4 comments/  12038 views/  2 favorites

The Transplants

By: thornapple



Philip Johnson

Prologue

Princeton Dynamics was a successful national company with a division just south of Chicago, and they had one major problem, operating costs. Their bottom line was sagging like an old hammock. And like most companies with that problem it was largely due to excessive wages and employee benefits, but the taxes in Chicago were getting too high as well. Some manufacturing had moved to the south for the same reasons, but Princeton Dynamics had an offer from Evansville, Indiana to relocate there and have a five year tax relief, so the decision was made to build a new more efficient facility and move to Evansville.

That change was good for Princeton Dynamics but it was bad news for the rank and file employees in Chicago. Some of the assembly line employees had the option to relocate and they did that as did several office managers. The office people that did relocate were between twenty three and thirty two years old but the fact that they were all in the younger age group wasn't much of a coincidence. It was more a matter that of the office staff, they were young enough to have few strings to tie them to Chicago. Simply put, they were more mobile than the older employees with families to consider. They simply packed up, turned in the keys to their apartments, and moved to a new apartment in Evansville. What none of them had expected was they also became better friends and a surrogate family for each other. There were rumors of a budding romantic between Ken and Sandra and Dean and Carol, but all any of them would admit to was a strong friendship.

Chapter One

I don't know which was gloomier, the weather or my mood. I'd look out of the window and it would be raining, and the next time I looked it would be snowing, so the only thing I could do was quit looking out of the window, but I still felt restless and depressed. Friday had been windy and bleak with the last of the falling leaves whipping around as I drove home from work, and then during the night it started the rain and snow assault. The only bright thought I could come up with was getting together with what we had decided to call our family. There were four of us that were transplants from Chicago, and one by one we had all arrived in Evansville within weeks of each other. In fact all four of us lived in the same apartment complex. I was lucky to get the apartment I had, but I had to take a ground floor unit. That wasn't all bad, and in fact it was good, except it cost me an extra sixty bucks a month for the privilege. My sour mood was pushed aside when I heard, "Ken?"

"Yeah Dean." 

"You home?"

"No I'm not home Dean, you just think you hear my voice," and he came in. I would unlock my door in the morning on the weekends and leave it that way. I didn't have anything worth stealing so I didn't worry about it. 

Dean found me pouring coffee and said, "Sorry, I just spent a few days with my parents and they talk like that all the time."

"Don't mind me, I'm just in a shitty mood."

"Why?" 

"I don't really know."

"We still getting together here tonight?"

"Yeah the usual seven o'clock."

"You gonna be in a shitty mood tonight too?"

Nah, I'll be okay. I think it's just the thought of the next four to six months of crappy weather. I go through this every year."

"So why don't you move to the middle of Florida or someplace?" 

"Well besides the money issue, have you ever been in Florida in the summer time?"

"No."

"My advice is don't ever go there between the months of April and October or November. The heat is more unbearable than winters are up here. When you get cold you can put on warm clothes and a coat. When you get hot you can only get just so naked."

"Good Point. What can I bring tonight?"

"Whatever you want."

"I mean drinks, finger food or what?"

"Hell, I don't know what anybody else is brining so it doesn't matter."

"I'll come up with something then." I didn't bother to ask Dean if he wanted coffee, I just poured him one and handed it to him. "Thanks."

"Did you get the e-mail from Sandy about Tom Dayton?"

"Yeah I voted to have him join our group permanently."

"I did too. I don't know much about him, but he seemed like a nice guy." He can't be part of the our family since he's not a transplant from Chicago, but he could be a friend of the family."

"Yeah or a second cousin or something." I raised my cup and said, "To family and friends." Tom Dayton was a guy that moved in near Sandy, and about a month ago she asked if he could join us for one Saturday gathering as a friendly gesture. Now after he had joined us on two occasions it looked like he might become a regular part of our group. The Saturday night gathering that Dean had asked about was something we did every week or two depending on people's schedules. When the four of us transferred to Evansville about eight months ago we became our own support group as we went through the traumas of separation from family and in my case a girlfriend. She thought I should forfeit my company shares and seniority to stay with her, and I thought she should move to Evansville with me. In the end I moved and she stayed in Chicago. I used Sandy as my crying towel for a week or so after I moved, and that was what started some thinking there was something between us beyond friendship. But in truth she was my strength and we really were just good friends.

None of us was overly flush with cash, so as the family gathered Saturday night we ended up with the usual snack crackers, cheeses and summer sausage among other things. Then Dean arrived carrying a tray of one ounce Jello shots. None of us were big drinkers, so when he came in we were all surprised by his contribution. His comment was simply, "I wanted to have something different for a change. They're small and not terribly potent and there's only four or five for each of us. The lime ones are tequila shots and the orange ones are called Sex On The Beach." Needless to say everybody had to taste one of those right away. Then Carol told everybody to choose a shot because she was going to make a toast. 

We looked pretty silly holding our little one ounce shooters up as she said, "Since Tom isn't part of the family, I say we toast him and welcome him as a permanent member of our group as our official friend of the family." Every body raised their shot to him then and tossed it back.

"Thank you Carol for the toast and thanks all of you for taking this orphan into your fold." 

We were well into our snacks and the shooters were disappearing at a steady rate when Carol said, "Hey everybody, guess what I learned today? We have a celebrity in our midst." 

Sandy said, "Well don't stop there, give us the whole story."

"Our own Tom is a published author." All eyes went to him and he just smiled and leaned back in silence. 

"Is that true Tom," I asked him. 

"Yeah it's true I have all of one novel published."

"But don't you work for premier Plastics?" 

"Yes. My novel sold well, but I was an unknown so the money from it wasn't all that great. Consequently I still need a steady income and insurance just like you do.

"Well I for one am impressed."

"Thanks."

"You writing another one?"

"Working on it but I don't write fast and I'm not far into it."

"We all wish you success."

"Thanks."

I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or just Carol being her usual outspoken self when she asked him, "Why not write some porn to keep the money coming in while you write your novel?" 

Dean looked at her and said, "Carol it isn't like you can say I'll just dash off some porn and make some bucks."

"Oh come on, writing trash can't be that hard."

