The Brass Statuettes

By: Autumn Writer

© Copyright 2007, 2009

Chapter 5—Different Points of View

On Saturday morning Trudy rose early to eat breakfast with Frank.  She decided not to wake the girls; they would have been grouchy for having been rousted at that hour.  She wanted to talk with Frank, anyway.

“Frank, before you leave to play golf, I thought that I’d let you know—Gloria Warner called me up yesterday.”

“No kidding,” he answered, “it must have been about the charity foundation.”

“How did you know?”

“Don’t you remember?  We talked about it a few days ago.”

“Well, I didn’t think she’d call so soon,” Trudy protested.  “Anyway, she started out by flattering my gown from last Friday night.  I knew right away that I was in for a crock.”

“Your gown was real nice, Trudy.”

“I know you said so, but I heard what she said that night when she thought I didn’t hear.”

“Maybe she was counting the glasses of champagne you drank and figured that you wouldn’t remember.”

“Maybe so,” Trudy said.  A grin spread across her face.  “It worked out alright for you.”

“True enough,” Frank admitted.  “I didn’t notice any complaints coming from you.”  

Trudy was still grinning.  “Maybe I was too drunk to complain.”  She paused to gauge Frank’s reaction.  He remained expressionless, like the sphinx.  “Maybe not!” she recanted with a laugh.

Frank laughed along with her.  “Anyway, I think that Gloria was just trying to butter you up.”

“After the thing about the gown, she dropped the bombshell and asked me to be on the board of her charity.  I tried to say no, but she kept pressing.  Finally, I broke down and said that I’d do it,” she said, and then heaved a sigh.

“So, what’s the problem?” Frank asked.  “You might like it.  I know Gloria can be a pain, but she does have some pretty good projects.  I think she just finished funding a daycare or something like that.  They get a pretty good annual grant from Western.”

“I don’t know what…”

“Give it a chance, Trudy!  You might like it, after all.  You were always good with kids and you’ve got a lot of common sense.  You’ll probably be the best one they’ve got.”

“It’s not just Gloria,” Trudy explained.  “Brenda Hart and Ashley Smith are in it, too.  There’s another one by the name of Darlene something.  You know how Gloria’s girls are when they get together.”

“That would be Darlene Lowell,” Frank informed her.  “She’s Jason Lowell’s wife.  He just took over as head of R&D.”  He stopped and gave her an impatient look.  “You can handle it, Trudy.  If you don’t like it after a while, then quit.  It’s really up to you.”

“But why did they ask me?” she asked.  “I’ve never fit in with that crowd.  They’ve all been to college.  They’re not interested in anything that would matter to me.”

“I don’t know,” Frank answered.  “I suppose that Gloria didn’t want to leave anyone out.  Maybe she likes you more than you think.  I say again, if you don’t want to do it, don’t do it.”

“But I already said that I would.”

“Yes you did.  Give it a try and see how it goes.”

Trudy said nothing more.  She was frowning, resting her chin in her hands with her elbows on the table.  Frank slurped down the rest of his coffee.  “Gotta’ go,” he announced.  “We can talk about it later.”  He rose from the table and kissed her on the forehead before he left.     

************ 

Aaron Fishman met with Frank first thing on Monday morning, as promised.

“Did you have any trouble getting into the Executive Suite yesterday?” Frank asked.

“None,at all.  The pass Jeannette gave me was all I needed and I spoke to Floyd before I left on Friday.”

“Any trouble at home for having to work on Sunday?”

“Not too bad,” the young man answered, “a little heartburn, but she knows that it comes with the territory now and then.”

“You kept the details to yourself, didn’t you?”  Aaron nodded that he had.

“I know the feeling,” Frank assured him.  “Been there—done that.  I wouldn’t have asked you if it weren’t necessary.”

“I understand,” Aaron said.  “I was glad for the Sunday pass so that we could go to Temple on Saturday.”

“Let me see what you’ve got.”

Aaron opened a folder and took out two copies of reports he’d produced over the weekend.  “This is your copy. We can mark it up and I’ll make the changes for your meeting with Mr. Warner this afternoon.”

“Change in plans—Alvin wants the meeting later this morning,” Frank corrected.  “You should plan to go in there with me.  We’ve only got time to go over the summary now.  That’s all Alvin will want to do, anyway.  He’ll assume that we’re on firm footing with the details behind it.”

“This is only the first pass, like you said,” Aaron reminded him.

“I know. That’s what I wanted,” Frank said.  “I want to show Alvin the vulnerabilities so that he’ll put the heat on the VP’s to sharpen their pencils.  Have you spoken with any of them?”

