a fathers ghost - three chapter sample

7/28/2019 A Fathers Ghost - Three Chapter Sample

1/30

A FATHERS GHOSTBy

Robert Cherny

A Club Lighthouse Publishing E-Book

ISBN 978-1-926839-24-0

All rights reserved

Copyright 2010 Robert Cherny

Cover Art: T.L. Davison

This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission.

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely co-incidental.

For information contact:

[email protected]

A Club Lighthouse Mystery Edition

Published in Canada
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/30

A FATHERS GHOST Robert Cherny

2

CHAPTER ONE

MEOW!

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED BY THOUSANDS OF GENERATIONS of survival

of the fittest, the cry was intelligently designed to soften even the most Scrooge-liketemperament on this overcast Boston day made even more drismal by an early sloppy damp

snowfall. All that effort was wasted on Fink as he slipped on the wet brightly coloured fall

leaves freshly blown on the front step of his apartment building. The kitten could have

growled at him and he still would have fallen in love with the shivering grey ball of furhuddling in the corner of the door jamb in an attempt to stay out of the wind driven snow.

Regaining his balance and bringing his thoughts back to the present, Fink stared at thekitten for a second before gently reaching out to it.

I tawt I taww a puddy tat! I did! I did taww a puddy tat!

The kitten did not react to the joke, however, it offered no resistance when Fink picked itup. He held it gently as he examined the kittens face. The kitten was grey except for its

nose, the tips of its ears, the ends of its paws and some stray hairs around its body which were

black. There was a streak of blood on its nose and another patch of blood that marked where

the tip of an ear had been.

Kittys been fighting. I wonder what the other guy looked like.

Fink looked at the kittens claws. Several had been broken.

Well, Ghost, it looks like you got away with it this time. Lets see if we can clean you

up.

Fink put Ghost inside his parka with the kittens little head sticking out through the

parkas neck and opened the door to the apartment building. Ghost instantly began to purr in

response to the warmth of the buildings interior. Any other person would have been movedby that, but Fink was already so enamoured with this tiny creature, it made little difference.

He smiled as he fumbled with his key to the inside door of the apartment building.

Well, Ghost, first you need a bath. Fink was usually meticulous with his things, but hetossed his parka on the sofa instead of hanging it up. He carried Ghost with him to the

bathroom where he picked up a bottle of shampoo and then carried Ghost to the kitchen. He

ran warm water into the sink as he held Ghost with one hand. When the water was warmenough, he stoppered the sink and let it fill a couple of inches before turning it off. Ghost

watched the proceedings with interest, apparently not sure what all this was about. Ghost

continued to purr until the moment that Fink put him in the water at which point Ghost let outa yowl.


3/30


3

Fink held the struggling kitten with one hand and squirted a little shampoo on its fur with

the other. He gently worked the shampoo in with both hands.

Im bigger than you, Fink admonished the miserable scraggly looking thing in the sink

as he lathered the kittens fur. You will thank me for this.

Ghost continued to struggle.

Fink cleaned the blood and picked the kitten up out of the water wrapping it in a dish

towel.

Feel better? Fink asked holding the kitten nose to nose.

Ghost did not answer, but he stopped struggling.

Good. Youre probably starving, but the best I can do for you is skim milk.

Fink put a small dish on the floor and poured milk into it. Ghost sniffed it and then

lapped at it greedily.

I wish I had real food to give you, but Ill go shopping tomorrow and get you

something.

Ghost finished the milk and looked up expectantly.

You need more than that dont you?

Ghost looked into the bowl and back at Fink.

Fink shook his head and sighed. Maybe that girl down the hall has some real food. Idont have any. Come on. Ive been wanting an excuse to meet her anyway.

Ghost purred as Fink headed down the hall. Finks apartment was on the back of thebuilding and his balcony looked out over the parking lot for a small industrial complex. The

girl he had seen but not met lived on the front of the building. Her balcony overlooked the

street and the postage stamp sized park beyond. He knew her name from the packages hehad seen delivered for her and the name on her mail box. Ellen Moscowitz was her name.

She got packages from a couple of online vendors which the postman left on a shelf next to

the mailboxes same as he left Finks diet food deliveries.

Holding Ghost next to his face so whoever looked out the peep hole would see both

faces, Fink rang the door bell. After a few seconds, the door flung open. A girl Fink guessed

to be about fourteen wearing a Celtics sweatshirt, Bruins sweat pants and pink fuzzy slippersstood and stared at the two of them for a second. The smile on her face as just a little too

broad. She seemed just a little too happy to see them. There was way too much glee in her

voice when she turned her head inside the apartment and shouted, Its the diet food guy!


4/30


4

Fink wondered if he had made a serious mistake picking this particular apartment to visit

to borrow some cat food. He knew the look on the girls face. Sooner or later it always

ended in the principals office with him explaining some incident of which he had been anunwilling participant, but that no one believed him. It was too late to turn back now.

A voice from inside called, Sandy! How many times have I told you not to open thedoor for strangers!

Its not a stranger. Its the diet food guy. You know, Ferdinand Finkelstein, the girlshouted back into the apartment.

Fink assumed she knew his name the same way he knew hers. He wondered if she had

looked him up online. He hadnt looked her up because he felt he would be invading her

privacy if he did. Still, this girl was not surprised to see him. That worried Fink.

Sandy!

The woman Fink recognized as the nominal resident of the apartment, Ellen, came to thedoor drying her hands with a small towel. Many times in the summer he had come home

from work to see her sitting outside on her balcony reading. They had waved at each other,

but had never talked.

Sandy, get back inside, Ellen ordered.

But he has a kitty, Sandy protested.

I see that. Get back inside.

Sandy huffed and backed away.

Ellen took a moment to catch her breath. Can I help you?

