Tag Archive | fiction

Chapter 6—Belong

Oct9

Welcome to chapter 6! As always, remember that this is rough, unedited, free writing. Feel free to leave comments about anything regarding things you like, questions or suggestions. You can read all the previous chapters by clicking the links at the bottom of the page that should say “Chapter 5—Share” etc. Enjoy!

Chapter 6

Belong

 

Erin spent the rest of the day trying desperately not to worry and focus on the tasks she needed to accomplish. She sent her delivery guy, Kevin, to the front office personnel of the Oakland A’s with three dozen assorted bagels and a variety of spreads in recognition of a stellar season even though it ended with a heartbreaking loss to their east-coast rivals. It always paid to schmooze loyal customers. Plus, she was a big fan.

Returning phone calls, updating the web page and social media accounts, planning out the upcoming holiday season. One would think all that would be enough to take her mind off Hazel. But no.

Around 4:00, a text message flashed onto her phone screen: “Still on for tonight?”

Erin smiled as she pictured the sender. Her boyfriend of eight years (if you can call someone you held hands with in middle school your boyfriend), Cory Baker, would be sitting in his final class of the day, fighting to stay awake, his curly auburn hair disheveled from all the times he absentmindedly ran his fingers through it.

She picked up her phone and answered, “Yes! I have something to talk about with you. A mystery of sorts. Where we goin’?”

“How about Eclipse?” He mentioned the popular seafood restaurant in the Village. “Shouldn’t be too crazy on a Tuesday night.”

“Perf. Come by the shop and get me when you’re ready.”

Cory was a grad student in English Lit at Cal. His dream was to write and teach at the university level. He and Gordon always had a lot to talk about when it came to “professoring” as they liked to call it. Cory was putting himself through school by working at Village Books just two doors down from the bagel shop, and being a grad assistant. Erin was hoping that the next couple of years would see her gaining the perfect last name for someone running a bagel shop, even if she wasn’t the one doing the actual baking. Eight years was long enough to know what she wanted.

Knowing Cory wouldn’t totally buy into her anxiety about Hazel, Erin did the next best thing, she texted his best friend, Scott, their local hero cop who, while probably not one to see intrigue around every corner, would know what to do next.

“Anywhere near the shop to chat for a minute?”

One never knew what Scott could be doing at any given moment, so she didn’t sit watching her phone waiting for a reply, but the ding! of his reply came quickly.

“Wrapping up my shift. Be there in 10.”

As she waited for Scott to arrive, Erin scrolled through her newsfeed to see if anything interesting had happened in the larger world today. Thankfully, she didn’t get very far in the bad-news barrage before hearing the tinkle of the front door bell and heard Adrian’s cheerful greeting of her friend.

“Lookin’ good in the neighborhood, Mr. Scott! Thank you for protecting and serving!”

Scott’s soft laugh followed as Erin went to her office door to greet him.

Denzel Washington had nothing on Scott Preston. Tall, toned, a sweet smile that lit up a room, Scott was fresh out of the Police Academy and dedicated to helping his community be a better place for everyone. Cliché? Maybe, but Scott was the real deal. Erin knew he would take her seriously even if he wouldn’t panic as she had been doing all day.

She met him with a hug and offered him whatever he wanted from the case up front. He chose a Rolling Bagel—one that looked like it had been rolled through the garden and picked up every seed available—and a spread called “Fire” that had just a bit of a jalapeño kick in its cream cheese.

“Tough day at the office?” Erin grinned as she led him to a small table near the front window.

“The usual busting up crime rings and helping little old ladies across the street,” Scott quipped as he smeared his bagel with the cream cheese.

Erin laughed. Her deep desire was that Scott and Pepper would get together. But Pepper refused to see Scott as more than just a friend. Erin would work on that.

“So what’s up, Buttercup?” Scott asked. “Not that I don’t just enjoy your company, but I think you had more on your mind than just to feed a hungry soul.”

Erin sat quiet for just a moment, and then launched into her story of the voicemail and her worry over Hazel. “Do you think there’s anything to her theory that the accident was intentional?” she finally asked.

Scott, to his credit, didn’t laugh in her face and call her a worrywart. He looked serious and asked a few follow-up questions for which Erin had no answers. A 30-second voicemail wasn’t much to go on.