“Mr. Lowell stuck his head in the door and asked what I was doing in the Controller’s office this morning,” Aaron said.  “I told him and that you authorized it.  He didn’t seem to like it very much.”

“He’ll just hafta’ not like it,” Frank replied.  “Let’s get to the numbers.  Did you make sure to delete any effects of the Wertheim project out of the forecast?”

“That was the hard part,” Aaron confided.  “They’re all over the place in the prior forecast.  Operations has it in capital spending, sales and expenses; R&D has a lot of spending, too.  I hope that I found it all.”

“It’s a good observation; we should be sure to make Alvin aware of it.  When you meet with Hart and Lowell be sure to get deep into it with them.”

“I made a reconciliation on a supporting analysis showing the before and after effects of taking Wertheim out.  Mostly, it has the effect of increasing income in the short term because of the avoided spending in the initial year.”

“Perfect, that’s just what we’ll need,” Frank said.  “When you get with Lowell, find out how much of the Wertheim spending he’ll replace with new projects here in the States, and how much is truly avoided.”

“I didn’t forecast using any reserves to cover the write-offs, and I considered them all deductible,” Aaron added.

“You did a pretty credible job on this,” Frank said, “especially for having to go it alone and not having much time.”

“That’s what I get paid for,” Aaron replied.

“C’mon, I don’t wanna hear any violins,” Frank cajoled.  “Leave your numbers as they are.  Make another set for Alvin and plan to meet in his office at eleven.”

*********** 

Frank and Aaron met with Alvin at eleven, as planned.  Frank laid out the numbers; Alvin caught on fast.

“You say that you’ve got reserves to handle the write-offs?” Alvin asked.

“Yes, if we want to use them,” Frank replied.

“And I take it that you don’t,” Alvin surmised.

“After we announce the shelving of the offering, anyone who knows anything will know that we’re going to have some write-offs because if it.  They’ll ask, ‘what’s the effect of your write-offs’ and we’ll say that we don’t have any.  Then they’ll know that we covered them with reserves.”

Alvin had a confused look on his face.  “Is that bad?”

“I think it is for two reasons,” Frank answered.  “First, a portion of our reserves will be used up unnecessarily.  I don’t think we need to do it.”

“And the second reason?” Alvin asked.

“If we do take those steps to protect our earnings forecast when it’s not necessary, savvy investors will think there’s some ultra-sensitivity to earnings blips on our part.  They’ll translate that into a lack of confidence in the overall forecast.  The whole thing could backfire.”

“That wouldn’t be fair,” Alvin pleaded.

“Fair or not, it would be a reasonable deduction.  That’s what I’d think if I were on the other side of the fence.  Why not just play it straight?  I think it will work out for us in the long-run, credibility-wise.  The important message is that our Operations are sound and on target.”

“I like your thinking,” Alvin conceded.  “But you know that the stock price will suffer.”    

“It’s suffering already with the rest of the market,” Frank retorted.  “It’ll only be temporary.  I think this is the right way to go.”

Alvin sat back in his chair and thought for a few seconds.  He turned to Aaron.  “What do you think we should do, young man?”

“Uh, sir, uh, I agree…” the startled subordinate began to stammer.

“That’s okay,” Alvin said.  “Just be glad for the chance to take some lessons from your boss, first-hand.”  Alvin turned to Frank.  “Okay, you convinced me.  We’ll do it your way.  When will it be official?”

“The lawyers are working on the SEC details right now.  I’ll know more tomorrow morning.  I thought I would have Tyler start working on a press release.  You should do a telecon as soon as we can get you prepped.”  Alvin nodded.  “Now, as to the rest of the forecast…”

“Don’t expect Blake Hart to change his operating forecast,” Alvin said.  “He always keeps it pretty tight and we just went through this not long ago.  Focus on coordinating between him and Lowell to make sure that the revised R&D is properly reflected in downstream sales and spending.”

“That’ll make your job easier,” Frank said to Aaron. 

********* 

After Aaron left it was almost noon.

“Seems like a smart young man,” Alvin said. 

“He’s still fairly young, but you’re right.  He is smart and he knows how to get a job done on short order.”

“What did you say his name was?” Alvin asked.  “Was it Fishstein, or something like that?”

“Fishman,” Frank corrected.  “You’ll be hearing more from him, I believe.  I would consider him for the Controller’s job, but he’s still too green.”

“Is he the one Jason saw in the Controller’s office?” Alvin inquired.

“I authorized it,” Frank said.  “I thought it would be better for confidentiality and make it easier to get the forecast rolling faster.”