I hope so, Fink said. I found this kitten on the front step, and I thought I would keep

it, but the only food I have is skim milk. It drank the milk, but I dont think thats enough.Besides, Im not real sure what kittens eat. I wondered if I could buy something from you

until I get to the pet store.

Ghost gave a single perfectly genetically engineered cry and this time it did its job.

Ellens resistance broke down. She slowly shook her head and said, Sure, come in. I havesome canned tuna. All cats like canned tuna.

Thanks, Fink said.

Youre welcome, Ellen replied.

Ghost dove into the tuna when it was placed on the floor.


5/30


5

So, Ferdinand Finkelstein, Sandy asked. Have you named the kitten.

I think Ill call it Ghost, he offered.

It? Sandy asked.

I dont know if its a boy kitten or a girl kitten.

Sandy laughed. Its a boy kitten.

Thank you. Ill call him Ghost. Fink smiled weakly and nodded his head.

What do your friends call you? Sandy asked, apparently trying to make conversation.

I dont really have any friends, but they used to call me Fink in high school.

Thats not a very nice name, Sandy said.

Fink shrugged. I didnt mind. At least they called me something. Better than being

ignored.

Thats sad, Ellen said as she poured a whole milk into a small bowl and set on the

floor.

Why would they ignore you? Sandy asked.

I was a fat geeky kid who couldnt play sports and didnt get along. You know the

expression about not playing well with others. That was me, he said softly.

You dont look fat to me, Sandy observed.

Three years of what you called diet food. I lost a lot of weight. Fink could not believehe was telling this kid he had just met things he had never told anyone.

How much weight? Sandy asked.

Fifty pounds.

You lost fifty pounds on diet food in three years, Ellen asked in disbelief.

Yup.

Do you ever want to go off the diet and eat something fattening? Ellen asked.

All the time, Fink shrugged, but girls dont like fat guys and if Im ever going to find agirlfriend I need to not be fat.


6/30


6

So, you dont have a girl friend? Sandy asked. That knowing, scheming, too broad

smile reappeared on her face.

Nope. Fink shook his head.

Ever have one? Sandy asked.

Sandy! Thats none of your business! Ellen admonished.

It is if I make it my business, Sandy shot back tipping her head as her sister.

No, Ive never had a girlfriend, Fink said softly.

Why not? Sandy pressed.

Sandy! Ellen admonished.

Sandy scowled at her sister. I know what I am doing. So, youve never had a girl

friend?

No.

Ever been on a date? Sandy continued.

No.

Sandy! Leave this poor man alone! Ellen said firmly.

He brought the cat. Im making conversation, Sandy said slyly.

Sandy, thats far enough, Ellen warned.

Ghost finished eating, climbed Sandys leg and curled up in her lap.

You are not keeping the cat, Ellen stated firmly.

Its not my cat. Its his cat. Im petting him, Sandy said with feigned innocence.

Ghosts purr was loud enough that they could all hear it.

Did you wash him? Sandy asked.

Yes, how did you know? Fink asked.

He smells like shampoo. Cats arent supposed to smell like shampoo, Sandy chuckled.


7/30


7

I didnt know what else to wash him with. He had a lot of blood on him and he was

pretty ratty looking. He wasnt happy about it, but he needed to be washed, Fink replied.

Hes missing a piece of his ear. Looks fresh, Sandy said gently touching the injured

ear.

Yeah, there was blood on his ear when I picked him up. You can see a gouge in his

nose, too, Fink said.

Scrappy little guy arent you? Sandy baby talked the kitten. They sat in the tiny

kitchen as Sandy gently stroked the purring kitten.

You know, Sandy said pensively as she looked at Fink. You dont deserve to be

called by that awful name.

But its what people call me, he asserted.

I think we should call you Buddy from now on, Sandy declared.

Ellen sighed. Sandy, dont be getting into other peoples business. You know it gets

you into trouble.

Sandy scowled at her sister. If I see you in the hall or when Im sitting on the balcony,

Im going to call you Buddy from now on. You okay with that?

Sure, whatever. Although I doubt youll see much of me. I work long hours, Fink

said.

I noticed, Sandy said wryly.

Where do you work? Ellen asked.

I work at the Radio Supply store on Comm Ave in Brighton, Fink offered.

Sandy laughed. It was not a nice laugh. Okay, youre busted! Sandy said gleefully.

Thats the first thing you said that wasnt true. You dont work at the Radio Supply, youown it.

Sandy! Dont be rude! Besides, how did you know that? Ellen charged.

I looked him up. I looked up everyone in this building. Hes the only one at all

interesting, Sandy boasted.

Sandy, thats not very nice, Ellen admonished.


8/30


8

Its public information. I found his yearbook picture and he was a real tubbo with big

geeky glasses. Without pausing for breath, Sandy turned back to Fink. Whats it like to

own a Radio Supply?

Its a franchise, so I dont really own it. Its more like I rent it, Fink said, not at all

comfortable with Sandys forwardness.

But you get to keep the money, Sandy said.

Whats left after expenses, Fink said ruefully.

And you hire and fire people, Sandy continued.

I like the hiring part. I dont do the firing part very well, Fink admitted.

And you have all these really cool toys to play with, Sandy said with envy.

Yeah, we sell some neat stuff, Fink acknowledged.

Wait a second, Ellen interrupted. You cant be much older than me. How do you

afford to own a Radio Supply.

Hes one year and six days older than you, Sandy crowed.

Sandy!

Fink was a little taken aback by the outburst. Sandy knew the answers to her questions

before she asked them. He liked Ellens sense of propriety, but he was not sure how to dealwith Sandy. My grandfather left me enough money to buy the franchise, but I had to

convince my father to co-sign on the loan for the first couple of years of operating expenses.

If I have a good day tomorrow, I may actually be able to pay off the last of that loan. Januaryfirst will be five years from the day I walked into the store as the owner instead of an

employee.

You bought the store where you worked? Ellen asked.