Dean came back with, "Okay then why don't you write some porn?" 

"Okay so make it romance then." Tom was smart enough to stay out of the whole discussion and I did the same.

Dean kept at her saying, "Even porn or romance has to have something going for it. It has to have substance beyond slam bam thank you ma'am or a mush heart throb crisis."

Sandy added, "I agree with Dean, even those thin romance books have to tell a story and give the reader a reason to keep reading, right Tom?"

"I'm not getting into this one." Then he smiled and without mentioning porn he added, "I've never read romance," and we all laughed.

Dean went back to Carol and said, "Write us a short porn or romance story and bring it to our next gathering and read it to us."

"Well okay so I've never tried writing romance or garbage and maybe it isn't that simple, but it can't be so terribly hard." 

Sandy surprised me when she said, "Okay Carol you start a story. Write the first chapter and bring it to the next gathering. Then one of us will write the second chapter and so on. That will give us all something to do and think about over the winter."

Tom stepped in and said, "I'll pass on that if you don't mind. If I'm writing it better be on my story."

There was a moments pause and then Sandy said, "Okay Tom, you be the...I don't know the moderator or something. Carol will send it to you when she's done and then you read it to us at the next gather." 

"I'll read it but I won't critique it."

"That's okay, it's just for fun anyway."

Chapter Two

I passed the last of the shots around and said, "I hope it's just for the fun because we all know it's going to be awful." 

"One rule though, no porn in it," Carol said. 

"I disagree," and I was surprised that it as me that said that. "I'm not saying we set out to write porn, but what I consider simple harmless erotica and maybe a good contribution to the story, you might see as just porn. We each write our chapter using our own guidelines."

Tom added, "Here's a suggestion. You each must be willing to do or live the part that you're writing about. That way none of you will be likely to get too carried away with your imaginations and believe me that can happen too." 

Sandy looked at him and said, "So if say I write some passionate scene and the man...never mind."

"No go ahead, if you can't say it you certainly couldn't do it." 

"Well I mean if...if he starts to undress me."

"So that doesn't mean you have to let one of us undress you just to see if you're willing to do it. Let me see if I can give you and example of what I mean." He thought about it for a minute and then said, "Okay, let's say your protagonist is into a hot relationship, but you write she suddenly suggests they have a threesome. Would you be willing to have a threesome? If so okay but I'll bet you'll have to do some fancy talking to convince the rest of us." 

"How do you know I wouldn't...just kidding Tom. I get our point. We can be as passionate or sexy or whatever as we want to be but we have to keep it believable. We have to be able to defend our writing."

"That's right, but it won't be easy because unless your writing a biography, writing to the edge of believability is pretty standard form. If my protagonist had to live in the real world like you and I do there would be no story."

"This is starting to get complicated."

"I think it would be fun to see what all of you come up with. Of course it won't likely have literary merit, but so what. If you have fun with it then that's all that matters."

"What you're saying though is we have to suspend believability to make it even a little interesting to read but we can't do that because we have to be willing to live or do the part that we write."

"That's right. Maybe you can modify the rule a little so it will work."

Carol said, "Okay, how about this. If it involves romance, of course we can say we have to be willing to do what we write. I mean what's to prove about kissing and embracing and so forth? but if it involves porn then that's where it becomes important that we can do what we write."

"But what is porn? Even the supreme court had a hard time with that one."

"We'll decide by vote. Say Ken writes a racy scene and I say it's porn and he says it's just romance and passion and doesn't have to prove himself, we'll let the family decide."

Dean got back into the discussion and said, "I like that. This will be a story by committee and governed by the same committee."

"This could be the worst story every told."

"It probably will be, but so what? With four of us writing you can bet the story will change focus faster than a woman can change her mind." It was at that point that he was pelted by empty shooter cups.

"Okay," Carol continued. "What about grammatical or punctuation errors?"

"What is written stays as it 's written is my thought," I added.

Dean had been quiet for awhile but said, "I agree, we're not going to publish this mess so why risk hurting somebody's feelings?"

"Okay, so Carol writes the first chapter and gives it to Tom. Then he'll read it to us and give a copy to the person that will write the second chapter and so on." 

Tom added one more thing saying, "Don't ask me for advice though, because I'm staying out of this. I can't wait to see how this goes, but I'm going to be an objective observer and will not critique, comment or assist beyond reading, and of course I won't vote on any contested chapter either, unless you need me as the tie breaker."

"That tie breaker idea is a good one."

I looked over at Carol and said, "See what you've started?"

"Yes and I don't have a clue how to start a story."

"Tom said, You could write a preface if you want to do it that way, but it would have to be similar in length as a chapter or the others will nag you to death."

Carol went over and selected some crackers and cheese, and then stood there and asked, "So I can start this however I want." 

Sandy said, "Pretty much Carol, you can establish a character or a location or a crime or even all of those things and more. Or can spend the whole first chapter introducing one character that won't even be the protagonist. You could even introduce a character and then kill him off."

I had to laugh and said, "Carol, don't lose any sleep over it because somebody is going to change the story direction anyway." 

"That's true, but thinking like that is a little like passing the buck." 

"Well that is true."

"Besides I want to do the best I can."

The plan was set, and with everybody's mind on our new project, it was hard to keep a conversation going that didn't involve our story in the making. As the family started to leave, Sandy helped me pick things up and asked me, "What do you think of the story idea?"

"I think it's going to be fun, but it will be awful reading. Can you imagine Dean or me writing romantic passages?"

"You have a gentle and romantic heart, I've seen it remember?" 

"Thank you, but that doesn't mean I can write about it. Besides I have my rough side too." 

"Of course you do, you're a guy. Besides when it's your turn you can kill somebody off if you want to."

"Hey that's right I can. Or I could send one of them to a nudist camp."

"No you can't because you have to prove that you would do that." "I can, I went to one once." 

"you didn't."

"I did. I was all of I think twenty one at the time."

"What was it like?"

"Weird."

"Not sexy?"

"Not very, but I did get a killer tan that day." Sandy thought that was pretty funny. She rinsed the sink and then turning around said, "You know the one I think will have the hardest time dealing with romance is Dean."

"Why him?"

"I think he's very sensitive but he works hard at hiding it.

