The Robe

[swiftest]

But Marg couldn't sleep, called Bernice and the first thing Bernice said, "you been drinking" ? and Marg started giggling, "oh, yes, my little sister has had a few" and this brought on more giggling from Marg. A few minutes and she seemed to settle down, said, "I talked to the SOB, Bernice I gave it to him, good and proper" which caused more giggles. Bernice said, "betcha the air was blue, lots of swearing" and Marg answered, "howdja know" ?
Bernice explained, "you are not a drinker, you've been drunk what(?), three, four times in your life and you go from happy to misery in a flash...I take it that you have talked to Bill and I don't know why or what is going on, what say we pick this up tomorrow, or later todays more like" ?
Marg thought for a few seconds then, "Bernice, your my sister and I need to talk to you, course if you have more portent things to do then I will let you go". And Bernice countered with, "Marg, if need be I will talk to you all night, or whats left of it, just one tthing, can I have a word with Nola after we have talked". Marg said, "good, I will tell Nola to not go to bed...think she is saying goodbye to Ray, hode on and I see".
Marg went to the kitchen and found Nola alone, said, "Ray gone ? ehm, I phoned Bernice and she wants a verd, no, (and here she started to giggle), not verd, a werd, anyway". She walked back to her room and Nola followed. Nola picked up the phone and said, "Bernice, you wanted a word, can I just get a coffee" ? And by the time she returned with a coffee, Marg was sound asleep. Nola covered her and took the phone through to the kitchen where she spent twenty minutes talking to Bernice.

[swiftest]

Bill was out of bed before seven marked time until eight and felt eight was a good time to talk with Bernice; he called and left a message on the machine. Half eight and he listened to a busy signal and part of the message from bell, "let bell notify..." etc, and said, "screw you bell". Nine AM and he left another message then started to wonder if Bernice was simply avoiding him.
Half past nine and he phoned his buddy, Stan. He brought Stan up to date, told him how angry Marg sounded. He then theorized as to how Marg really felt, how all he needed to do was talk to her and then asked, "what do you think"? Stan said, "does it matter (?) what I think, you seem to have worked everything out and haven't talked to the lady herself, you might just blunder ahead, might make rash assumptions and might win the day, BUT, you want my advice, talk to Marg or her sister if you can and if you can, LISTEN, listen to what you are told, it might very well be finished....if either won't talk to you, let it go, let go and, you know the rest. Bill went to timmies.
He was nursing a coffee and convincing himself, "if only Marg would talk to him". A man stopped by his table, said, "hi, I hear Marg is back on Thursday, is she coming be train" ? Bill said he didn't think so then, "not altogether sure, do you know if there is anyway to get hold of Bernice, not sure her phone is working" ? Monday afternoons is her choir practice, either two or three, not sure which". Bill brightened asked, "the Anglican Hall" ? and the man said, "no, the United".
Bill called the United and at one-fifteen he was knocking on Bernice's front door. She opened the door, said, "God, not you, Bill enough is enough" but Bill launched into his plan.
All he needed was time with Marg. He knew she was angry but knew she would get over it. He would pick her up at the airport, take her for lunch, get a room for her at one of the local hotels and that evening he would take her to the "Grand Theatre" for a live stage show"....he had other things in mind which he kept to himself.
Bernice said, "wait here" and she closed the door.
She called Marg and was surprised when Marg said, "okay, let him make all of the arrangements" and then she chuckled, "after the stage show, I will excuse myself and disappear, Ruby can put me up for the night, more than likely drive me home in the morning"....oh, and have him call me about the kid, who really does look good, by the way".
Bill's offer of a drive to the United was turned down but he left, a much happier man.

[swiftest]

Bill is thinking; a good mood(?) yes, definitely; buoyant(?), without question. A nip in the air felt good, going to be a good winter; he and Marg were going to be fine, wonderful, happy, a twosome for a long time. And he saw her in his place, the flat, the apartment, the hacienda, mhm, either use the vacuum plus whatever or hire a couple of women. A mental image of his tv stand, an end table really, grey, grey because of dust...perhaps he should make a start before hiring anyone...best to think about this so he buys a scratch ticket and goes to timmies.
He and one of the workers arrive at the same time, he for his coffee and she for a shift. He holds the door open and she stops, shakes her head and says, "men, who can figure them, look at you, someone who screwed up royally with one of the BEST women this town has ever seen, you had it made old man, lost it all and now you look like you haven't a care, God, I don't know". He dipped his head in a mock bow, said, "Lynda the lovely, not all is lost, MY with emphasis on the MY will be returning to moi, it's love hon and you can't beat it"......"don't know where your from, Bill, but the women around these parts are not that gullible"....Bill laughed, "nothing to do with gullible, it is love my dear, some ladies enjoy the bumps along the way". Lynda sighed, "I suppose, there are times when we are just as stupid as you lot but I wouldn't bet good money on Marg falling for any of your crap"....then she patted his face before adding, "c'mon, i'll get an extra small double double and put it on my tab".
He sipped his coffee and scratched his ticket. Another lady employee asked when Marg was due back and he said, "damn, I am supposed to call her, thanks for reminding me". Ten minutes later he was home, ready to make the call.

