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To: magnolia@southernbelle.net
Dear Mrs. Cora Gazaway,
Yours truly,
To: shyrose@prairiesky.ca
Why, honey, I'm tickled pink to get all the e-mails I can. I'm just learning my way around this computer business myself. My son bought me this machine a few weeks ago so I could talk as much as I wanted. I was third in my typing class in high school. Even though that's been so long ago (it takes me a while to find all the keys), I manage pretty good if I do say so myself. I've had so much fun at the Garden Talk place and most of the people are just so sweet. But since you're new, I'll put a bug in your ear about that Mavis Pierson from up in Iowa. She's one of those Organic Nazis, if you get my drift. I don't know anything about erotic plants. We just have normal stuff here. And that rose, I don't really have that Paradise rose. I just made that up so I could have something to talk about. Who'd believe I could talk to you from Swamp Creek, Georgia, all the way up there in Canady? You really should try the chat room, dear. That's the most fun. All the good fights are in there. You feel free to ask me anything, honey. If I don't know the answer, I'll get one from somewhere. Write soon, Cora
Subject: Re: Paradise Rose Dear Cora,
It's such a coincidence that you got your computer from your son because this was MY son's computer until he went away last month to Queen's University. I'm so proud of him even though Bernard says it has nothing to do with me because I'm not Ryan's biological mother. You see, I was Ryan's kindergarten teacher when his mother left him and his dad. Can you imagine leaving a little boy like that? !! Well, Bernard and I ended up married and I feel Ryan is just as much my son as if I'd given birth to him. My goodness, here I go blabbing away to a stranger, but Cora, your posts on the discussion board make me laugh out loud (especially when you take the wind out of Mavis Pierson's sails. Can you believe she keeps a bucket of worms under her sink for making compost? I wouldn't want to have coffee in her kitchen.) Anyway, I can't remember how long it's been since I really laughed. I feel like I've found a long lost sister. I'm relieved you don't have a Paradise because I'm not much of a gardener myself. Who'd even bother, living next door to Barbara Stewart whose garden was written up in Western Gardens magazine? There was a picture of her "rose bower" -- that's what she calls it which should give you a pretty good idea of who I'm living next door to -- right on the front cover of the July issue. Cora, do you know what causes blackspot? If someone picked the spotty leaves off another bush and accidentally buried them in the dirt around a prize winning Paradise, would that do it? Hoping to hear from you soon. Your Canadian friend,
Subject: Blackspot Oh, my dear, we're going to be such good friends. You sound so sweet when you talk about your boy. I'm right proud of my son, too. He has his own used car dealership downtown. That's how he could afford to buy me a computer all my own and I sure was glad because his new secretary had started getting sassy with me every time I called him at work -- like he wouldn't want to talk to his own mother! I don't know how you can stand to live next-door to that snotty Barbara Stewart. I saw her on a TV show and she seemed to think everybody watching was loaded with money and could go right out and buy all these fancy do-dahs she was selling. Now, about this blackspot -- if somebody were to bury those blackspotted leaves, first thing you know, every rose in the garden will have blackspot. Of course, you probably know this, but the worst thing you can do to roses is to water them in the evening... say, maybe with a spray-bottle. Roses hate water on their leaves at night. I think we're going to get along just fine, you and me, Brenda. Cora
Subject: Fight!!! Oh, Brenda, if you're on-line now, hurry on over to the Chat Room at Garden Talk. Mavis Pierson is having the most delicious fight with Colin Sommers. Colin is new and, just between you and me, I don't think he even gardens and can't imagine why in the world he's visiting the forum. It's a hoot!