"Interesting but why do you think that?"

"Just a feeling I guess. 

"So will he make fun of it, or will he try to shift the focus when it's his turn?"

"He won't make fun of it I don't think."

"Who do you think will get the closest to porn?"

"You maybe."

"Me? Why me?"

"Because I think you have more of an edge in your personality than the others."

"I'm not sure what you mean by that."

"Well like going to the nudist camp. Not many guys would actually do that, despite what they might say. Oh and I think you should put the nudist camp thing in one of our chapters just for fun."

"What if they say I have to do it again to prove myself?"

"Would you?"

"Nope."

"Then I'd say you argue your point and if they insist you withdraw your chapter."

"Oh. We didn't talk about that option."

"No, but it has to be that way or the story could come to a stop." Sandy kissed my cheek then and said, "I'm going home."

"Thanks for helping me clean up the mess."

"You're welcome. Hey, we forgot to talk about when we're having our next gathering."

"I'll bet that as soon as Carol has her chapter done we'll all hear about it and the rush will be on to get together."

"I'll bet you're right. Night Ken."

Chapter Three

It had been about ten days since our gathering, and the story idea was hatched, but Carol hadn't indicated that she had the first chapter written. I'd just parked in front of my apartment when I saw her getting out of her car. 

"Hey Carol."

"Hi, got time for a beer?"

"I'll make time." I followed her in and up the steps to her apartment and she brought me a Heineken. "Thanks." 

She tapped her bottle to mine and, "To writers and writing," and we took a taste. We went over and settled in the living room and it struck me yet again that all of our apartments were identical in lay out and very similar in furniture arrangements. About the biggest differences were the decorator touches as each of us tried to personalize our little living spaces. "New painting," I asked as I pointed at the wall.

"I had it but just got it up yesterday."

"I like it."

"Thanks, so what do you think of our project?"

"Fun but it will be embarrassingly bad."

She laughed and said, "I don't doubt that.

"Have you done any writing before?"

"Nothing more than school essays or reports, that sort of thing."

"Me too. I'm like most guys I have a vivid imagination but no talent to record it or bring it to life." 

She smiled and said, "Bringing our own ideas or fantasies to life is a dream we all share I'm sure."

"I guess."

Before taking her next taste of her beer she said, "I hope we get to see your vivid imagination in your chapters."

"I'll see what I can do, but I don't want to create a situation where I have to prove myself either."

She laughed and said, "Now that's something I'm going to be very careful about." 

"Maybe we should have two books going and the other one could be flat out fantasy."

"Oh, now that could be very interesting and perhaps very revealing."

"It could be very telling I'm sure."

"What does Sandy think about all of this?"

"I haven't talked to her since the gathering, but at that time she was looking forward to it."

"So you and she really aren't ...you know, together?"

"No, but we are really good friends. I guess I'd call her my best friend, certainly better than any I had in Chicago."

Carol set her beer on a little plastic coaster, leaned back and tucked one foot under her butt. "What do you think of Tom?"

"I think he's pretty damn smart and I like him."

"He's smart enough to stay out of our writing silliness.

"That's right." I emptied my beer and said, "Getting back to the story for a second, do you think each of us will end up being a person in the story?" 

"You mean when I write I'd adopt a character and become him or her?"

"Something like that."

"But if we do it will be like writing about ourselves. Now that could become pretty cathartic, but also it could get a little touchy."

"Touchy how?"

"Well purely for purposes of example, let's say you write in the first person and your character gets involved with say a character name Didi.

But Didi just happens to be the person that I ended up adopting as my character. It could be like we were having a literary affair or something, you know what I mean?"


The Transplants



"I think so."

"You write about how you meet her someplace and do...I don't know, something. Then the chapter is read and later I write and Didi has the hots for whoever your character is or something. It could get almost embarrassing."

"Then we'll just kill them off and make new people to write about."

"I'm not going to be very good at killing off characters."

She held up her bottle and asked me, "Want another beer?"

"Thanks but I better not or I won't want dinner. I think what you say could come true. But here's something else. What if I introduce a character...we'll call him Bruce, and he does something and then when you write your chapter you adopt him for that chapter?" 

"Interesting." 

"You still become the person but you are me in a way." 

"This all sounds weird. It's a good thing we're not drunk because this could get pretty confusing." 

"And pretty tricky." I gave her a smile and said, "I mean what if you made my guy gay or bisexual?" She laughed and almost choked on her beer.

"Oh now that would be pretty dirty of me."

"Yes it would so don't get any ideas."

"You know, seriously I hope none of us gets so involved with this that they get mad for some reason." 

""That would be unfortunate." 

"And pretty silly if you ask me."

I stood up and said, "I better get going or I'll have another beer, then not eat until midnight."

"And then not be able to sleep."

"Thanks for the beer and the conversation."

"Any time." Before I could leave she said, "Okay so let's make it Saturday night." 

"So you have the first chapter done?"

"I was going to wait another week and think about it more and it's awful, but it's as good as it will get."

"Great, if you'll call Dean I'll call Sandy and Tom.

"I can do that. Are you sorry you're the only one with a ground level apartment?"

"I don't mind at all. I provide the space and the rest of you provide the food and beverages." I left then, and as I went home I thought about the things we had discussed. Until then I hadn't considered a lot of what we talked about, especially the possibility of somebody getting mad over the story.

Sandy came over early Saturday evening to see if I needed any help with anything, so the two of us had a little time alone before the others arrived. As she filled the ice bucket I told her, "I had a beer with Carol the other day and we were talking about our story project or whatever you want to call it. She said she hoped nobody would get mad about, you know if somebody killed off your character or whatever. I hadn't even considered that possibility until right then." 

"Why would anybody get mad about anything as silly as your story?"

"It was just a thought that came up."

"So do you know what she wrote?"

"No, I haven't seen it and she didn't tell me anything."

"I didn't think you even liked beer."

"I enjoy one once in a while but not very often."

"Did she seem eager to share what she wrote?"

"I got the impression that she was going to be embarrassed when it was read." 

"We're all going to be awful at it. I just hope we can keep from laughing and hurting somebody's feelings."

"Oh great, that's another thing I hadn't even thought about."

