Tim shook his head, "I promised Bev I wouldn't tell."
It was that time of year again... Mike and MIchelle's wedding anniversary was approaching and that meant only one thing... Michelle's sister Bev was up to something. And she always involved Tim.
"I'll tickle you," Mike threatened.as he made a playful lunge at his younger brother. Tim fell backwards on the couch, Mike attacking his ribs with his fingertips.
Tim tried so hard not to laugh but finally burst. Somehow he was only this ticklish with his brother who had tortured him like this when they were kids. Now, however, they were both laughing and the reason Mike had started tickle-fest had been abandoned. They were so wrapped up in their horseplay. they didn't notice Michelle enter the room.
"Luckily, I don't need to resort to physical means to obtain information," Michelle joked.
The two stopped abruptly. Both looked at her meekly and simultaneously said, "Oh, hi."
"Yeah, oh, hi," Michelle said as she perched on the coffee table. To Mike she added, "You can release your prisoner. I've got the scoop."
Mike sat up. "Dennis sang."
Michelle crossed her legs, "Prettier than his brother."
"How'd you do it?"
Michelle shrugged. "All I did was let him think I already knew. Got everything we need to know."
Mike sighed, "So what did your sister come up with this year... a picnic at some clothing optional campground?"
Before Michelle could reply Tim jumped up. "I'm out of here. If Bev asks if Mike found out I want to truthfully say I never heard anyone tell him anything." He dropped a kiss on the top of his brother's head. "I love you."
Michelle waited patiently while Tim exited the house then turned to her husband who asked, "So, exactly what are we in for this year?"
**********************************
"How did you find out," Bev groaned as she sat in her sister's office.
Michelle shrugged. "I have my ways. Look, you know Mike and I don't mind the party so much. We just aren't up to surprises."
"Yeah, Yeah." Bev was only slightly deflated.
"So what made you select Charlez Mezzone Culinary School?"
"Two students do all the cooking so it's less expensive so I could invite more people," she explained. "And it's just our party. We don't have to share the space. You and Mike will love it. I guarantee." Bev rose to leave, "By the way, who was the blabbermouth?"
Michelle smiled, "I refuse to reveal my sources."
***************************************
The Charlez Messone Culinary School had been around for ten years. It was five years earlier that the director had the brilliant idea of opening the "dining-room" to the public one Saturday a month, allowing two student chefs to prepare a banquet which would be their final grade.
The dining-room had all the charm and warmth of a military mess hall. The room had a very high ceiling with drop-down fluorescent lights, institutional gray walls and a concrete floor that had some sort of speckled overlay. The room was furnished with banquet tables and metal folding chairs. Every sound gave off an eerie kind of echo. A few decorating touches by Bev such as flowers and a banner that read: "Happy Anniversary" did nothing to improve the ambiance.
Mike and Michelle took the obligatory glance around the room. When Bev saw the looks of concern cross their faces she said, "Appearances can be deceiving. I'll bet the food will be spectacular." She repeated that line with just about every guest who arrived. Dennis received a different welcome. "You have got the biggest mouth," she informed him. She had obviously figured out the source of the security breech.
Dennis grinned. "Yeah. But that's not the biggest thing I've got."
As more guests started to arrive members of the school 'staff' began their duties, one setting up a bar offering alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages and two others circulated the room offering hors d'oeurves.
A young woman presented a tray to Captain Stanley who was talking with Chet Kelly and Roy DeSoto.. "Oeuf avec pain grille?"
He studied the food offered. "It's a slice of egg on a toast round."
The woman smiled and reoffered the tray, "It's one of student Chef Pierre's finest."
Chet eyed the tray. "I'm more creative than that. I ought to enroll in this school. I could teach them a thing or two about..." His words were halted by Roy shoving oeuf avec pain grille into his mouth. Roy selected another and Hank did likewise if only to encourage the server to move on.
Hank shook his head. "sliced egg on toast."
"Is that what you guys got?" Johnny Gage approached the trio. He held up the hors d'oeurve in his hand. "I got something called pomme avec fromage but darned if it doesn't look like a piece of apple with spray cheese."
On the other side of the room Bev apologized to a group from Rampart Hospital saying, "It all sounded much better in French." She walked away after saying that she was certain the main courses would be better.
In the meantime, an earshot away Johnny's girlfriend Barbie had cornered Dennis. "I can't believe it's really you. But I have to believe it because you're standing here. Johnny told me Michelle Stoker knew some famous people but, like, wow... I mean you! You're really you. You know, I just love the way you act out the songs you guys sing." She pantomimed lashing a whip.
