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  She’s laid for hours replaying yesterday on the ceiling. Each time she runs the memory footage it gets worse. Floozy, flaunting, taunting and impertinent, she watches herself move through yesterday. Her face is burning with embarrassment and shame. Run!

  Running faster than she ever has, Judy’s flying through the dawn-quiet, garbage-filled streets of her neighborhood. Focused only on her feet striking the sidewalks, her mind is turned off and she’s given control to Coping Rule No. 1. Run until her body and mind are in synch. It took an hour to get there and turn toward home.

  Frantically pulling out the hairpins that hold her upswept eighty-dollar hair style, they catch in the curled tendrils that were gracefully placed to compliment her face. She’s only gets about two minutes of hot water so she’s washing her hair with one hand and scrubbing her body with other while rinsing at the same time.

  It’s been twenty minutes since she finished her run but she’s got to get out of here. Jogging the two blocks to get to BB, the site of his garage home always excites her. BB will be there. Shiny, perfect, excited to see her, she trusts him completely.

  Sunlight rushes through the rising garage door hits the white gown bag. She’d changed out of the gown into damp smelly running tights so she could get home safely. She’d left it there, hanging on a rusty nail. She feels her face heat with disgust for the dress.

  However, the dark haired hooker two blocks away, took the gown with a glowing smile at the unexpected gift and Judy felt better that it was gone from her life and found the home it deserved. She’d miss the shoes. They were the prettiest shoes she’d ever had and they were very comfortable. She didn’t even have blisters or sore places from wearing them for the first time.

  She sighs for the shoes, but Sunday morning chores must come before anything else. Judy’s out of clean underwear and her workout clothes have a sickening sweat-on-sweat smell. Wearing her ugly tan wash-day slacks and foregoing underwear to ensure that everything she has will be clean, she covered the rest with a faded green sweatshirt long enough to cover her butt.

  The laundry near her office is usually empty this early on Sunday morning, but today an elderly man, is struggling to decide if white boxers, undershirts and socks should be washed with his dark pants. Going for cheap, he finally dumps everything in one load and hits start.

  Her office suite is her haven, her real home. If she could she would move in permanently, but it’s not allowed. She walks through turning on every light and peeking into each office. She never disturbs anything or noses around her employees’ desks. If she needs anything and can’t do without it while she works, she always leaves a note. However, she has, on occasion stolen a candy from Charlotte’s candy dish.

  Sunday is also the best day of her week, she can work uninterrupted. Her best ideas came from Sunday in her office. Judy never leaves until she’s organized and excited for the upcoming week and she’s determined that today – the day following yesterday – will be exactly like that.

  She drank the entire pot of coffee and is making another when a nagging pain makes her wince. She looks at the clock, eleven-thirty, she laughs relieved. This much caffeine and no food doesn’t really work for her. She grabs a piece of candy from Charlotte’s candy dish and makes a mental note to bring in a replacement bag.

  Sucking on the sweet butterscotch candy and carrying a fresh cup of coffee, she walks down the hallway to her office. Simon’s face floats up ahead. Handsome, beautifully groomed, eyes that twinkle with joy and excitement, she can hear the tune his rhythm of life plays. She feels the urge to dance in time with it. Graceful, thoughtful, intelligent, clever, caring and responsible to his parents and family, Simon’s life rhythm is so more beautiful than her own that changes from day to day.

  Less than a year after she opened her business she went to her weekly entrepreneur meeting. It was a good place to talk to people starting their own businesses and she traded useful information with the members. They’d elected George as head honcho for the year, because he promised to bring an expert once a month to talk with them. This month Simon Perry was the guest speaker.

  She’d written him off as just a pretty face and was studying the tax information Fred had brought for her. It was like his voice didn’t get louder but what he was saying began to reach her consciousness. Logistics strategy was his topic and he was making sense. Clear, concise he was giving her information that was useful and dispelled some of the homemade strategies she had developed on her own.

  She was engrossed. He had woken her up. She quickly looked around the table and so hadn’t everyone else.

