Sunday 9 Dec 2018

The second week in December, Bobby and Alex’s house sold. The family wanted to move in before Christmas so they asked for a very quick close and since there were several offers, The house sold for $1,300,000 which was more than Bobbie ever dreamed. After closing costs and paying off the HELOC for the motel down payment she had about $900,000 left. Bobbie was thrilled and took a bit out to prepare for Christmas and then the rest went into her investments.

“Wow,” said Florence when she found out how much the house sold for. “I wonder what I could get for this house?”

“Well it’s a double lot too and you have the attached office…I wonder if it’s zoned for that? Maybe it wouldn’t sell for quite as much though; real estate is hotter in Cid City right now. Were you thinking of moving, Mum?”

“No Dear, now that you’re here, you’ve got me all sorted out. I’m staying here for now but I’m not getting any younger. I don’t know what I’ll do when you have to leave.”

Bobbie didn’t want to think about that. She was checking her lists and planning to do some Christmas shopping and knew the address of a good tailor. So she said, “Come on Mum, I got us an appointment to get our suits tailored.” Florence had to go with her so they could get measured and have their dead husbands’ suit jackets turned into ladies blazers.

It was a shop in the west side of town. There were bolts of fabric leaning in the windows along side old signs advertising tailoring services. The signs had many different prices crossed out. Projects were stacked on every surface. It took some convincing but the tailor seemed to catch the ladies’ enthusiasm and measurements were taken, prices were haggled and Bobbie and Florence left confident that their idea would work.

She knew Johnny’s business was near and on the way out, Bobbie saw the sign, a few doors down, that said ‘Johnny Gold’s Classic Car and Motorcycle Repair and sales’. It was in front of quite a tidy looking garage, so Bobbie and her Mom walked over to see if Johnny was there.

“Bobbie and Mrs. M, I’m so glad to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too, Johnny. Sorry we don’t have a classic car or motorcycle.”

“Too bad, I can still talk to you though. Maybe I can convince you to buy one. You ladies would look good in a sporty convertible. Maybe I can convince you over lunch.”

He lead them down the street a little further to a charming little restaurant. The Treat Shoppe had some good down home cooking with just enough exotic dishes to make it interesting. Bobbie and Florence ordered but Johnny only had a couple of beers.

“This place has been here a long time.”

“The current owner inherited the business from his dad and he’s updated the menu, got a liquor licence and spruced up the decor.”

They joked a bit more about buying fancy cars and then Johnny took the bill and settled up while the ladies waited by the door.

“It was great to see you on your home turf Johnny, I’ll be in touch and thank you for lunch.”

On the way home Florence said that she thought Johnny was looking a bit sick. “He has a wasted look and is so thin. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had osteoporosis.”

“That’s not good, he did look a little skinny.”

Bobbie thought it was strange that Johnny didn’t eat but guessed he’d already eaten. Johnny was always a little on the thin side. His curly hair had gone grey and he had deep laugh lines on his face, He was still nice looking but had a bit of a grizzled appearance.

The next day Bobbie was finishing up her Christmas shopping and decided to drop in on Johnny again.

“Hi Bobbie, my flat is upstairs, do you want a tour?”

Outside the back door of the garage were stairs that lead to his apartment. He opened the door and ushered her in and she was struck by the lofty feeling and the light coming through the tall windows even on a grey December day. “This is great”.

He laughed “Well it’s home.”

She noted the guitar collection hanging on one wall and the rows of records on low shelves and the rather large TV. The furniture was quite minimal. The kitchen was high tech with cherry red cabinets and stainless steel counter tops and didn’t look very ‘used’. She peeked into the fridge and there was not much in there except milk and beer.

“I don’t have much food, I eat out a lot and have a lot of heart burn. The milk helps.”

“Johnny,” she said “I think you should see a doctor and get a check up. You’re not feeling so good these days are you?”

“Not really,” said Johnny sheepishly. “I promised my Aunt Linda, she still lives over on Prescott Street, that I would make an appointment. But what would I even say is wrong? And I don’t think I even have a doctor.”

