CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: Something Wonderful
It felt good for Blair to be behind the wheel of a car again. He had a clear head, and gin, in all of its splendor, didn’t occupy his thoughts nearly as much as it used to. Vanessa was on his mind a lot lately, and he liked that. It was funny how he could find so much pleasure in simple things, like seeing a woman sitting in a convertible with her hair blowing in the wind. To top things off, the sunglasses covering Vanessa’s eyes made her appear more of a mystery today, and that was nice, too.
Blair reached over and put his hand on her thigh; she gave him the kind of smile that a man would remember for a lifetime. A woman for a best friend: now that was an exquisite idea. Even so, a fellow couldn’t have too many friends. Glancing into the rearview mirror, Blair looked at Horace dozing in the backseat.
“Ann Arbor is just an exit away,” Blair said, still breezing down M-14. “It won’t be long now.” He took a moment to appreciate the low rolling hills off in the distance.
“Hey, there’s a little hot dog and sausage place on the campus,” Vanessa said. “The food they serve is really good.”
“Yes, indeedy,” Blair said, putting his hand behind her neck and holding it there.
“Did somebody mention food?” Horace asked, stirring.
“Yes, we did,” Blair said. “All you can eat, buddy. All you can eat.”
Horace cackled. “Now that you got some money comin’ in from your mobile office, you a big spender.”
“And you’re a good worker,” Blair told him. “You should do it more often.”
“Where I live, they don’t use colored people. Just like Stevie Wonder say. I couldn’t get a job ’cause I didn’t have no address. I couldn’t get no address ’cause I didn’t have no money. Couldn’t get no money ’cause I didn’t have no job.” He stuck his hands under his arms and settled back to get some more shuteye.
After taking the exit, Blair soon found himself in the heart of the University of Michigan campus. He left the car in a parking ramp and took a book bag out of the back and threw it over his shoulder. Once they’d walked to the Exhibit Museum of Natural History just off North University Avenue, Blair stood and admired the big building. It housed over three hundred displays on four floors. Blair enjoyed the geology display the most. Needless to say, Thomas had loved it, too.
Blair glanced back at Vanessa and Horace, who were standing behind him. Vanessa was holding Horace’s arm as they both looked on, understanding how difficult it was for Blair to go through with what he had planned.
“Why don’t you two head on over to the hot dog restaurant. I’ll meet you there, all right?”
“Sure,” Horace said, and then walked off with Vanessa still holding his arm.
“I’ll order for you,” Vanessa called. “I know what you like.”
“You sure do,” Blair said, smiling more to himself than to anyone else.
Vanessa and Horace crossed the street and strolled along, laughing and talking about something which seemed to tickle them both. A bus roared by with the words ‘Northwood Five’ on top. About ten people were already on board, and two of those were children. One little girl watched him with her face pressed against the window. She smiled and waved her hand as if she could tell that something wonderful was about to happen.
Blair walked up to the building and opened the door. Pausing in the vestibule, he could see a towering set of stairs in front of him. He passed through the second door and then stood in the middle of the rotunda. There was a museum shop behind him and to the left, and research wings lined both sides. A wall clock was straight ahead and to the right; it read one-fifteen.
After a moment of silent reflection, Blair headed straight for the museum shop. The girl behind the small glass display case seemed very amiable. “May I help you?” she asked as he entered the tiny room.
“I have a box for the regents of the university. I was wondering if you’d be sure that they got it.”
“Of course I will.” Blair took the box out of the book bag and handed it to her. “May I say who it’s from?”
“There’s a note inside. It asks that if they do put the items on display, they should be named for the men who are donating them. Their names are Vincent Moorland and Dr. Thomas Abbott.” He smiled. “You don’t have to remember all of that. It’s in the note.”
“All right. I’ll let them know.” She put the box down on the floor beside her. “Thanks.”
“Thank you,” he said. “Have a nice day.”
“You, too.”
Blair walked out of the shop and then left the building. The air smelled fresher and his mind was far more settled. He felt very relaxed. Thinking about toasting the occasion was heavy on his mind. Alcohol was always on his mind. Sometimes he tried to fool Vanessa and Horace about that, but they knew. Whenever he felt like throwing back a few shots of gin, he would talk to them until the feeling passed. He decided to beat it over to the hot dog place to lay this new desire to drink to rest.
A sharing of the human spirit was the ultimate high. Money was nice, but it could never replace a loved one. Just ask Calvin or Corinne Maxwell. They knew that better than anybody.
###
Other books written by B. A. Braxton:
Thank you so much for reading!
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends