Nobody Says It's Easy

17

"Hadley," said Lou Edna, "I'm glad you called. I can't get that image of Crusty lying there on that trailer floor out of my mind. I feel like I'm going crazy. I wish I had scheduled a ton of appointments today at the shop, but I wanted to get some heavy-duty cleaning done."

"Let's you and me hightail it out of Dodge," Hadley said.

"We're not in Dodge. Hadley have you popped a vessel. We live in Hope Rock County."

"I'm talking about getting away for a few days. You know. A change of scenery."

"I don't know."

"What's there not to know? It will do you good. Settle your nerves."

"But I can't afford a trip."

"Look," said Hadley, "I've been out of sorts lately, too. I think I could use a road trip. And I need company. What do you say? It's just for a few days."

"I think you're right. A little getaway would be just the thing. I've overbooked these last few weeks and worked myself into a frazzle. I need a few days rest.

I think I can get Fashtiya to cover for me. She's looking to pick up some extra hours now that she's graduated beauty school. I've been toying with the idea of letting her take over that second chair in the shop. You know the one that's vacant since Guppy Stucks decided to let Herman get her pregnant again.

I mean, I don't want to bad mouth Guppy, but wouldn't you think fourteen kids is plenty? Guppy's a great beautician. I hated to lose her. She can whip up a number five washtub coif faster than you can say 'boo.' But all them kids? Why, I'm telling you, girlfriend, if I was Guppy, the second I saw Herman walk through the bedroom door, I'd have a ball bat under my pillow cocked and ready!"

"Me, too. You know, I've been dying to try out that little camper you bought, Lou. And don't worry about towing it. I know your truck's feeling puny."

"I'm afraid that old wreck has joined Crusty in heaven. Oh, shoot. I wish I hadn't said that. I won't sleep a wink, tonight.

"Maybe you can get somebody to haul it off to the dump for old clunkers. But we still have Plan B. Old Betsy can drag a tractor trailer behind her and not even work up a sweat. I had Brinkley check her out just last week. He gave her a clean bill of health and told me to come back in another three thousand."

"He's a great mechanic," Lou Edna said.

"Too bad he couldn't raise your wreck from the dead."

"I said he was good, not a miracle worker."

"I'm just glad there is a Plan B."

"Me too," said Lou Edna. "I'll call Fashtiya."

"And start packing now," said Hadley. "You know you never travel lightly."

"I can't help it if I'm not a one pair of drawers and a one wash rag in a lunch bag camper like you. It's in the genes, Hadley. Besides, you've known I was high maintenance since we were little girls."

"You're not kidding," said Hadley. "You were the only gal on the mountain who carried her Barbie suitcase with a change of clothes in it long after we were potty trained."

"Oh, pooh."

"Pooh, my buniony feet. Barbie looked chic in grade school, Lou, but by the time we hit high school, it was embarrassing to hang out with her."

"I want to look my best at all times."

"Whatever," said Hadley. "Put on your gallivanting britches and your skedaddle girdle, Myrtle, and get it in high gear. I'll be over later to help you get that camper loaded and hitched up. I'll make a raid on the supermarket. Pixie's has some really good sales this week. We'll eat like queens. I'll pack my hot plate, and we'll use that cute microwave in your camper."

"Suits me fine," said Lou Edna. "I'll leave all that stuff up to you. I'm so rattled that boiling water is a multi-step process for rocket scientists."