“I’ve got no problem with it,” Alvin replied.  “Jason seems to have his nose a little out of joint.”

“I can’t help it,” Frank said.  “It’ll just have to be out of joint.  We’ve got a job to do and this is the best way to get it done.”

“Like I said, no problem.  I was going to order something from the lunchroom and eat it here in the office,” Alvin said.  “Why don’t you join me if you haven’t got any plans for lunch?”

“How was your trip to Germany?” Frank asked. 

“Not so good,” Alvin sighed.  “The Wertheim people suspected a stall and they developed a cold shoulder.”

“Were you able to keep the stock issue confidential?”

“I was vague and didn’t say anything specific,” Alvin explained.  “I think the Wertheim people figured it out.  That’s why they turned lukewarm.  They expected us to issue the stock regardless of the price and worry about the dilution later.”

“Herr Mueller was quite upset,” Frank told him.

“Oh, I know,” Alvin acknowledged.  “I got a call from him right after your teleconference.”

“I understand why he’s concerned, but…” Frank started to say, but Alvin stopped him.

“He’s right to be worried about the Wertheim deal, but he’s failing to see the big picture.”

“Jim Sweeney put in a surprise visit on Friday,” Frank added.

“I know that, too,” Alvin said.  “He called me over the weekend.”

There was a knock at Alvin’s door and a worker from the Executive Lunchroom brought in their lunch orders. 

“Care for something to go with it?” Alvin offered.

“Too early for me,” Frank said.  “I’ll take a bottle of juice, if you’ve got it.”

“You convinced me on that, too,” Alvin said as he set two bottles of orange juice on the conference table.  “How are we doing on the interim financing?”

“Slow right now,” Frank conceded.  “I haven’t been able to tell the bankers exactly how much we need, how long we need it, or what we need it for.  I think we can finance the R&D, but I can’t see them making any loans for the Wertheim buyout.”

“In that case, if Wertheim falls through the stock offering doesn’t make much sense,” Alvin said.

“Not until we develop another merger candidate.  We wouldn’t even want to.  Sitting with all that cash without a use for it would make us a takeover target.”

“Good point,” Alvin conceded.  “I’m starting to have second thoughts on this acquisition.  I learned just how uncooperative the Germans can be.  We could be headed for a very bad corporate marriage.  I’m not saying the deal is strictly off; I’m just thinking about it.  I know Jim Sweeney told you he has that opinion, too.”

“Then what I was about to suggest doesn’t make much sense,” Frank said.  “I was thinking a stock-for-stock deal at sixty-five dollars.  That would make the shelved offering a moot issue.”

“I doubt they’d go for it.  They want cash,” Alvin replied.  “Whatever we do, we have to keep the R&D program rolling forward.  If we fail, competition will creep past us.  It’ll be death by a thousand cuts.”

“The timing might suffer until we get our financing in place,” Frank advised.  “I’m having Jason furnish a list by priorities with costs attached to each.”

“Stay on it, and keep me involved.  Be sure that Blake gets a crack at it from the commercialization aspect.” Alvin said.  “Make it highest priority.  I’ll talk to Jason.  He’s new in his job, too, and he’s never been through anything like this in academia.”

“He appeared overly nervous when we had our Management Group meeting,” Frank said.

“Leave Jason to me,” Alvin replied.  “Keep going on that financing and keep those R&D details tied together.”

“No problem, Alvin,” Frank said as he finished his sandwich.  “I think that about covers it.”

“There is one other thing—more on a personal note,” Alvin said.  “Gloria told me that Trudy agreed to join her Western Chemical Foundation.  I was real happy to hear that.”

“I told Trudy that it’s her decision.  She’s going to try it for a while.”

“I’m hoping that Gloria and Trudy get to spend some time together,” Alvin continued.  “I think Gloria could benefit by it.”

“They’re not exactly two peas in a pod,” Frank pointed out.

“That’s just the point,” Alvin said.  “Trudy’s so nice.  She’s down-to-earth and gets along with everyone.  I’m hoping that some of it rubs off on Gloria.”

“I always thought Gloria was…”

“I think she’s lost some of it over the past couple of years,” Alvin confided.  “Maybe it’s because I don’t spend enough time with her.  She’s become so status-conscious.  She wasn’t that way when we first got married.”

“Geez, Alvin,” Frank pleaded, “I don’t know how to answer you.  I don’t know Gloria that well.  Everyone changes.  I wouldn’t look to Trudy to be some sort of missionary.  She prides herself on minding her own business.”

“I think that Gloria needs a real friend,” Alvin mused, “someone with their own mind, like Trudy, who just wants to be friends, and nothing else.  That’s how I see it.”