I knew its potential and the guy I bought it from didnt. I got it for a lot less than I

should have paid, Fink said proudly.

What did you do about the people that were working there from before? Ellen asked.

I had to fire a couple, Fink said with a sigh. It hurt me to do it, but they needed to go.They werent pulling their weight.

How did you go looking for new people? Ellen asked.


9/30


9

Fink was more comfortable talking to Ellen, but he noticed Sandys watchful gaze. On

one hand he wanted to know what was going on in Sandys head, but on the other he was

sure he would not like the answer. That was easy. I went to the work study office atNortheastern University and told them I was looking for engineering students that needed to

work to afford their school and that could speak more than one language. In fact, I told them

that the more languages they could speak, the better.

And what happened? Ellen asked.

Fink smiled with the memory. That Monday I had three applicants. I hired all of them.

Cedric Chung was the best of that group. He could speak three or four different dialects of

Chinese. He grew up in Bostons Chinatown and knew everyone. He sold cell phones,radios and computers like crazy. I think Cedric sold every cell phone and computer that

anyone in Chinatown bought while he was working for me. The funniest part was that every

week some old woman or other would show up with her grand daughter or niece or cousin to

buy something they really didnt need to try to fix them up.

Did any of them succeed? Ellen asked with a laugh.

Fink smiled wistfully. Yeah, one did. But I think he knew her from high school and

needed to make it look like it was the grandmothers idea. Their wedding was wonderful.

Is he still there? Sandy asked, although she knew the answer.

Fink glanced at her. His discomfort with her had returned. No, he graduated and got a

job at a software company in Burlington. They come by from time to time. Their kids are so

cute.

Do you have other success stories? Ellen asked.

Oh, yeah. I have a couple dozen former employees scattered all over the Boston area

working in one high-tech company or another, Fink said proudly.

And you helped them, Ellen said with admiration.

I gave them a quiet place to study and an income. They did the real work, Fink said

modestly.

Tomorrow is Black Friday, Ellen observed. Is that why you said what you did abouttomorrow and paying off your loan?

Yes, he replied.

How early are you opening the store? Ellen asked.

Five. Look, I really need to collect Ghost and get some sleep, Fink said.


10/30


10

A moment of panic flashed across Sandys face. Buddy! You cant go!

Why not? Ellen asked with an expression that showed she did not trust her sistersmotives, knowing her sister well enough to know that things were rarely what they seemed.

Sandy backpedalled. Um, it wouldnt be right. I mean were just getting to know eachother and I like you and we might not see Ghost again.

Fink smiled. Its not like we live so far apart. Im only two doors down the hall. You

can watch out your balcony and when I come home, you can come over and play with

Ghost.

Sandy looked back and forth between Fink and Ellen. No, its, I mean, hey, if you go

home now, youll probably toss and turn all night kinda, you know, like, um-m, nervous

about tomorrow. Or you could stay here and we could stay up all night and play games andwe can all go to work with you and I can help you in the store. I know all the games and cute

girls can sell games to guys easier than guys can. How about that? We can party all nightand work all day.

Fink laughed.

Sandys words came out in a rush. Besides Ill bet you havent eaten yet. We have lots

of leftover turkey. Theres only the two of us here and its a lot of turkey. You can skip yourdiet food for one night.

Its a tempting offer, especially after the Thanksgiving I had today, Fink said.

What happened? Ellen asked noticing the relief in Sandys expression. She had figuredout Sandys game and was not sure she liked it, but for now she would play along.

Fink paused before answering. My aunt died this summer. She was the one who

always made Thanksgiving for the rest of the family. She had a knack for it. Wed go overto her house early in the morning and everyone helped make something whether it was

cutting the potatoes for the potato salad or chopping vegetables for the side dishes. It was

great fun. My cousin is not the cook her mother was, but she insisted on trying to put out thespread her mother did. We tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldnt hear of it. It was a

disaster. Nothing came out on time. The turkey was overcooked. We all felt sorry for her. I

mean, she tried and I have to give her credit for that, but it was so sad. I was the last one who

stayed to help clean up after. My cousin was in tears at the end. There wasnt much I couldsay. Her husband and her kids tried to make her feel better, but everything they said made it

worse. Fink sighed. I wish I could have made it right for her. She wanted it so bad.

My sisters a great cook, Sandy said brightly. How about Ill make us some turkey

salad sandwiches and Ill get a board game and we can sit up and chat.

Ellen laughed. You do that.


11/30


11

After Sandy left with Ghost perched on her shoulder, Fink looked at Ellen. Shes

something else, isnt she?

Conniving little monster! Ellen snarled.

Dont be hard on her. Shes looking out for you, Fink said with a smile.

Shes pretty obvious, Ellen said in disdain.

Thats what sisters are for. They take care of each other. My cousins are like that.

I suppose.

Since Sandy knows everything there is to know about me and I know nothing about

you, why dont you start by telling me where you work?

You didnt look me up?.

Fink shook his head. No, I considered it like invading your privacy. If the time came,you would tell me what you wanted me to know and that would be right.

You amaze me..

Is that good or bad?

Good, I mean you have all these high tech gizmos to search for anyone you wanted and

you chose not to do it. I admire your restraint.

Not my place, Fink shrugged.

Ellen smiled. I work in a plastics manufacturing plant in Brookline. We make littleplastic parts for everyday kinds of things. You know the plastic cups on the bottom of metal

furniture legs? We make those and send them to other people who put them on the furniture.We make handles for brooms and mops. We make little things that you put on your desk and

stand your letters in. We make lots and lots of little parts for bigger things.

Like that plastic knob on the cupboard handle?

Well, not that one, but yes.

What is your job there?

I receive the orders and schedule the work. I figure out how many machines we need to

assign to a project to meet the order date and my boss assigns the jobs to the operators. Hesupervises the work and sees that it gets shipped on time. We have three accountants that


12/30


12

handle the money, a receptionist, a couple of product designers and two sales people to chase

new business. Fifty people work the shop floor and thats our little company.

