Ella Page 10

  Chapter 10

  The next morning rain was threatening with thunder booming in the distance. As Ella hiked to work with her head tucked against the moisture-laden wind, she heard an orange State truck approaching. As it passed, the driver waved and blew his horn twice. She returned the wave, thinking, that man looks like the man from the restaurant with sad blue eyes. I wonder if I’ll see him tonight.

  She arrived at Mueller’s Resort just before a gentle rain began. She hung up her mother’s wool coat, found the mop and began to scrub the kitchen floor. The tiny cracks in her knuckles stung each time she wrung the mop, but she ignored the pain. Her mood turned dark thinking about her estranged husband. Rico has made no effort to find me, but I don’t care. That marriage all most crushed my spirit.

  She put Rico out of her mind and thought about John. What a surprise to see him this morning. I wonder why he looks so sad. He’s interesting, but much too old, at least forty.

  That evening, Ella Glanced at the clock and felt vaguely disappointed. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, thinking, I guess he won’t be coming in tonight. Mrs. Mueller came into the dining room and clucked her tongue, saying, “Ella, it's almost closing time. You better gather up those menus."

  With a blast of cold air coming from an open door, John entered the dining room and took his usual seat.

  Ella went to his table, smiled and said, "Hello John. You were almost too late for dinner."

  "Oh, hi Ella, we were held up by a mud slide."

  "Well, I’m glad you got here in time. Tonight we have eggs over hash. It’s Mr. Mueller's specialty. Would you like to give it a try?"

  "What? Okay, I'll take it and a cup of coffee."

  She hurried back to the kitchen and gave the order to Mr. Mueller who was cooking behind the grill. He leered lecherously, saying, "Hey, Ella, it looks like John has you all excited."

  She ignored the insinuation, grabbed the order and returned to John’s table. “Enjoy your dinner. It’s nice and hot,” she said, noticing the absence of a wedding ring.

  He rubbed his nose with his fist, saying, “I was surprised to see you this morning. Do you live down that way?"

  "Yes, I live at the old Rule Ranch."

  He gave her a small smile, revealing brown teeth, saying, “You know, it's raining pretty hard. I would be happy to give you a lift if you don't have a ride."

  "Oh, no, John, you don't have to do that. It's not that far," she protested.

  "I wouldn't mind. You would get soaked if you tried to walk."

  She noticed Mrs. Mueller was giving her a disapproving look and then decided to accept his offer. "All right John. I'll meet you outside as soon as I’m off work."

  John was waiting for her by an old car when she came out of the restaurant. He held the car door open, yelling, “Hi Ella;” Let’s get out of this rain before we’re soaked. “

  After she scrambled into his ancient Hudson, she patted her wet hair down and said, "Hello John; It's raining harder than I thought, but you finished eating in a hurry. I hope you enjoyed Mr. Mueller’s specialty."

  He turned on the ignition and replied, “I wasn’t that hunger. Now, where do you live?”

  “I live five miles down this road by the old wooden arch. Do you know where that is?"

  "Yes, I know exactly where that is," he replied and turned his car around. While they rode with rain beating on the roof, he began to whistle a tuneless melody, occasionally squeezing his lower lip, but not saying anything.

  Ella became apprehensive and found the door handle, thinking, what have I gotten into? He could be dangerous, but if he tries anything funny, I'll jump right out of this car.

  Soon he turned off the highway and began to negotiate the muddy road up to her house. She sat back in the seat, laughing at herself. Hell, I was being ridiculous! He isn’t dangerous after all.

  When he parked the car, she quickly opened the door, saying, "John thanks very much for the ride."

  He spoke in a rush." Ella, there's a dance Saturday night at the Pink Elephant in Monte Rio. Would you like to go?"

  She sat back in the seat and pulled the door shut, thinking, what the heck! I haven't done something just for the fun of it in such a long time." “Okay John, I'll go, but I don’t get off work until seven."

  He patted her hand. “Don’t worry; I'll pick you up at work and bring you home so you can get ready."

  She swallowed." Alright. I'll see you, and thanks again for the ride."

  As she sprinted across the rain-splattered Yard, she thought, Oh God, I haven't anything decent to wear. I hope Mama can make me something worth wearing.

  On the following Saturday night, John picked her up after her work and brought her home as he had promised.

  While she was rushing to get dressed, she shouted, "Goddamn it! God damn it!"

  Frances looked up from her ironing and asked, "What's wrong dear?"

  "Oh, nothing. So far I've managed to scorch my hair; nicked my knee and now I just smeared my fingernail polish."

  Her mother chuckled. "Honey, don't rush, you have plenty of time. I've just finished ironing your dress."

  After Ella pulled on the silky green and gold dress made by her mother, she spun around in a circle, asking, “Well, how do I look?"

  Frances examined the dress critically, nodded and said, “It fits just fine. You look good in those colors."

  "Mama, you amaze me how you can just look at a picture and make it on your old Singer. Thank you so much, you made a beautiful dress out of that old rayon gown.”

  Little Rico and Kenny came into the bedroom, watching her put on lipstick. "Where are you going, Mama?" Rico asked.

  She blotted her mouth and replied, "I’m going to a dance."

  "I want to go!"

  She sprayed her mother's lavender cologne behind her ears and dabbed each boy on his nose, saying, "I’m sorry, Rico, you can't go and neither can Kenny. It's not for three-year old boys. It's just for grownups."

  He danced on his toes, screaming, "I want to go! I want to go!"

  Frances picked him up, saying sternly, "Rico, stop screaming this minute. Both you boys come with me, and I'll tell you a story. Honey, I've laid out my white shawl for you."

  , "Thank you Mama, I'm almost ready," she said as she brushed the loose powder from her bodice and attached her mother's golden earrings.

  When she heard the clatter of John’s old car, she looked at the mirror and gave herself a conspiratorial winked.

  John was wearing a dark blue suit with his hat in his hand when she opened the door. "Why John, you look handsome!” she said enthusiastically. “Come in and meet my family."

  When he stepped into the living room, Rico and Kenny slid off their grandmother’s lap, suspiciously observing the stranger. His eyes look funny, his big ears and black hair slicked back scare me, Rico nervously thought.

  "John, I would like you to meet my mother, Mrs. Francis Schultz. Mama, this is John."

  Francis smiled, saying, "It’s nice to meet you, but I don't believe I caught your last name?"

  Ella covered her mouth." Oh, I'm sorry John. I guess I don't know your last name."

  He awkwardly shuffled his feet and replied, "My name is John Nelson. It's nice to meet you, Ma'am."

  Without warning, Rico and Kenny took out their penises and peed on his shoe. John suddenly felt a warm stream on his foot and began to jump up and down on one foot while shaking the other, yelling, “Goddamn it! Goddamn it! What the shit?"

  “Both boys shot through the door and jumped off the porch, shouting, “Putt-putt motors, putt-putt motors.".

  Francis grabbed the hairbrush and ran after them, yelling, "You little devils! Now you're going to get it!"

  Ella tried not to giggle, but the harder she tried, the more she laughed. Finally she was able to say, "I’m sorry John. I don't know what got into those boys. They’ve never done anything like that be
fore."

  He vigorously wiped his shoe with his handkerchief, struggling to regain his composure and finally said, "Those boys definitely need a firm hand. Look Ella, I apologize for my language. I hope I didn't offend your mother."

  "Don't worry John. She's heard much worse. I'll get you a rag for your shoe and then we can go."

  When they were underway, John remained silent, whistling an unrecognizable tune, butt Ella still felt humiliated over the boy’s behavior, thinking, those little brats had to pull a stunt like that on my first date. Oh hell, I can’t do anything now so I might as well forget it.

  After an uncomfortable trip to Monte Rio, John parked by a saloon where Ella saw a sign shaped like a large pink elephant holding a cocktail in its trunk. When she heard lively music coming from the interior, she exclaimed, “Oh John, they’ve started already! Let’s go. I can hardly keep my feet still!"

  The saloon was clouded with noisy laughter, music and people yelling at each other. When they began to dance a fox trot, John took the lead, weaving her through other dancers. “John it's been so long since I've danced, but you're easy to follow," she said, Feeling desirable in her silky dress.

  He held her closer, replying, “That's the same with me. I haven’t danced in years."

  When the dance was over, he found a corner table, but conversation was difficult with all the shouting, laughter and scraping of chairs so He leaned closer, and yelled, “I’m going to order a whiskey sour. What would you like?"

