EDENVILLE

Ms Kitpay

By @naomimrshl

"That about does it, Ms. Kitpay." Mr. Loo said, as he closed his notebook with a snap and handed his client her copy of his report.
Mae Kitpay flicked the Manila envelope a few inches across her Queen Anne desk. Irritably, glancing out her window, she snorted as she launched into the scope of her disappointment with Mr. Loo's results.

"Frankly, Mr Loo, I don't think this is worth paying you a cent! All you've told me is that Edenville is a pretty town that was first settled before written records were kept."

"Well now, that's, not quite true, Mrs Kitpay ... i
I included information about each of the Edenvillians I interviewed

" A tipsy Preacher? A mayor who wears grass skirts ? A man who gets himself bound up in plaster and gauze every time he ventures outside? This isn't a help, Mr Loo... no help at all! "

With a sigh, Mr. Loo began to defend his threadbare report and chose umbrage as his best opening gambit. He could sense an attempt to refuse to pay for the services of the Luke E. Loo & Associates on the near horizon, and his meager bank account needed to supply funds for three months back rent.

With a slight stiffening of his spine, he leaned in toward his client, taking into account her pursed lips.

"Mrs. Kitpay, I'm astounded that you are disappointed with the quality of our report! I'll have you know, we interviewed more than twenty of the town folk and, in that excellent report, you will find - as I've previously explained - a history of recent events. The discovery of an invasion both by smugglers and evil, demented twins, the sighting of a ghostly mist, the Prince's visit, and the re-building of the bridge and church steeple! In short, I've brought you exactly what you asked for! And furthermore..... "

May raised her open palm. " OK! OK!" she said as she opened the petty cash box (An Italian thirteenth century music box) and picked out several bills.

" Frankly, Mr. Loo, I'm just too busy to argue " she snapped.
Wagging the wad at Mr. Loo, she picked up her phone and glared at Luke E. Loo as she nodded toward her fifteenth century, hand carved door.

Luke abruptly grabbed the cash and, mumbling a garbled goodbye, quickly escaped.

As he sped by Alma's desk, he began to wonder if it wasn't a good time for a sea change. The thought of settling down in a quiet place and writing his memoirs... maybe picking up odd jobs from time to time... just to earn a living till his escapades became a bestseller... maybe even a move!... Yes, indeed! That just might be his escape hatch... and Mr. Loo appreciated a good hatch.

..............

"Porter Dobbs! This is a fine surprise! Come in... come in... OH my! What have you done to yourself this time? That looks painful!" Bessie exclaimed as she held the door open for Dobbs and leaned forward to assist him over the footstep and inside

"Now you just step into my parlor... here now! ... let me help...."

Bessie steered Dobbs toward her sofa and helped him sit.

"Now you just wait right here... don't move! I'll go get us a tray of pie and hot tea." she said as she fussed with various pillows and a footstool.

"There now! " Bessie exclaimed with some pride at her successful effort to build a down stuffed fort round poor Dobb's swollen knee.

"Stay right there! " Bessie giggled as she fairly skipped toward her kitchen.

Over her shoulder, she flashed Dobbs a bright smile and said "It's blackberry pie... fresh baked... do you like blackberry?"

Before Dobbs could make a sound, Bessie squealed... "HaHa ha ha! Silly me... EVERYBODY likes blackberries!"

Porter Dobbs watched her backside as she jiggled and danced toward the kitchen.
Tired to his bones, and dosed with pain pills, his thoughts wandered to the idea of courting his neighbor.

Jamonica didn't seem too interested in being his girlfriend... and truth be told... she couldn't cook a lick! What that girl did to salmon should be a criminal offense...

Plus, Bessie appreciated a bit of porcelain...

Dobbs had just started to nod off when Bessie returned with a generous slice of blackberry pie, topped with whipped cream and hot lemon infused tea.

Persistent memories of Mae Kitpay vanished while they relaxed and fed with amicable contentment.

..................

"Miss Peed?This is Mae Kitpay, from Olde Junk Roadhouse do you have a few minutes to talk?"

Surprised, Milli quickly pulled her car off the road onto a gravel edge

"Yes M'am! I surely do! How can I help you?
You know... I'm your biggest fan! Never ever miss a sh......"

"Let's make this short, Mis Peed... Mae interrupted...
Would you be interested in serving as Edenville's liaison between the townsfolk and my production company?"

"Y..YES!...Yes I would... very much!" Milli chirped.

"When Will I begin?"

"You have already begun, my dear. Now, I'll send you a packet of information and available episode taping dates. Do you think you can read through that and respond quickly?"

"Yes M'am... I'll do my best... and thank you!"

Milli heard the phone disconnect abruptly and briefly wondered if she had dreamed all that up.

"Guess we will see... guess we will..." Milli whispered to herself as she slowly pulled out into the road and continued her drive toward Oleander Lane.