“Trudy’s always willing to give someone a chance.”

“It can’t hurt,” Alvin said.

*************     

Juana was waxing the kitchen floor when she heard the doorbell.  She set the mop down and started for the front door.  She had a second thought and stopped at the sink to clean her hands; she had no idea who it might be.  The Señora’s guests weren’t due for another half-hour.

The doorbell rang again, due to the delay.  Juana heard Señora Warner yell from upstairs in her bedroom.

“Juana, what are you doing?  Get the door!”

“Si, Señora; I ‘ave eet,” she called back.  There were times when the Señora could be aggravating; and then there were times like this when she had a knack for really getting under Juana’s skin.

She hurried to the door before it had a chance to ring again, drying her hands on her apron.  When the door opened a tall, blonde gringa stranger stood looking at her with a toothy grin.

“I’m Trudy Bennett,” the stranger said as the door opened.  Juana took a second to look at her.  She was about the Señora’s age, but plainer looking.  She was wearing black slacks and a nice, white blouse, with a purse with an over-the-shoulder strap and she had some sort of canvas tote bag in her hand.

Juana peered past the strange woman standing patiently in front of her, to see if she was accompanied by others.  Juana was thinking that she was too dressed-up to be part of the Señora’s crowd.  Perhaps she was a saleswoman.  The Señora would want her sent away.

“Gloria asked me to come to a meeting here today,” the stranger added. 

“Who was at the door, Juana?” yelled a troublesome voice from upstairs.

 Juana turned toward the stairway.  “Eet ees one who calls herself…”  Juana had forgotten the stranger’s name.  She turned to the doorway for help.

“Trudy Bennett,” the stranger reminded in a low voice.

“She ees called Trudy Bennett,” Juana yelled up the stairs.

“She’s early!” the disagreeable voice yelled back.  There was a short pause.  “Take her to the veranda and get her something to drink.”

“Dees way, pliz,” Juana bade the stranger.  When she was certain that the new guest had stepped through the door and ready to follow, Juana turned and led her to the veranda.  She motioned to a large white table with an umbrella protecting it.

“This is very nice, thank you,” the woman who called herself Trudy said with her smile that had not left her face.  “I’m sorry to be early.  I was sure that Gloria told me one o’clock.”

“Dee Señora always mins one-teerty when chee says one,” Juana informed her.  “Dee others weel be ‘eere den.”

“Oh,” Trudy said, laughing out loud.  “I thought she just meant one.”  Juana saw her pause and look at her for a second.  “I guess that makes two of us who don’t understand English very well.”  Then she laughed again.

Juana fought back the urge to laugh along with her.  It would have been unprofessional.  “Would you like a dreenk?” she asked the stranger.

“An iced tea would be really nice,” the blonde woman answered. 

Juana nodded—she had some already made up.  “Chall I bring dee vodka?”

Trudy opened her eyes wider in surprise.  “Oh, no thank you.  I never drink during the day.  I’d never stay awake for the meeting.”  She was laughing again.

“Very good, Señora.”  Juana turned and made her way to the kitchen.  This tall, blonde stranger confused her.  She was unlike any rich gringa she had ever met.  It made Juana a little bit uncomfortable.  The woman didn’t act like a rich person, yet she must have been rich because all Señora Gloria’s friends were.  If Juana had permitted herself the indulgence, her curiosity would have piqued.  She reminded herself that she was merely fetching iced tea—without vodka. 

Juana returned with a tray on which she set a bowls of ice, lemon wedges and mint leaves, along with an empty glass and the pitcher of iced tea.

“I’m so sorry,” the blonde woman jumped out of her chair to assist her as she returned to the veranda.  “I had no idea that you’d go to all that trouble for me.”

It was true, as Juana thought to herself; she wouldn’t normally bring out all the fixings for a stranger who was just killing time on the veranda.  Some undefined feeling made Juana decide to perform the extra service. 

“Señora Bennett, eet ees no-teen,” she answered as she set down the tray.  “I weel feex eet.  Pliz enjoy.” 

Trudy resumed her seat under the umbrella while Juana crushed the mint leaves in the bottom of the glass.  “You can call me Trudy,” she called over to Juana.  “Not many people call me Mrs. Bennett.”

Juana brought the finished drink and set it on the table with a little napkin.  She chose not to respond to the stranger’s invitation to use first names.

“This will be really nice,” Trudy smiled up at her.  “I’ll just sip this and look at the gardens while I wait for the others.”

“Dee gardens pliz chu?” Juana asked.