Ill bet you know them all and their kids, too.

Yeah. Its been kind of hard lately. We shipped out our last order yesterday. Theresnothing pending. The sales people are working their hearts out, but theres nothing out there.

Ive got nothing in the pipeline. Theres no work on Monday. I dont know what were

going to do. Itll take half the day to clean the shop and then what? I cant bear the thoughtof putting all those people out of work before Christmas.

Something will turn up..

I hope.

So, youre not working tomorrow?

No.

You know, you can come to the store with me if you want. Ive already arranged for a

taxi to pick me up at four. Sandys right about the games. If shes as good as she thinks she

is, Ill pay her commission.

Really? Sandy burst out of the kitchen. She had obviously been listening at the door.

If your sister approves, Fink said.

Sure, it might be fun, Ellen smiled.

Kosher Mayo, Sandy said as she put the food on the table.

How did you know? Fink asked.

Kosher diet food. That must have been hard to find, Sandy said in admiration.

You have no idea..

If I hadnt cheated and looked at the shipping label, I never would have found it, either.

How did you? .

My doctor heard about it at a conference and picked up some literature.

Good old fashioned hard research! Its the best kind.

As opposed to what other kind? .


13/30


13

The online stuff I usually do..

Isnt everything online these days? Ellen asked.

Not everything, Sandy said. In fact, there are some serious holes that you dont know

exist until you fall into one, like Kosher diet food. I mean, how would you search for Kosherdiet food?

Fink said, I cant say I thought about it until my doctor handed me the brochure. I mean

I knew I had to lose weight, but Kosher diet food, come on.

What did he say to convince you? Sandy asked.

She.

What did she say? Sandy repeated.

She kind of laid it on the line for me, life expectancy, quality of life, the probability of a

bunch of different diseases. She ran the numbers for me. That did it..

Sandy smiled knowingly.

She ran the numbers? Ellen asked perplexed..

Yeah, it was all about numbers for me in the beginning. Thats the way it started, but I

noticed I felt better. I had more energy and I think I got smarter or something, because things

got easier for me. But, yeah, it started with the numbers..

And now? Ellen asked.

I still listen to the numbers, but they arent the whole answer any more.

And what is the rest of the answer?.

Relationships.

But you said you dont have any friends.

Not real ones, but I have lots of people I know from work. Its not the same, but fornow its better than nothing, Fink said glancing at Sandy knowing that she was thinking

very hard about the conversation.

But you are looking for something? Something more? Ellen asked.

I have five more pounds to lose and then I will step out into the world in search of

romance and relationships.


14/30


14

That strange smile returned to Sandys face. It made Fink uncomfortable.

Is five pounds that important? Ellen asked.

Its a goal. The number isnt as important as having a goal. Used to be that the number

was everything, but now its something I promised myself I would do and the promise ismore important than the number.

What if something gets in the way of your goal, like a girlfriend or something? Sandy

asked.

If she loves me, she will understand that my goal is important to me and help me

achieve it. Ellen grabbed one of the games Sandy had brought when she brought the

sandwiches. Enough of this! It is the night after Thanksgiving. Fink...

Buddy. His name is Buddy, Sandy asserted.

Buddy, Ellen glared at her sister, has a long day tomorrow and we should not be

stressing him out with intrusive questions. Lets play a game and then well take a nap and

go to the store tomorrow. If that meets with your approval Miss Butt-in-ski.

So, Sandy, what do you want to be when you grow up? Fink asked in attempt to diffuse

the tension he saw building between the sisters.

A cyber sleuth. I want to work for the FBI or somebody using computers to catch badguys. .

Thats a pretty popular idea these days. Lots of people want to do that. It beats gettingshot at in Iraq. What makes you think you will be able to do that?

Because I am good, Sandy stated with assurance. I am very good,

Sandy, dont brag, Ellen admonished. You brag too much,

Look at it as a goal. Buddy understands the value of a goal. Do you understand the

value of a goal? Sandy asked her sister with a sneer.

I understand, Ellen shot back. And I do not appreciate your meddling.

You will, Sandy said smugly.

Shut Up!

Maybe I better leave, Fink said as he stood from the table.


15/30


15

Ghost stays! Sandy shrieked as she clutched the kitten suddenly frightened out of its

nap.

Ghost can stay, if Ellen approves..

He can stay, Ellen said tensely.

Fink headed for the door.

Buddy?

Yes, Ellen?

Please call us in time to meet you and the taxi.

Fink smiled. Sure thing.

Fink could hear shouting as soon as he closed the door. He really, really did not want to

know what they were saying to each other.


16/30


16

CHAPTER TWO

ELLEN, SANDY AND GHOST SHOWED UP AT FINKS DOOR five minutesbefore he had intended to call them. Sandy carried Ghost wrapped in a towel so that only his

little head stuck out. He appeared not to mind the confinement, quietlypurring in Sandysarms.

I thought we would bring him, Sandy said brightly. We can put him in an open box

on the counter. Everyone loves kittens. Should help sales.

Fink chuckled, Yeah, whatever. He held his arms so the girls could twine theirs with

his and they headed for the elevator.

The taxi ride to the store took ten minutes with Ghost watching with fascination at every

bright light they passed. They arrived at the store and Fink went about the business of

opening up. As was her practice, Tamika Washington was the first employee to arrive.Hey, Fink! whos the newbie? Tamika called as soon as she spotted Ellen.

Sandy stood and said, Shes not a newbie, shes his girlfriend, and dont call him Finkanymore. Call him Buddy from now on.

And who are you? Tamika asked popping her head back to get a better look.

Her sister. Sandy pointed at Ellen.

Tamika stepped back and took a deep breath. Her eye caught the box on the counter with

the little head looking around. Okay, and who is that?