“Mom will set up an appointment. They’ll have it all worked out what they’re going to poke and prod by the time you get there,” teased Bobbie.

“Sounds fun,” said Johnny sarcastically. “You just got home and you’re taking care of me already Bobbie.”

Two days later Bobbie was sitting outside University hospital and Johnny was coming toward her with paperwork. He laughed and said, “I was injected, inspected, detected, infected, neglected and selected.”

“And you can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant,” sang Bobbie. “What’s the damage Johnny?”

“Well, he said I’ve got osteoporosis so I got a shot and need a prescription for more medicine. I’ve got Celiac so I’ve got to give up beer for that and I’ve got the beginnings of macular degeneration so that’s going to make me blind and put me out of a job eventually. So truthfully, I’d rather not have gone to the doctor today!”

“Oh Johnny, you’ll keep your job a few more years and we can get that prescription filled right now. And I’m not Celiac but I feel a whole lot better when I keep the gluten out of my diet too. I can help you with food. You can always become a wino. There’s gluten in beer but a Celiac can still have wine.”

“Well I guess being a wino’s better than nothing. Lets pick up a bottle of wine when we get the prescription.”

Bobbie dropped him off and went out for more Christmas presents. She got home with her parcels and took them up to her childhood bedroom on the third floor. She looked around the room. It was a large and as a teenager she got rid of the wardrobe that stored clothes and set up a makeshift closet with clothes hanging in the open behind the antique wrought iron headboard of the double bed. You walked around the bed to the clothes, into the closet that had no actual walls yet had a dresser and a makeup stand under a window. To be even more bohemian she had large pile of pillows in one corner and a sewing table on the wall closest to the foot of the bed. Florence still did her sewing there. The walls still had weird posters of cats and dogs with oversized eyes. On the bed there were a about a dozen boxes with her family’s names on them. She added a pile for Johnny too. In each she had what she’d been knitting all year. Hat’s scarfs, mittens, gloves and socks all went in their appropriate boxes. Along with all the soaps, hand creams and books and booze for the adults and video games and craft supplies for the kids. Then she could load their Christmas socks. Each sock cost her about 200 dollars to fill but everyone got one and she didn’t buy any other gifts.

Friday night, she invited Johnny and his Aunt Linda over for dinner and was struck by how in just a few days Johnny looked so much better. Aunt Linda, who was almost her mom’s age, was a cheerful retired nurse and had long grey hair tied in a bun, a plump figure and sensible shoes. She had a lilting Irish accent and her and Johnny’s accent always became more pronounced when they were together.

“I read the side effect of those drugs I’m on for Ostio include heartburn,” explained Johnny. “And I was dreading that but since I cut out the bread and beer my gut feels pretty good.”

“Just remember it’ll take a few months before you really start feeling better; this is a great start,” said Florence.

They had one of Bobbies standbys; a chicken stir fry with veggies and a rice/cauliflower mix. Johnny tucked in, trusting that Bobbie was following his diet rules and asked for the recipe.

“I’m glad you have your appetite back! I didn’t know you liked to cook,” said Bobbie. “You have to make sure the soy sauce is gluten free.”

Johnny hedged a bit and then said, “I got a really good offer for the garage, which would include my apartment upstairs, so Aunt Linda has agreed I can move back to Prescott street with her.”

“I’m looking forward the company.”

“Since I’ll be retired I can learn to cook all the gluten free stuff that I can eat. And maybe play I’ll a bit of music again.”

“Wow, that seems sudden but I’m glad it’s working out.”

“I’m just following your lead Bobbie. You retired first. Speaking of sudden… Bobbie, remember how we used to do a Christmas set around town in the old days? Well the Yacht Club wants to book us for a show tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow!?”, Bobbie thought about it. “It might be fun. We should get together early tomorrow before the show to tighten up the set and rehearse a bit.” At least she knew all the Christmas carols. She played her guitar and sang them every year. It might be fun.

They chatted the rest of the evening but Bobbie was a little preoccupied, thinking about the upcoming show.