Sintown Chronicles II: Through Bedroom Windows (43 page)

“The more the merrier,” Buzz said. He sat the case of beer on the kitchen table, handed a bottle to Maggie and began to load the refrigerator. “I don't think I am much of a teacher, but June is a natural."

“He's a great teacher, Maggie, like I told you. You'll see."

The trio worked for more than two hours, pausing only occasionally for beer and bathroom breaks.

At last, Maggie slumped on the sofa. “No more for me,” she laughed. “This is hard work. I'm exhausted."

“Me too,” Buzz wheezed as he sat on the floor facing her, “and I used to be an athlete."

“Well I need another beer,” June said and she headed for the kitchen.

When June was out of hearing, Buzz said, “What's the real reason you are here tonight, Maggie? You are a great dancer and we both know it."

Maggie smiled. “I thought I faked not knowing how to dance very well, damn it. What gave me away?"

“You caught on to new moves too quickly."

Maggie laughed. “The truth is, Buzz, that I figured you to be a first class sleaze-ball. I like June, and when she told me you were spending time with her every night in her apartment I thought maybe I should try to protect her from you. I was wrong. You're a nice guy."

“You're not wrong, Maggie, but I'm not a sleaze-ball with every woman I meet. I like June too, but we're just friends."

“Sure, you are. You can't wait for me to get out of here so you can take her to bed. One more beer and June will do anything you want."

He laughed. “And not remember it in the morning. I think I created a monster. She sipped her first beer with me the other night and she liked it. She likes it too much. She gets like this every night."

“Please use a condom, Buzz. I know you've been around and there is no telling what diseases you have picked up. I don't think June is on the pill either."

“The truth is, June and I haven't done the dirty deed."

“You expect me to believe that?"

“No.” He smiled. “It's the truth, though. There are two things stopping me. First, she's head over heels in love with your brother and second, she tells me she's a virgin. Her first time should be with someone she loves. I'm just a friend."

“Here you go,” June said as she reappeared carrying a tray with three brown bottles.

Buzz noticed that June's bottle was already half empty.

“Well, Buzzard, how'd I do tonight?” June asked as she flopped on the sofa beside Maggie.

“Great,” Buzz replied. “I think you are almost ready to go to a club with me."

“Almost?” she pouted.

“Well, there are a couple of moves I haven't taught you, yet. I just don't know how to teach you. Maggie, you need to learn them too if you intend to do any serious dancing in public."

“What moves?” Maggie asked.

Buzz grinned sheepishly. “I don't know how to tell you."

“Come on, Buzzard,” June urged.

“Hey, I have an idea,” Buzz said as his face brightened. “How about the three of us going to the Candlelight Club in Charlotte tomorrow night, just to observe. You watch the other girls’ moves. I think you'll get the idea."

“Sounds like fun,” Maggie said. “I'm game."

“Me too,” June agreed, “but Buzz, why don't you just tell us?"

“I could if you were guys,” Buzz grinned.

Maggie sighed and gulped down another swallow of beer. “We're all adults here, Buzz. Use your imagination. Pretend we are guys."

“Yeah,” June urged.

“Okay. You asked for it.” He drained his beer. “You need to wear loose fitting bras or no bras at all and shake your boobs around while you are dancing. It drives the guys crazy. You also need to grind your hips occasionally and hump a time or two like you were having sex."

“People ... people don't actually do that, do they?” June asked.

“Sounds dirty, doesn't it?” Buzz said. “Well, it is dirty dancing, but that's what everybody is doing these days. You'll see when we go to the club tomorrow night."

“I've had it for tonight,” Maggie said as she struggled to her feet. “I'll help you straighten up, June, and then I'm out of here."

“Don't bother, Maggie,” June said. “Thanks to your new schedule I don't have to go to work until ten in the morning. I'll clean up tomorrow."

“In that case, ladies,” Buzz said, “I'll walk Maggie to her car."

“You don't need to do that, Buzz."

“It's on my way, Maggie. I'm parked beside your Blazer."

As they descended in the elevator, Buzz said, “Maggie, I don't understand your brother Frank. He swept June off her feet and she's crazy about him."

“She did mention Frank a few hundred times tonight, didn't she?” Maggie joked.