Thats Ghost. He was a stray we picked up last night, Sandy reported.

Tamika smiled. Ah, right. Okay. Im going to hang up my coat. Ill be right back.

Tamika went back into the store room and accosted Fink who was opening a box of cell

phone accessories. What is going on here?

Fink sighed and looked up at her. The younger one is Sandy. Her sister is Ellen. The

cat is a stray I found on my doorstep last night. Sandy is trying to fix me up with Ellen.

Ellen lives in my apartment building. Sandy is staying with her for the weekend. Theythought, well, Sandy thought, it would be cool to spend the day with us.

Whats with this Buddy nonsense? Tamika asked with a side to side motion of her

head.


17/30


17

Sandy thinks that Fink is an ugly name and she thinks I am too nice a guy to have such

an ugly name and I should be called Buddy because if I think of myself as Buddy Ill have

more friends.

And how does she know that?.

I dont know. Its spooky that she formed that opinion of me so quickly.

Youre my boss, and I may be out of line, but youre in a world of hurt.

Thats one way to look at it..

Tamika shook her head, No, thats not what I mean. The kids right. Come on, its time

you got a life. We all got one. You need one, too. Look, its none of my business. Youneed a good woman in your life. I met your mother and she aint it. I cant tell you if Miss

Ellen is Miss Right. Only you can do that, but I can tell you if shes Miss Wrong. Tonight,

at quitting time, Ill let you know what I think. This much I do know. That Sandy is a pieceof work. Shell get you killed if youre not careful.

Thank you, Tamika.

Youre welcome, Boss. I think I hear Brian. I better get to him before Sandy does.

Tamika swept out of the storeroom too late to keep Brian from discovering that today

would be a historic day for more reasons than sales figures. He had picked Ghost up out ofthe box and was gently scratching him under the chin.

Brian, we have to talk, Tamika whispered.

No, Tamika, we dont, Brian contradicted with a slow shake of his head. Today is

going to be a special day with lots of surprises and I dont want to spoil nary a single one ofthem. Let it ride. Can you go with the flow? Huh? He raised his eyebrows at her before

turning back to Ghost.

Brian, are you drunk?.

No, but after yesterday, whatever happens today will be much more fun..

Im sorry, but this is so unlike you..

Thats what I learned yesterday. Brian turned to face Tamika. If I had taken

yesterday like I will take today, my yesterday would have been much better. In fact my

whole life would be better.

Do you want to talk about it?.


18/30


18

Nope. What I want to do is sell electronics. I like it and Im good at it, Brian said

confidently.

Sandy listened to the conversation with interest. She held out her hand. Hi, Brian, Im

Sandy. Thats my sister Ellen. Im trying to fix her up with your boss and he said we could

come hang out with you today and help sell stuff. If youll getthe demo games started, Illshow the kids how to play them so we can sell more. She grinned and nodded with bright

eyed enthusiasm.

How wonderful! Oh! My today is already better than my yesterday. Come with me

Miss Sandy. Lets push some, he paused, on he paused again, buttons.

Oh, and Brian, I dont think we should call your boss Fink anymore. We should call

him Buddy because he is too nice a guy to have such an ugly name. .

Well, Miss Sandy, do you really think that? Brian raised his eyebrows at her.

Yes, I do, Mister Brian, Sandy said with a giggle.

We are going to have a great day! Brian laughed out loud.

Tamika went back to the store room where Fink AKA Buddy was unpacking another

box. Unsure what to call him, she said, Boss?

Yes?

Brian has gone nuts.

Did Sandy have anything to do with it? Buddy asked without looking up.

Yes.

If he wasnt gay I would worry about her, but shell be fine. .

Her? What about him? Tamika asked indignantly.

Hes a big boy. He can take care of himself..

This is so not like you, Tamika said slowly shaking her head.

The times they are a changing, Buddy said looking up at her.

Tamika left the store room to make one more pass at the shelves to ensure that everything

was in order.


19/30


19

Dmitri Stephanopolis arrived at two minutes to five with Lucy Chung, Cedrics youngest

sister, right behind him. A quick scan of the shop and the expressions that greeted them told

them to get to work first and ask questions later. At precisely five oclock in the morning,they turned on the exterior lights and lit the OPEN sign, but there was no one waiting. Not

only was there no one rushing to take advantage of the wonderful Black Friday specials, there

was no traffic on the street either.

They stared out the windows decorated with holiday cheer to the quiet beyond and waited

for nothing to happen.

After ten minutes of silence, with little else to do, and not wishing to criticize the person

whose idea opening this early was, they went back to the game demo area and played. In alull in the games Sandy asked Tamika, Buddy says that every one here speaks several

languages. What languages do you speak?

I am fluent in both written and spoken German. My French is not great, but I can travel

in a French speaking country without embarrassing myself and read enough to not getcheated on a contract. I understand Italian and I can read Russian.

Wow, Sandy said breathlessly.

My father was in the Air Force. We spent two tours of duty in Germany. I made it my

business to learn the languages, Tamika explained.

Thats awesome. I have something in German I picked up online that I wonder if you

can translate for me. I think its kind of nasty and I dont want to go to my teachers with it,

Sandy said secretively.

Sure, Tamika offered.

Sandy carefully wrote out what she had seen.

Tamika paled when she read the words. Sandy, Im not translating this for you. Its

very nasty and whoever wrote it hates Jews very much.

I thought so. Does it have to do with rape?

Yes, very brutal rape.

It is as I feared, Sandy said knowing more than she was saying.

Care to tell me what is going on? Tamika asked.

Are you a Christian? Sandy looked up at her.

Yes, Tamika answered.


20/30


20

Then you have nothing to fear from this man..

Look, if you need someone to talk to about this, you call me.

Thank you. Oh, Look! A customer.