"You've got the wrong one," Chet's date Debbie interrupted. "This isn't the lead guy."
Barbie looked puzzled. "Then which one is he?" she asked as if 'he' wasn't even there.
Debbie started to explain, "He's the one who...who...." Suddenly, she grew sheepish and finished her explanation whispering something in Barbie's ear.
Barbie's eyes went wide as she had an Edith Bunker moment. "Ohhh." She then changed the subject very quickly asking, " So how did you and Michelle Stoker meet anyway?"
"She found me puking on the side of the road," Dennis answered nonchalantly. Elaborating no further, he turned from the two women.
Barbie looked after him. "Okaaay."
Debbie smirked. "Well, he did answer you."
"And that was what happened." Dixie McCall came along side them. "I was on duty when Michelle brought him into the emergency area..."
*************************************
Summer 1976
Michelle Stoker rushed through the emergency entrance. Greeted by Dixie and telling her she needed a gurney outside. Dixie instructed an orderly to grab a gurney and the three exited the automatic doors to Michelle's car which was parked beside an ambulance spot. Michelle opened the front passenger door and Dixie, along with the orderly's help pulled a man from the car and got him on the gurney. Michelle slammed her car door and followed the gurney back into the hospital. On the way they encountered Dr. Kelly Brackett who asked, "What have we got?"
All Michelle had time to blurt was, "I found him throwing up on the side of the road."
*************************************
Present:
"Michelle asked to use the phone and we took Dennis into the treatment room," Dixie finished.
"That's when I got the phone call." Mike had joined the group.
"Yeah, tell them about that." Tim had ventured over as well.
"There's not really much to tell," Mike began...
******************************************
1976
Mike Stoker answered the phone at his home.
"Mike, it's Michelle. I'm at Rampart. I need you to bring me a change of clothes."
"Rampart! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I've just been puked on."
Mike became concerned. "Freddie?" he asked.
"No. Not this time. Look I'll explain when you get here."
Mike entered Rampart through the emergency room entrance to find his wife pacing and glancing impatiently at the clock. As he approached he noticed the upper part of her right pant leg soaked and clinging to her thigh and the lower part of her shirt was damp with phlegm as well. When he got to her he noticed an odor of bile mixed with distilled spirits and some chemical he could not place. "You really did get puked on," Mike commented.
Michelle glared. "No. I just wanted to see how fast I could get you to come down here.." Michelle beckoned him, "The clothes please."
Mike gave up the tote bag containing the change of clothing which Michelle snatched quickly and made a dash to the restroom.
A moment later Dixie approached Mike in the hall. "When did you get here?"
"Just now," Mike told her. "Brought Michelle some fresh clothes. She just went to change."
"Well, Dennis wanted to see her... wanted to thank the person who brought him in."
"Dennis?"
Dixie smiled. "You don't know, then?"
"Know what?"
"Have a look for yourself. He's in treatment two."
Mike looked puzzled but made his way to the room. He entered to find the man on the treatment table hooked up to an IV. Mike approached the table.
Dennis turned his head in Mike's direction and reacted. "I must've really gotten some bad s**t. I could have sworn I was brought here by a woman with long hair and big tits."
Mike raised his eyebrows. "You were," Mike conceded.. "It was my wife."
*********************************************
Present
"Man, you get sore when WE say your wife had big tits," Johnny had joined the conversation.
Mike threw him a look. "Anyway, we took Dennis back to his boat and Michelle's car to be cleaned." He paused. "Come to think of it her car still smells like a combination of alcohol riddled vomit and carpet shampoo."
Barbie took hold of Johnny's arm. "That still doesn't explain how it got to him being here."
"It just started out with him being grateful," Lorie said approaching the group. More people congregated as Lorie began to talk.
**************************************
All work ceased in the cooperative charities office when Dennis entered. Tammy, Lorie, Wendy, Sheila and Danielle simultaneously rose from their seats, moving like zombies to surround him, mouths open, staring.
Dennis glanced from woman to woman. "I'm looking for Michelle Stoker."
Wendy was the first to break the trance. "Hi! I'm Wendy. You know, like in your song."
Dennis looked from Wendy. "Michelle does work here?"
Now Lorie was petting his hair like she couldn't believe he was real. Dennis jerked his head away from her but found Sheila's hand on him now. The molestation was interrupted by Michelle coming into the room announcing as she entered, "We have a major event in two weeks and the mayor's wife still hasn't decided..." She stopped suddenly noticing Dennis. "Hi," she said somewhat surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Dennis retracted his arm from where Lorie had a hold. "The hospital told me how to find you. I just wanted to thank you for yesterday." He handed her a bunch of flowers he was holding. "That nurse said you like these."