[swiftest]

Nola and Marg were in the living room when Bernice called. Nola had answered the phone and Bernice had said to her, "Bill is at my front door, waiting until I am finished with this call, then he wants to talk to Marg and has an idea that she will forgive him, I know my sister and I know what Bill is planning....I just wish she would drop the whole thing, perhaps you could help along those lines"....Nola agreed to do whatever she thought would be best for Marg.
Nola heard Marg's side of the conversation and was able to put two and two together. Close to the end of the call Marg said to Nola, "Bernice thinks I should just say no thanks to Bill and she wants to know if you agree". Nola said, "I agree with Bernice, you are done with him so let it go, his loss". Marg said, "you two are a pair of old foggies, he needs his ass kicked and I intend to kick it", then she hung up.
Marg offered to make coffee and while she was in the kitchen, Lottie entered the apartment. Nola said, "where have you been (?) I thought you were sleeping in". Lottie answered, "no, I had to get a change of clothes, all my stuff here needs washed". Nola said, "the hell it does, I did your wash, check the dresser, all your underwear is clean"....Lottie said, "phew, I should have known, anyway I am cleaned and changed and going to visit Paul, I seen him earlier and he wants to take us for lunch, tomorrow, after I see, you know".
Marg returned to the living room with a tray, coffee for three. She sat and Nola said, "thank you, now tell Lottie what you are planning", and she did. Lottie thought the idea of disappearing on Bill was silly, "if you hate him why bother, for me, I let him pick me up, go for lunch, get to the room and hope he is as good as he was, maybe Nola do that too but not sure, you know, that Ray seems to have interested her....and you know something, I bet he has something special planned" and Marg harumphed said, "we all know what is on the bastards mind" but Lottie did not agree, added, "no, not that, I just think he will have flowers or something, but who knows".
Lottie was ready to leave, her car had been run through a car wash earlier, a friend of Paul's had seen to that. Marg and Nola agreed not to argue. Nola also agreed to take the call from Bill but only if Marg would talk to him later in the evening. By the time Bill called, Nola had delivered a message to Winnie, "the kid looks good but needs a bit more mean, after all it is hockey".

[swiftest]

Eight o'clock in the evening, the time when Bill is to call Marg. The phone rang and Marg looked at it then looked at Nola who was looking at her. Nola shrugged, said, "it is up to you, your move", and Marg replied, "on six", picked up the receiver before the sixth ring had finished and "helloes" were exchanged.
Marg said, "look Bill" but there was no bite to it and Bill cut in, "Marg please just hear me out, I had a plan all worked out but as usual I was the only one who thought it a good idea, look, how about I meet you at the airport and drive you home, that is all, I mean we could talk but only if you want to, I, I, you know" and Marg cut him off, "no I don't know", with fire, and Bill responded, "I bloody well love you and you know that, don't say you don't", and Marg continued, "I will say what ever I want, you are not my god damn boss, you know what, go with your plan including a room FOR ME, not for you and me just me, you are staying to hell out of my bed...the plane lands at 11.45, be there" and she hung up.
Bill stared at the phone after hearing the dial tone. His knuckles were white and then he smiled, thought, "my God, not all is lost". He called Stan and as soon as he heard his voice said, "I did as you said, I LISTENED, I am picking Marg up at the airport and we are having lunch". Stan voiced his surprise and Bill said, "your surprised, i'm in a state of shock but I am not counting my chickens though I gotta admit I do feel good...two days, these will be the longest two days of my life".
A few minutes later Bill was talking with Winnie.

[swiftest]

Winnie said, "is your Marg not talking to me,(?) I mean it is not as if I know her but I would have thought she would have told me about the kid, Cornelius, instead of Nola, anyway, it seems she thinks he might have a future but needs more mean which means, what, exactly (?), you see he isn't one of those kids who gets into fights or anything, but, I doubt he would ever run away, now one thing I do know for sure is that he wouldn't use his feet, I got that from the hubby".
Bill answered, "and hello to you, Winnie, as for Marg, i'm not sure she is mine and not sure what she sees, more mean is a tough call if you haven't seen the kid in a game, and besides, there have been a lot of players make it who did not fight or use the stick, one of the things is that every once in a while a player might have to assert himself just to let other players know he is no pushover"....Winnie laughed, said, "like me" ? Bill laughed, "c'mon Win, you could have stopped me at anytime". Winnie's, "perhaps" seemed to Bill, a bit tenuous.
Winnie asked if he had read any Steinbeck, lately. Bill hesitated, not sure what this meant, answered, "not lately, not since "Travels with Charlie" least I think that is what is was called", and then the memory recalled and he said, "ah, the short story" and they both laughed.
"You got it Bill, you know when you first mentioned it my first thought was an oyster shell, you know like, "the world is my oyster", and then she chuckled, "thought you were paying a compliment until you told me to wash" and then she was laughing very hard, "no one, not a man on this earth, would stop the warm-up and whisper, the pearl needs attention, go wash, and I did and you followed me and talked about Steinbeck". Bill too was laughing and asked, "did we make it back to the bed" ? A laughing Winnie said, "no, you arse, not until, forget it, if you can't remember that is too bad".
Winnie sighed, "our time together was short, but a few first for me, we might have lasted much longer if I had been on meds, but, life has been good to me and I was serious about meeting up again". Bill said, "your married Winnie, you sound content, suppose hubby found out about us". She answered, "hubby knows about everything, the works, and if you and I meet, he will be with me, no naughty stuff i'd just like for us to meet again and you would get along with hubby, not sure your Marg could handle it".
Before finishing their call, Winnie gave Bill her e-mail address, added, "anytime you want to talk".

