Audrey Hepburn's Pearls: Part I

Chapter 13.1: 1994, Ruiz

Chapter 13.1: 1994, Ruiz

Coming in the door, Zorro met me, jumping up my legs with an excited puppy grin on her face. 

"Zorro, let me in, it has not been a good day," I sighed, shoving her aside with my foot as usual. 

"You home, Ruiz?" Mama called from her room. 

"Yeah, Mama. I got my paycheck. You can go cash it. Phone bill come today?" I asked, sitting down at the table finally. Sitting down felt luxurious after standing at the double sinks of the pub and rushing around putting things where they needed to be for four hours.

"Yeah it came. But its okay, Ambrose came by. He said he had some money, so he went ahead and paid it for us," she said, mystified. She was now standing in her doorway off the kitchen. 

"Really? I wonder if he got a job? He didn't tell me," I said, my eyebrow raised. "I'm going to call him and ask. That was so nice of him, I'll thank him, too."

Mama rose her hand to me. She was holding a little piece of notepad paper. "Your friend called again," she said, further mystified. "That...what did you say his name was? Char-something."

Charlie? My eyes widened. No way...

"Charlie? Did he say anything?" I asked, staring at her. 

"Yeah, he wants you to call him," she said, shaking her head and going back into her room. I checked my watch. It was 8:21pm. She'd be getting ready for her shift at nine. I wondered if Charlie was at the store now, if the number he'd given me would reach him if he wasn't.

"Oh right, here's the number he said to call him with," Mama sighed, coming out of her room and slapping the piece of paper down in front of me. Her rings made the movement sound more harsh than it was. 

"Gracias, Mama," I said, the excitement welling inside of me.

Charlie called. Did that mean he'd found my pearls? I started beaming. "I'm gonna call him in my room," I told her, gathering the phone up, releasing its long cord from the back of the table against the wall. 

"Yeah, okay. There's some pastelón in the fridge. I made it this afternoon," she went on to say, gathering her hair in a bun and closing her door with her foot to not be disturbed any longer.

"Gracias, Mama," I said again, so excited I was almost skipping to my room.

Finally inside, I closed my door on Zorro who was trying to follow me. Zorro started barking her protest and scratching the door. Ay dios mio that dog. Sometimes I wished Ambrose and I could switch pets. His Baby Doll was so much better in situations where I needed some quiet.

"Ay Zorro, you're going to give me a headache!" I scolded. Next to my door was a green squeaky ball of her's so I swung open the door and threw it down the small hallway. Her attention immediately shifted and she ran after it. The soft sounds of the squeaky ball that followed were much better than her barking but not as much as I had hoped.

Sighing and holding the side of my head, I looked at the piece of paper Mama had given me. It was a different number than the one I had. Something inside of me felt good knowing I now had two ways to contact him. But I wondered if it was necessary now, since Mrs. George didn't want any of my help. Before I knew it, I was frowning. More subdued now with these thoughts, I punched in the number solemnly.

Charlie answered in the third ring. 

"Hello?" he asked. 

"Hi, its Ruiz," I said seriously.

"Oh I was waiting for you to call!" he answered, sounding like he was smiling. Inside, I relaxed a little bit. He sounded so glad. "I'm sorry to say this is not about your pearls," he said shyly now, "but the strangest thing happened. You know Mrs. George. When I delivered her groceries today, she told me she wanted to see you? Its very strange, but she said she'd like to see you in the morning when you have time. To come with me on one of my deliveries."

I was in shock. What was going on here? She'd spoken to me so harshly last night...

"Okay, Charlie. I'm free tomorrow? Can I come with you tomorrow?" I asked, stupefied. 

"That should be fine, really. Thank you so much," Charlie said happily. 

"Okay," I breathed, confused.

"Okay," he said, "well, I have something I've got to do now for the shop, but I'll see you tomorrow. And really, I'm sorry I wasn't able to find your pearls. My dad searched the store, too. But...maybe they'll turn up. Don't lose hope, okay?"

"Yeah," I sighed deeply, shifting on my bed sadly.

We hung up together and I laid on my bed on my back, my arms over my face. I breathed deep inside and closed my eyes. The pearls were gone. They were gone. They had to be. How was I going to tell Mama? 

A knock on my door jolted me up from my bed and I stared at it, momentarily terrified. 

"I'm going to work now, Ruiz. Make sure you eat," Mama's voice drifted in. 

My heart was racing. Mama. "I will, I promise. Have a good day at work," I responded, trying not to have my voice betray my nervousness.

The soft sounds of her Keds went down the hallway and then out the door. The sound of the front door closing made me jump again. I stared at my door, feeling suddenly empty.

The pearls. Charlie. Mrs. George. 

All I could do was lay back on my bed and close my eyes once again. Eventually, I fell into a stressful sleep.