Michelle looked in the package. "How'd you find lilacs?" Without warning Wendy liberated the bouquet from her arms, sniffed and passed them on.
Dennis then handed her a large box of chocolates. Michelle took the box and joked, "No nuts... never mind." She obviously knew with whom she was dealing. Again, the gift was lifted from her hold by Wendy who opened the box, selected a piece of candy and passed it on.
Exasperated Dennis glanced around the room, eyed the women smelling the lilacs and sharing the chocolates, then turned to Michelle. "Do you have a private office in this place."
"Yeah, back there."
Dennis took hold of her arm and turned her in the direction she had indicated. "Good. We can go f**k." He led her off.
Tammy froze mid sniff. The others dropped there bonbons. They watched Michelle and Dennis disappear down the hall.
Lorie found her voice first. "She wouldn't?"
Danielle nibbled at her chocolate. "I would." she observed absently.
"You're not married," Sheila commented. Then she thought a moment. "He wouldn't."
Lorie threw her a look.
Sheila's brow furrowed. "HE would." There was a pause. "What should we do?"
"Maybe we should call Mike." Lorie suggested.
"Why call the band's other whore hound?" Wendy asked blankly.
Lorie slapped at her. "Her husband Mike, you idiot."
The women were quiet again, just staring in the direction of Michelle's office.
"Do you think he's kissing her?" That was Danielle. The others gave her a look. "Well, I was just wondering. I mean, is he kissing her... or just... getting right to it.... What? You can't tell me you guys aren't thinking about it."
With that the others' eyes seemed to drift to the ceiling.
"I bet his facial hair tickles," Lorie said dreamily.
"You think he's going down on her?" Wendy asked Lorie.
Lorie turned. "I meant when he's kissing her... but," Her eyes glazed over once again and her mouth dropped open slightly.
There was another period of silence. "I wonder how big he is," Sheila said almost to herself.
"Do you think he's taking her on the desk or the floor?" Danielle asked.
Tammy looked at the clock. "Maybe both." All heads turned toward her. "Well, they've been in there for a while," she explained. There were several more minutes of tense silence while the women feigned interest in the assorted chocolates. Then Tammy spoke again. "We're probably jumping to conclusions. I mean, maybe they're not even having sex." Four sets of arms folded. "Well, it's possible," Tammy insisted. "Forgive me," she resigned. "I forgot who we were talking about."
Wendy took a few steps toward the hall and turned back to her colleagues. "Do you think Michelle is a screamer?"
Sheila shrugged. "Who knows?. But we might be about to find out."
Lorie completely snapped out of her daze. "I've got to call Mike." Amid the protests from the others she made a dash to her desk and picked up the phone. "He's on shift today. You know he always stops over. He can't come over.... Hi, Mike, this is Lorie.... just wanted to tell you that we are so busy here today. There's just no need for you to come visit Everything's fine and Michelle will see you later... much later." She hung up quickly.
"Yeah, that'll never make him suspicious," Sheila said sarcastically.
And ten minutes later in walked Mike Stoker who found himself suddenly surrounded by the women of Cooperative Charities... minus one. Lorie spoke quickly. "Mike, what are you doing here? I told you you didn't have to bother...."
"And that's why I'm here," Mike cut her off. He pushed through them and moved toward the hall. "Is she in her office?" He continued down the hall, the women in hot pursuit, Tammy hitting Lorie and saying, "You had to go call him."
They all arrived outside Michelle's office in time to hear Michelle's voice through the door. "How much longer do we have to stay in here. I mean if we were really having sex we would have been done some time ago."
*****************************************
Everyone listening to Lorie's account laughed hysterically. Lorie laughed slightly with them. 'Yeah, they got us."
"So, Lorie's strange call made you suspicious," JoAnne Desoto asked Mike.
Mike shook his head. "Not really." Everyone looked at him. "Especially since Michelle had already called me and told me Dennis was there." Everyone laughed.
"I didn't realize they'd known each other that long." Marco said absently.
"Sure you do," Johnny piped up. "He was at her birthday party that year."
Tim and Fran looked at each other and smiled remembering as Fran said, "I'll never forget it."
****************************************
Fran came from the kitchen in time to see the last of the guests exit Mike and Michelle's house "You know Freddie is in there having a conversation with the dishwasher?"
