It's About Time

Ch 8

Marty went around the corner and asked Cue Ball, "What are those tables for?"

Cue Ball explained, "We keep extra tables around for our end-of-the-month hobo soirees."

Cue Ball put the paprika away, putting the metal container back, going back to what he was doing. After a minute, he tapped on a pipe three times. The metal container went down into a trap door. It came back up after a second but the three barrels were gone. Matches came back in with more barrels. He put them on the metal container before heading back outside.

Marty went back over to Emmett, "Obviously this soup kitchen isn't a speakeasy."

Emmett agreed, "Indeed. This must be some sort of front meant to cleverly and legally obfuscate the existence of a hidden establishment of ill repute. Perhaps in the basement."

Marty thought for a moment, "Right, that might explain the elevator." As he said that, Matches came in with more barrels. Cue Ball decided to add more paprika to the soup again. He added, "Let's head out of here for now."

Emmett nodded in agreement as they both went back outside again. Marty went over to Edna.

He commented, "Oh, hey Miss Strickland."

Edna smiled, "Oh hello Mr. Corleone. Try not to draw any undue attention my way. I'm on the trail of a hot new scoop, as we in the newspaper business say."

Marty asked, "What's the scoop?"

Edna explained, "I've heard rumors that something shady is going on at the 'Sisters of Mercy Soup Kitchen'. It's under new management, you know, and oh we mustn't jump to any conclusions, not til all the facts are in. I hope to heaven it is just a rumor. That soup kitchen is the front line in the good fight. If it goes bad, what'll happen to the Stay Sober Society? Not to mention all the charitable institutions that depend on me for soup deliveries."

Marty questioned, "Did you finish the story that you interviewed me for? About Carl Sagan?"

Edna answered, "Yes, but those pigheaded editors at the paper rejected it! They said my story was slanted and that I was glorifying a suspected arsonist! As if their stories aren't always glorifying the criminal vermin that run this town! This whole thing makes me so mad that I could spit...though of course I never would. There's an ordinance against it, and it is so untidy."

The youngest McFly asked, "You make hot soup deliveries?"

The newspaper writer confirmed, "It's one of my many small contributions to the good cause. Healthy bodies, healthy souls or so one hopes. I pick up the barrels of hot soup at the kitchen, and deliver them hither and thither. Hill Valley Orphanage...and more. I can barely keep track of them all. It is a very big job."

Marty perked up, "Hey, I can help deliver soup. I donate a lot of time to charities."

Edna asked, "Oh really? Which ones?"

Marty quickly answered, "The Mario brothers."

Edna agreed, "Oh yes, the Italians do so many good works..."

Marty started to say, "If you'll just fix it so I can pick up the barrels of soup..."

Edna interrupted him, "Now hold your horses. Let's not get over eager. I drive the soup cycle in this town...and I'm not about to turn it over to an upstart. But if you're well connected with the local charitable institutions..." Marty raised an eyebrow as she added, "You can let me know when they're ruining low on soup."

Marty replied, "As a matter of fact, I do know of a local charity that's running low on a soup. The orphanage."

Edna went into the soup kitchen and took a barrel out of it. Marty went back inside again. While Cue Ball was distracted, Marty tapped on the pipe and the elevator opened up. The metal container tipped over, sending the three barrels over into where the soup for charity was. That's when Edna came back in again.