  “I have time for discussion.” He smiled, looked around the table and sat down. His eyes settled on her. They were a breathtaking dark blue that went well with his hair so dark black that it had a dark blue tint that nearly matched his eyes. She held her breath until she looked away.

  Two hours later he was still patient and kind, even to Joanna, who seemed to only want to argue with him. Judy felt like she’d just had a master’s degree handed to her. She was getting antsy to get to her one-room office and get to work. Not doing what she’d had been doing, but taking on big projects, leaning over a cliff and working smart so she could drag her ass to safety like Simon Perry just taught her. And now because of Simon Perry, she felt that would be possible to do that.

  When he finally held up his hands, said he’d enjoyed himself and hoped he was helpful, but he had to get back to his own work, he was mobbed by the members. She was standing in line to thank him, but a glance at the clock told her that if she didn’t move her ass she’d miss the bus and have to wait another thirty minutes.

  Simon Perry looked like he was running when he shot out of the building. Her bus had arrived, but he was looking straight at her.

  “Thank you,” she yelled. “You were terrific.” The doors of the bus closed and she smiled and waved as the bus passed him. He stared at her like she was an alien creature too far beneath him to be noticed. Didn’t matter, she was inspired.

  She saw him several times during the next year or so, at meetings and once at an outdoor chili festival where the food was free. Each time he was with a beautiful girl, who hung on him like he was a prize to be revered and once he had two beautiful girls hanging on him. He was laughing and enjoying their antics.

  As always, she slid quietly away from him, but somehow he always seemed to look at her when she was looking at him.

  Curious, she’d researched him on the internet and cruised The Perry website. Generations of Perry men had built an empire and their latest president had added Perry Technical, and Perry Electronics, and Perry Communications. At least it appeared he did know what he was talking about.

  As she grew her business, it brought her to the fringes of his. She began to run into him more often. The result was the same, just more often.

  “Stop. Stop, please.” She was leaving a state sponsored fact finding seminar. Simon Perry was spearheading the discovery group and she admired him from the distance of the auditorium’s back row. It was less crowded and the lights were dimmer. She wanted to concentrate and provide thoughtful answers to the questionnaire and avoid interacting with Simon Perry. His eyes made her quiver and she always felt like she was drooling.

  Finished with the questionnaire, the meeting was running longer than she had allowed for, so she walked to the front, handed it to the woman collecting them and dashed out.

  In the lobby, she turned to the voice yelling for her. Maybe she’d left her briefcase? No, she was holding it.

  Simon Perry was running toward her.

  “Thank you for stopping. It feels like I’ve been chasing you for years.” He bent down, put his hands on his knees and breathed hard for a couple of seconds and then stood up and grinned at her.

  “Do you remember me? I first saw you at the entrepreneur meeting a couple of years ago? You jumped on a bus before I had a chance to speak to you.” His eyes bore into hers, hopeful that she’d remembered him?

  “
I remember you Mr. Perry. I was inspired by what you taught us that morning. It made a huge impact on me. I’m glad I finally get the chance to thank you.”

  She held out her hand to shake his, but instead of shaking it, he took it both of his and held it briefly. Her hand sizzled with his heat and she quickly pulled away.

  “I’d very much like to talk to you more, but I have to go back in there. Would you go out with me? Dinner and good conversation, tonight or any time you have available.”

  She felt like she’d been punched in the stomach, hard. She’d idolized him for years. He was important to her and he only wants a date!

  “No. No thank you.” Burst out of her mouth.

  His face startled immediately and she wasn’t sure. She’d only looked at him for a second longer before she ran out the door. His broad shoulders, beautifully covered in an expensive, tailored suit coat fell telling her that no woman had ever told him no before. He probably just didn’t know how to handle it.

  Whatever he felt, my hero died, or mostly died. Instead of being forefront of my inspiration he was only there when she was faced with do or die.

  As the reached the end of the hallway, his face went poof. She’ll figure this out for herself.