Mike and Michelle looked at each other. What else was new?
Mike's brother Tim came into the vestibule from the hall. "Um, Dennis said he was going to be sick. I put him in the bathroom off the den."
Michelle closed the door and sighed. "I guess we should start cleaning up," she told her husband.
"Okay," Mike agreed. "I'll take the appliance whisperer. You take the vomiter."
"Oh, you're so good to me."
Mike chuckled, "Well, it is your birthday." Mike disappeared into the kitchen, Tim following.
Michelle took a deep breath as if for resolve and started for the den. As if on auto pilot Fran followed.
Dennis was on the floor leaning against the wall near the commode, his head in his hands. Michelle knelt in front of him while Fran sat on the tub's edge.
"How're you doing?"
Dennis' head came up. "I see three of you." He looked to the side. "I see three toilets too."
Michelle guided his head. "Aim for the one in the middle." She rose on her knees and as he started heaving she gently gathered his hair back holding it in her right hand and laying the left supportively on his shoulder.
As he continued to empty his stomach she heard the sound of Freddie who was now wailing "You Are so Beautiful " being led down the hall.
"Here," Michelle handed Dennis a paper cup containing Scope. He started to drink it. Michelle quickly yanked it back. "This is mouthwash, not spearmint schnapps. Rinse," she commanded.
Dennis obeyed. Michelle opened the cabinet under the sink and retrieved a bucket and a towel which she handed to Fran. She then helped Dennis to his feet and guided him to the sofa in the den. She made him as comfortable as possible, covering him with an afghan. She then took the bucket and towel from Fran, set them within reach and sat on the edge of the sofa taking hold of one of Dennis' hands.
********************************************
"Tim and I left a little after that," Fran finished.
"I just remember looking out the door the next morning and seeing the two blue corvettes parked side by side on the lawn," Mike remembered.
Johnny laughed. "I think I see a pattern developing. Hope he doesn't get sick tonight."
On the other side of the room Michelle sat with Dennis and Jeff. "It's a good thing you're here," Michelle told Dennis. "Otherwise, they wouldn't have anything to talk about."
Dennis glanced in there direction and shook his head. There was a pause, then he asked, "They still watching us?"
Jeff nodded. "Absolutely. Why?"
Dennis leaned closer to Michelle. "I think they need something new to talk about." Without any warning he reached forward, took hold of her hair, pulling slightly to cause her head to tip back, and planted a serious kiss right on her lips.
Across the room jaws dropped. Eyes went wide. Lips parted on some of the women as if they were trying to experience it. Roy gritted his teeth and punched his left hand. Johnny gaped, "What the hell?" And the husband of the recipient of the kiss... burst into laughter.
"I think you got 'em," Jeff informed the two.
Dennis nodded. "Yeah, that should keep them busy for a while." He rose saying, "I'm going to check out the bar."
"No hard stuff," Michelle told him.. When he gave her a look she explained. "It's our anniversary. Mike and I don't have time to take care of you tonight."
Dennis waved her off. "Yeah, yeah...." There was a pause. "Okay.", he relented.
Near the kitchen doors Tim cornered Bev. "I thought you hired some entertainment for this evening."
Bev sighed. "I did...Some one man music experience called Galaxy." Bev dug into the pocket of her skirt and retrieved a folded flyer which she handed to Tim. "He was supposed to be here."
Tim opened the flyer. 'Galaxy, a one man music experience featuring Joe 'Bunny' Hanson playing the greatest music you'll ever hear this side of the universe." Tim refolded the flyer and returning it to her said, "Looks like you've got the no man music experience."
Suddenly the kitchen door swung open and Student Chef Danny burst through telling Bev it was time to announce them. Bev rolled her eyes. For some reason making a formal announcement was part of the contract. She tapped on a glass with a knife from the buffet table and when she had everyone's attention turned to Tim and asked him if he wanted to do this.
Tim shook his head and said, "No, but I will."
Bev fished in her other skirt pocket and pulled out an index card which she handed to Tim. "This is how they want to be introduced."
In disbelief Tim began, "Introducing student chef Pierre..." Chef Pierre looking somewhat embarrassed exited the kitchen pushing a cart with covered pans and moved to the table. "And the incomparable, chef extraordinaire, the pride of the Charlez Mezzone Culinary School Chef Danny." Chef Danny exited the kitchen. He too was pushing a cart with covered pans. He stopped as if expecting applause, sulked a bit when there were none and proceeded to the table.