“Of course,” Trudy replied.  “I always like gardens.  These are the nicest I’ve seen in a while.” 

“Dee garden-air—eet ees my hoseban’,” Juana announced.  She allowed herself a moment of pride.  “We leeve ‘eere een dat leetle house d’ere,” she said, pointing to the cottage just visible on the edge of the grounds.

“That’s wonderful!” Trudy exclaimed.  “How many years have you lived here?”

“A long time,” Juana answered, stifling a grin.  “Mebee teerty years.  José an’ me; wee ‘ave our honeymoon in d’are.”

Juana waited for her reaction and Trudy reacted with a smile.  “That’s really sweet,” she said.  “My husband and I will have our twentieth anniversary soon.”

“Twenty ees good, too,” Juana conceded, unable to conceal a note of cheerfulness.  She paused, wondering if she should say more; perhaps inquire if she had children.  She decided not to; she’d said enough already.  “I must work now.”   

Trudy remained on the veranda, drinking her iced tea and enjoying the manicured lawn and the gardens.  She had taken Gloria at her word when she said one o’clock.  She had never been one of those ‘fashionably late’ types.  This new venture into the world of Gloria’s charity would take some getting used to.

Off to her right she spotted the swimming pool.  An older Mexican man dressed in jeans, a pale green work shirt and a wide-brimmed field hat was inside the fence skimming the surface with a net attached to a pole.  “That must be Juana’s husband.”  It occurred to her what a different life they led.  Yet, in the final analysis, they were the same as she and Frank—just two people trying as hard as they can, finding their way through life together.

“Trudy!”  She heard a cry from behind her.  She knew it was Gloria stepping out onto the veranda to greet her.  She turned to meet her hostess.

“Thank you for inviting me,” Trudy said as Gloria crushed herself to her as she seized an embrace. 

“I’m so glad that you decided to join us,” Gloria told her.  “The others should be here in about fifteen minutes.”

“I apologize for coming early,” Trudy said.  “I’d have sworn that you told me to come over at one.”

“Oh, I did,” Gloria said.  “But, that didn’t mean to be here at one.  That’s the time to start getting ready.  We’re always about a half-hour behind.”

“I see,” Trudy replied.  “Next time, I’ll know.  It worked out well.  I had a chance to admire your gardens.”

Gloria pulled out a chair from the table and they both sat down.

“I see that Juana brought you a refreshment.  I think I’ll have one, too.”  Gloria took a deep breath and yelled out, “Juana!”

“Don’t be silly,” Trudy said, rising to her feet.  “All the makings are right here on the bar.  I’d be happy to make one for you.”

Gloria remained in her chair.  Her face began turning red, but she allowed Trudy to make her drink.  As she was just finishing it Juana appeared on the veranda.

“Deed chu call me, Señora Warner?”

“Never mind,” Gloria snapped.  “I wanted you to make me a drink.  Mrs. Bennett’s doing it for you.”

“Sorry, Señora Warner,” the maid mumbled.

”It’s okay,” Trudy interjected.  “It’s my pleasure.”  She set Gloria’s drink on the tray when Juana stopped her.

“Dee Señora likes to have vodka wit’ eet,” she whispered to Trudy.  “Eet’ ees in dee cabinet.  I weel get eet.”

“Oh,” Trudy said, slightly chagrinned.  “Gloria,” she called over from the bar to the table, “you don’t want any vodka in this, do you?”

Gloria’s head snapped around.  She drew a deep breath and began to answer, but then let the breath out.  “Not if you’re not having any, dear,” she answered in a saccharin voice.  She shook her head slightly, and motioned Juana to go.

Trudy rejoined Gloria at the table.  They took a big gulp of their drinks.  “Trudy, dear,” Gloria began.  “I should have told you that we dress quite a bit more casually at our meetings.  You’re a bit overdressed, I’m afraid.”

“This old thing?” Trudy asked.  “Why these are just my grocery store clothes!”  Then she laughed out loud while grabbing Gloria’s arm, who recoiled a bit and grimaced as Trudy enjoyed her own joke.

“Most of the girls wear cotton skirts and blouses with their bathing suits underneath,” Gloria went on.  “I hope you brought your bathing suit.  Did you?”

“Sure did,” Trudy replied.  “It’s right here in my tote bag.”

************** 

“That brings us to you, Trudy,” Gloria stated as she stood chairing the meeting.  All of the other Board members had their assignments.  Each was responsible for specific sources of donations from the various corporations and professional offices in the community.  Ashley and Brenda had the additional charge of finding suitable office space in the downtown area when the time was right.  Darlene would handle the checkbook.  Brenda also had the responsibility to write all grant proposals.  There was a seminar that she would attend to learn the basics of doing that.  Gloria would coordinate everything and be the press contact. 