Carol was the last to arrive, and she was toting two bottles of wine. Handing them to me she said, "Maybe this will muddle everybody's mind enough that my chapter won't seem so bad."

I took the wine and said, "I promise not to laugh at yours if you won't laugh at mine." 

She gave me a crooked smile and said, "Say that again after I've had wine and I'll have a great comeback for you." I just laughed and took the wine to the kitchen counter. I'd made coffee and iced tea as well but the first two rounds were wine for everybody. 

Our glasses were empty again and the story subject had been avoided until Tom asked her, "So was the writing hard for you Carol?" 

"Hard? It would have been easier to have a baby."

He laughed and said, "I can sympathize with you." 

"Okay Tom, you might as well read it and get it over with.

Sandy stood up and said, "Wait, let's decide who goes next before we hear the first chapter." 

"Okay, but how should we do that?" 

I stood up then and said, "Be right back, I have a solution." I came back with two black poker chips and one red one and dropped them into a bowl. Holding it high I said, "Dean, Sandy and I will draw a poker chip and whoever gets the red one is next in line." Sandy drew the first one and got a black one and then Dean drew one and then me. 

"Guess you're up next Dean," I said.

With that decided we all got plates of food and returned to the living room. I was last, and with Sandy settled in the easy chair and Dean on my small side chair I sat next to Carol on the sofa. Tom elected to stand and asked, "Everybody ready?"

Carol said, "I didn't give it a title because who the hell knows where this will go." 

"Okay then lend me your ears and we'll get started." He flipped the cover sheet over and began.

"I didn't see it coming. One minute I'm standing on the sidewalk and the next minute I was in the bushes with a car almost on top of me. It took me some seconds to realize I had been hit and that I was beat up pretty badly. The pain didn't hit me right away, but when it did it hit me hard. My leg felt like it had been ripped off, so I looked down at it to make sure it was still there. I didn't even notice all of the cuts and scratches from the bushes that had been destroyed as my body was pushed through them." Tom paused and looked around and then continued.

"I don't remember the actual accident, only the pain and somebody asking over and over, lady are you okay? I wasn't sure who was asking so I just said

to whoever might listen, I'm hurt and I need an ambulance. I don't know who called, but somebody did and I'll forever be thankful to them. I remember the pain. The pain of being moved onto the ambulance gurney, the pain of my broken leg as it poked a hole through the side, the pain of anything touching me wherever my skin had been ripped open or rubbed away. My world was pain and that's all I remember until I was in my hospital room at the hospital many hours later.

Somebody I didn't know came over to me when I opened my eyes and said, "Is there anybody I can call for you Jennifer?" My head hurt and I felt nauseous and just forming a thought took a lot of work. 

"Who are you," I asked him. 

"I was there when you were hurt and I stayed with you until the ambulance arrived. I heard them call you Jennifer at some point so that's how I know your name."

"What happened?"

"You were hit by a car."

"I don't understand, I remember standing on the sidewalk waiting to cross the street."

"They jumped the curb and hit you. I think the guy was drunk or high or something."

"So you have been here waiting for me to wake up?"

"I didn't like the idea of you waking up alone."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Seth Norton. Isn't there a family member I can call for you?"

"I just moved here from California so I hardly know anybody."

"That's a long way from Kentucky. How about an employer, should they be notified."

"Oh my God."

"What?"

"My briefcase. Where is my briefcase?"

"I don't know, I'm sorry." 

My mind was picking up speed quickly now. "I work for Damon and Hartwell, attorneys here in Louisville. I had some very confidential data in my computer." 

"Jennifer try to rest and not worry about it. Wherever it is there is nothing you can do about it right now. I'll notify Damon and Hartwell for you."

"Thank you Seth."

"You're welcome. If you don't mind I'll come back tomorrow."

"Mind? Of course not, you're like an angel."

"That's flattering but greatly exaggerated." 

"Not to me." I could feel my body giving out on me and said, "I guess I better try to rest." 

"Yes, you better do that." I don't even remember him leaving. 

Tom stopped reading the story and said, "That's about half way so let's freshen our drinks."

Chapter Four

Carol looked over at me and I told her, "I think you can relax now, I think you did a great job."

"Thank you."

Then Sandy came over and said, "Dean's going to have to go some to match that."

"Thank you Sandy." 

Even Tom told her, "Great job Carol. I could see her relax then and she smiled.

"Thank you Tom. I think that calls for another glass of wine," and as she got up I took her glass. 

I got up too and poured a glass of wine for her and said, "Wine for the writer."

"Thank you Ken."

Dean went over to her and added his support saying, "Thanks a lot. I'm going to have a hell of a time trying to equal that."

"You'll do fine and thank you Dean."

He kissed her cheek and said, "Well anyway, great job."

I looked at her and said, "Wow, you even rated a kiss on the cheek." 

She just smiled and said, "We writers get that all the time."

Tom picked up Carol's chapter and waited until we were settled again and started with the last half. "It was late the next day before I was to a point where I could stay awake for any length of time. Even with pain medication my leg throbbed like a bad tooth, and every day a nurse would change the dressings on the many wounds on my right side and belly. Seth did come back to see me late in the day and stayed with me for over an hour, and he was there for me for the next few days. I started therapy, and the first day that I was allowed to dangle my feet off the side of the bed was one of pain, but one of victory as well. They told me that I would heal and walk again, but I wasn't going to believe them until I could at least stand up on my own.

Paul Damon, my boss came to see me and asked me about my briefcase and I had to tell him I had no idea where it could be. I could see the disappointment in his face but we both knew it wasn't my fault. "Losing the data is really going to set us back.."

"I know it is Paul and I'm sorry."

"I'm just glad that you weren't hurt any worse than you were."

"Me too." If the police don't have the briefcase that means somebody stole it during the chaos of the accident." 

"I think we can replace the files. At least I hope we can, but it will take a long time. That was an error on my part. I just hope it doesn't fall into the wrong hands." I didn't even know what was in the computer. I just knew that it was very important to them. 

"Paul what happened to the guy that hit me?"

"He was in jail but I think he's out on bail now."

"Was he drunk like I was told he was?"

"That's my understanding."

