After a late Saturday breakfast, Cliff asks Sally, “What time is it in San Francisco?”
She checks her watch. “It’s noon here. That makes it nine out there. Why?”
“Well, you’ve been urging me almost daily to call your mother and tell her she’s invited to Lew’s play opening.”
“Oh, good! You’re finally going to do it.”
“Yes. You think she’s out of bed?”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
He dials the number and gets an answer on the third ring. “Hi, Jane. It’s Cliff.”
“Big surprise, stranger. Everything all right?”
“Everything’s fine. I wanted you to know that Lew is going to star in a play on Broadway.”
“Wow!”
“That’s the word for it. He’s reserving opening night seats for you, Sally and me. Can you make it?”
“I wouldn’t miss it. You know how fond I am of Lew. When does the play open?
“March fifth. A revival of A Thousand Clowns.”
“Sally will be at Princeton. Can she get away?”
“You know Sally.”
“Right. It will be so good to see her again.”
“I’ll put her on the phone.”
“Hi, Mom. Isn’t it thrilling? You, me, and Dad together again.”
“You think your father wants to see me?”
“Dumb question.”
“Ok, Sal, I’ll be there. I’ve missed you.”
“We’ve missed you too.”
“We?”
“Yes.”
“Pick me up at the airport on the fourth. No, better make it sooner. We should fly to New York on the fourth.”
“Why not fly to Cincy on the second? That’ll give you time to get reacquainted with Dad.”
“Suits me if it’s all right with Cliff.”
“He’s dying to see you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Hang on.” Sally hands the phone to Cliff. “Tell her you’re dying to see her.”
“Jane, I’m dying to see you.”
“It will be good to see you too. It’s been a long time.”
“Yes.”
“Tell Sal I said goodbye.” Cliff hangs up the phone and says to Sally, “Are you happy?”
“I’m ecstatic. And you?”
“Ecstatic.”
“Mom sounded happy.”
But, thinks Cliff, I doubt that Marie is going to be too happy about it. He says to Sally, “Any plans today?”
“Yes, I’ve got last-minute Christmas shopping to do. Jack is coming with me.”
“You two have been seeing a lot of each other.”
“Well, he’s all alone in that hotel.”
Cliff muses, I wonder. “So you’ll be using the car.”
“Yes. Is that ok?”
“Of course. If I go out, I’ll take a cab.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’d better leave. I told Jack I’d pick him up at one o’clock.”
“I hope he behaves himself.”
Sally laughs. “Jack’s ok. He’s just a bit edgy waiting to hear about the job.”
“These things take time.”
“Do you think he passed the test? Have you talked with your friend at the station?”
“Yes. He’s still trying to make up his mind, and I don’t want to pressure him. Jack has to get the job on his own.”
“Jack knows that.”
“I hope so.”
“Jack says that if he doesn’t get an answer soon, he might fly to New York to see Lew. Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“No, but I’m sure the young man will do what he thinks is in his best interest.”
“Wouldn’t you?”
“I guess so.”
“You don’t sound too enthusiastic. Don’t you want Jack to get ahead?”
“Sure, as long as he doesn’t hurt anybody along the way.”
“Don’t you trust him?”
“I’m not sure.”
“That’s what Judd said.”
“Maybe you should listen to Judd.”
“I’d rather listen to you. Jack is your family, not Judd’s. Besides, I think that Judd is just a little jealous.”
“Right. Well, you better go. It’s late.”
“Ok, Dad. Thanks for the use of the car.”
When he is alone, Cliff thinks that maybe he was wrong to get involved again with the Watertown Walkers. That side of the family has always been bad news. He wonders what Lew will say if Jack shows up when he’s busy in rehearsals. And he wonders what Marie will say when he tells her about the phone call to Jane. “Damn, he says, why does
life have to be so complicated?" He calls Marie and tells her he’s coming over. He smiles and decides it was a good thing he took his little blue pill before breakfast.
Last-minute shopping over, Sally asks Jack if he’d like to see the museum.
“I’d rather go someplace and get a drink. Suppose we go to my hotel room. I’ve got my own little bar there.”
“Don’t you think you’re drinking too much?”
“Sally, now you’re sounding like your father. What is this anyway, a plot to make Jack a good boy?”
“If you’re going to be nasty, I’ll drop you at the hotel and go home.”
“Then go. I can always find another girl.”
“Is that what I am, just another girl?”
“No, Sally, you’re the girl. Don’t you know that?
“I know that I’m your cousin, and you should not forget it.”
“Hell’s-fire, Cliff won’t let me forget it”
Sally laughs. “With good reason, it seems.”
“Come on, Sally. Just one drink. I’m getting thirsty.”
“And also horny.”
“Yes, Sally, that too.”
“Well, as you say, you can always find another girl.”
Jack grabs her arm roughly. “I was lying. I don’t want another girl.”
“Too bad. I’m going home.”
“Ain’t you going to drive me to the hotel?”
“Take a cab.”
Sally pulls away from Jack and hurries to her car.
Jack yells after her. “Don’t be mad, Baby. I was just fooling.”
When Sally is out of sight, Jack walks to the nearest bar and asks the bartender, “What time do the chicks come in?”
On the drive home, Sally decides that her father was right: Jack is a guy to keep a close eye on. But he is cute though, in a crude sort of way. Maybe he should take some lessons from Judd, and maybe gentleman Judd should take a few from him. She smiles and says, “What’s wrong with me? I’m the one that’s getting horny.”
Meanwhile, at Marie’s condo, Cliff is having a hard time explaining why he had called Jane. “It was Sally’s idea. She wants to see her mother.”
“What Sally wants is to see her mother and father together again.”
“Not when I tell her about you and me.”
“When do you plan to do that? During intermission of your brother’s play?”
“Of course not. I’ll tell her when you join us at the house on New Year’s Eve.”
“You’re kidding? I’m invited?”
“I don’t kid.”
“In that case, Tiger, want to come to bed?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
End