  The noise level abruptly dropped when the band began to play a slow waltz. "I’ve never ordered a cocktail before. What do you suggest?" she asked.

  "Well, my wife, uh, I mean the person who used to be my wife liked Pink Ladies."

  "Are you divorced?"

  He looked away, fumbling for a cigarette, and the he quietly replied, "No, I'm not. She died six months ago."

  Ella covered his hand with hers. "John I’m sorry. I didn't mean to pry, “she said, suddenly realizing why his eyes look so sad.

  "You're not prying Ella. I'm just getting used to the idea she’s gone,” he said; and then he signaled to a white-coated waiter who flashed a cardboard smile.

  "Yes, folks, what would you like tonight?"

  "I’ll have a whiskey sour, and she'll have a Pink Lady."

  When the waiter left, Ella asked, "John, what was your wife’s name?"

  "Her name was Sylvia."

  "Do you have children?"

  "No. Sylvia was a professional artist. She thought kids would interfere with her career, but that's enough about me. How about you? Are you divorced?"

  "Well, yes and no. Technically I'm still married, but in my mind I feel divorced."

  When the waiter arrived with their drinks, Ella tasted her cocktail, exclaiming, "John, I love this drink. It tastes like lemonade!"

  He offered her a cigarette that she accepted. As she sipped her cocktail and smoked her cigarette, she felt rather sophisticated. John leaned forward and asked, "Ella would you like to dance again?"

  "I’d love to!”

  He led her to the dance floor and took her in his arms, saying huskily, "Ella, I like how you feel."

  She placed her face on his shoulder, replying, "Thank you John. I'm enjoying being with you."

  When they were back at their table, John ordered another round of drinks. Sipping her second cocktail, Ella asked, "John, what kind of work do you do?”

  He leaned back in his chair and replied, "Well, I’ve done a lot of things. Now I work for the State highway, but before, I was a lumberjack and then a cowboy. I went into the Navy when I was only seventeen. If I had stayed in the service, I would be collecting a twenty year pension this year, but I got out after the war."

  She made a quick calculation, thinking, Oh, he must be 37, younger than I thought.

  Later that night, the waiter announced the bar would be closing in ten minutes. Ella exclaimed, "Oh my God John, how did it get so late so fast? I have to be at work tomorrow at seven. I'm going to be dead!"

  He got up, saying, "I’ll pay the bill now and then I’ll get you home as soon as possible. I'll even pick you up in the morning so you won't have to walk."

  After he quickly helped her with her shawl, they left the saloon and he drove her home. When he parked, Ella pointed to her house, dying, “Oh look, Mama left a candle burning in the window. She must be worried. John, I've had a wonderful time tonight, but I really need to go in and get some sleep."

  “Ella, wait for a second. I've got something to say.”

  She anxiously gripped her purse, replying, "John, what is it?"

  "I’m going to marry you!"

  She laughed nervously. "Oh, John, you're drunk. You don't even know me. It's just the liquor talking."

  He slammed the steering wheel with his fist, yelling, "No, I mean it! By God, a man tells the truth when he's drunk."

  He leaned over to give her a kiss, but she turned her face away, saying, "John, it's been fun tonight, and I think you're a real nice man, but I'm not ready for anything serious."

  He sat upright. "I meant what I said, Ella. I'm going to marry you."

  "Oh, John, you're just drunk. Goodbye now," she said and quickly got out of the car.

  He started the engine, yelling as he drove away, "Good night, Ella. I'll see you in the morning. Remember, I'm going to marry you!"

  When she entered the house, she saw her mother sprawled over the overstuffed chair, half asleep. "Oh, Mama, you waited up for me. You didn't have to do that."

  Frances yawned and rubbed her eyes, saying, "Oh, hello Dear. Well, you know how mothers are. I wanted to make sure you're all right. Did you have a good time?"

  Ella removed her mother’s shawl, replying, "I had a swell time. I danced and danced, and I drank Pink Ladies. I think they made me a little tipsy, but John acted like a gentleman. He told me he was going to marry me."

  Frances sat bolt upright. "My stars, what did you say? Marry you? What did you tell him?"

  Ella laughed. "Calm down Mama. I told him he was drunk. And besides, he's on the wrong side of 35."