JANICE GOES TO HER FRIEND IN OHIO

The trip to Dublin was long enough to fuel Janice's dread of what she facing. Her last conversation with Evelyn echoed in her head. She slowed the car. Two deep breaths as she turned into Evelyn's driveway. She rang the bell the third time. Standing on tiptoe she tried to peer in the small window at the top of the door. Standing on tiptoe she tried to peer through the small window in the door.

As she   returned to her car for her phone the door opened. Evelyn came out. Bra-less, in an oversized T shirt and baggy shorts Evelyn said. "I thought you were  coming tomorrow." She brushed back her uncombed hair. "I was just straightening up."

Straightening up was needed. The house was a mess. Newspapers, magazines, cups, glasses covered the table, counter, and chairs. Janice could not restrain her gasp. "Evie, good God what is going on here?"

No answer. No answer was needed. The row of empty wine bottles told it all. Evelyn was silent.
"Evie." Evie burst into tears and fled.

Coming out of the bathroom with combed hair and dried tears she stood face to face with Janice. "I'm in a bad place."

Janice embraced her. "Well I'm here."

DEPENDABLE JANICE IS CALLED INTO SERVICE

Janice for the first time in what seemed like an eternity felt good. And not too soon for Mazie who missed time well spent with her old friend. Needless to say Mazie did not respond well when Janice announced her plans for an open ended visit to a cousin in Ohio.''

"What do you mean- you don't know how long? We have plans for the play series at the playhouse."

"I mean I don't know. Evelyn is going through a bad time right now. You surely remember how badly she took her husband's death. The whole family wondered about her sanity."

"My god, that was what-- eight or nine years ago. I don't mean to seem heartless, but isn't it about time she coped?"

"This is a little more complicated. And right now she's in need of somebody."

"Is she sick?"

"No at least not physically. But it is complicated and I don't feel comfortable telling anyone about it until I know it is ok with her. I do have to go, and I don't know how long I will be gone. As long as I'm needed."

Mazie hesitated before saying. "Well you have always been the available one-- for any of us as we needed you. I'll find someone else to go to the plays. But do keep in touch --please."

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Jewellee Cardwell

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MAZIE NEEDS A DOG

OLD PEOPLE 13

Janice ate sparingly; she drank less sparingly. She felt better. Mazie are more, drank less. “Hard to believe it’s nearly July 4th,” Mazie said. “I had in the back of my mind to plan a July 4th something. But since Clyde died I can’t seem to get organized. He was the planning master.”

Janice drained the last wine from her glass. “What you need, Mazie, is dog. Or a cat or a bird for god forbid a man. Alone is not the way to go.”

“I don’t need a cat or man or a dog.”

“But you like my dogs, don’t you?”

Mazie ran her finger around her plate, scraping up hardened cheese bits. “I love your dogs-- in your house. But not in my house. My god, Janice, I see how you’re plagued with dog hair-- everywhere-- everyday. That I do not need.”

The beagle Paddie and the ‘who knows what breed’ Kelly lay on either side of Janice’s chair. “Mazie, just look at them. So sweet. Sometimes when I feel so alone and can’t decide whether to sob or drink Paddie or Kelly or both circle around me demanding I meet their needs. When I do I feel better. I feel alive. I feel needed and loved. I’m telling you you need a pet.”

“Works for you maybe. But not for me.”

Then came the gasping, gurgling sound from Kelly. Janice was out of her chair, on her knees watching Kelly gasp for a breath. “Oh my god Mazie, call my vet.” Mazie was on the floor, arms around Kelly. She hugged, she tugged, she slapped, Kelly’s heaving body. Kelly gasped. Mazie hugged the dog tightly and squeezed. Kelly gulped; the gasping stopped. Mazie pulled Kelly to her chest.”

Janice I am so sorry.”

“Sorry? You were great. You saved her life.. I thought she was going to die.

“But it’s my fault. I slipped her pizza crust.” Silence. More silence. “I am really sorry.” Kelly nuzzled up against Mazie’s legs and licked her. A tear ran down Mazie’s cheek. “And you’re right, I need a dog.”

“Get your own, you can’t have Kelly.”

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FLORIDA TRIP CUT SHORT

Old people 12

Janice had not anticipated leaving Florida sick. But she was sick and remained so during the long return trip. Four days after her arrival home she was still sick.

Results from a battery of tests were-- what did they tell her? Inconclusive. Whatever that meant. Janice’s physical discomfort, bad as it was, did not begin to equal her deflated spirit. “I have no time for this.” she told her haggard face in the mirror. She had stopped counting the phone calls interrupting her private pity party.