"Will you handle my case if I sue him?"

"We'll have to wait and see, but I'll see that you have a good attorney."

"Thank you." It helped me a lot to have visitors but I would tire easily so they never stayed long.

My sense of time was less that perfect, so it didn't really matter to me what day of the week it was. The day that I made my first walk with crutches was, for me at least, a day to celebrate. Once the therapists were convinced I could handle them without hurting myself, the doctor told me I was scheduled for discharge the next day. I was one day from going home, so when food service came around for my dinner order I forgot about my diet and ordered pizza and Coke and I told the lady I wanted enough for two very hungry people. That way I was sure I'd get all the pizza I wanted.

I was sitting in the chair beside my bed waiting for dinner when somebody knocked on my door. I looked up as the door slowly opened and for an instant I was afraid. The face peering through the doorway was unshaved and their hair, though looking clean, was in desperate need of being cut and their clothes were very worn. "Excuse me," the man said, "Would you be Jennifer Williams?"

"Yes." He still hadn't entered my room so I said, "It's okay, you can come in."

"I'm sorry to bother you like this."

"What can I do for you?"

He held up my briefcase out in front of him and said, "I think this might be yours."

"Oh my God where did you get that, I've been so worried about it." 

He looked at me for just a brief second and then cast his eyes down. "I'm ashamed to say I was going to pawn it. When you were hit it went flyin' and landed in a bush that I was sleeping behind. It almost hit me in fact. Miss I'm sorry I kept it this long."

"I'm so thankful that you have kept it and brought it back to me." I pointed to a folding chair and told him, "Please pull that over and sit down and talk to me."

"I don't want to bother you." 

"You are like a gift from heaven, you aren't a bother. In fact they're bringing dinner, would you join me?"

"Oh no I couldn't be eating your dinner."

"There will be plenty because I ordered extra. It's just pizza and Coke, but I'd like you to stay if you would." He hesitated so I said, "Just put the briefcase on the bed and stay with me a bit." 

"If you're sure I'm not a bother."

"You are no bother. What's your name?"

"Um, just call me Caleb I guess."

"Okay, Caleb it is and call me Jenny. How did you find me?

"I just happened to find a newspaper with the accident article in it and they said you were here. I had to kinda ask a few people to figure out where your room was."

"You went to a lot of trouble to do this for me. How did you get here Caleb?

"I walked."

"From the park where I had the accident?"

"Yeah. I kinda hang around there a lot."

"Is that where you live Caleb?"

"Sometimes. I have a place to live in, but it ain't much. Sometimes I just need to be outdoors you know?" 

My food tray arrived, and in minutes I was watching him inhale the pizza and my Coke. I could always ask for more later.

"Caleb I'd like to reward you for saving my briefcase."

"That's not necessary Miss Jenny."

"But I couldn't sleep if I just let you walk away and not show my appreciation. I'll give you an address and I want you to go there and ask for Paul Damon. I'll write this down for you. Mr. Damon will see that you are rewarded because this briefcase is also his as much as it is mine and he's going to be so happy to see it again. I'll call him and tell him to expect you okay?" Promise me you will go see him."

"Yes ma'am if you insist."

"I really do. Caleb what made you come all that way to see me?"

"I'm already in big trouble with the man upstairs for other sins, and for once I wanted to do the right thing."

"I can almost promise you that you have proven to Him and the world that you are a good man Caleb."

"Thank you Miss Jenny."

Caleb stood up and said, "Thank you for dinner. You are a very nice woman Jenny."

"Thank you Caleb. If you'll go to that same address in a few weeks I'll be there and we can have lunch together again. Just ask for me at the desk."

"Yes ma'am." He went to the door and looked back at me for a second and left. I was still in a state of shock from recovering the briefcase but not so much so that I couldn't call Paul and tell him the great news."

Tom walked over and handed the chapter to Dean and said, "Good luck. Carol left you with more possibilities than you'll know what to do with. I came up with at least a dozen possible events for a second chapter and that many different directions the story could take." Dean took the pages from him and just looked at them. 

"This will take some time because I have some ideas already and it's going to be hard to decide.

I stood up and offered coffee or iced tea and Carol joined me saying, "I'll help you Ken." 

We went to the kitchen and I got the iced tea from the refrigerator and set it on the counter. "Carol you did a hell of a job with that. Are you sure you have never done anything like that before?"

"Never." 

Now it the months since our move from Chicago none of us that I was aware of had ever gone beyond a light embrace or a rare peck on the cheek, but I kissed her lips and said, "I'm so impressed with you." 

She looked at me in surprise but then smiled and said, "Thank you Ken." Sandy came into the kitchen then and as Carol moved off with the coffee pot and cups and said, "Now what was that smoochy stuff all about?"

"I was complimenting her on her great job."

"Some compliment."

Chapter Five

I didn't see or hear from 'the family' all week, but I learned that Dean was out of town, and Tom was in New York on business with his publisher. It wasn't uncommon that I wouldn't see or hear from Carol, but Sandra and I would often get together for coffee. I was starting to get worried when I called her for the third time and got her answering machine again. She finally called me and asked, "Did you try to call me?"

"Only about four times." 

"My answering machine wasn't working right I guess."

"Well it wasn't important, I just wanted to have coffee with you."

"Oh. Well okay. Have you heard from Dean?"

"He's out of town until tomorrow."

"So no gathering this Saturday then."

"It doesn't look like it."

"I think I'll go back to Chicago tomorrow for a long weekend and see some old friends."

"I was hoping we could get together but I guess not."

"Sorry."

"Call me when you get back would you?"

"It might be late."

"I'd still like to hear from you."

"You sure?"

"Sandy you are my best friend and I miss you when we don't get together."

"I'll call you then."

"Thanks."

"So can we get together for coffee before you go?"

"Sure, come over and I'll start it brewing."

She let me in and poured the coffee, and as usual we sat next to each other at her kitchen counter. She watched her cup as she absentmindedly ran a finger around the rim and I asked her, "Something on your mind?" 

"What...oh no I was just thinking about Carol's chapter."

"Oh. She did great, but where do you think Dean will go with it?"

"I have no idea, what would you do?"