“I don’t know, Erin,” Scott finally answered. “It’s both unusual and not unusual that Hazel would miss a day in the village. She’s done it before. Maybe she’s not feeling well and unplugged her phone so she could rest. If it will make you feel better, I can swing by her place on my way home. It’s not too far out of my way.”

Erin sighed in relief. “That would be great. I don’t want to worry, but it’s just so strange.”

“She belongs to our Clairmont family, Erin. It’s OK to worry a little. I’ll let you know what I find out. I can’t enter her home if she doesn’t answer, though. Not unless I have a compelling reason.” Scott finished his snack and brushed the crumbs onto his plate.

“I’ll take that.” Erin stood and held her hand out for his plate and water cup. “Thanks for stopping by. I’ll try not to worry.”

Heading toward the door, Scott turned and said, “Tell Cory I’m down for a pick-up game of b-ball this weekend if he think he can take the competition.”

Erin laughed and waved and she took the dishes to the kitchen to be washed.

Family. That’s certainly how she thought of all her friends.

 

 

Chapter 5—Share

Oct5

Welcome to Chapter 5! Remember this is a totally freewritten, unedited rough draft, so comments, critiques, concerns are all welcome. If you’re just coming into this story at chapter 5, you can find the rest of the chapter by going to the Table of Contents and clicking the prompts.

Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Share

 

“So what’s up, girlfriend?” Pepper inquired when they walked out the door and headed the two blocks to Clairmont Comics and Such.

“You haven’t seen Hazel around today, have you?” Erin asked hopefully.

“I haven’t,” Pepper answered, “but that’s not unusual. She usually just pops into your place and then heads to the park or home. She doesn’t tend to stick around town. Is there some problem?”

“Well,” Erin hesitated, feeling a little silly, but still worried enough to keep going. “She doesn’t always show up, but she left this really strange message on the shop’s voicemail. “ Erin stepped aside as a mom pushing a double stroller rolled past them on the sidewalk.

“What do you mean by ‘strange,’” Pepper asked.

Erin stopped at the corner and waited for a couple of cars to pass before she stepped off the curb and continued. “She said she had uncovered something that would prove that the accident 20 years ago that killed Bernie and Bryan wasn’t really an accident and that she was scared.”

“Whaaat?” exclaimed Pepper. “Do you think that’s just some of her crazy ramblings? She can sometimes have conspiracy theories, you know. Remember when she was convinced that putting aluminum foil on her roof would keep the aliens from listening in to her conversations? With nobody, ever, because she never lets anyone into her house?”

“I know, I know,” Erin conceded. “But this time she sounded really scared. Her voice was different. She’s never shared any kind of information like this before.”

They stopped as they reached the entrance to Clairmont Comics. “Do you think we ought to look for her?” Erin asked. “I mean, I know it has only been a few hours. But it’s not really like her to not come into the village and to not answer her phone.”

Pepper pulled open the door. “Let’s just see what today turns up, OK, Salty?” Erin grinned at the endearment. “Maybe she had a doctors appointment. Or maybe her phone’s not working. Or maybe she slept through the ringing. There’s all kinds of scenarios that could be true.”

“OK, you’re probably right. Harry pretty much said the same thing. I’ll try not to worry. Thanks for letting me share my concern.”

Pepper waved goodbye and stepped into her realm while Erin headed back to Be My Bagel. The sound of a siren in the distance did nothing to ease her mind.

Chapter 4—Why

Oct5

Welcome to Chapter 4! Remember this is a very rough draft, so feel free to comment on things you like or what doesn’t make sense.

Enjoy!

Chapter 4

Why

 

Things got busy in the shop after that, and Erin went to lend a hand at the counter. By the time the mid-morning coffee-break crowd had cleared out, it was nearing noon and Erin still hadn’t seen any sign of Hazel.

Granted, Erin remembered days when Hazel hadn’t shown up. They were few, but it just seemed a little creepy that she hadn’t show up today, after her cryptic voicemail. Why had she left that message when she knew no one would be there? Why hadn’t she called Erin’s cell phone? She had the number. Why was she afraid? And why wasn’t she answering her phone? Erin had never known her to go many places. She mostly stayed in her big empty falling down house.

Just then, the bell over the front door jingled, and Erin looked up to see her best friend, Pepper Robbins, breeze into the shop.

“Pepper!” greeted Adrian with enthusiasm. “Looking good today, girl!”

Pepper was well known in the shop as she stopped there often, and her flamboyant dress style usually caught people’s attention. Today’s ensemble included a bright pink pencil skirt paired with a multi-colored, striped peasant blouse and pink sequined sneakers.