“I’m not really used to this kind of thing,” Trudy admitted.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Gloria said.  “I have an assignment for you that will be a big help.”

“Whatever you say,” Trudy replied.

She was to have the title of Corresponding Secretary.  Gloria explained that it would be Trudy’s responsibility to open a post office box, sort and record all the mail and send acknowledgements when necessary.

“I know that it doesn’t sound like much,” Gloria conceded, “but it would really be a big help.”

“It’s fine,” Trudy said.  “I used to do that kind of thing before Frank and I were married.    I was a receptionist at the accounting firm where he worked.  That’s how we met.”

Gloria cleared her throat.  “That’s very interesting, Trudy,” she said.  “You’ll have to tell us all about it sometime.”

Out of the corner of her eye Trudy spied Ashley and Darlene covering their mouths and looking away to stifle little giggles.  She said nothing when she saw them; it happened all the time and Trudy learned that life was easier when she ignored it. 

“I don’t think we have any more to cover today,” Gloria announced.

“Tyler thinks that we need some board members that aren’t connected to Western,” Ashley said.   

“That’s what Alvin said, too,” Gloria replied.  “I’m working on it.  We have to get the right people.”  Gloria paused and looked around the table.  “I think we’re done for today,” she announced.  Let’s go relax by the pool.”

********* 

Gloria directed Trudy to the changing room in the mini-gym and handed her the key.  “By the time you change into your suit, we’ll be at the pool waiting for you,” she said.  The four women watched in silence as Trudy finally disappeared into the building by the pool. 

“Hey, Gloria,” Ashley demanded, “What’s the idea with the Virgin Iced Teas?”

“That was Trudy’s idea,” Gloria answered.  “She had Juana fix it for her that way before I had a chance to say anything.” 

“I thought as much,” said Brenda.

“And then she made me drink it the same way,” Gloria added.  “I called for Juana to serve me a drink, but Trudy jumped up and said ‘no, she’d do it’—and then she did.  I couldn’t stop her without making a scene.”

“Ah thought the idea was that Trudy was s’pposed t’ become more like us, not th’ other way ‘round,” Darlene reminded the group.

“That’s what I thought, too,” Gloria said.  “This was all Brenda’s idea.”

“Well, how was I supposed to know…”

“And you should have seen Juana fawning all over her,” Gloria continued.  “Someone’s forgetting who pays the tab around here.”

“It would figure that it’d be Trudy who’d take a shine to the maid,” Ashley said.  

“Well, it’s going to take more time and patience than we thought,” Brenda said.

“More time than you thought,” Ashley shot back.

“We’re stuck with it now,” Brenda retorted.  “Anyway, she’s got a job where she can’t get in the way and it’s one that’s a big pain; we’re lucky to have her—or else one of us would have to do it.”

“We’ll just have to deal with it,” Gloria said.  “We better get over there.  She’ll be coming out soon.”

When Trudy opened the door of the mini-gym she was wearing a one-piece suit in a solid royal blue color.  Trudy saw right away that her suit was quite unlike the others’.  They were all in bikinis that were much less modestly cut.  It was another example of Trudy not fitting in; she half expected it to be so before she stepped through the door.

“It looks like royal blue’s in season,” Ashley pointed out. 

“Huh?” Trudy puzzled.

“It’s the same color as your beautiful gown last Friday night,” Gloria explained.

“Ha!” Trudy laughed.  “I never thought of that.  I guess it is my favorite color, come to think of it.”

Trudy poured a handful of sun protection cream in her palm and began smoothing it on her arms and legs.  The four other women noticed how long and toned her limbs were.

“You’re certainly in good shape,” Brenda said.

“Well thanks, I…” Trudy began to answer.

“What gym do you belong to?” Ashley asked.  “Who’s your trainer?”

“Gym?” Trudy asked.  “I don’t really go in for that.  My housework is enough to give me plenty of exercise.  Sometimes I do some stretching on a mat on the floor when I’m alone in the house.” 

“Housework?” Ashley and Darlene mouthed to one another when they were sure that Trudy had looked away.

“How are you going to tan your mid-section if you wear a one-piece suit?” Brenda asked.

“I guess I won’t,” Trudy admitted.  “It doesn’t matter.  When a woman’s pushing forty, like me, it’s better not to show too much skin in public.”

Brenda and Gloria traded glances, and Gloria’s face started turning red.  Gloria drew a deep breath and rose up in her chair, but Brenda placed her hand on her forearm to stop her. 