A family of four entered the store. Since they were obviously Chinese, Lucy greeted

them. In no time they were conversing in Chinese and Lucy drafted Sandy to demonstrateone of the educational games for the younger child who was having trouble keeping up in

school. Within a half hour they had sold the family educational games for the little one,

action games for his older brother, role playing and sports games for Dad and more roleplaying games for Mom as well as exercise games for the whole family all on the same

gaming station. By the time Brian helped Lucy tote all the purchases to the car, the store was

busy with shoppers.

Ellen quickly took over the cash register from Buddy AKA Fink since he was needed to

assist the sales. It didnt take Ellen long to figure out Buddys magic formula. He killed hiscustomers with kindness. She compared Buddys sales technique to her last cell phonepurchase which had been an impersonal, entirely unsatisfying experience. Buddy and Brian

helped the customers decide which phone and which plan was right for them based not only

on their current phone use, but their projected phone use. Once having made the decision,they transferred all the information to the new phone and gave instructions on the mostimportant features. Where the salesman at the company cell phone store had spent a hurried

and distracted ten minutes with her on her phone, Ellen watched Buddy spend half an hour

with one teenager teaching her to use text messaging as well as access the social networkingsites from her phone. Later, while Sandy distracted her with a game, the girls parents quietly

bought a new laptop which they tucked away to pick up when their daughter would not see it.

By providing amazing service with the right touch of humour, everyone in the store was

turning hundred dollar sales into thousand dollar sales. Ellen marvelled at the process. There

was nothing fake or phoney about any of it. The laughter was genuine. They were makingbuying fun. There were also people who came in with an item needing repair, frequently

expecting the worst. They were often sent away with the item fixed merely for the cost of

newbatteries. Per Buddys instructions, Ellen faxed lunch and dinner orders as appropriateto the Kosher deli a few blocks away. The food was delivered and the sales pace never

slackened.

As much as the stores main room interested Ellen, the two back rooms fascinated her

even more. The room where Sandy was so deeply involved demonstrating games was totally

devoted to games and gamers, with gamer logos adorning every square inch of wall space

and ceiling.

The second back room was the complete opposite. Tamika called it a toy store for

geeks because of the sophistication of the electronics seemingly haphazardly jammed on thecrowded shelves. Buddy had visited the student advisers for the local electronic engineering

programs and stocked the parts many of the students would need if they elected to do their


21/30


21

prototyping and testing on their own instead of in the school's labs. Those students that

preferred to work at their own pace could come to the store and buy what they needed for

their lab experiments. It was a huge investment in expensive gear tucked away in the backcorner out of the sight of the majority of the store's clientele. The price tags on the gear that

came out of that small room stunned Ellen, but the people who bought the equipment knew

what they wanted and how much it should cost. They would often walk straight to the back,pick up a piece of gear and walk out spending as little as ten minutes in the store and in somecases thousands of dollars in a single purchase. Buddy handled special orders with minimum

markups and knew where to find the best prices on rare, often expensive, electronic

equipment.

When Ellen asked Tamika, Dmitri and Brian in turn about the Geek Room she was

informed that the room was Buddys pride and joy. It accounted for between a fifth and aquarter of the stores total sales. Specifically targeted to the needs of the local engineering

students, it was one of the first major changes Buddy had made when he took over the store.

Clearly since most marketing areas lacked the concentration of engineering students present

in this area, it was not a business model that would work in many places, but it did work hereand it worked well. The key from the beginning was Buddys ability to listen to his

customers and draw out from them not just what they needed now, but what they would needin the future.

The sign in the window said that they would stay open until the last customer was

satisfied with their purchase and so it was after ten in the evening when they finally closedthe door and turned off the sign.

As soon as she had a moment, Tamika pulled her boss aside. Look, Buddy, Ive known

you for three years. I like you. I like working for you. If you werent white and my momma

would kill me, Id almost marry you if your momma didnt kill you first for not marrying aJew. This Ellen chick, shes a keeper. Shes nice. She works hard. Shes Jewish. Shellmake pretty babies. Her sister, Jesus, man, she scares me. I dont know what shes got going

on, but it aint good.

Tamika, you know Ive always trusted you to tell me what you thought. Thats

important. I count on that.

Yes, Boss.

I appreciate what youve told me, but I think youre holding something back. What is

it? Is it about Sandy?

Sandy knows too much. This morning she made it sound like my knowing German wasa surprise, but it wasnt. She knew what to ask me, Tamika said uneasily.

Ive noticed she has that affect on people.

She knows all about you. She knows more than she has a right to know.


22/30


22

What makes you think that?.

Its things she starts to say and then stops. I dont know. I cant put my finger on it.

If she makes you uncomfortable I can ask her to not come back tomorrow..

No, Tamika said after thinking about it. Shes hot with the games, and thats great for

sales, but when she got into the social networking stuff this afternoon, she taught Brian somethings he didnt know. Shes got herself into something real bad and its on those sites. I

dont know what it is. It could be dangerous. It could get you killed. When I said that this

morning, I was joking. I'm not kidding now. This cop thing shes into is real.

Buddy sighed. Sandys something else. She turns my world upside down in a matter of

a few hours. She changes my self image and helps me to one of the best days my business

has ever seen and yet there is a demon plaguing her that could harm us all. Yes, that scaresme, too. But until we know what the demon is, how can we deal with it?

Youve fallen for this Ellen chick pretty hard..

Yes, Tamika, I have. In Yiddish the word for such a demon is a dybbuk. Not all ofthem are in a persons mind.

God help us all. Were in for a wild ride.

Amen to that, sister! They raised hands for a knuckle rap.

Tamika picked up her coat and left knowing that Buddy, as he now thought of himself,

would stay and compute the weeks sales. When she came in on Saturday morning, her paycheck and her commission would be waiting for her.

Do you mind if I check myemail? Ellen asked when Buddy sat at his desk in the back.

