The Maine Events, Rodney Riesel [best books to read in your 20s TXT] 📗

that supposed to mean?” Mildred demanded.

“Don't get all riled up, Mother. I just meant someone new totalk to. He turned to Allen. “What about it?”

“Yeah, okay. Let me run back to my room and take my dog outquick before we leave. I don't want him taking a crap on the floor.”

“You go right ahead. Me and Mildred'll get ourselves readyand meet you at the Sunrise directly.”

Cam and Mildred were crossing the street when Allen cameback down with Frankie. Allen walked him to the grassy area between the streetand parking lot.

“Let's make it quick, Frankie,” Allen said.

While he waited, Jacob exited his room and walked towardhim. Jacob nodded and said “hey” to Cam and Mildred as he walked by them.

“Can I take him for a walk?” Jacob asked.

Allen handed the young boy the leash's loop handle. “Here,take him now.” Allen reached into his pocket and pulled out his room key.“Here, take my key. If you go in, make sure you close the door on your way out.If you go anywhere after, leave the key at the front desk or give it to yourmom. I'll pick it up later.”

“Okay,” said Jacob, taking the key.

“What a good boy,” Mildred commented.

Jacob smiled at Mildred and took a seat on the picnic tablebench, and waited for Frankie to do his business.

“Have you met the boy's parents?” Cam asked, as the triomade their way down Long Beach Avenue. “The dad works across the street on theseawall. Seems like a good guy, and a real hard worker.”

“They're from out of state,” Mildred added. “The family cameup to Maine to be with him while he's working.”

“No matter where we go,” Cam said, “Mildred manages to stickher nose in everybody's business.”

“Oh, hush your mouth, you old fart. It's called makin'friends. You should try it sometime.”

“We see him riding his skateboard around with another boy—alocal boy,” Cam said.

“That's his friend, Oliver,” Allen said, pointing west. “Helives a few streets over. I haven't met him yet.”

“How far we walkin'?” Mildred asked.

“Not terrible far,” said Cam. “Why. Your leg botherin' youalready?”

“Nope, and it won't be—not with these new compressionstockings.” Too late for Cam to stop her, she stopped and pulled up her dressand coquettishly turned her legs this way and that, modeling the stark whitestockings. “Got 'em at the Walgreens here in town. Ain't they nice?”

Allen dutifully admired them. “Yes. Nice,” he said, wishinghe had a fork to poke out his eyes.”

“Comfortable as all get-out,” Mildred declared, “and theyhide my varicose veins.”

“Believe me, Allen,” Cam drawled out of the corner of hismouth, “you don't want to see those. Damn things look like a rattlesnake den.”He turned to Mildred. “Put your dress down, Mother, you're startin' to draw acrowd.”

The threesome strolled companionably along the busy street.In front of Stones Throw, Cam said, “Let's have a cocktail here, Mother.”

Allen inconspicuously looked around for Mya.

“The hostess here is a pretty girl,” said Cam.

“You don't say,” Allen responded.

“Yep. Real pretty … and real nice too. I'll introduce you toher. Who knows, maybe the two of you—”

“Leave the boy alone, Cam. I'm sure he's perfectly capableof meeting women without your help.”

Leave the boy alone, Allen thought. Noone's referred to me as a boy in quite some time. Maybe I should always hangaround with old people.

“I wonder where she is?” Cam remarked.

“Well, if it isn't the Owenses,” said Mya. She walked upbehind them from the building next door. “And you brought Frankie's owner.”

“This here is Allen Crane,” Mildred said proudly,introducing her quasi-famous friend.

“Allen and I have already met,” said Mya. She leaned in.“He's been stalking me for the past few days.”

Cam and Mildred looked at Allen disapprovingly.

“I haven't been stalking her,” Allen explained. “She'sjoking.”

“Why didn't you say something when I told you about her?”Cam asked.

“I didn't know she was the pretty hostess you weretalking about.”

“Maybe Allen doesn't think I'm pretty,” Mya said with anover-exaggerated frown.

“I do too—I mean … I uh—do you have a table for three?”

Mya glanced down at the seating chart on her podium. “Ithink I do.”

Allen pointed at the second-floor deck next door. “Can wesit up there?” he asked. “The view is better.”

“Oh, I didn't think you could see me from there,” Mya joked.

Cam and Mildred chuckled.

“I can seat you up there,” Mya said, “but let's not have thesame trouble we had last time.”

“Trouble?” Mildred asked. “What trouble?”

“Allen got into a fight,” said Mya, “and he almost killed aman.”

Mildred's hand went to her heart. “Oh, dear!” she gasped.

“I didn't almost kill anyone,” Allen assured her. “The guyhad a slight heart … thing.”

“Like a heart attack?” Mildred asked.

“Well, yeah, but not the bad kind.” Allen looked at Cam.“The guys I was telling you about.”

“Is there a good kind of heart attack?” Mildred asked Mya.

Mya shrugged. “Dr. Allen Crane thinks so.”

Allen shook his head. “Can we just be seated, please?”

Mya snatched up three menus. “Do you need a children's menufor Allen?” she asked Cam.

Cam snickered again. “No, we'll let him order off thegrown-up menu.”

“Right this way.” Mya led them across the alley and up thestairs to the deck. “Is this okay?”

“Perfect,” said Mildred.

“Wait,” Cam said. “Allen, will you be able see Mya fromhere?”

“Really?” Allen asked. “I gotta get it from you too?”

“I'm just yankin' your chain, boy.”

“Your server will be right over,” Mya said, and walked backacross the alley, where a few more patrons were waiting.

“Pretty, ain't she?” Cam asked.

“Yes.”

“Keep it to yourself, ya dirty old man,” Mildred scolded.

“Yeah,” said Allen, “ya dirty old man.”

Chapter Ten

“Well, thanks for lunch,” Allen said, when they reached theSunrise Motel parking lot. “but I wish you would have let me pay.”

“Nonsense,” said Cam. “We invited you.”

“And you signed those books for me,” Mildred added. “Thanksagain for that.”

“Glad to do it.”

“She'll sell those autographed books on the eBay and make afortune,” Cam said with a snort.

“I think the books are worth less after I sign them,” Allensaid.

Cam slapped Allen on the back as he walked past him. “If yafeel like a drink and a stogie later, just throw a few rocks at my neighbor'sdoor,” he