Mazie had not called again after the explosive response to the last of Mazie’s many solicitous calls. “Why did I yell at her.” Janice asked the pitiful reflection in the mirror. “How can I blame her?”

Now was not the time for recriminations-- about anyone – about anything. Now was the time to find out what the problem was. Now was the time to see if it could be fixed.

Now was the time to ask for help from a life long friend. Janice picked up the phone and dialed. When Mazie answered Janice said, “Mazie, You had supper yet? I have a pizza in the freezer. Want to share it?”

“I’ll bring a bottle of wine. What time?”

LAST DAY: EVENTFUL DAY IN ST AUGUSTINE

Old People 12

Despite the rigors of yesterday’s outing Mazie and Janice were up early and ready to to. It was 8:00 AM. It was hot as they sat under the giant oak, Old Senator, and waited for the Red Train.

“Glad we’re getting started early, “ Mazie said. “ It’s gonna be a hot one.”

Janice laughed “Know what you sound like?” Mazie shrugged. “Like some old southerner on his porch on a hot summer day. ‘It’s gonna be a hot one’. Like Barney Fife and Andy Taylor.”

The Red Train arrived.

First stop. Gonzalez-Alvarez, the oldest house of the Spanish colonial period. The original was built in the 1500s. The one standing now was rebuilt in 1702 after a fire destroyed the original. It does represent the look of the time and period. “It’s amazing,” Janice said, “how much of the niceties these houses of wealth had, even in those times.”

“Still, “ Mazie said. “I suspect they might have liked air conditioning.”

Next stop the old Jail dating back to 1891. It was, they were told, a first class jail when compared to some of those in other parts of the continent.

Then down San Marco Avenue to the old fort. The ladies sat on a bench outside a cafe looking up at the Fort Entrance.

The heat had become oppressive; moisture hung in the air. Finally they began the long walk to the Fort entrance. With what seemed a sudden event dark clouds rolled in over the hill on which the fort sat. The wind increased and with threatening speed and force sent a driving rain horizontally. No hope for shelter. Fighting the wind and suffering the rain they made their way back to San Marco Avenue and waited for the train, which was filled to capacity. The only seats available were just behind the diver open to the elements.

Dripping cloths, soggy shoes, weary spirits. They entered their motel room. So much for St Augustine. They were leaving tomorrow.

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RED TRAIN TOURS

With Red Train Tour tickets in hand Janice and Mazie took the full ninety minute tour around the city. Choosing the sights they would see was a daunting task. “I am amazed by it all,” Janice said. “Just think what we’ve seen in the last hour and half. Five hundred years of Spanish and English. All that old and new. Right next to each other a Spanish Villa and a Victorian house. What do we do first?”

“Anything but Believe It Or Not,” Mazie said

“Agreed. How about Villa Zarayda?”

The Villa Zarayda, built as a winter home by Boston millionaire, Franklin W. Smith,  a 1/10 size replica Alhambra Palace in Granada Spain it oozed of wealth and elegance. End on end furniture, art work, rugs, and household articles collected from all over the world.

“My favorite,” Janice said as tired feet and growling stomachs forced and end to the tour, “was the cat rug. Do you believe it was woven from only cat hair and is the oldest rug in the whole world?”

“Does it matter? Not as much, I think, as the superstition that if you walk on it you will die.”

Janice laughed. “Of course if you walk on it you will die. We all die- sooner or later. You notice they do not tell you how soon after you step on it you will die.”

“But the day they finished it they found a dead cat.”

“Cats die too, Mazie.” Janice said as they entered a cafe for a late lunch

Jewellee Cardwell

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THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

It was an easy morning, perfect in every way except for a second admission charge. But as it turned out well worth it.

The Fountain of Youth exhibit laid out the history of Spanish explorers to the area and offered what they claimed was water from the same spring the Spanish explorers found when they arrived in 1513. It was indeed tasty containing what they claim is at least thirty minerals. It is that plethora of minerals which cures and prevents illness and lengthens life spans.

Exiting the exhibit Mazie said, “I think that water is in fact magic. I feel terrific. A lot better than yesterday.”

Janice laughed, “I suspect that might have more to do with not hiking all over the site than the water.”

“Maybe. Then we should feel super terrific after sitting on our behinds for an hour. Ready for the planetarium?”

The room darkened. The show began with explanations of sailing methods in 1513. Stars, quadrant and astrolabe. The ceiling of theater lit up with stars as they appeared on April 2, 1513. The explanations continued.

“Wow,” Mazie said as they reoriented their eyes to the sunshine. “Amazing. Absolutely amazing. But I think there might something in that water.”

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