Big Bangs, Prohibition, and a Sugar Daddy

Meeting The Staff

Carol was awake when Luke arrived. As Carol chatted away almost as soon as she came into the room. I had returned to reading the paper. Tuning Carol's inane chatter out as I usually did. I was reading an article on the Wall Street Bombing when Luke knocked on the door.

As I read the article that described how the bomb had destroyed the lower floors of the J.P. Morgan Building, killing several clerks and pedestrians I watched Carol drift towards the door. In no particular hurry. I continued to read the paper as Carol opened the door and let Luke in.

I put down my paper and rose to greet Luke. "So, do I have a new head of staff and household accountant?" I noticed Luke had a bouquet of colorful wild flowers. In his hands.

If he thought I could be charmed by such a trivial thing as flowers, Luke was mistaken. Carol eyed the flowers, as if hoping they were actually for her. As it turned out Luke handed the flowers to my Mother.

Mother blushed. "Oh, how sweet of you, dear. What a wonderful man you are."

Hah, if only Mother knew what Luke's intentions were for me. He was the charmer when he wanted to be. Only Luke didn't charm me. Carol had to repress her disappointment that the flowers were not for her. After all Carol knew that it wouldn't due to act jealous of her own Mother. Still, it had to stick in her craw that they were for Mother, not her. The prettiest of us.

"I'm taking the job, I have packed a trunk. Since you are being so gallant you can help me lug it down." I told Luke.

"I'll go get the trunk while you say goodbye to your Mother and Sister. You may not get a chance to come back here any time soon." Luke went into my room that I shared with Carol to get the trunk.

Carol collided with me. Hugging me with all the drama I expected from her. As if I were heading off to Africa or some such thing, instead of the Northern side of New York City. Naturally she gushed tears. Even though the only audience was Mother and I. I pried myself out of her embrace and walked over to Mother, who stood and hugged me. With genuine tears.

Luke came back into the main room with my trunk. Lifting it onto his shoulder as if it hadn't been packed full. "If you are ready to go, just follow me. If not I'll have Henry wait for you."

I was ready to go. Or I wasn't. I didn't want to go, but felt compelled to do so. I had to take the job to help my family pay Mother's medical bills. Besides, the plan now was for Carol and Phillip to move in with Mother, so she no longer needed me at home.

Mrs. Markel opened her door as we passed. She actually stepped out.

"Are you going someplace?" Mrs. Markel wasn't known for subtlety.

"I'm going to work at a new job. Mr. Mason here is going to be my employer." I explained. I thought it was best to tell the nosy busybody, since she would learn anyway.

"Is that it?" Mrs. Markel was obviously hoping for some other item of interest that might make for good gossip.

"Yes." I told her. No doubt Mrs. Markel would descend on my Mother's apartment after I left with Luke.

Luke helped me into the Silver Ghost while Henry loaded the trunk into the back seat. I sat in the back seat next to my trunk. Luke sat in the front of the car, next to Henry. It was raining and the canvas top was up.

Luke turned in his seat to face me as I sat in the back. "Mr. Mason?" Luke sounded amused.

"You are my employer now, there has to be a certain amount of decorum." I certainly couldn't go around calling my employer by his first name.