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Stories from the small town of Whisper Gap where one life, one tale invariably reaches out to touch the next. by Jo Janoski.
He didn't know her by those names, of course. But he saw the brunette secretary slip into the powder room and emerge again as a blond. Running his squeegee down the glass, he stared between quick swipes as the woman changed her pale pink lipstick to blood red and pulled open her top buttons to give more exposure to her breasts. She kicked off flat pumps and squeezed her feet into spike heels, next hiking up her skirt to halfway up her shapely thigh. Poor Tom trembled in anticipation, rocking the scaffolding. But next the sexy blond opened her office door, looked both ways, slipped on sunglasses and made a quick exit. From his perch above the city, Tom spied the lady emerge from the building and hurry down Main Street. For a man with Tom's boring life, this was a sensation. He lived alone with few diversions, only his visit to the Good Eats Diner once a day for his evening meal. He hated to eat alone since Mother passed on a few years ago. And the diner folks were a nice crowd, willing to listen to his chatter. He liked to talk but needed someone to speak to. When he told them of his mysterious brunette/blond secretary, it made him the star of the evening in the tiny restaurant. "What is she doing, do you think?" Sam, the fry cook, pondered, flipping three burgers in a row. He owned the place and did all the cooking. "I was hoping you guys could help me figure it out," Tom replied. He settled into his regular seat by the register and nodded to the waitress, Sally, meaning he would have the day's special, liver and onions. He always had the special. It was the cheapest while being the most food for the money. Tom didn't have a lot of money, being a window washer and all. That was okay, though, because he was a hippie from way back and wasn't into material things. Of course, most people realized that when they saw his long hair and moustache. He had the look of someone left over from those enlightened days. "You gotta go back and watch her some more," yelled out Brenda, a pert little redhead and the object of Tom's fantasies. She sat perched across from him at the counter, her pretty face flushed. Tom was pleased she showed an interest in his story. And go back he did. Every day, Tom worked his schedule to be at the secretary's office window at closing time. And each afternoon she donned the wig and completed her ritual before sneaking out in sunglasses to the street. It was maddening. Tom's curiosity grew and grew until finally an idea struck. He needed to follow her, see where she went. The next evening he waited on the street for the secretary to emerge from the building. He began an ambitious pursuit as that lady clicked her heels rushing down Main Street. But, quite by surprise, she turned to meet Tom, face to face. "Are you following me?" "Oh! No! Who me...following you? NO!" "Yes you are, you piece of crap!" she growled. Next the lady waved her arms in the air and screamed. Such a commotion! Her cries echoed through the streets while people turned to stare. Tom's knees knocked as he spied a beat cop rushing toward them. The man arrived, his eyes shooting angry darts at the disturbance. "You bothering this woman?" he asked. "That man was following me, Officer! Stalking me! When he got close enough he yelled profanities at me!" "That does it!" With a flip of his wrists, the policeman whipped out cuffs and had Tom packaged up and ready for jail before the poor fellow had time to even speak. And thus, Tom's nightmare began. It made the papers, with his mug splashed across the front page. Stalking is big news in a small town like Whisper Gap. Tom was so humiliated he quit his job and became a recluse. At the Big Eats Diner, Brenda/Sarah was a hero. Her first morning after Tom's arrest she entered to applause and cat calls. "Way to go, Brenda! We finally got rid of him!" "My alter ego thanks you, guys!" the pert redhead of Tom's affection replied, reaching into her tote bag to pull out two wigs, a blond one and a brunette. "It's a good thing I'm a drama student, or we'd be listening to that boring imbecile forever. Now he's out of here for good!" Even a gentle town like Whisper Gap has its share of mean people. A person should choose his friends carefully. Tom learned that lesson well. Copyright 2008 JO Janoski
Jo Janoski is a poet, author, and photographer from Pittsburgh, PA. For more from Jo visit her columns: January, December, November, October; and her poetry: January, December, November, and October. Or her online home. |
Cheshire Cat
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