  Chapter 12. Finding a Way

  “Dion, its Judy Mason from . . .”

  “Hi Judy, it must be important if you are calling me. What’s up?”

  “I need to see you. I need to talk to you in person . . . as soon as possible.”

  “My wife is having a girl-thing with her friends and I’m in charge of the kids. I’m at home, if you want to come over.”

  “Now?”

  “Sure.”

  BB and GPS Mom got her to the other side of town and a pleasant mid-three-hundred thousand range suburb and a neat two story with a long front porch. Dion is in a porch swing holding a sleeping baby girl about ten months old. Piles of Lego’s and a dark haired boy of about six, firmly says, “Don’t step on anything” and then looks up at her with deep blue eyes and beautiful clear pudgy skin.

  “I promise. What are you making?”

  “Helicopter, it’s new.”

  “Have a seat Judy, I’ll put Lila down. Want a drink? I’ve got Kool-Aid, apple juice or water.”

  “I’m good.”

  Dion closes the door softly. It’s nice here. Quiet, clean smelling and the sound of a distant lawnmower adds to the pleasant hum of the neighborhood.

  “Damn.”

  Judy scoots off the swing and sits near the boy. “What’s the matter?”

  “It doesn’t fit! And Daddy’s going to be mad I said, damn.”

  “I won’t tell.”

  “You won’t?”

  She shakes her head no. She’s never seen Lego’s before, except in boxes at a store or ads. “How do they work?”

  He’s explaining them to her and like magic he figures it out.

  “Look Daddy, I did it!” He yells as Dion quietly closes the screen door.

  “That’s great. Do you have a battery?”

  The boy jumps up and crashes through the same door.

  “I’d yell be quiet, you’ll wake your sister, but he’ll just scream out he won’t and wake her up for sure.” Dion laughs.

  It is funny. She laughs too.

  “Your call was unexpected Judy, what gives.”

  “Was it really?”

  His face falls and he’s startled wondering what he’s missed. “Yes.”

  Believing him, she tells him everything. He gets more excited by the minute. We’re only interrupted for a couple minutes while we admire Kevin’s Lego helicopter.

  “The only real threat is Simon Perry taking the product line away. But even then our figures show that the Perry line represents only slightly more than thirty-percent of sales. It’s significant, but survivable.”

  Dion summarizes. “Yes, but not having it could cause quality issues.” Dion runs his hands through his hair and over his face. “So by merging the three companies, Perry would suffer lost sales greater than that. If I have the resources and support, you believe I could build the business enough so he’d be an idiot not to let us keep the line. That puts a lot of pressure on me, Judy.”

  “Is that a problem for you? You won’t be alone like you are now, Dion. I’ll throw everything I have into getting you what you need. I have strong, smart people at Stalwart and you’ll have the pick of the litter from Wade and Shockley.”

  “When would I have to decide?”

  “You have until eight in the morning. After that I’m dead.”

  Dion gets out of the swing so fast she’s launched backwards and Kevin screams because his Daddy is stepping on his Lego’s.

  “I’m not good at managing Judy. I didn’t know that, but I do now.”

  “I know.” She smiles at him calmly. “But you’re an incredible salesman and networker. What I see, is that you will do what you do best and I’ll handle the rest. I am a good manager. All that pressure will be off your shoulders, you’ll be free to do your work. You’ll be the face, smile and heart of the mechanical division or whatever you want to name it with an experienced team of talented people to support you.”

  He grins at her and looks very much like his son, who’s looking at her with the same grin.

  “For project bids, I have the best there is. Tell us what you want, we’ll do the work, you make the pitch, sign the deal and get a bonus. I hope you get to go to bank often.”

  “So I just walk away from my business. Close the doors and let everything go to Stalwarts.”

  “Yes. You won’t have to go back there anymore.”

  His arms wrap around her shoulders and he hugs hard.

  “Just so we’re clear. I need you too Dion. Simon will crush me and put me out of business. I’ll fight for you, if you fight for me. We both win, if we pull together.”