[swiftest]

Two days to go and Bill was wondering how to spend them. Tuesday he would play bridge in a neighbouring community....and then what (?) three hours out of more than sixty is not a big chunk. He decided to make a list of things to do. The list included calling Paul, Ray and Stan. He sat, looked around the flat and wrote, "housewifey things": called Stan. Stan and Tilley thought the list a good idea and both made suggestions.....and so to bed.
Up at six, coffee, a long look at the list and then he made a full breakfast, scrambled egg with cheese, beans and potato fritters; HP on the beans and he was in heaven. A load of washing, folded when dried and shirts on the ironing board. After nine AM and he had made a few inquiries about the recovery place in Guelph. He called around ten.
Bill wanted to know about visiting and he was immediately transferred. He gave his name, asked the answering party about visitors and if the person taking the "programme" would be allowed away for weekends. "Common questions", said a voice, "do you know anything about our facility or anything about addiction". Bill said, "a little" and heard, "Bill, ehm, let me guess, you MIGHT know someone heading our way, MIGHT even be here now, tell me, a long time ago did you live in a huge house on the banks of the Detroit river" (?).
Bill paused, then, "could have, your identacall is way above average, unless the person heading your way has mentioned me"....a laugh, then, "believe it or not, I recognized your voice, you should have been in radio". Bill said, "well I did try that and failed"...the sound of laughter reached him and the voice said, "c'mon Bill, you failed because you quit, anyway we do know each other, think of the guys who started to get sober when you started, think of detox". Bill did, thought of the guys he first met, said, "Ray" (?)........more laughter followed by, "yes that is what you knew me as, not really my name but couldn't see me entering recovery as "Dick". Bill laughed said, "I dig" and the voice said, "everyone calls me Richard"....Bill said, "good move" and they talked of old times.
His next call was to Bernice.

[swiftest]

Bernice answered, "congratulations, Bill, everything seems to be falling into place for you, but, a word of caution". Bill cut in, "please, Bernice, no threats, i'm too old to be threatened, all I want is a chance with Marg, if I am rejected I will have to live with that, if I am forgiven I would never ask for another thing for the rest of my life".
Bernice said, "no threats, not a one but do tread softly, I can't see any way that my sister has gone from throwing bricks through your windows to smothering you with affection....she seems to have taken to Lottie and could overlook that episode of your life, Nola she has known for a long time; I cannot see her giving up that friendship and I cannot see her putting your affair with Nola out of her mind; and then there is someone called Winnie.....Marg hates Winnie, swears when she mentions her, says she could still be a centre fold......I just don't know, Bill, but this I would suggest, you see my sister with anything in her hand that looks sharp, you get ready for severe pain.....I wish you well but watch your back, my sister is a wounded lady", then she hung up.
Bill sat and looked at his phone, shrugged and thought, "forewarned is forearmed, I suppose"......he knew it wasn't going to be easy.
At nine PM he dialed Nola's number and Marg answered. He was surprised and said, "I just wanted to hear how Lottie was bearing up". Marg replied, "bearing up issit, mmhm, don't really know but I would say that by this she will have been pleasured by a man older than you, a man who will be fondling her titties, which everyone says are perfect and he will be stroking the inner things of those beautiful legs". Nola grabbed the phone and Bill heard her say, "gimme my damn phone", then, "Bill (?), Lottie is with Paul, she may or may not be back here tonight, Paul wants to be at the hospital and then we will see, Paul is sure Lottie will be fine and he has arranged a special lunch, I don't know where". Bill said, "perhaps the "Point" with Father Bernard, if he is still alive......would you call me when the examination is over" ? Nola said, "yes, for sure".
Nola wanted to glare at Marg but couldn't; she knew that Marg was having difficulty thinking of Bill and also that Marg was feeling for Lottie. Nola dialed Paul's number and when he answered she said, "just checking, are we going to meet Father Bernard" ? Paul laughed said, "who toll you, must be Ray or that Bill, not many know Father Bernard, he a better chef dan me, I know him since grade school".