The Proprietor's Song by Janet Goldberg

Author:Janet Goldberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Regal House Publishing
Published: 2023-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

6

Stopped at another traffic light, Cody switched on his headlights. “Haven’t made one yet. How’s that possible?”

“Thanks for driving me,” Stanley said.

“Well, you shouldn’t be driving yourself, especially at night. Out of the hospital a day and already on the go. Why not wait awhile, at least till tomorrow? Hell, someone might shoot you for a prowler.”

“‘Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous,’” Stanley said.

“Huh?” Cody started moving again.

“Over there on the church marquee all lit up.” Stanley pointed out his window. “Bishop First Congregational. What do you suppose that means?”

“How would I know?”

“No, really.”

Cody shook his head and sighed. “Okay. Give it to me again.”

“‘Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.’”

“Let’s see. No accidents. Just sometimes the Big Man in the sky won’t admit it. Pretty irresponsible in my book. Never been fond of religion.”

“So you don’t believe in anything?”

“Animals don’t. Have you ever seen a giraffe pray? A cat go into church?”

Stanley chuckled. “If there’s a mouse.”

Cody started to slow down again, another red light ahead. “Now that’s four. Maybe the Big Man’s getting even with me.” He pointed out the windshield. “See that all lit up? Now that’s my kind of marquee. Blade Runner. Harrison Ford and the girl with the weird hairdo. What’s her name?” The light turning, Cody started moving again. “Whatever happened to her?” He edged over to the right lane and then turned. “This it?” He switched on his brights and drove down a block. “Guess the city blew all its money on traffic lights.”

“It’s how people like it here. Dark. Like in Bridgeport. Less light, more stars. It’s the one over there on the left. Just pull up.”

Cody brought the car to a stop. “Is that how Bodie was—pitch dark?”

“Darker than dark.”

“Sure you don’t want help?”

Stanley took a twenty from his wallet. “Here. Grab a late dinner; then pick me up in an hour or so.”

“That’s a lot of burgers. Why don’t we get dinner together and let this wait till next week? It’s not easy, you know. Been through it myself.”

“Yourself?”

“My wife.”

“I didn’t know you had one.”

“Forty years ago in a canal in Davis where we used to live. That’s where they found her car. Never found her though. A couple years later I finally cleaned out her stuff to give to Goodwill. But who wants to see your wife’s clothes coming down the street on someone else? You know that’s what the Mormons did after they settled in the west. They murdered the Fancher party. Killed the adults, adopted their children, and wore their parents’ clothes. Of course the Mormons had it bad too. Persecuted as they were.” Cody reached across to the glove compartment and popped it open. “Here.” He handed Stanley a flashlight. “Electricity might be off. Don’t forget your bags.”

On the sidewalk, flashlight in hand, box of bags under his arm, Stanley watched Cody drive back up to Main Street. A dog started barking, the deep throaty bark of a large dog, but it seemed far off.

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