HELL OF A DEAL, a supernatural satire

Twenty Eight

28

About a week prior to Al and Lisa's 40th wedding anniversary, Victoria Migisi-Smith came over to their house. Al stopped her at the front door, and he whispered so as not to disturb Lisa's rest. It was sunset, and Al shielded his eyes from the golden glare coming in from over Victoria's shoulder.

"Dad, there's a premiere you and mom need to go to tonight. I told you."

Al, apologetic as ever, said, "Honey, your mom's not doing too well today. The chemo is really got her all—"

"Has she tried the marijuana?"

"No. She's scared of getting involved with that."

"I told her which doctor to go see." Victoria gently pushed Al back and made her way inside the house. "Mom?"

"Wait, Victoria," Al said. "I decided to let her sleep."

"No. She needs to come out and see this. So do you. Get dressed."

"Baby. Baby, it's just a movie. Tonight's just not a good night."

Tears in her eyes Victoria looked away from Al. "You only get so many nights, dad. You take what you can get." Victoria strolled in toward the bedroom and toward her mother. She stopped at the doorway and turned back. "I need a couple of minutes, alone with her." Victoria dug into her handbag, and she opened the bedroom door.

Al's head hung low, and he walked off to the backyard. He sat in his lounger and he watched the sky grow more colorful and darker by the moment.

After half an hour, the two women emerged. Lisa wore a wig over her baldness. They had each meticulously applied make up, and Lisa seemed prepared, ready for the evening.

Al felt inspired and warmed. He walked straight to them, and he placed his arms around Lisa and Victoria. "All right, ladies. Let's go see this whatever it is."

None of them dared break away first. They hugged tightly, the three together. It was an important hug, one of their last.

Lisa was afraid of messing up all that make-up work with silly tears, and so she stepped back first. "This movie better be good," she said.

"Oh, it will be. Dad! You're not dressed!"

"I'm sorry, Vee. I'll be out in two minutes. Just two minutes. What time does the picture start?"

"We've got time. Just make sure you look sharp." Victoria smiled, and she squeezed Lisa's hand.

Al stepped off quickly, unbuttoning his shirt as he went.

Victoria drove them to the Beverly Hills Majestic Hotel, and they left the vehicle for a valet to park.

"Ah, the Majestic." Al assisted Lisa out of the rear of the car.

"Uh huh." Lisa smiled at all the glimmering lights.

Victoria hung back with a camera, snapping feverishly away at Al and Lisa.

As he turned to walk inside the lobby Al called over to Victoria. "You may not know this, but we spent our honeymoon here."

"Really?" Victoria smiled, and she raised up the camera to snap a few more quick shots.

Al held Lisa's arm as they slowly stepped inside together. "Oh yeah. The buffet is fantastic. I don't know how they do it."

Lisa coughed, and they stopped momentarily. Lisa said, "The suites all have their own hot tubs." She coughed again, and Al stabilized her.

Victoria was on the edge of a breakdown. She stood helpless. She couldn't photograph, and so all she could do was watch and wait, and see if Lisa improved there at the entrance lobby.

Al instructed the porters who had rushed over. "All right, let's get her a cup of water."

Al held Lisa fast, his arms solid like trees branches. He gently sat Lisa down on one of the padded benches. "You okay, honey?"

"I think so."

"Well you take your time."

The boys quickly returned with water, and Lisa drank down a gulp.

"Vee? It's a little weird having a premiere at the Majestic, no? There's no theater."

"It's got a nice ballroom."

"Ah yeah. The ballroom is world class."

"Mommy? Would you like a wheelchair? They have the motorized ones?"

"Oh no! No." Lisa was embarrassed enough at all the attention and fuss. "I will be fine. Let us just walk to our seats?"

Al helped Lisa stand. Victoria took her place on her mother's opposite arm, and the three stepped the length of the carpeted corridor under a row of sparkling chandeliers.

Al said, "What's this film called, anyway?"

Victoria bit her lip. "The um. The um. The Big Shocker."

"Oh! Good title." Al nodded energetically. "Strong title."

Lisa asked, "Are you involved? What is your role on the film?"

Victoria shuffled along playfully. "Oh, I produced the whole thing."

The three stopped at the ballroom doors, and Victoria pushed them open first. "Come on, guys. I think we're late."

As Victoria slid out of their way inside the darkened ballroom, Al and Lisa stepped to the doorway. The lights all flashed on at once. Several hundred people yelled in sync, "Surprise! Happy Anniversary!"

Victoria, wild-eyed with delight, stuck her camera back onto her face, and she snapped away for the next half an hour.

Lisa and Al shook hands and hugged everyone in attendance. It was one of Al's most moving nights, and his mind flooded with memories from his long career of film productions. Old producers, directors, actors, actresses, musicians, cameramen, special effects supervisors, people Al hadn't talked to in decades were present for his big anniversary party.

Lisa quickly sat, panting away. She drank her lemon water, and she tried to keep smiling. She tried to keep the electricity flowing, but it wasn't easy for her.

Victoria retrieved one of the hotel's motorized chairs, and she maneuvered it adjacent to Lisa at their table. Lisa and Victoria hugged one another for several minutes. Victoria's eyes drained and her make-up smeared to hell. It didn't matter. Their party was perfect in every sense, and everyone's spirits were raised to new heights. Other parties may not have mattered all that much to Al, Lisa and Victoria. This one did.

Lisa stood up to waltz with Al. They waltzed slowly in the center of the darkened ballroom dance floor. The spotlight focused on only the two of them, and Al danced as gracefully as he ever had. Al could soon tell that Lisa was losing her physicality. He pulled her in tightly, and they spun gently. "You are the greatest thing that's ever happened to me, Lisa. And I love you more than the world."

They kissed. They returned to their seats. They left the Majestic ballroom for the last time together. Lisa Namid-Smith rode the motorized wheelchair.