"I'd have to think about it because like Tom said, she left so many doors open. I can see a love slant, a human interest slant and even murder or deception in a couple of different ways. I'm glad it isn't me writing chapter two." 

"Yeah me too."

"You seen a little distracted tonight."

"Am I? I guess I'm thinking about the long drive north."

"It is a boring drive."

"Yes it is boring."

"Wish I could get away, I'd volunteer to help you drive and I could go see an old friend of mine too, since my best friend will already be up there." She looked at me a second and then went back to her cup. "I'll bet that coffee would taste better if you actually drank it." 

"Am I really your best friend Ken?"

"Of course you are and you have been almost since the day I arrived."

"Are you over leaving your girlfriend?"

"Yes a long time ago in fact."

"Do you see yourself in a relationship again?"

"God I hope so, I'm not sold on the bachelor life, what about you?"

"Of course. I want a house or maybe a condo, I don't care. But a home, not a rented apartment."

"Me too. I'm okay for now, but this is no way to live year after year."

"It will be sad when the family breaks up."

"We'll just have to travel a little farther to get together is all."

Sandy paused a second and asked, "So you think you'd like to keep the family together?"

"Sure, wouldn't you?"

"I'd like to yes."

"You sure you're okay? You seem kind of down or pensive or something." 

"Just a little tired."

"Well I'll get going and let you get some rest."

"No I'm sorry I didn't mean it that way." I stood up and she joined me so I put my arms around her and looked at her. "Sandy are you sure you're okay?'

"Yes I'm okay." 

I must have been into the kissing thing because I kissed her and said, "If you need anything, even just somebody to talk to call me okay?" 

She looked at me and then said, "I will I promise."

I turned to go and she asked, "Ken?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks." 

I wasn't sure what she was thanking me for but I said, "You're welcome. Remember to call me when you get back." 




The Transplants



"I will."

I was home from work less than half an hour the next day when Carol called me. Ken I need some help."

"What do you need love?"

"A place to live."

"What?"

"Could I crash in your guest room for a couple of weeks?"

I...yeah sure but..." 

"I came home and found my kitchen ceiling all over the place and water everywhere and..." She started to cry as she mumbled, "And I can't afford a motel for two weeks." 

"What happened?"

She sniffed and took a breath before saying, "Some kind of water disaster from the apartment upstairs. I guess water has been pouring into my kitchen all day."

"Well pack a bag and come over."

"I was going to call Sandy but she's in Chicago."

"Yeah I know. You need any help...I don't know, packing or whatever?" 

"No I'm okay. I'll see you in an hour or so."

"Just come in, the door will be unlocked.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

I made sure there were empty drawers in the dresser and clean towels in the bathroom and then it hit me. We would have to share the bathroom and I had never shared a bathroom with a woman before, at least for any length of time. In fact I was going to share my whole apartment with Carol for a couple of weeks.

I heard her come inm so I met her in the living room and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek and then reached for her bags. "That's okay I can do it. Ken don't feel like you have to wait on me because It's not like I'm a normal guest, and I sure don't want to swear out my welcome."

"Okay. The top half of the dresser is empty, and I think there's enough room in the closet. We'll have to work out the bathroom space issue." 

"I'll just keep my things in my bag."

"Not for two weeks you can't, we'll figure something out." 

"Ken, I don't want to be a pest."

"I'm not worried. Okay when you get settled we'll sit down and work out the house rules."

"Okay just give me a minute."

When she came out I asked her, "Coffee, tea, beer..."

"Beer, I need to settle down form my disaster."

I got the beers, twisted the caps off and handed her one. "So your whole kitchen is trashed?" 

"Pretty much. The cheap cabinets they put in these rentals didn't stand up to the flood very well I can tell you that much. The ceiling is now all over the stove and the tile floor, which is now ruined as well as the counter tops, and the water is everywhere, even into the living room carpet. They told me they'd have to rip out the kitchen and start over."

"Did you get out what you'll need?"

"Well I can get into the apartment if I need to, but I just can't live there while they're redoing the place." Carol was pretty stressed and had the beer gone in minutes.

"So they can have you back home in two weeks?"

"That's their guess."

I got her another beer without asking and said, "Okay so where do we start?"

"With the most important room, the bathroom."

I smiled and asked her, "Are you one of those that requires an hour to put on your face?"

"No, do I look like I need an hour?"

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to imply...you know, some women just take longer than others or so I'm told. I'm usually up by six thirty, in the shower by six thirty five and dressed by seven or so."

"That's always been my routine except I'm not dressed much before seven thirty."

"So let's see. The easiest way to do this would be?"

"Well I could shower at night and just put my face on in the morning. I could do that while your shaving if you don't mind."

"That's worth a try. Oh wait."

"What?"

"Well that's okay."

"What is?"

"Well when I come out here to start the coffee in the morning I'm usually naked."

"Oops."

"I'll be sure to put underwear on."

"That's all?"

"I don't own a robe."

"Why not?"

"I hate them, they make me feel like a cross dresser."

"You're kidding me right?"

"No I'm not."

"Ken you mean that every morning when I come out I'm going to see you in your briefs?"

"How did you know I wear briefs?"

"Just a guess."

"Well to answer your question, yes you most likely will as long as I remember to put them on."

She looked at me and asked, "What did you just say?"

"Just teasing."

"Don't do that to me. Won't me seeing you in your underwear bother you"

"I don't think so."

"Oh boy this will be interesting. Okay so I shower at night and you in the morning."

"We've solved our first problem. 

"I hope so."

Chapter Six

It seemed the reality of the situation suddenly hit her and she started to cry. I put my arms around her and just held her until she could settle down and then I said, "It will be okay and you'll end up with a new kitchen."

"I'm sorry to put you through this." 

"We'll be fine, we just have to adjust."

"I'll bet you're sorry now that you have a guest room."

"On the contrary, I'm glad I can help you. Look at it this way, for the next gathering you won't even have to go anywhere, you'll already be here."

"Oh God the gathering. They are going to tease us like crazy."

"I hadn't thought of that, but you're right they will. Just tell them that you've gotten used to seeing me in my underwear."

"That's not a good idea at all."

I went to the freezer and said, "Okay now about dinner. We can have...or we can have..." 

