Dark Keys of Uncomplacency

Chapter 14: A Cryptic Dinner

Dinner with Mrs. Marley was unusually magnanimous. As always she had plenty to say, many stories to tell. Her behavior had caught everyone off guard, especially Allison. Aside from the fact that she may be possessed, Allison expected Ruth to be in a worse mood because of the near-death experience with the car. Instead, Ruth never mentioned the car. Even Julian allowed himself to relax and enjoy the roast pork shoulder slice that he stuffed in his mouth.

Thanksgiving might as well have come early, judging by the spread that Diane had produced. Along with pork shoulder, she had cooked yellow rice with neat red peppers garnishes, and buttered string beans. "Those string beans are straight from my garden", she boasted.

"Everything is marvelous", Ruth agreed, savoring every bite. She wore medium-sized pearl earrings that made her earlobes droop a bit and a pearl ring that made it look like her finger joint had been popped out of place.

Collin cleared his throat before nervously asking if Ruth would like anything to drink. "We have lemonade, iced-tea, wine, and there's—"

Ruth put down her fork and wiped her mouth with her napkin. "Water would be fine", she replied, "I really must stay away from too much sugar. Seems like you can't enjoy anything at my age. Either it's too salty or too sugary and just like that, you're in the back of an ambulance".

"Allison, would you go grab the water pitcher from the fridge", her father asked.

She wasted no time excusing herself from the table. Old people were creepy to her and on top of that, they were always down about what they couldn't do or what they couldn't enjoy, as if the people listening were supposed to relate.

She placed the pitcher on the table and through the glass saw that another set of words were forming on her wrist, this time in English. Three words in French script font: Uncomplacency is key. She instinctively covered her arm, before remembering that no one else could see the writing. She sat down, right in the middle of a discussion about how the Scotts were liking the neighborhood so far.

"We really can't complain", said Collin sitting back in his chair. "The commute could be a little better though. IBM headquarters is about an hour away on a good day".

"Oh yes, years ago, my husband voiced the same complaint. There are not enough highways around here, it's a hazard really. In the winter you may want to get chains for your tires, the roads freeze at the hint of freezing temperatures".

The real treat came after dinner. Mrs. Marley made a peach cobbler, topping off the enormous amount of food served. Everyone was quietly working their way through the delicious dessert; everyone except Mrs. Marley, who watched with content. Julian caught a glimpse of her gaze and immediately slowed his chewing. "Well deary, you never told me if you got it or not", she said focusing on Allison now.

Allison brought her face up out of the plate, cleared her throat, and asked, "Got what, Mrs.—Ruth?". She couldn't possibly know about the sheet music encryption.

"Your license of course!", she chuckled abruptly. "I'm sure like my sons, you couldn't wait to get back in the car for more practice, especially with the school year starting soon".

Allison smiled lightly, ashamed to admit that her last practice session was the day she almost hit Mrs. Marley.

After a few moments Collin spoke up saying, "We haven't quite gotten around to practicing again since the last time we saw you. It's my fault really, I haven't had the time to take her out with all the extra work I'm bringing home".

"What about you?", she asked Diane, in a way only a senile elder could get away with unquestioned. She glared almost disgustingly at Diane. "This isn't the fifties anymore darling, we can't rely on the men to do everything, let alone the driving instruction".