Read Online Calamity @ the Carwash (Parson's Cove Mysteries) by Sharon Rose - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sharon Rose
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looked out my bedroom window and saw the dull cloudy
sky and the distant sound of thunder. After so many hot days, we knew this was
coming but I was sincerely hoping it wouldn’t come when I was with a busload of
elderly people.
“No, this is good,” Flori informed me
when she called to make sure I was up. Really, she was making sure I hadn’t
skipped the country. “Now,” she said, “we will have to go to the mall. That’s
what all the women want to do. Calvin has no excuse now. He can’t dump us off
at the park when it’s raining.”
I’ve known Calvin Koots all my life and
trust me, he could drop us off at the park and disappear for hours if a
hurricane was raging. I have never trusted that man. For years he drove an old
taxi with Koots Taxi painted on the door and then last year he turned up one
day with a brand new car. This one had Koots Taxi on the door too but Calvin
didn’t paint it with red barn paint. This one looked like a real taxi. Now, I
ask you, how do you make enough money driving a taxi in Parson’s Cove to afford
a brand new fancy car like that? I have my own shop and I still drive my 1969
Buick. Mostly I see Calvin sitting in the Main Street Café drinking coffee and
until last year, smoking. Now, at least, he has to sit outside to smoke.
After thinking of Calvin, I started
thinking of Bernie. I’d seen the two of them together lately. Of course, in a
small town it’s hard to tell who is chummy with whom sometimes. We’re sort of
all stuck together whether we like it or not. Unless, it’s Esther and me. The
whole town would be in shock if they saw the two of us having coffee together
at the café. But then, women are different than men; we know how to hold a
grudge properly.
At nine on the dot Flori was at my door.
It was out of her way and I’d told her that I’d meet her at the seniors’ Home
but she insisted we walk together. Delores was opening the store for me. I told
her if it was a slow day, she could close up early. Knowing Delores she would
have everything in the shop rearranged by noon. It’s frustrating but she’s
cheap and she likes having a break from waiting on tables at Main Street Café.
By the time I’d grabbed my purse, the
rain had started. By the time we got to the back step, it was coming down in
torrents.
“I have a feeling they’ll be cancelling
the trip to the city,” I said.
Flori shook her head. “Nope. Jake talked
to Sam last night and he said Calvin insisted that they go even if it rains.”
“Why would Calvin insist on such a
thing? What’s it to him if everyone goes or not?”
“I think it might have something to do
with that new taxi, Mabel. Jake says he doesn’t know how he can afford making
payments with the little bit of money he makes.”
“Oh well.” I looked up at the blackening
sky and the shot of lightning that seemed too close for comfort. “We’d better
take my car. If we don’t we’ll get hit by lightning and then we’ll never be
able to take those ancient people to the city.” For a moment that almost
sounded like a solution to the problem. “Come on Flori, let’s make a run for
it.”
Flori held up the umbrella but sharing
an umbrella with her isn’t what I would call sharing. By the time we reached
the side door of my garage, water was running into my ear.
I drive a 1969 Buick Skylark. It’s in
pristine condition and every man, from sixteen to eighty-six, has offered to
take if off my hands. Reg drools when I drive down the street. Personally, I
don’t see what the fuss is all about. I bought it secondhand in 1973 and it has
never given me a hint of trouble. Why should I spend money on a new car when I
don’t have to?
We arrived at the Retirement Home before
the bus did. Flori and I waited in the car by the front door. All we could see
were noses pressed against the steamed-up glass. This certainly was an exciting
day for them. All I could hope for was to die at home in my sleep and never
have to live in
sky and the distant sound of thunder. After so many hot days, we knew this was
coming but I was sincerely hoping it wouldn’t come when I was with a busload of
elderly people.
“No, this is good,” Flori informed me
when she called to make sure I was up. Really, she was making sure I hadn’t
skipped the country. “Now,” she said, “we will have to go to the mall. That’s
what all the women want to do. Calvin has no excuse now. He can’t dump us off
at the park when it’s raining.”
I’ve known Calvin Koots all my life and
trust me, he could drop us off at the park and disappear for hours if a
hurricane was raging. I have never trusted that man. For years he drove an old
taxi with Koots Taxi painted on the door and then last year he turned up one
day with a brand new car. This one had Koots Taxi on the door too but Calvin
didn’t paint it with red barn paint. This one looked like a real taxi. Now, I
ask you, how do you make enough money driving a taxi in Parson’s Cove to afford
a brand new fancy car like that? I have my own shop and I still drive my 1969
Buick. Mostly I see Calvin sitting in the Main Street Café drinking coffee and
until last year, smoking. Now, at least, he has to sit outside to smoke.
After thinking of Calvin, I started
thinking of Bernie. I’d seen the two of them together lately. Of course, in a
small town it’s hard to tell who is chummy with whom sometimes. We’re sort of
all stuck together whether we like it or not. Unless, it’s Esther and me. The
whole town would be in shock if they saw the two of us having coffee together
at the café. But then, women are different than men; we know how to hold a
grudge properly.
At nine on the dot Flori was at my door.
It was out of her way and I’d told her that I’d meet her at the seniors’ Home
but she insisted we walk together. Delores was opening the store for me. I told
her if it was a slow day, she could close up early. Knowing Delores she would
have everything in the shop rearranged by noon. It’s frustrating but she’s
cheap and she likes having a break from waiting on tables at Main Street Café.
By the time I’d grabbed my purse, the
rain had started. By the time we got to the back step, it was coming down in
torrents.
“I have a feeling they’ll be cancelling
the trip to the city,” I said.
Flori shook her head. “Nope. Jake talked
to Sam last night and he said Calvin insisted that they go even if it rains.”
“Why would Calvin insist on such a
thing? What’s it to him if everyone goes or not?”
“I think it might have something to do
with that new taxi, Mabel. Jake says he doesn’t know how he can afford making
payments with the little bit of money he makes.”
“Oh well.” I looked up at the blackening
sky and the shot of lightning that seemed too close for comfort. “We’d better
take my car. If we don’t we’ll get hit by lightning and then we’ll never be
able to take those ancient people to the city.” For a moment that almost
sounded like a solution to the problem. “Come on Flori, let’s make a run for
it.”
Flori held up the umbrella but sharing
an umbrella with her isn’t what I would call sharing. By the time we reached
the side door of my garage, water was running into my ear.
I drive a 1969 Buick Skylark. It’s in
pristine condition and every man, from sixteen to eighty-six, has offered to
take if off my hands. Reg drools when I drive down the street. Personally, I
don’t see what the fuss is all about. I bought it secondhand in 1973 and it has
never given me a hint of trouble. Why should I spend money on a new car when I
don’t have to?
We arrived at the Retirement Home before
the bus did. Flori and I waited in the car by the front door. All we could see
were noses pressed against the steamed-up glass. This certainly was an exciting
day for them. All I could hope for was to die at home in my sleep and never
have to live in
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