“Anyway,” Trudy corrected, “that’s the way it works for me.”

“Showing our bodies off is what makes men want us,” Gloria instructed her.  “That’s why we work so hard on keeping them like they are.”

“I don’t really think so, do you?” Trudy retorted.  “And anyway, I only mentioned showing skin in public.  Where it really counts is not public—and I never hesitate to show more there.”  Trudy laughed.  She saw the others roll their eyes at first, and then force out polite giggles.   

“You’re speaking about your husband,” Brenda clarified.  “What about other men?”

“What do you mean,” Trudy paused with a puzzled look on her face.

“You know—men who aren’t your husband,” Brenda repeated.  “How do you make them want you?  For example, how would you make my husband, Blake, want you?”

“I would never go to bed with your husband,” Trudy answered.  Her brow furled and the smile disappeared from her face.

“She didn’t mean to actually get in bed with him,” Gloria explained.   “Just to make him wish that he could.” 

“I don’t want him to wish that,” Trudy replied.  “I like the real thing more than pretending.”

“I’ll bet your husband thinks about it,” Ashley said.  “Maybe Gloria, or me, or any one of us—or all of us.  All men do.  Turnabout is only fair play.”

“Did you mean all of us one at a time, or at the same time?” Brenda inquired.  Her joke got a bigger response than Trudy’s.

“I wouldn’t know,” Trudy said.  If there ever had been any fun in the afternoon with the girls, it had disappeared.  She looked about for some refuge.

“That water looks so inviting, Gloria,” Trudy said.  “Do you mind if I have a swim to cool off?”  She didn’t wait for the answer; she dove into the deep end head-first, and swam to the other end, not stopping until she reached the far wall.

“Trudy’s got a lot to learn,” Brenda commented as Trudy disappeared beneath the surface of the water.

“Well, I don’t think I have the patience to teach her,” Gloria said.

“Maybe she’ll have to learn on her own someday, when her husband’s career requires it,” Ashley said.  “I’ll bet she’s never thought of that.  Then she’ll find out about ‘the real thing’.”

“Ah’m sure not,” Darlene issued a mild protest.  “It’s hard for me t’ think on it.”

“And you’re far more advanced than Trudy,” Brenda agreed.

“At least Darlene’s a willing student,” Gloria pointed out.

Trudy completed her lap and popped her head out of the water.  “Shhh,” Brenda scolded.  “Don’t let her hear us!”  At the end of her lap Trudy stood up in the shallow end and turned toward the group with a look of expectation.  Hearing nothing from them, she pushed back into the water and started her return lap to the deep end.

“We’ll talk later,” Gloria told Brenda. 

Trudy arrived at the edge of the pool and quickly hoisted herself out of the water.  She stood dripping before her new associates and looked up at the sun as they eyed her.  She walked to the chair and picked up her towel and began drying herself.

“I should have realized that the water would wash off all my sunscreen,” Trudy said.  “With my skin, I’ll burn to a crisp if I stay in this sun very long.  I think I’ll get dressed.”  She didn’t wait for Gloria’s permission, like some of the others might have.  She turned and headed for the changing room in the mini gym.     

Inside the house, Juana stood at the kitchen window where she could see the pool.

“¿Come se dice eso nombre—Trudy?” she asked herself.

Perhaps, she thought, it meant ‘tall, smiling woman’.  She thought again and corrected herself.  “Woman with the kind face.”  She observed that this new friend of her mistress was different from the other women who regularly sat undressed at Gloria’s pool and tempted José’s young obreros as they drank too much.

Trudy came out of the mini-gym changed into her street clothes. 

“This has been fun, Gloria.  Thanks for inviting me.  I’ve got to get going now.”

“So soon?” Gloria pouted.  “We were just getting started.”

“Have to get dinner started,” Trudy answered, “and check up on Margaret and Patricia.”

“I’ll call you for the next meeting, then,” Gloria conceded.  “Thanks for coming.”

“’Bye, everyone,” Trudy said to the group and abruptly turned and walked toward the house.

“Juana will help you find your way out,” Gloria called after her.  Trudy didn’t answer.

“This hasn’t been much fun today,” Gloria stated.  “Trudy put a damper on everything.”

“There are no gardeners, either,” Brenda observed.  “Darlene, this was supposed to be your big debut.”

“Maybe it doesn’t feel the same without the vodka in our iced tea,” Ashley said.

Darlene was blushing.  “Ah was ready,” she said.  “Ah’m wearin’ my littlest bikini.”

“Be ready next time,” Gloria ordered.