Chef Pierre transferred his pans to the table and with no fanfare raised the lid on his main dish announcing as he did, "Boeuf aux champignons ala creme sur toast." He set the lid aside and opened his two side dishes which at a glance looked like canned peas and pickled beets.
Then it was Chef Danny's turn. With unnecessary added flair he lifted the lid from his entree. "Voila!," he proclaimed. "Le meillure chose que vous aurez jamais manger ala Danny." (Translate, The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Eat ala Danny) His sides seemed to be rice with cream of celery soup and a dish of leafy greens of some sort.
Almost reluctantly, the guests took plates from a stack at one end of the table and began to select from the offerings. Nobody ventured into the dish with the unusually long name... ala Danny. It was a sickly looking gray goo with slices of red bell pepper decorating the top. Danny sulked as people eyed it and walked away. "Nobody's trying my creation," he whined as Dennis passed.
Dennis, never one to pull punches looked Chef Danny in the eye. "That's because it looks like a hairball with garnish."
A few minutes passed as everyone found seats and began to eat Chef Pierre's entree'. Captain Stanley swallowed a mouthful. "It's not horrible but Kelly makes this at the station all the time."
Chet, sitting across from the captain agreed. "Yeah. Only I call it something on a shingle"
At the anniversary couple's table humor seemed the way to get through the meal as well. Tim pushed aside the remainder of his serving of boeuf. "When they graduate do these guys get jobs cooking at Ma's diner in France?"
Bev sighed. "I guess this explains the cheap prices." Then she added. "I'm really sorry. I wanted everything to be so nice."
"You meant well," Mike reassured her. He pushed his plate aside and himself back from the table. "I can't eat any more."
Bev too pushed her plate aside. "And the musician didn't even show up. So we don't even have any entertainment."
"I think it's pretty entertaining watching chef Danny pout," Dennis said approaching the table and plopping into Mike's lap like it was an empty chair. "I mean that guy's bottom lip is casting a shadow." Then without even taking a breath he stuck his drink glass under Michelle's nose. "See pure ginger ale," he told her, then added in a half grumble. "Had to at least get something with booze in the name."
In the meantime Mike was trying to shove Dennis off his lap, peering around him, rolling his eyes in his wife's direction. Michelle only chuckled and shrugged.
A few minutes later Bev slipped into the kitchen to see about dessert, a special cake she'd ordered for the occasion which had been delivered while everyone was er... um enjoying? their dinner. She returned to the main room mortified.
"Don't tell me there's no cake," Tim said.
Bev glanced from him to Mike and Michelle. "Oh, there's a cake all right."
Jeff looked at her. "So what's the problem?"
"They delivered the wrong cake," she said almost inaudibly.
"What was that?" Michelle asked.
"They delivered the wrong cake," Bev said louder this time. "And when I called I found out that the other place already served the one I had ordered."
For some reason Mike and Michelle found this funny and started to snicker and Mike said, "So just serve what we have... cake is cake."
Bev hesitated but Tim pushed the kitchen door and told someone to bring it out. One of the servers pushed out the cake on a cart. And there, scrawled on a cake that was twice the size of Bev's was the message in black icing, "Rest in Peace, Uncle Patrick."
Mike and Michelle looked at the cake and burst into laughter. Soon everyone had gathered and was laughing. As it subsided Captain Stanley clinked on his glass with a dessert fork. "I'd like to propose a toast," He waited as everyone moved closer, Tim taking a spot next to Mike. and Dennis coming up beside Michelle. "It wouldn't be Mike and Michelle's anniversary if we couldn't all gather for an evening we'll never forget... and I think it's safe to say no one will ever forget this one. So, to Bev and Tim for making it an experience as usual and Mike and Michelle for staying together no matter what kind of experience Bev and Tim give them. Also, thank you, Michelle and Dennis for providing this evening's amusement." He paused while everyone applauded and Michelle and Dennis took exaggerated bows. "And finally," Captain Stanley added adopting an Irish brogue, "to poor Uncle Patrick who left this world with a cake that read, 'Mike and Michelle Forever.'"
Over by the banquet table where the two student chefs were boxing up the leftovers Chef Danny whined, "He didn't mention me."
*********************************************
"Please, everybody take some cake home," Bev announced as guests were beginning to depart. Some of the people went to the table where Bev was putting cake into disposable boxes provided by the school.
On her way out Barbie stopped by Dennis. "I'm so sorry about before," she gushed. "Not knowing which one you were. But ever since you all grew beards you all look alike..." She was abruptly halted by Johnny who grabbed her arm and pulled her away. "I was just trying to apologize," she explained.