"I'll treat us to dinner and we can go to the grocery tomorrow."

"Another problem solved. We're getting pretty good at this."

"You'll still be ready for me to leave long before my apartment is ready."

"You worry too much."

Our first evening together went smoothly, but since it was the weekend Carol opted to save her shower until morning. I was up first and went out to make coffee in my briefs. I didn't know if she was in the habit of sleeping in, so I took my time and emptied the dishwasher as I had my first cup of coffee. I checked to make sure there were eggs for breakfast and then noticed her standing there leaning against the doorway. "How long have you been standing there?"

She looked at her watch and said, "Oh, ten minutes or so. No really just a minute or two. I decided to stare at you and try to get used to seeing you in your skivvies."

I looked down and said, "Well here I am, good bad or indifferent."

"Well you aren't bad or indifferent and that's all I'll say on the subject."

"Coffee is ready and I'll go get some pants on," and she brazenly watched me as I retreated to my bedroom.

When I came out she had the eggs frying and bacon in the microwave. 

"Now if you keep doing this I'm going to be ruined. Spoiled to the core."

"You can make the toast." After breakfast she went to her apartment and raided her freezer and then we did a grocery run together. The rest of our weekend went well as each of us did our own thing as though we had lived together for years. Monday was our first time to test her doing her makeup while I shaved. She looked at me in the mirror and asked me, "Is this going to work okay for you Ken?" 

"I'm fine, how about you?"

"It works for me too."

"Yet another issue falls by the wayside." She stopped what she was doing and looked at me as I made the last passes with my razor.

Leaning against the counter of our rather small bathroom she said, "Ken I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't taken me in."

"Well I can't have my friend left out in the cold."

"I'm serious, I really appreciate how you are so quick to not just make this possible but make me feel welcome."

I put my razor in the sink and looked at her as I said, "You are welcome Carol. What's mine is yours for as long as you need to be here."

She straightened up and putting her hand on my back, kissed my cheek and said, "Thank you, now I'll get out of here or we'll both be late." I finished in the bathroom and then put my dress shirt on and went out.

"If I don't see you at work I'll see you tonight Ken."

"Bye Carol."

It was mid week when Dean called and told me his chapter was ready and that Sandy and Tom already knew, but he couldn't reach Carol.

"I'll tell her when I see her."

"Okay so your place as usual?"

"Sure." I told Carol when she got home and she was eager to learn which way he took the story. Saturday morning I caught Carol standing there in her robe watching me make coffee in my underwear.

She smiled at me and said, "You know I'm going to kind of miss this when I'm back in my apartment."

"You'll just have to come over for morning coffee then."

"Sure I can see me dashing over here at six thirty in the morning just to see you almost naked." 

"Make it eight or nine on Saturday morning then."

"You usually stay undressed that long on Saturdays?" 

"Sure why not?"

"No reason I guess since you'd normally be alone. You normally are alone right?" 

"I'm afraid so."

"Oh, I saw Sandy at work and told her about my disaster and about you coming to my rescue. She acted a little out of sorts or something."

"She was like that before she went up to Chicago too. I think something is chewing on her."

"I hope it's nothing serious.."

"Yeah, me too, I miss her bright smile."

"If I get a chance I'll ask her if everything is okay."

"I asked her that, but she wasn't inclined to talk very much, so good luck."

Sandy was the first to arrive in the evening and I made myself scarce for a minute so she and Carol could have a minute to talk before the others arrived. When I came back Sandy was on the couch with a cup of coffee and Carol was in the kitchen getting the iced tea out. I joined Carol for a second but all she did was look at me and shake her head no. That didn't surprise me so I grabbed a Coke and joined Sandy on the couch. Tom was next to arrive and Dean came right behind him. While they were getting drinks and snacks I asked Sandy, "How was Chicago?" 

"No different."

"I mean your visit."

"It was okay but nothing special."

"And the drive?"

"You know, long and boring." There wasn't much point in trying to talk to her it seemed. She wasn't rude or sharp with me and in fact she was totally flat, not showing much of any emotion at all.

Tom had Dean's chapter and was scanning it before reading it. Then loud enough for all of us to hear, Dean said, "I'll apologize right now because my chapter is kind of short. I'll do better next time."

I told him, "Hey, there are no rules on writing this story that I'm aware of. I'm glad it is short because then if mine is short too I won't feel so bad." Carol sat down on the other side of me and Tom said, "Okay, chapter two," and he began.

"Caleb left the hospital holding the slip of paper that Jennifer had given him tightly in his hand. He didn't know if he would ever go see this Paul Damon guy or not. A reward would be great, but just going into that hospital had been one of the hardest things he had done in a long time. He knew where the address for Paul Damon would take him and he wasn't comfortable being around those fancy buildings and all of those dressed up people. No he would have to think about that for awhile. Besides he'd had a friend help him copy the files from her computer and he wanted to find some way to look at them again to see if he could use the information somehow. Maybe he could have his friend go with him to see this Paul Damon. Caleb wasn't as ignorant as most people thought he was. In fact, if he had more money people would think of him as eccentric. He just had trouble being around people, which meant he had a hard time keeping a job. He even had almost two years of college, but that was a long time ago. Back when he could be in crowds, make good money and have fun. Now life was just one day after another of making a dollar here or there and surviving. He had his regular places where he could go and they would give him a day's work and pay him in cash. He'd pocket the money and spend just what he had to spend and hide the rest.

It took Caleb a couple of hours to make the long walk back to his familiar territory and in that length of time Paul Damon had jumped into his BMW and gone to see Jennifer and to retrieve the briefcase. When he went in he was all smiles and flattery and spent a few minutes to talk to her, but is mind was on the contents of that briefcase. "I hate to be in such a hurry but I have a million things to see to."

"I understand," Jennifer said. 

"Well don't worry about work, just take your time and get well."

"Thanks." She told him about Caleb and he promised her he would see that Caleb was generously rewarded when he came to the office. As he left, Paul placed a call. 