********** 

As always, the Texas summer night was very warm, even after sundown.  Patricia was out with friends and their younger daughter, Margaret, was fortified in her room, alternately on her cell phone or the internet.  Rather than hide behind the air conditioning, Frank and Trudy decided to have a drink together by the pool.  They hadn’t changed into swim suits.  Frank was wearing gym shorts and impulsively threw off his shirt and dove in.   

Trudy watched Frank swim down to the shallow end.  She was drinking a glass of lemonade and Frank had a beer waiting for him when he was finished swimming.  It seemed that a lot was happening to her around swimming pools lately.  Frank swam back and climbed out of the pool.

“You should dive in, Trudy,” he urged.  “It’s only us.  You can get your clothes wet.  No one will see.”

“That’s okay,” she said, “I already went swimming at Gloria’s house this afternoon”

“That’s right, I almost forgot,” he said as he dried himself.  He reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head and sat down in the chair next to hers.  He opened his beer and took a few long gulps.  “Ahh!  The first swallow is always the best.”

“I knew you were going to say that.”

“How would you know that?” he demanded

“Because you say that every time you have a beer when you’re hot and thirsty.”

“I guess you’ve got me all figured out,” he conceded.

“Not all figured out—but mostly.”  She let a smile escape to let him know that it pleased her to be with him.  It wasn’t a voluntary act; she couldn’t make it come and go on command.  Her face gave away her feelings whenever it chose to.

“Then, I guess I’d better watch my step,” he replied.  “Anyway, how did it go?”

“What go?”

“The meeting at Gloria’s house.  You’re the one who brought it up.”

“It was okay.”

“Trudy,” Frank said, “when you say something went ‘okay’, it means ‘not very good’.”

“It was nothing much,” she answered.  “Gloria and the girls didn’t like my bathing suit, and they made fun of me when they thought I couldn’t hear them.  Other than that, it was okay.”

“Made fun of what?” Frank demanded.

“They didn’t like it because I didn’t put booze in my iced tea and that I do housework instead of going to a gym.”

“Sticks and stones,” Frank said, appearing to lose interest.

“On top of that, they gave me a clunky job to keep me out of the way.  It’s okay, though, because then I can do my part and not be responsible for anything.”

“Whatever Gloria and her cohort are capable of, I’m sure that you are, too.”

“Not that social stuff, Frank.  I can’t do it.  It sounds like they’re planning on going around to all the companies and twisting arms.”

“What else would it be?” Frank said.  “I remember last winter we had the Foundation slotted for a nice two million dollar donation.  Alvin came in one Monday morning with a smile on his face and all of a sudden it was three million.”

“I would never do that,” Trudy said.

“Why not?” 

Trudy turned and gave Frank that look that let him know he was on thin ice, and the weather was really hot.

“I didn’t mean with Alvin,” her husband clarified.

“Stop joking!” she said, and then looked away.  Frank sat back and downed the rest of his beer, chuckling to himself. 

“You should see the way Gloria treats her maid,” Trudy said, letting her displeasure show.  “It’s awful.” 

“It’s up to you whether you have booze in your iced tea,” Frank said.

“Well they …”

“I think you worry too much,” Frank insisted.  Trudy said nothing.  Frank could tell what she was thinking.

“They didn’t like your bathing suit because they wish they could look like you do when you wear it.”

“Do you mean it?” she asked.  Her voice cracked a little.

“Did you wear the medium blue one that’s a little frumpy?”

“It’s royal blue, and I like it.”

“Yes, Trudy; I meant it.”

“You’re sure?” 

“Have you noticed me avoiding you lately,” Frank asked.

“I suppose not,” she answered in a tiny voice, “and it’s modest—not frumpy”

“I’ll prove it to you,” Frank offered.  “Put down your glass.”

“My glass?” Perhaps she didn’t notice that she did set it on the table. 

“Now, relax; close your eyes.”

“Oh, Frank what is this?”  But, she closed them, just the same.

“I think you need to cool off,” Frank said.  Before she could question him again he grasped her hand.  He pulled her along and she ran to keep up with him.  After a few strides they were airborne, and then they entered the water together—clothes and all. 

They were dripping as they approached the house.  Margaret met them at the door.  She had heard the splashing and Trudy’s shriek.  Frank and Trudy were laughing, but their daughter gave them a stern look.

“Oh really!” she exclaimed in disgust as she rolled her eyes.  It made her parents laugh even harder.  The girl turned to go back to her room.  She put her cell phone back to her ear.  “You won’t believe what my parents just did…”

************** 

TO BE CONTINUED