Go right ahead. I have a half hour worth of reports to run. Once the reports print out,

Ill sign the checks and then we can make the deposit on the way home.

Ellen heard Sandy pounding away on the dance game and wondered how anyone couldhave that much energy after the day they had spent together. Ellen quietly logged into her

email account and scanned through the messages that had arrived since she had left work on

Wednesday. None of it was terribly exciting. She read through it a second time to be surethat there was nothing she had missed when a new message popped in. Ellen gasped whenshe read the return address. She opened the message and screamed, YES! OH MY GOD!

YES!

While Buddy and Sandy rushed to see what was going on, Ellen quickly typed her reply.

YES! OH MY GOD! YES!! Fax acknowledgement to follow Monday. Hard copy to

follow Tuesday. Delivery Monday week. YES! She punched send and the message was


23/30


23

gone.

I have tocall Tony. She grabbed her cell phone out of her purse. Tony! Its Ellen!

Yes, I know what time it is. We got the order for those machine gun parts.

The parts that go in the chain of machine gun bullets the Army uses.

Yeah, whatever you call them, those parts, yes.

Look Tony, call the mould guys. They have to come in tomorrow and load every mould

weve got on those parts into the machines. When the operators come in on Monday weneed to run three shifts on as many machines as we can to make the first delivery date.

Tony! Its a huge order. Part delivered Monday week and the rest every Monday forthe next six weeks.

Tony! This will take us through Christmas and into January!.

Theyll send you a deposit check as soon as they get the hard copy on Tuesday.

Yes, Ill see you in the shop tomorrow. Call the mould guys. We need every machine

we can put on this running on Monday.

The computer blinked that a new message had arrived.

Ellen read it and gasped. Tony, shes in her office now. She accepted our

acknowledgement. She wants me to be there with the first delivery.

In New Jersey.

Well talk about it tomorrow. Call the mould guys tonight, okay?

Tony, give my best to Maria and the kids, okay?

Tony, Merry Christmas. Ellen closed her phone.

Does this mean you have to work tomorrow? Sandy pouted a little too broadly.

Yes, and it means that we dont have to lay anyone off before Christmas. Everyone willget full shifts for the first time in months. Some will even get overtime, Ellen effused.

Do I have to stay by myself in the apartment tomorrow? Sandy asked in obvious

disappointment.


24/30


24

Ellen, she can come in with me, if you like. In fact, heres what I thought of today.

Buddy handed them each a check for two hundred dollars. Its commission on your sales

today.

We didnt earn this, Ellen said.

My reports said otherwise. You entered the data into the register on who did the sale

and who assisted. The math says I owe both of you money for your sales today. It is how I

do business. You work, you get paid. Its that simple, Buddy stated flatly.

Thats very nice of you.

Ellen, its good business, and if Sandy is going to work the rest of the weekend, well

need to fill out bunch of Child Labour paperwork as well as a W-2 and an I-9.

Are you sure? Ellen asked.

I told you what I think about the numbers Buddy replied. The numbers tell the tale. I

listen to what they tell me. But here is the best news. See this check? He held out a check

for them to see.

Ellen and Sandy nodded.

When the bank processes this on Monday, I will be debt-free. This is the last payment

on our line of credit. Paid in full. Payroll is done. All my current bills are paid. No Debt!He did a little dance next to his desk.

Ellen and Sandy laughed at his glee.

When the taxi arrived, they collected Ghost who had soaked up more than his fair share

of attention and now slept soundly in the towel lined box he had called his all day. Theystopped at the bank long enough to put the deposit in the night drop and headed home.


25/30


25

CHAPTER THREE

ELLEN HAD LEFT FOR WORK WHEN SANDY APPEARED at the door of theman previously known as Fink.

Hey Buddy!

Hey Sandy

Do you think we should bring Ghost again?

Oh yeah! He had a great time until hepassed out.

I took a basket my mother sent me and put towels in it. Its nicer looking than that old

box.

Its cute.

Buddy picked Ghost up and deposited him in the basket. Ghost meowed a greeting and

settled down into the bottom of the basket, yawned, put a paw over his head and closed his

eyes.

He looks tired.

He was up most of the night exploring. I dont know how much fun hell be today..

Hes so cute that even asleep hell help sales.

Sandy, today well take a taxi, but tomorrow we go back to using the subway. Its too

expensive to do this all the time. We cant bring Ghost on the Subway.

Okay.

Then were off.

They did not have to wait long for the taxi to take them to the shop.

Tamika arrived a few minutes after they did. Sandy immediately ran to her bubblingover with the news of Ellens big order and that she would be working with them the rest of

the weekend. When she sensed some hesitation in Tamikas reaction, Sandy said, That

thing I showed you yesterday, its from a guy in California. Dont worry about it, okay?Proper authorities have been notified.

You sure?


26/30


26

Yeah, I sent them the link myself. They were aware of the guy and thanked me for my

concern.

How did you find it?.

I spend a lot of time looking for stuffon line.

What kinds of stuff? Tamika asked although she already knew the answer.

Unsolved mysteries. Missing people. Stuff I am curious about. You know, other stuff

too, like a date for my sister since she wont find one on her own.

Shes nice. Dont go messing up her life..

I wont. I promise.

Saturday turned out to be as busy as Friday although, like Friday, no one entered the storeuntil an hour after opening. As they had Friday, Buddy and Sandy stopped at the bank to

make the deposit on the way home. When the deposit landed in the bottom of the chute witha resounding thud, Buddy said, Now we have cash to pay next weeks bills.

Ellen had dinner waiting for them when they arrived.

Look, Ellen, this is wonderful, but I really should getback to my diet.

Buddy, I stopped by the Kosher market. I have new dishes and utensils. Its all good. I

understand how important these last five pounds are for you. In fact, I noticed that you do

not have an exercise plan. We should think about finding time to go to the gym together. Iknow you think you get exercise on your feet in the store all day and thats good for you, but

its not enough. If youre going to make your goal, youll need to exercise because weight

loss and good health are not the same thing.

