Dany
I don’t mention the phone call to the girls. Nor the bungee jumping, nor the complications with Jack, or Shawn.
The girls are happy and laughing about the hair cutting party and Cleopatra’s aptitude for dancing.
“Let’s hear another story about David,” says Matilda after they’ve all settled in.
“Bah. Not David,” says Cleopatra.
“Oh, yes. It’s been ages,” agrees Sylvie. She picks up her knitting needles and starts work on the blanket. It has three different-colored rows of flowers now. Purple, red and yellow.
“Hmm, yes…David Crestwood. Where were we?” asks Gerry.
“He was shipwrecked in Russia,” says Matilda. She leans forward with her hands folded in her lap. Eager as a kid in a kitten store. She has on a sweater with a cat talking on a telephone.
“Humph,” says Cleopatra.
Gerry begins, “When I arrived in Leningrad—”
“Bah, if you’ve you were in Leningrad during the Cold War, I’ll finally let that old coot Gregory take me to the dance hall.”
“Ooh, who’s Gregory?” asks Sylvie.
“No interruptions,” says Matilda.
You can tell it hurt her to say it, because clearly she wants to know who Gregory is too.
Gerry continues. “As I was saying, when I disembarked, I immediately began asking the locals if they had any news of a shipwrecked American. I had a small picture of him. For weeks, I searched. I was followed and watched by officials. No one had any news. No one would speak to me.”
“Because you weren’t there and he doesn’t exist,” says Cleo.
Gerry shoots Cleopatra a stern glare. “Finally, when I was moments from giving up, a washer woman found me. She told me that a local crime lord took David prisoner and sold him to work in the diamond mines of Siberia. My hope restored, I hitchhiked a ride with a gypsy caravan traveling eastward.”
“Bah, I can’t take it. Fast forward to where you find him.”
“No interruptions,” says Matilda.
“Dear, you do realize that your story is stretching the bounds of credibility?” asks Sylvie.
Gerry sticks her tongue out and gives Cleopatra and Sylvie a raspberry. Then she smooths her sparkling, hot pink track suit and continues.
“After two months of travel adventures, which I will not relate…” She meaningfully looks at Cleopatra. “I arrived at the diamond mine. I dressed as an eccentric wealthy foreigner and asked for a tour. David was not there.”
“Of course he wasn’t,” mumbles Cleo.
“He’d escaped. All the guards were talking of it. The American who had overpowered them and daringly led a rebellion. They believed he’d made his way to Finland.”
“Did he?” asked Matilda.
“No,” says Gerry. She closes her eyes. Her eyelids are coated in bright blue eye shadow.
“Then where did he go?” Matilda asks.
“China,” says Gerry.
“China,” breathes Matilda. “Steve and I always said we’d go to China.”
Gerry smiles at Matilda.
The nurse comes in. Chemo is finished. I’m free to go.
“See you girls later,” I say.
They say their goodbyes.
Even though I didn’t talk about my troubles, I feel more centered.
I don’t have to make any decisions right away.
I can work on my list and keep on with my life.
Shawn hasn’t called.
I’ll keep to my bargain with Jack.
Finish my list.
Survive.