Erin grinned at her bestie and leaned in to give her a hug. “Here for lunch?” Erin asked.

Although they were a bagel shop, they catered to the lunch bunch a bit by having some sandwiches—on bagels of course—ready made in the cold case.

“Nah, I’m good for today,” Pepper answered. “Just wanted to pop in and see your pretty face. Needed a pick-me-up from the slow times at the store.”

Pepper worked as the sales manager for the Variety store two blocks down, near the Safeway grocery store. She helped diversify their offerings from the as-seen-on-tv trinkets to a comic book fanatics dream of issues and paraphernalia from the Marvel Universe—Pepper’s personal fave—and its rival universe, DC. Their busy time was when the kids got out of school in the late afternoon.

Having been friends since grade school, Pepper and Erin often were called “Salt and Pepper” for their opposite coloring and the fact that you could always find them together. They had spent a lot of time at each other’s houses and even gone to Berkeley together. Pepper had excelled and graduated near the top of her class and even earned her MBA in record time. Of course, with her father, the Rev. Michael Robbins breathing down her neck, she could do no less.

Erin had a healthy fear of Rev. Robbins. He was a large man with a booming voice that garnered respect from his congregation at the big AME church downtown. But he really was a softy when it came to his only daughter. She was the youngest of five and having four older brothers was no easy task. But Pepper seemed able to keep them on their toes.

Erin loved her like a sister.

“I need to talk to you,” Erin told Pepper.

“Sure,” Pepper responded with a curious look. “I can’t stay anyway, so why don’t you walk me back to the store.”

Erin told Adrian she’d be back in a few minutes, and they headed out into the October sunshine.

Chapter 3—Believe

Oct5

Welcome to chapter 3! Remember this is a freewrite, highly unedited rough draft. Leave comments for things you like or don’t understand.

Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Believe

 

Erin sat stunned after she listened to the message over again. Bernie and Bryan were Hazel’s husband and 5-year-old son who had been killed in an auto accident 20 years before. What in the world could she be talking about? Hazel was a regular in the shop, and Erin had known her all her life. Ever since she lost her family, Hazel had turned inward. Her house was falling down around her and she wouldn’t let anyone come and help. She still managed to come into the store nearly every mid-morning for her favorite Sly and the Family Bagel with a smear of California Creamin’.

What could Hazel have meant by her message? What had she found out? As far as Erin knew, there had never been any question about the car accident being just that. It had been a foggy night as is common in the hills above Clairmont. Bernie and Bryan had been coming home from T-ball practice. Bernie was a careful driver, but the fog can be disorienting. Erin had just been a small child at the time, but she remembered her parents talking about it. The guardrail above the canyon road hadn’t been able to keep them from going over the side. It had been a great tragedy.

Erin punched Hazel’s number into her cell phone. Drumming her fingers on her oak desk, Erin waited while the phone on the other end rang. And rang. And rang.

Maybe she’s on her way here, Erin thought. It was a little early, but Hazel didn’t always keep to her schedule. Knowing Hazel didn’t have voicemail, Erin hung up after a dozen rings and decided to try again later. It was hard to believe that Hazel could have uncovered something after 20 years, but Erin wasn’t going to dismiss the fear she had heard in Hazel’s voice.

When Hazel hadn’t shown up by 10:00, Erin tried calling again, with the same results. She was definitely getting worried. She picked up her phone again and dialed her Uncle Harry.

“Y’ello,” Harry answered on the second ring.

“Hey, Harry. It’s Erin. Gotta question for you.”

“Shoot me straight, little girl, “ Harry said in his usual breezy way.

“Take me back 20 years to the night of the Hodges’ accident. Was there ever any question about what happened there?” Erin questioned.

“Not that I can think of,” Harry answered. “Why you askin’? That was a long time ago.”

“Hazel left me a very cryptic message on voicemail,” Erin explained. “Said she was scared. She had uncovered something that showed the accident was not really an accident.”

“Erin, you know Hazel’s a few cards short of a full deck,” Harry came back. “I mean, I love her and all, but she’s a little loopy.”

“I know, Harry,” Erin conceded. “But this time sounded different. She’s never left a message like that before. I’ve tried to call her a couple of times, but she hasn’t answered.”

“Doesn’t she usually come in the shop about this time?” Harry asked. “I bet she’ll be there any minute and not even remember she left such a message. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.”

