In the evening of the day on which Rose removed all her belongings from the apartment, Monica's new roommate ushered herself in.
Monica had met the redhead several weeks earlier and, although they received each other well, there was an inkling of distrust from Monica's point of view. She didn't bother to share her premonition with anyone, particularly with Rose. There wasn't any real value in upsetting Rose, because of the important event about to take place in her life. The time slipped by and Monica allowed her inclination to do the same. It wasn't until Midge Zapada moved in, that Monica remembered their meeting.
"How have you been?" asked Monica of Midge, who had dropped on the floor after bringing her last box of clothing into the living room.
"I feel pretty tired, especially now, after acting like a mover, but I am glad that was the last," Midge answered, kicking the carton with her left foot. "If you will show me where to put my things, Monica, I will clean up the junk I have strewn around the rooms. But first, let me rest a few more minutes?"
"You can rest all night if you wish," said Monica. "In fact, you can go to sleep right on the floor and I will bring you a blanket from the closet."
"That would be okay, Monica, if I didn't have to put away all my stuff."
While Midge was resting between tasks, Monica studied her closely. She wondered why the beautiful redhead hadn't as yet found herself a husband. Midge was very attractive and her fiery glistening hair radiated her face. Her features were sharp and her skin was tanned.
Why had Midge, a young lady of thirty, not tied the knot with some good-looking man? Maybe we will find the answer to the question as we continue on as roommates, thought Monica. Most of all, there is nothing wrong with any part of her body that I can see. At least all the parts are movable and in place.
"Time to get up and get the things in their places." said Midge, rising from the carpet. "You want to show me exactly how much space I can have in your apartment, Monica?"
"Heck, yes. Follow me to the bedroom and I will show you which half of the room is yours." Monica turned her wheelchair around and started for the bedroom.
Midge followed.
The following morning when the sun was pushing its rays through the aluminum window onto the bed where Monica slept, she was awakened by the bustling of Midge, who was moving from the bathroom to the bedroom.
"I didn't think you would be up so soon after moving yesterday," said Monica, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
"Since I have quite a number of things to do today, I have to get a running start and try to accomplish them all. And I cannot get anything done if I stay in bed, even though Sunday is the day for resting."
"Do you want any cereal to eat, Midge?"
"No, Monica, I will stop on my way to my former address and have someone else prepare breakfast for me. I hate to eat in the mornings most of the time anyhow, but after moving yesterday, my appetite today has increased. You shouldn't expect me back until late, Monica."
"Okay.
Midge was dressed in white halter and blue shorts.
"Are you going to be here the remainder of the day, Monica?"
"Possibly, but I will not know until Jack gives me a call later."
"Do you have an extra key so I can get back in if you happen to go out?"
"Yes, there is the key Rose had over in the top drawer of the dresser."
Midge walked over and pulled on the handles and glanced inside the opening.
"Here it is," she said, picking the key from the drawer. "Guess I am ready so I will see you later on, Monica. Have a good day or morning now that I woke you up."
"That is okay, Midge, I will fall back to sleep for a few more winks."
Monica heard the door to the apartment slam as Midge left, then she laid her head back down on the pillow covered by a pink and white case and pursued dreamland once more.
The ringing of the telephone ten times aroused Monica from a sound sleep. "Wonder if that could be Jack," she said, opening her mouth wide.
She reached for her wheelchair to pull it close to the bed. After moving her body into the seat, she grabbed the wheels and began to push her carrier toward the table where the telephone was stationed.
While waiting for the phone to ring again, Monica picked up last evening's paper and thumbed through the pages to the theater section. She glanced through the movies playing at the drive-ins, then those listed for the shows in Monroeville.
The telephone rang.
Monica reached for the receiver and said, Hello."
"Hi, Monica."
"Jack, how are you doing this fine morning?"
"Pretty good, how would you like to go for a ride in the country?"
"Sounds good to me, Jack. When do you want to leave?"
"Could you be ready in half an hour or so?"
"I would like to make something to eat before we go, so could you make it an hour, maybe?"
"Just be ready in thirty minutes, Monica, and we will have a bite to eat along the way."
"Okay, Jack."
"See you then."
"Jack, Jack, where are we going?"
"I thought we might zip out to Seven Springs. Ever been there before?"
"No, but people I know who have visited there have liked it."
"I'll be ready, Jack."
"Right."
She replaced the receiver.
Unknown to Monica and Jack, who were on their way to Seven Springs, Midge was sitting at a telephone booth in Wilkinsburg. She was holding a small book and going through the pages, using a pencil to check off the people she had already contacted.
Midge closed the black ledger on her yellow writing pencil and set the package onto the booth's shelf. She placed her fingers into the slots and dialed the next number, which was in her memory bank.
