Christmas at Joes

2. Christmas Past, Carol

    Across town in a poorer neighborhood where yards need mowing and exteriors are in disrepair an attractive young woman is shouting at two teenage boys.

"You're dealing drugs!" Carol scolded Bill. She had just pulled up in front of their house and caught her brother in their front yard in the middle of a transaction with a friend. Bill was receiving money and handing over a small clear plastic bag of pills.

Carol has been responsible for her younger brother since their mother died in a car accident two years ago when she was twenty and her brother was fourteen. She had pretty much been taking care of him ever since she turned twelve when their father died from cancer and their mother's time was consumed working as a housekeeper to provide for her family. A job that Carol had now taken over along with taking night classes at the local community college.

"What did you think you were doing?" she continued the scolding as Bill's friend ran off. "Who are you getting those drugs from?"

"I was just trying to raise some money to help out for Christmas, Sis. I met this nice guy who offered to help me out, and he showed me how to make some extra money."

"Really Bill? Nice guys don't use you to commit crimes."

"Sis, this guy is no gangster. He is a young guy about your age. He still lives with his parents. He was just trying to help me out.

"Yeah right." She checked her watch. "Look, I've got some time. Take me to him. I'm going to make sure this stops now."

"Whatever," he shrugged. They got in her car, and he showed her to the house of who Carol supposed to be a disreputable drug dealing low life.

She couldn't believe how nice the house was. Even though it was the drug dealer's parents' house, she still was expecting a poor neighborhood much like their own and also like them a guy struggling to get by. Nothing about this is what she expected. Regardless, she was going to give this guy a piece of her mind for dragging her brother into the world of drugs.

Ebenezer answered the door and was immediately smitten by the young woman standing next to his new young friend Bill. "Hey Bill. Who is your friend?"

Carol didn't wait to be introduced before starting her tirade. "I'm his sister! Now, what the hell do you think you're doing giving drugs to a teenager? Do your parents know what you are doing?" Ebbie was too stunned by her furor and her good looks to do more than shrug.

Carol took that as a no. So, she continued, "I'd report you to the police if I weren't afraid that it would get my brother in trouble too. Butif you don't stop, I will tell your parents. Do you understand? No more drugs!

"Can we start over?" Ebbie pleaded. "I don't want to get anyone in trouble, especially not Bill. We're friends. You can tell my parents whatever you want. I doubt they will care."

Bill stared earnestly into Carol's eyes. She returned his stare with a puzzled look, so he continued to explain, "The whole drug thing is just something I do for my friends. I don't need the money. Bill told me that you two needed money. He made it sound like selling drugs might be his only option. Now that I know better, he'll get no more drugs from me." He gave Bill a warning glance and then turned back to Carol. "I can't believe he would do anything to risk your rath. But if he ever does it again, and you need help, just come get me."

Carol gave him a scowl that said she didn't need anyone's help, so Ebbie added, "I'm sure you can handle most things by yourself, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to get help. If you ever need a guy, for anything, please think of me."

Now it was Carol's turn to be speechless. Was this guy just messing with her or was he coming on to her?

To fill the awkward silence, Ebenezer stepped back to invite them in. "Would you like to come in for a soda or something? I rarely get visitors and never any as nice as you."

"No thank you," Carol replied still confused by the turn the conversation had taken. "I just got off work and I've got to be to class in a couple of hours.

"A hectic schedule, huh? When do you eat?" Ebbie sympathized.

"I don't always," she admitted.

"I'm so sorry you had to use your time to tell me of my mistake. I feel like it is my fault you missed dinner. Let me take you and Bill somewhere for a quick bite, my treat."

Hesitantly she agreed. She hadn't eaten today, and it was a free meal after all.

He took them to Joe's. Carol slowly warmed up to Ebbie. And Ebbie had finally, found someone who didn't see his shortcomings, didn't see his reputation or his wealth, someone who treated him as a normal person. She was someone whose expectations of him were still to be shaped.

So, began Ebbie's salvation. Unfortunately, it met a snag when a month later at Joe's Christmas party Carol suddenly disappeared!

That was ten years ago...