A Tale of Two Carnies

37 - A Threat and a Kiss

Since we were deep into short winter days, I never got off work until after dark. Shelly didn't want to meet up with me during the work week and drive home in the dark. Driving at night made her nervous, especially during bad weather, so I understood and agreed we would see each other only on weekends until the seasons changed. Besides, she needed time to keep up with her studies.

On Saturday, I wanted to pick her up at her home, but she told me she'd rather meet me somewhere. Shelly reminded me about wanting to take things slow. In her view, introducing the family represented a major relationship escalation. She was being cautious.

I put myself in her shoes, trying to be as empathetic as she was. I was a stranger with a mysterious past as a carnie. I was associated with a now infamous woman accused of murder who had gotten off on a technicality, likely the most sensational case of the year in the area. Naturally, Shelly's family would be suspicious of me. If I were them and Shelly were my daughter, I'd definitely be suspicious. Would any parent approve of their daughter getting mixed up with someone like me? It would take time to build trust.

Thinking about everything that could work against our budding relationship depressed me.

I called her around seven every weeknight, a ritual she seemed to enjoy, always answering my calls with bubbly enthusiasm and never acting put out. It made me wonder if I was the first man to call her daily, making her the center of attention. Then again, being the only girl among three brothers probably meant Shelly had always been in the spotlight.

Our phone conversations were never long. We'd share a few mundane things occurring during our day. The getting-to-know-you-better process.

Although I loved my job, the anticipation over seeing Shelly made the work week crawl by. Friday afternoon finally arrived. I turned in the keys to my work van and headed home in the Beast.

On the way, I stopped at Wendy's to buy a container of Chile for dinner. While reheating it in the microwave, my cellphone buzzed. I took the call after seeing it was from Cozbi.

"You haven't called me all week." Her tone was whiny.

"You have my number. If you need to talk, you know how to get hold of me."

"This is the longest we've ever gone without speaking since we were kids, except for the awful time I spent in lockup."

She was speaking in a raised, excitable voice. I could tell she had been drinking again. "What's up?"

"I'm so excited, Jacey. I'm going to Hollywood next week! The studio where Urban Urchins is filmed wants Markie and me to fly out with the storyboards we've created for the new season. We're going to make a presentation to the writers and cast."

I wondered when Marcus Tolliver had become Markie to her. "Just you and him?"

"Uh, huh, the west coast team wants to meet me. They're impressed with my talent."

I shouldn't care anymore, and what I was about to ask was none of my business, but I couldn't help myself. "Cozbi, are you sleeping with him?"

I heard her suck in a deep breath. "What? No. I mean. No. Jacey, why are you being mean to me? I wanted to share this good news hoping you'd be proud of me."

How long would I have to continue reassuring this insecure girl? "I'm proud of every one of your accomplishments. I'm happy you're getting this awesome opportunity. As a friend who cares about you, I just want to warn you. Marcus Tolliver is twice your age. Sleeping with him would be gross. He holds all the power and is probably used to getting what he wants. You should make him respect you as a professional and be clear you're not willing to become some conquest. If you allow things to get personal, it will not end well for you, no matter how talented you are."