The ringing on the other end continued for seven times before there was an answer. "Hello," came a response.
"Is this Mr. Jackson?"
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
This is MZ and I want to give you a new number where I can be reached whenever you want to use my services."
"Wait until I get a pencil," replied the male voice on the other end.
"Sure, Mr. Jackson. Go ahead."
There was silence on the opposite side of the line for about one minute. "I have one, give me the number."
She recited the telephone codes for him, then hung up the receiver to check off another one of her clients. Midge dialed the next individual and when a woman's voice answered, Midge immediately hung up. "Must be the guy's wife," she said, "can't get him into trouble. Let her think it is an obscene phone caller."
An hour later, Midge had finished placing all the calls to the men she wanted to contact. She was walking from the booth, whenever a blue car pulled up alongside the curb and stopped. The driver leaned over to the passenger's window and looked closely at Midge.
"How much do you charge?"
"Nothing, Mack!" she yelled. "Get the hell out of here before I call the cops."
"You are not going to call the police because they would pick you up rather than me."
"That's what you think, crap head."
Midge turned and walked quickly to her car. She opened the door and started the engine, then pulled away from the curb. The blue car waited until she pulled away, then began to follow her.
"That s.o.b. is following me," she said, after looking into the rear view mirror. "Now I will have to see if I can get rid of him." Midge pulled up to a light which was changing yellow, then sped through. "See if you can still follow me, now, you turkey."
The man who tried to pick her up waited for the light to change and then sped off after Midge. She wasn't too surprised to see him catch her at the following intersection. Midge glanced in the sport mirror on the side of her auto and saw a police van pull up behind the man. She opened her car door after stepping on the brakes, and waved at the driver of the van.
The officer on the passenger's side got out of the vehicle and walked towards Midge. "What is wrong?" asked the curly-haired fellow.
Midge moved with her swinging body over to meet the man in front of the blue car.
She pointed to the fellow with the mustache inside the car that had been following her and said, "This creep has been on my tail and said nasty things to me back a ways along the street."
"Is that true, buddy?" asked the officer.
"No, she is mistaken. I am on my way home. Can I help it if she is going the same way?"
"Let me see your driver's license, please?" asked the policeman.
"Take it out of your wallet."
The man inside the car flipped through his brown billfold and had trouble locating his card. "Why don't you continue on, ma'am?" said the officer, "and we will look after your friend, here."
"Thanks," said Midge.
She walked back to her car and got in.
The men in blue and the man looking for his license watched her disappear from sight. "Here it is," commented the individual inside the auto.
"Hand it here," said the officer.
"How long are you going to keep me here?" asked the man.
"Long enough for that woman to get where she is going and I am going to advise you not to follow her. We are going to record your name and address and license number for future reference. If we have any complaints from that redhead or any other woman concerning a man driving a blue car, we will know where to look."
"You can't do this to me."
"Would you like to wager a few bucks on that, Mack?"
"Yes."
The police officer turned to his driver partner and shouted, "Bill, run a check through the computer to see if this car has any record associated with it."
"Wait a minute, you don't have to do that. I promise you I will get on home and not cause any problems."
"Maybe you are afraid we will find out something on the check we are going to make?"
"You won't find anything on this car or me because I have never been in trouble with the law."
"Good, then you will certainly not mind waiting until we make sure of you, will you?"
The man hit his right hand against the steering wheel.
"You shouldn't do that," commented the officer, "you are liable to hurt the wheel." The policeman inside the van signaled there was nothing on the car.
"Okay, buddy, you can go, but keep your nose out of tailing women." The man grabbed his card and drove away.
Midge was in bed whenever Monica arrived home that evening at ten o'clock.
Monica tried to creep into the bedroom without too much fanfare and tried not to awaken Midge. "Did you have a good time?" inquired Midge, rolling over to speak with Monica.
"I tried to sneak in here without too much noise, Midge, because I didn't know you were awake."
"You didn't have to worry about getting me up, Monica, since I only went to bed about half an hour ago. Where did you go today?"
"To Seven Springs. Ever been there?"
"A number of times," answered Midge. "Did you like the place?"
"I think it is a terrific area to visit and to play at."
"Jack and I had a good time, and I had my first ride on a ski lift."
"Those things just chug along, don't they?"
"Yes, you really get a fantastic view from the ride."
"Guess I will try to get some sleep, Monica."
"Me too," said Monica, "that ride sure took some wind out of my sails."
"Do you want a ride to work, tomorrow, Monica?"
"If you don't mind having me along."
"I would love to have you as a passenger."
"Great, Midge, I am going to get ready for bed now, and I'll see you tomorrow morning."