Buddy blinked in shock. Okay, let me go wash my hands.

Ellen put out a small can of specially formulated kitten food she had picked up at the pet

store and some milk which Ghost attacked aggressively.

After they had finished dinner, Sandy said, I know this is kind of fast, but how much do

you two like each other?

Before I answer, I want to know why you ask, Buddy said calmly.

Because if you like each other enough, you can get married and adopt me and I dont

have to live with Mom.

Buddy smiled. There are holes in your reasoning.


27/30


27

Ellen raised an eyebrow and said, Oh? suspiciously.

First, Ellen does not need to adopt you for you to live with her. Your mother merelyneeds to sign over guardianship. My dads an attorney and I am sure someone in his office

can draw up those papers for you.

Sounds easy, Ellen said.

It is if everyone is willing to go along, Buddy agreed. If not, its long and ugly, but

youre almost of legal age to make that decision on your own and should i t go to court, the

judge will likely agree with whatever you request. Second, do you know if Ellen can supportyou financially?

No, but cant I work for you?.

Did you look at the Child Labour forms I downloaded last night? Working

Thanksgiving weekend is one thing. I need to be careful about child labour laws after that. Ihavent researched them enough to know if I can hire you more than a weekend or two at atime..

I havent looked at them either, Sandy said.

We need to, Ellen said.

You could officially hire Ellen and Ill work in her place, Sandy said brightly.

Thats illegal, and I wont even discuss it, Buddy said firmly.

Sandy looked down, and then said, But if we could find the money, then what?

We go back to Plan A. Someone in mydads firm draws up the papers and at the end ofthe next school term you move in here, Buddy said.

At the end of the term! Thats forever!

Im not even going to ask my dad to allow you to move sooner. You will finish the termin your current school and move in the break. Buddy thought that for a second he sounded

like his father. There was comfort in that thought.

But Buddy, Sandy whined.

But nothing.

Okay, but what about the rest of what I asked about how much you like each other..


28/30


28

I think I like Ellen enough to marry her, but these things take time. Decisions made in

haste are rarely good decisions if only because we will forever wonder if we had thought it

through would we have made the same decision? The uncertainty itself is a relationshipkiller. Ellen, what do you think?

Ellen took a deep breath. I agree. Sandy, your attempt to fix us up has been as obviousas, well as...

As the nose on my face? Buddy quipped.

Well, yeah, exactly. I resented it at first, Ellen continued. You have no businessmeddling in my life like this and now that I understand your reasons, I am even angrier at

you than I was. However, you leave me in an awkward position. I do like Buddy and I

would consider marrying him, but not because of your needs, because of mine. Promise me

you will never meddle like this again.

I promise.

Okay, then, Buddy said. Sandy, where do you go to school?

Belmont.

Come to the shop after school. My dads office is on Beacon Hill. Ill call him and setup a meeting after his regular clients are done. Ellen, would you rather meet us at the shop or

the office?

At the office.

Buddy pulled out his wallet. Here is one of my dads business cards. Well meet you afew minutes before five.

See you there, Ellen said looking at the card.

Oh, how is Tony doing with the new order? Buddy asked.

We sent in the fax response today and he dropped the hard copy off at the FedEx airportoffice. Tony called the machine shop in Quincy that makes our moulds and we should have

two new moulds on Thursday..

Thats great. What about you going to New Jersey?

We didnt talk about it. With the money he spent on the new moulds, Im not sure we

can afford it. I mean hell recover the cost for the moulds in reduced overtime on this orderalone, but still, flying me to New Jersey and a hotel and a rental car. Its a lot of money he

doesnt have. The only reason he could afford the moulds is the machine shop agreed to

delay billing for thirty days.


29/30


29

What if you drove?

I dont have a car..

I do. You can borrow mine. I never use it. I keep it at my parents house in Sharon.

Wed probably have to jump it to get it started, but it will get you there and back.

I dont know. Its a long drive, Ellen said nervously.

Take Sandy with you. She cant drive, but she can navigate. Ill loan you my GPS and

if you leave early enough Sunday, you can be there before dark. How about Saturday afterwork, well meet at the shop and go to my parents house. You can stay over there and leave

before the traffic starts Sunday morning.

Ill talk to Tony.

Hed be a fool to turn down the offer..

Tony is no fool. Hes a hard worker, but he doesnt see too far ahead of him. You cancount on him to get the job done, just dont expect miracles.

Sounds like a good boss, Buddy said with a smile

He is. He built the company himself. He started with a single used machine he bought

at an auction and now he has over fifty employees. Hes done all right for himself/.

If you ladies will excuse me, I am exhausted and need to turn in. Sandy, what time do

you need to leave the shop for Belmont tomorrow?

About four..

Does someone pick you up?

No, I ride the bus from Alewife Station..

Ellen, will you be joining us in the morning? Buddy asked.

No, were prepping machines all day.

May I call on you after work?

It would be my pleasure, Ellen said and blushed.

Sunday was almost as busy as Saturday, although, since Ghost had stayed home, the

atmosphere was slightly more businesslike than it had been the previous two days. Sandy left

at four towing her suitcase. Tamika gave her hug when she left and asked if she would be


30/30


back the following weekend. Sandy proudly said that she would be there on Saturday, but

Sunday she and Ellen would be driving to New Jersey to deliver a big shipment for her job.

Brian also gave her a hug and thanked her for her help. He appreciated everything she

had done that weekend. Everyone else was busy with customers and waved as Sandy headed

out the door.

Ellen had dinner ready when Buddy arrived. They spent a quiet evening together with

Ghost curled up between them on the sofa while they watched old movies and talked. Buddyreturned to his apartment at a reasonable hour and went to bed.

a fathers ghost - three chapter sample

Documents