  “Hey, no messing around with my impressionable son watching,” cute, bubbly and looks like a kindergarten teacher, Dion’s wife marches up the sidewalk.

  Dion hugs Judy tighter and she feels him grinning at his wife.

  She’s asked Dion to get her a summary of his business and growth plans, current inventory, and a P&L for the past year or so. She needs it for the staff meeting in the morning. He gulps.

  “I know it’s a lot of work. You don’t have to get fancy, just the facts. Use a pencil if you want. Work all night, if you have to. You can rest easy tomorrow. I’ll handle everything else that is if you call me by eight o’clock tomorrow morning.”

  He looks like he’s going to speak. “Don’t say anything now. Talk to your wife. Think about it. I want you sure and ready to play. If you come in with us, things will move quickly. You should have your first paycheck by the end of the week and you will have earned it.”

  Chapter 13. Simon Sunday

  Leaving Dion and his beautiful family, Judy realizes she’s starved. Usually Steven has made her his special green/gray sludge by now. Weekends have advantages and disadvantages. “BB, what do you want? McDonald’s?”

  BB races by McDonald’s but slows down near a small deli that she’s never seen before, let alone eaten there. The parking lot has one car in front. That could be good or that could be very bad. She’s not picky. Food is food.

  There are two tables. One is occupied. Judy never eats in BB it would destroy the manly new-car smell that she inhales and enjoys every time she opens his door.

  The menu is written in white caulk on a large blackboard over the cash register. She can’t see anyone, but hears people in the back. Finally, a young man about her age, dressed like a chef comes out. He looks like he’s been working hard.

  “Sorry, we got a huge take-out order to get done. What can I get for you?”

  “Diet Coke and whatever you want me to eat. Can I sit over there?”

  “Sure. Are you Kosher? Allergic? Vegetarian?”

  She shakes her head no to his questions. He claps his hands together and dashes to the back. She sits so she can keep in eye o
n BB. The deli is just off a four-lane road with heavy traffic, a car or truck could blow a tire and come crashing into him. She keeps a sharp eye on traffic.

  “Diet Coke.” A pretty girl, younger than she is, puts it on the table along with a generous stack of napkins. “My husband is working up something special for you. I thought you might need these.” She smiles big and dashes away.

  Waiting for the chef husband to bring her something special, she calls Franklin and asks if she can come over in about an hour. He says they’ll be home, but doesn’t ask any questions. He’s a good man and she feels privileged that someone of his experience and reputation works with her.

  The chef husband comes to the counter carrying a huge cardboard box. It smells delicious and she guesses that it must be the carry-out order. “If he doesn’t show up, I’ll kill him. This order has just about cleaned me out for today, but that’s okay, I close at four Sunday’s.” The chef husband smiles at her and shrugs.

  She’s startled wondering if he’s going to kill the cat to feed her. That would be special. She’s finished her Diet Coke, not realizing that she was really thirsty. She sucks on some ice and plays with her straw while she waits for something special.

  It’s huge and the smell is amazing and her mouth waters just looking at it.

  “Smoked ham, thick sliced bacon from Julie’s Dad’s farm and my newest creation a cheese and roasted pepper sauce served on a freshly baked Julie bun. What’s your name?”

  “Judy.”

  He goes to the blackboard and adds a menu item -- Judy-Judy-Judy w/Julie Bun $15.50. “Julie, come and see.” The chef husband’s wife, who’s name must be Julie, comes out to see the board and they stand looking at her.

  Oh, taste it. It takes a minute to figure out how to pick it up without spilling the sauce all over the place. She gives up and crouches over the plate and lets it fall. It’s heaven on a crusty outside, soft inside bun that melts in her mouth and leaves the crispy bacon and tender ham to play together with the sauce.

  It’s so rich and delicious; she immediately thinks of asking for a spoon so she can eat all it. They’re still watching her. She turns and smiles with sauce dripping down her chin. The husband chef and Julie the baker wife, high-five each other and disappear in the back.