"Well, your apology was worse than what you did to begin with," Johnny informed her.
Barbie looked bewildered, but called back over her shoulder, "I just love the way you sing 'God Only Knows'.
Embarrassed Johnny dragged her out the door, nearly missing a haggard looking woman wearing a loud floral print blouse. She in turn was followed by a young man carrying a guitar case.
Tim looked up. "You've got to be kidding me," he said when he saw them.
The woman neared where Tim was standing with Michelle. "Where can my son set up?" she inquired nonchalantly.
"You're three hours late," Tim informed her.
The woman huffed. "My son is the greatest musician in the universe. He doesn't know the meaning of the word late.".
Tim sighed. "Ma'am the party's over. Everyone is leaving."
"Well, they should've waited for us. It's an honor for them to get to hear a talent like my son."
Before Tim could form a response she spotted Bev handing out the leftovers. "Oh, cake," she exclaimed. "I can take a piece home for breakfast tomorrow." With that she headed in the direction of the food.
Wandering over Dennis asked, "Was that my father in drag?"
Tim and Michelle chuckled but Michelle said, "No. Your father would've made you be on time." She watched the woman talking with Bev for a second. "Oh...you know who that is?" Tim shook his head. "From the picnic a few years ago... that crazy woman who was managing her son's band..."
'Oh, yeah." Tim answered. "She was squawking about more money."
"Yeah," Michelle reflected. "Richard Long bought her off"
*******************************************
Summer 1974 (excerpt from "What's an Electric Jellyfish?")
"Michelle, we have a problem." Chet's voice made her turn.
"What now?" Since the beginning of this whole thing Michelle had heard more sentences start out with 'we have a problem'.
"That band you hired is here and the guitar player's mother is complaining." Chet pointed to Marco who was engaged in a one sided conversation with a woman wearing a loud floral print blouse.
"I guess I'd better rescue him." She took a deep breath and walked over to where Marco was listening as politely as possible while the woman screeched.
Noticing Michelle Marco said, "This is the lady in charge. You need to speak with her." He rolled his eyes for Michelle's benefit before leaving.
Before Michelle could speak the woman started. "You should be down on your knees thanking God for the opportunity to have my son's band playing here. And you're giving them a lousy two-hundred-bucks."
As hard as it was Michelle stayed polite. "Ma'am, this is a charity event. We have famous television actors donating their time. Your son's band is the only one getting paid at all."
"He's a television star," she argued. "He was on the Rick Rock Show" (a very local show).
"Ma'am, our budget for this event does not allow for..."
"Well, then maybe we should just leave."
"Would an extra hundred dollars help?" a deep voice asked from behind.
"Mr. Long?" Michelle seemed stunned.
"Dick," he told her. "And would a hundred help?"
For probably the first and last time in her life Michelle was speechless so he turned to the lady with the dollar signs in her eyes. "Would one hundred more dollars be sufficient?"
"Yeaaah!" Her chest went out as if to say "You see?"
"Fine. Why don't you wait over by those tables and we'll discuss the details."
Watching her retreat Michelle found her voice. "You didn't have to do that."
"I've found that people like her complain for the mere sport of it. It's worth the money."
"How can I thank you?"
He patted her shoulder. "Give us a good introduction."
Michelle smiled. "Okay." She watched him walk away.
"Hey, Chet said some old biddy was giving you a hard way to go," Mike approached his wife.
"Yep. It seems she didn't know the meaning of the word 'benefit'." Michelle sighed. "But it's been handled."
"How?"
"Let's just say the next time you tease me about how much I like Richard Long I'll know I have a very good reason."
*******************************************
Present
"And true to his word he coughed up the extra money," Michelle finished.
"I need a bigger piece than that," Floral blouse lady told Bev. "I get hungry."
Bev groaned. She'd been listening to this woman try to decide which piece she wanted for several minutes. She thought for a moment. "You know, I bet you are hungry," she said with feigned sincerity. "You missed dinner. Here take this home and enjoy it!" She handed her one of the boxes that the chefs had packed
The woman was caught off guard but accepted the package and for some reason told her son they were going home. Cautiously, Michelle approached her sister. "What was that you gave her?
"Le meillure chose que vous aurez jamais manger ala Danny," Bev answered matter-of-factly. Michelle gave her sister a "you didn't" look. "Well," Bev explained, "I thought who deserved the greatest thing you'll ever eat more than the greatest musician you'll ever hear.... and his mommy."