Getting Old Can Hurt You by Rita Lakin

Author:Rita Lakin [Rita Lakin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2018-05-07T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-FOUR

Sophie and Bella go Shopping

Sophie waves her cane eagerly at the glistening turquoise car making its way toward them. ‘Here he comes,’ she says, poking Bella’s arm.

‘His car matches my sneakers,’ Bella says happily.

They are waiting at what used to be their special getaway place, at the front gate of Lanai Gardens. Far enough away so that they won’t be seen by Gladdy or Evvie or Ida. A place to wait, when they want to do something that maybe the others wouldn’t approve of. Like today.

For a moment, they see no one at the wheel. Is the car driving itself? No, it’s just short, funny-looking Izzy, as expected. Their driver pulls up and jumps out, with a dazzling bow from the waist practically to the cement. A car so big and a driver so little.

Bella pinches Sophie. ‘Look how dressed up Izzy is?’ She giggles every time she does an ‘Izzy is’ comment. ‘He’s wearing splats on his black-and-white shoes.’

‘I think those are called spats. Wonder where he got those old styles.’

Bella claps her hands. They can hear music blasting from his radio. ‘“Oh! My Papa”! I love that song. I hope he leaves that Eddie Fisher on.’

‘Forget the music,’ Sophie says, sounding like a person who would carry a whip. ‘We are going out on a serious mission.’

Bella sighs. ‘You always have to be a party pooper.’

Sophie pretends a great interest in cars, as if she knows anything about that subject. ‘Love your wheels,’ she says, wanting to sound hip. ‘Is it new?’

Izzy grins. ‘You are looking at a piece of history. This is a gen-u-wine Ford Edsel V-8 coupé I purchased in 1959. Color, Light Aqua, a beauty. People laughed when I bought it.’

He waits for a response; the girls have no idea what he expects them to say.

Izzy gives them a short auto lesson. ‘It was Henry Ford’s first and only failure. Named for his son. His timing was off. I paid two thousand bucks brand new and they were glad to be rid of it.’

The girls, unmoving and clueless, are waiting for a punch line.

‘Guess. Guess how much it’s worth today?’ He snaps his fingers.

Sophie tries. ‘Two thousand, five hundred?’

Izzy is peacock proud. ‘Not even close, babe. It’s now an antique. I’ve already been offered forty-one thousand!’

‘Wow!’ both girls say dutifully. In awe, but they don’t know why, really.

With another gallant bow, their snazzily outfitted chauffeur opens the door for them. ‘Hop in and let’s take care of those hurting legs.’

On their way to Miami Beach, Izzy asks, ‘How come you didn’t call for an Uber? Or Lyft? They are everywhere and cheaper than a taxi. Not that I mind driving you, as long as it isn’t next Tuesday, when I’m gonna be busy.

‘What’s anuber?’ Bella asks.

‘You know. You hit the app on your iPhone …’

‘What’s an ap? And we don’t got any of those phones.’

‘Never mind. Forget I asked.’

Izzy pulls into the garage at what looks like a high-rise fancy hotel, within a row of many luxurious hotels along the famous beach.

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