was that?"
"That, was my apology. Didn't you hear it?"
"No."
"Really? Because I said it." I poked Angie in the front seat. "Kanu, did you hear it?"
"Mwur," she replied, and we giggled together.
Angie said, "Okay, ladies, well what do you think? We're here. We should at least check this place out, right?"
Kanu nodded, and I said, "Mm-hm. Let's all go walk down the line together."
We opened the doors, and stepped out into the cool evening air.
----
There wasn't much room on the narrow sidewalk to begin with, even less now because of the crowd. So we walked single file, pushing past teens and college kids and sometimes squeezing around the occasional mailbox or lamppost. Of course, Angie didn't know what Jim looked like, so Kanu and I walked in front.
Thankfully this was a peaceful crowd. Not like that time when I went with Zoe to a show, and they pulled three guys out of line for fighting. The blood..there was so much blood. Eugh. I shook my head at the memory to stop myself from gagging, and looked for Jim.
After maneuvering our way around the group past two different street corners, the crowd thinned and we could stand side-by-side again. A girl, not much older than us and wearing a leather jacket and torn jeans stood behind the last patron, looking bored and holding up an 'End of the Line' sign.
Kanu spoke first. "He is not here. That is fine. We will simply check the other place next."
"Agreed." said Angie, and I nodded. "Let's go." I said, and we started the slow trek back through the maze.
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Thanks for reading!
Janet
nice writing. keep going girl