“OK, Uncle Harry. You’re probably right. I just worry about her sometimes,” Erin said. “You gonna come by some time today?”

“Nah,” Harry answered. “I’ve got some things I wanna get done around the house. And I think I’m gonna meet Gordy for lunch on campus.”

Gordon Harrison was Harry’s brother and Erin’s father, an Economics professor at U.C. Berkeley. Gordon had been a widower ever since Erin’s mom had passed away from pancreatic cancer seven years earlier. She was glad the brothers were close, even though they were so different.

“OK,” Erin replied. “Give him bunches of kisses for me.”

Harry barked out a hearty laugh, “Oh yeah, I’ll be sure to do just that, little girl. Don’t you worry.”

They hung up and Erin sat for another few minutes, wondering about just what might have happened that night 20 years ago.

Chapter 2—Afraid

Oct5

Welcome to the next chapter of my 31 Days of Writing story! Just as a reminder, this is a very rough draft of totally freewriting with very little editing involved. If I find I like the story and feel it has potential, I will spend much more time on it. I would love, love, love any comments or ideas to make it better or things that don’t make sense, so leave a comment!

Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Afraid

 

A dim light shone from the kitchen as Erin unlocked the front door and flipped on the overhead light at a few minutes before opening time of 7:30 a.m. Bonnie and Barry had been the husband and wife baker team at Be My Bagel for more than 20 years. They had won acclaim for their bagels from “The Tribune” and even the snooty “Chronicle” along with plenty of foodie websites. They were the dream team of bagel making and Harry was lucky to have them. Now in their late 50s, Bonnie and Barry had an easy rapport with each other and the counter crew, and seemed to love the routine of graveyard baking.

Erin didn’t know how they did it. But she guessed never having kids helped them just make their own schedule. They were willing to try new recipes and loved Harry’s 60s-themed monikers for their creations, having been born in that era themselves. Their personal favorites included Led Bagelin and The Zombagels. The names didn’t really have much to do with how they tasted, but coming up with 60s bands to name them after always made for hilarious staff meetings.

Peeking her head in the warm confines of the kitchen, Erin called a greeting to the team. “Smelling good, as always, guys,” she said as she surveyed the well-organized shelves and counter space of the stainless steel palace. “Keep up the good work!”

Barry and Bonnie looked up in tandem and waved hands covered in flour. “Mornin’, Sweetie!” Bonnie called. “We’re going to try out a new pumpkin spice recipe today, since it’s fall and all that. We’re thinking of calling it ‘The Rolling Bagels.’ Whaddya think?”

Erin laughed and replied, “Sounds perfect to me. I’ll get a display card ready in the case.” As she was walking out the door she called, “Opening in 7 minutes!”

As she moved throughout the spacious shop, turning on lights in the cases and checking various paper supplies, Erin smiled inwardly at the popular décor. People really did come from around the Bay Area and beyond to gaze at the framed photos of 60s greats and autographed albums covers that graced the walls. Harry had an amazing talent for finding treasures in seedy second-hand shops, and sweet talking signatures from the aging greats.

He was particularly proud of the Beach Boys photo featuring himself and Dennis Wilson catching some waves in late ‘67 down in San Onofre. Just before Wilson went a little cockeyed and started hanging out with Charles Manson. Yeah, that happened. Weird.

Erin served the few early morning customers until her counter help, Adrian, came in. As manager, she liked to spend some time serving their guests, but much of her expertise lay in the office where she scheduled the workers, ordered supplies, managed their social media accounts and websites, and generally kept the place running for her Uncle Harry.

As she settled behind the desk in her cozy office, sipping her second cup of coffee for the day, Erin picked up the handset of the retro telephone to check their voicemail for any catering or carry out orders that might have come in late yesterday or overnight. As she went through her prompts to access voicemail, she flipped through the calendar to see if anything had slipped her mind.

Her first voicemail was a small, timid voice asking if they happened to be hiring. The time stamp said 11:30 p.m. Hmm, someone was a night owl. She jotted down the number to give, who was it? Oh yes, Suzy, a call back to let her know they had no positions available at the moment, but if she wanted to come in and fill out an application, she’d be glad to keep it on file. She was old school that way.

The next message caught her full attention. A shaky voice came on. “Erin? Erin, it’s Hazel. I, I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid. I think, I think I know what happened to Bryan and Bernie. Erin? Erin? I don’t think it was an accident.”