"It's me and I have the computer...I'm not certain but it all seems to be there so we're still good." As he reached his car he stopped and said, "What do you mean it wasn't an accident? So who...but how can we find out?" He tossed the briefcase into the trunk and stopped again. "So we have a bigger problem than we thought...shit, okay I'll get with you as soon as I can," and he hung up. Paul was nervous as a cat as he drove back to his office. As he drove he kept looking in his mirrors, making turns just to see if he was being followed and changed lanes every mile or so until he was safely in his office and the computer was in his safe.

Once Caleb was on his home turf again he dropped a quarter in a pay phone and said, "This is Caleb. She has her case back, and she insists that I collect a reward...no I have to go see a Paul Damon and he'll give it to me.

He's on Livingston in one of those fancy buildings. Would you go with me when you have time? Yes I have the disc hidden." He waited and then said, "Well you know how to find me," and hung up.

Jennifer had her things packed when Oran, her absentee boyfriend arrived. "Hi honey, ready to go? He bent over and kissed her and added, "It's good to see you."

"I'm just glad you could leave London a day early."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be here for you." 

"You're forgiven this time. How was your trip?"

"Successful I'm happy to say."

"I'll bet your boss was happy too."

"He was." He looked down at the cast on her leg and said, "Well that's going to complicate things," and he gave her a knowing smile.

"I'm sure we can figure something out."

Chapter Seven

Tom stopped reading and said, "Well that's past the halfway point so there isn't too far to go, but I have to take a pause." He disappeared into the bathroom and the rest of us went to the kitchen to refresh drinks and get more snacks. Just a few minutes later Dean came over to me and I said, "Great job. Now we have even more possibilities." 

"Thanks. I hear that Carol is staying with you."

"For another week or so in fact."

"That's damn nice of you."

"Thanks but I'm sure you would have done the same."

"I would have."

"Of course your guest room is full of computers and so forth."

"Yeah but the bed is still there." So how is it going with you two?"

"It's going great, she's easy to have around."

"I'm sure." We made our way back to the living room, and as I sat down I smiled at Sandy and she responded with something less than a smile. Tom picked up the chapter and said, "The last of Chapter two, and he glanced around and began to read again.

"Once Jennifer and Oran were back at her place she stood on one leg and they shared a long embrace and a kiss. "I've missed you Oran."

"I've missed you too Jennie. How long before you get rid of that monster on your leg?" 

"Another month, and you can't believe how much my leg itches." 

"Sit down and I'll see if I can give you some relief."

"And what can you do?"

"I'll show you." Once she was on the couch he put her feet up so she was lying back and he bent over her. 

He touched her leg, studied it and then ran his hands up her thigh until she said, "Honey that itches too, but that's not what I was talking about."

"Oh, well maybe this is your problem and he pretended to pull something from the top of her cast. He held it up and said, "Well here's your problem, you had this in there," and he handed her a three carat diamond tennis bracelet.

"Oh my God honey that is gorgeous." 

He kissed her and said, "That may not stop the itch, but maybe it will keep your mind off of it for a minute."

"Thank you so much, it's beautiful."

"But not as beautiful as you are."

She put her arms around him and pulled him down to her. "Now about that other itch."

Tom looked up and said, "Now that's a good point to pass the baton. Okay so who will pick it up from Jennifer's itch?" It had to be either Sandy or me so I looked at her and asked, "Flip a coin?"

"Sure okay."

"Sandy since you don't seem a hundred percent would you like me to take it next?"

"That's okay too."

"Okay then I'll do the next chapter. 

Carol gave me a smile and said, "You just want to write something sexy."

"You'll just have to wait and see." 

The five of us sat around and talked for the next hour, and then Dean left and Tom was talking to Carol when Sandy said, "I think I'll go home too."

"Sandy can I walk you home?"

"You don't have to."

"I said may I, not do you need me to."

"Sure." She lived in the unit next to mine and on the second floor so it only took us a minute to get to her place.

As she unlocked her door I turned her around to face me. "Sandy I'm worried about you, what's going on?"

"Nothing, and you don't have to worry about me."

"Look I'm going to worry about you. It isn't like I can turn it off and on, now what's wrong?"

She looked up and down the hall to see if anybody was around so I said, "Can I come in for a minute? I won't stay long."

"Look Ken..." 

"Sandy damn it please?"

"Okay." I followed her in and she stopped just inside of the door. "Look Ken..."

"No you look. Something is bothering you. Is it a health issue that you can't talk about?"

"I'm fine."

"You are not fine, and I'm not the only one that sees that. Now damn it what's chewing on you?" 

"Ken don't..."

"Don't tell me not to worry again Sandy. Ever since the first chapter of the story you have acted like your favorite pet is dying."

"It's nothing. I'll get over it."

"Damn it, over what? One of us has done something that bothers you. We're family remember? We stick together...we worry about each other."

"I'm just being silly is all."

I had my hands on her shoulders and I was looking into her eyes as I said, "You're my best friend so share your silliness with me. Please Sandy."

"It's just that...well one thing I can tell you is you seem to be falling for Carol and I'm afraid I won't see much of you anymore. We don't have coffee like we used to, we don't confide in each other like we used to. If I'm your best friend then how can that be?"

"That can be because you're withdrawing. You are my best and dearest friend and that's why I'm here right now."

"You didn't even tell me that Carol was living with you."

"She's not living with me, she's staying with me for a couple of weeks. Had you been here when it all happened she wouldn have called you." 

"I don't thinks so."

"That's exactly what she told me."

Sandy put her arms around me and said, "See I told you I was being silly."

I held her close and asked her, "Why didn't you talk to me sooner?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Because...well I guess I wasn't even sure what was bothering me."

"Promise me something."

"What?"

"That you won't wait so long the next time something bothers you. If you don't know what it is we'll figure it out together and fix it." I put a hand on each side of her face and got close to her and looked into her eyes. "Promise me?" 

"I promise." I kissed her then and was pleased when she kissed me back. "Why did you just do that?"

"What, kiss you?"

"Yes."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you never used to, and because we're friends not lovers."

"I could ask you why you kissed me back, but to answer your question I think something must have been wrong with me, and second I kissed you as a friend. Had I kissed you as a lover it would have been more like this," and I really kissed her slipping my tongue into her mouth as my arms went around her again. She looked up at me then and I said, "See there is a difference."