“If there was a great girl like June interested in me, I'd be doing everything in my power to get her to the altar."

“You, Buzz? I've never thought of you as the marrying kind."

He laughed. “Old ‘love ’em and leave ’em Buzz’ will settle down when the right woman comes along, Maggie."

They walked to the parking lot in silence. The night air was heavy with high humidity. However, Maggie was not sure why she felt so uncomfortably warm. It could be the weather, or the beers, or something else.

Buzz opened Maggie's car door for her. She hesitated. “You can be a nice guy sometimes, Buzz."

He enclosed her in his arms and placed his left hand firmly on her buttocks.

She sagged into him, locked her arms around his neck and darted her tongue into his willing lips.

June closed the blinds and stumbled to the kitchen. She pulled a beer from the refrigerator, twisted off the cap and sat at the table as she guzzled the beverage. She smiled wickedly. Damn, I'm good, she congratulated herself. I wonder if they will go to her place or his?

“Morning, Frank. You look like shit."

“You don't look so great yourself, Buzz. Did you get any sleep at all last night?” Frank asked as he set two six-packs of Pepsi-Colas on the counter.

“What do you mean?"

“You and Maggie woke me up when you came in last night and all that moaning and groaning and creaking bedsprings kept me awake the rest of the night."

“Now wait a damn minute, Frank. I don't know what you think you heard last night, but ... Maggie and me? Hell, why would I want your sister when I have that juicy twat of June's available to me twenty-four hours a day?"

“Just ring up the Pepsi-Colas, Buzz. I'm in a hurry. I have an appointment with that snooty bitch at the school in a few minutes."

Buzz waved the scanner over the barcode and gave Frank change for his twenty. “I hate that broad's guts. Somebody needs to teach her a lesson and I'll bet my bottom dollar it'll happen one day. Going for a contract to keep up the school grounds?"

Frank nodded as he folded the bills and placed them in his jeans. “I had a run-in with the almighty Mrs. Andrews late yesterday afternoon. I'm probably just wasting my time this morning."

“I doubt it,” Buzz said. “You're the only game in town and it must be costing the school system an arm and a leg to send a crew out here from Charlotte."

Frank picked up the two six-packs and headed for the door. Buzz glanced at the empty store and followed.

“Hey, Frank,” he said as Frank placed the soft drinks in the cooler in the bed of his truck, “let me have one more minute of your time."

“What do you want?” Frank replied irritably.

“I was just thinking. I know you have picked up a ton of business, caring for lawns in Dot, and I know you can't keep the garden shop open but a few hours a day ‘cause you have no help. If you get the school job, you're really going to be swamped and somebody said you are going to be doing the landscaping for all the Dollars’ new houses."

“Surely you're not asking for a job."

“Well, yeah. Maybe."

“What about the store?"

“It belongs to Bi-Lo, now. They have people who can run it. They're just letting me hang out as a favor to mom and dad."

Frank laughed and headed for the cab of his truck.

“I'm serious, Frank. The folks are moving to Florida tomorrow. There's nothing tying me to the store anymore and I like to work outdoors."

Frank turned and glared at the man who was approximately his own size. “You're screwing my girlfriend—my former girlfriend—you're screwing my sister and now you want to screw me? Get real, Buzz."

“Wait a damn minute,” Buzz said, placing his hand on Frank's arm. “You dumped June and what Maggie and I do is her business, not yours."

Frank knocked Buzz's hand away. “Go to hell, bastard.” He climbed into the truck and slammed the door.

“Frank, wait,” Buzz said as he edged towards the open window. “I haven't touched June. We're just friends. She is so deeply in love with you she wouldn't even consider going to bed with me. Look, we're all going to the Candlelight Club in Charlotte tonight. Come with us. You can be June's date and I'll escort Maggie."

Frank cranked the truck and put it in reverse. “Go to hell,” he screamed.

Buzz jumped back as the tires squealed and the truck raced backwards.

Deborah sat behind the ornate desk in her private office and studied Frank's proposal for an agonizingly long time. Finally she looked up and leaned back in the heavily padded chair.

