This is from "The Fourth Caprthian" as Lois and Gary are walking back towards McGinty's after his rescue from inside the old movie house by the four
brothers.  Gary has some explaining to do, and Lois has so many questions she needs answered.  Feedback is welcome.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Talk
by Lori Anderson
 

Gary and Lois walked down the street back to the bar arm in arm with Crumb and the four brothers following behind.

"Alright young man.  I want to know everything about you and the paper.  Start at the begining, and don't leave anything out. Your father told me a little about it, but I want you to tell me what he left out," she told him looking at Gary.

Oh boy.  She knows.   "It first started after my divorce.  I was living in the brownstone, and still working at the office. Anyway, one morning I heard this meow and then a thump at my door.  Chuck was with me, and when I opened the door, there was this yellow cat and a newspaper.  I knew I didn't order a
newspaper, and I didn't want a cat.  So, I picked up the newspaper and shut the door on the cat before he could come in.  At first I thought it was an ordinary newspaper, but I was wrong.  It was tomorrows newspaper. I threw it in the trash not really thinking about it, and when I was walking home from working late, a friend of mine who worked at the newstand was involved in an accident.  Had I paid attention to the paper, I could've prevented the accident from happening. From then on, I started getting the paper and the cat every morning," Gary told his mother.

"I see.  I appriecate your not wanting me to know about the paper son, but I know about it now, and that's alright.  Your father and I will help you with it when we can.  Don't be afraid to tell us things like that in the future."

"Speaking of dad, why is he in jail?"

"He got in trouble trying to save one of the brothers who just saved your life two days ago.  It seemed that he and Chuck went on the rooftop of this building to stop this man from jumping.  Well, all poor Chuck could do was helplessly watch as both your father and the man fell off the building onto the airbag that the police and firedepartment had set up below."

"Who called the police and told them?"

Lois smiled.  "It was Marissa.  She knew that between Bernie and Chuck, the jumper didn't have a chance."

Gary sighed.  Leave it to my dad to get into trouble, he thought.  "Are you going to bail him out?"

Lois nodded.  "After I make sure you're safely home and alright, then I'll go to the police station and bail out your father."

"Why didn't you bail him out before now Mom?"
 
"I was so mad at him for not telling me about you and the paper after he found out when he visited you last year."

"Oh.  I didn't want either of you to know about it."

Lois patted his shoulder.  "That's water behind the bridge now.  Let's get you home and put you to bed.  Don't argue with me. After you've been through these past days, you need all the rest you can get."

Gary knew better than to argue with his mother.

The End

Email the author: lori@maplecity.com
 

Back Home to McGinty's

Stories by Title

Stories by Author