Black Cat Weekly #25

A PRESENT FROM THE PAST, by Hal Charles

A PRESENT FROM THE PAST,

by Hal CharlesNo matter her age, Cass always loved her grandmother and grandfather’s creative birthday parties. Today, as Cass stepped into the front room of their rustic farmhouse, she felt she had passed through a time portal. The room was filled with the sweet smell of incense along with the unmistakable notes from a sitar.

Cass’ grandparents were a little different from those of her friends. While both of them held advanced degrees—her granddad in English, her grandmother in physics—they had chosen a hippie, back-to-nature lifestyle. Her earliest memories of the farm were of listening to British Invasion records and learning to tie-dye t-shirts.

And, of course, there were the stories. Her grandmother’s face always lit up when she showed the pictures of her and “the girls” screaming their heads off at the famous Beatles performance at Shea Stadium in 1965 while her granddad’s favorite tales involved their epic journey to Woodstock in the psychedelic VW that still sat in the barn out back.

Cass waded through the crowd of total strangers engaged in animated conversations. Over the years, her grandparents had entertained themselves—and her—with games designed to “exercise” her mind.

“Finally,” said her grandmother, emerging from the strangers, “the birthday girl has arrived.”

“Grandmother,” said Cass, “what’s going on?”

The older woman smiled. “Granddad will get home a little later, but I thought we’d better get started.”

“Started with what?” Cass said, tilting her head.

“The game, of course.”

“Who are all these people?” said Cass.

“Oh, they’re part of the game. In the next few minutes you’ll meet several people. Your mission, should you choose to accept it,” said her grandmother with a titter, “is to determine what they have in common.”

Suddenly, a tall woman with exceedingly short hair approached them seemingly in a hurry. “Martha,” she said to Cass’ grandmother, “I promised John I’d be back home as soon as I got him everything he needed from the grocery.”

“Cass, darling,” said Martha, “this is Sally Jenkins from my book club, and—”

“I’d like to have some fun tonight,” interrupted Sally, “but I have to head out.” With that, she disappeared into the swirl of people.

“That was quick,” said Cass as she noticed a heavyset man moving in their direction.

Catching her granddaughter’s eye, Martha said, “Let me introduce Maxwell Carrington. He’s in line to start construction on the new civic center downtown.”

“You can call me Max,” said the mustached man. “I’m afraid we have a few more details to hammer out before any building can begin.”

“He’s just being modest,” said Martha, grabbing the hand of a bright-eyed young woman to their right. “Lucy, I’d like you to meet my granddaughter, Cass.”

Cass nodded.

“Lucy just opened the new jewelry store over on Collins Street.”

When the young woman noticed Cass admiring the rings she wore, she said, “You know what they say about diamonds being a girl’s best friend.”

Cass’ mind was spinning as she tried to find some pattern that would pull these people together. Perhaps the common factor was their newness to town or that they were all in business.

Before she could say anything, a serious looking woman in a dark uniform appeared.

“Rita Thompson,” said Martha, “you must have come straight from work.”

The woman nodded.

“Rita works with the transit authority,” said Martha.

“Sorry I’m a little late,” said the woman. “Some joker mowed down half a block of parking meters on Main. Been working those streets for ten years and never saw such a mess.”

Well, thought Cass, there went her first two possible solutions. Even with all the noise, she had to focus.

Just then she spotted a frail woman sitting by herself toward the back of the room. “Who’s that?”

Martha’s face grew dour. “That’s Eleanor. She volunteers at our church. Pretty lonely lady, I’m afraid.”

Hearing her last words, Cass smiled. “Grandmother, you better put on Shirley Ellis’ `Name Game’ because I’ve got this puzzle figured out.”

Solution

When her grandmother described Eleanor as a lonely person working at church, everything came together: a long, tall Sally wanting to have some fun; Maxwell hammering out details; bright-eyed Lucy with diamonds; and Rita patrolling the parking meters. They all had first names from Beatles songs. When Cass’ granddad arrived, he brought her birthday present: a box set of the Fab Four’s greatest hits.