“Mr. Skinner,” she began. “Your proposal covers all of our needs and your price is acceptable. However, I do not believe I can, in good conscience, sign the contract with you."

“You are not likely to receive a better offer,” Frank said as he sat in the uncomfortable side chair.

“A businessman should have dressed in a suit, not a tee shirt and jeans, to make this proposal."

“I have work to do as soon as we finish our business here,” Frank explained.

“My dear man,” she said as she eyed him haughtily, “I seriously doubt that you even own a suit. In addition, I was not pleased with the work you did at my home last night. When I inspected your work this morning I did not find any uprooted grass—I'll give you that—but you did not edge the flower gardens properly."

“It got dark before I had time to finish, Mrs. Andrews. I will edge the gardens this morning."

She leaned forward and glared at him. “Not enough time? How then, do you expect to find sufficient time to care for the school grounds? You have no employees."

Frank resisted the strong urge to slap her. “I, uh, spoke with a potential employee this morning."

“And whom might that be?” she asked as she picked up a pen and moved a notepad in front of her.

“It's nothing definite,” he explained. “I have an ad in the
Charlotte Observer
and
Dot Courier
. I'll find the help I need."

She dropped the pencil. “So now you are lying to me."

Frank clinched his fists and counted to ten before replying. “I have no reason to lie to you, Mrs. Andrews. His name is Buzz Adams."

“Buzz Adams,” she repeated. “The name is not familiar to me."

“His parents own—owned—Dot Grocery. They have, as you must know, sold out to Bi-Lo, so Buzz is now looking for other employment."

She nodded and leaned back in her chair. “When you have sufficient manpower to manage the work here, make another appointment with me,” she said, dismissing him.

You accused me of lying to you, you egotistical bitch, he thought, so here goes a real lie. “Is that wise, Mrs. Andrews?"

“Are you questioning my judgment, Mr. Skinner?"

“I just asked a question. I have lived in Dot only a short time, but I understand from Mr. Dollar that the school system is anxious for you to sign a contract. They find it far too expensive to send crews out here from Charlotte."

“You are a tenacious redneck,” she said.

He bristled at the term.

“When do you expect to employ additional help?"

“I cannot give you a date. It will be as soon as possible. In the meantime, I can get the work done."

“I will not sign a contract with you at this time, Mr. Skinner, but I will enter into a gentleman's agreement for a trial period—say through the end of August. If your services prove to be satisfactory, I will sign the contract at that time."

Frank stood and extended his hand. “Agreed,” he said.

She ignored his outstretched hand and waved him away. “I am very busy this morning, Mr. Skinner, and you should be also. When I get home tonight, I expect to find my flower gardens not only edged, but properly weeded."

He nodded and walked quickly to the door.

“Mr. Skinner,” she said, stopping him.

He did not turn to face her.

“If you are observant, you know that the grounds need mowing now. The hedges need trimming. The walkways need edging. The two ball diamonds need dragging. I suggest that you begin work immediately. I want the grounds in pristine condition when the children return in late August. I believe your riding mower has headlights. I suggest you begin using them tonight."

“Yes ma'am,” he said. He forced himself to close her office door quietly.

“Buzz, order me another of those Vodka and tonic things. They're delicious,” June shouted over the din of the loud music.

“You've already downed three, June Bug. Don't you think that's enough?"

She laughed a little too loud. “Maggie, he thinks I'm drunk."

“If you're not, Junie, one more will push you over the top. Why don't we settle for ginger ale this round?"

When Buzz began to push his way trough the crowed dance floor to buy drinks, June giggled. “Look, Maggie,” she said, pointing in the general direction of the bar. “Buzz was right. They do dance dirty. That guy is just standing there with his arms waving in the air while his date rubs her crotch against his."

“Disgusting,” Maggie said, but then she started laughing. “Look behind you."

June turned. “Oh, my God. She bounced her boob right out of her halter-top, and look at that. She's letting him tuck it back in."

“I don't think this is the type of dancing I'm interested in. I believe there must be nicer clubs in Charlotte,” Maggie said. “I think it's time we headed back to Dot."

“Evening, ladies."

Both girls turned in the direction of the honey-coated bass voice.

My God, June thought. Look at those bulging biceps and his smile is as brilliant as Frank's.