Subject: Barbara Stewart Dear Cora,
Well, time for me to top up this little drink I'm sippling. And I still have to go next door and give Barbara's roses a quick spray before it's too dark to see. She's away again and I'd hate that garden to be neglected. Your friend, (I can't tell you how happy it makes me to be able to say that. With Bernard on the road so much, and Ryan off at university, I've been so lonely. Not that I don't have friends, but there are some things you can't share with people who know you well.) Sincerely,
PS When I asked about EXOTIC plants, I was wondering if oleander grows down there? My mother had a big oleander blooming in the front room but when my sisters started bringing their babies home, she threw it out in the snow because my Aunt Meta told her that even a tiny bite from an oleander leaf could make a person's tongue swell up and choke them. I've been thinking a lot about that old plant. If you have an oleander, could you wrap a few slips in plastic and send them along to me?
Subject: Oleander Well, my goodness, of course you can have a start of oleander. It's not a problem in the world. I've got this other stuff I'll send you too because, well, I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings but Rebecca from New Jersey at the Garden Talk -- well, she's just the sweetest thing, but she sent me these seeds that I can't use. She told me they had tiny white flowers and made a nice little hanging basket for her. Well, she sent them with just the Latin name written on them and I'd never heard of it before. Oh, dear, I hope you're not one of those fancy gardeners who throws those Latin names around all the time or I'll never understand a word you say in chat. They all sound like Greek to me and when Mavis gets on her high horse and starts spouting off all those newfangled names, I just want to slap her up 'side the head right through the screen. But anyway, I was so excited about my new plant I looked it up in the Park Seed catalogue -- you know, from over in South Carolina, just a hop, skip and a jump from me. Well, the Park Seed catalogue said that they couldn't sell this plant to anybody in South Carolina or Georgia and that got me curious enough to call them. The lady on the phone started laughing and told me, "Honey, if you're going to plant that in Georgia, you might as well plant kudzu cause it's the next best thing and it'll take over your house in a week." Well, the minute she said it, I knew I've been fighting that weed all my life without knowing its name. But I could send it with the oleander and you could have a sweet little hanging basket because you're so much further north than I am. Oh, and that woman I saw on TV. Harley, that's my mister, he says I got the name wrong. Her name was Martha something. But she was a blonde, too, just like your neighbor. Now, I'm going to go wrap these plants right now while I'm thinking about it and I'm going to stick in a jar of the pickled okra I just put up while I'm at it. Talk to you soon. Cora
Subject: Re: Oleander Cora, you are the kindest, most gracious lady in the world. I would be SO happy to have a little bit of your garden growing up here !!!!! My address which you'll need to send that plant is Mrs. Brenda Gauthier, P.O. Box 14, Didsbury, Alberta, Canada, T0L 0M0. Imagine having a car dealership in the family!!! Bernard would love that. He leases a new car every year because he says in his line of work (Bernard has his own real estate company, mostly talking farmers into selling their land to developers) you have to look prosperous to inspire confidence. He's always had roomy cars so that he could drive his clients around but this last one is a red sports car!!!! I don't drive it, of course. My old Volvo gets me everywhere I need to go even though it is the first car I ever owned !!!! Well, I guess I'd better open a can of soup. When Ryan was home I always put a good supper on the table but with Bernard away again there's no sense cooking. And speaking of food, I've never tasted okra!! I can hardly wait for that package to arrive. Yours truly,
Subject: Cars Well, you know, Brenda, my son insists that I drive a huge car so when I have my next wreck, I won't get hurt. Sometimes my friends and I go into Atlanta and traffic there is awful. Last time we went, I was stopped on the little side road they have there, you know the road that gets you onto the expressway? Well, I was stopped, just like always waiting on the traffic to end (it's 8 lanes and they come so fast over the hill) -- well, I always stop until there's nobody coming and some crazy man tried to go around me to get onto the expressway. He got stuck in the ditch and then wanted to blame me for holding up traffic! Have you ever? These young folks today just use the awfulest language, don't they? I don't know what the world's coming to when a young man can say such things and me sitting there with the preacher's wife in the back seat. His mother would be mortified, I'm sure. I've mailed the leaves to you and won't send you the vine. I'll find somebody to give those seeds to -- I just hate to toss them down the toilet like that girl said I should. While we're on the subject of the garden, when you spray your neighbor's roses, don't get your water spray mixed up with the spray bottle you put your Coke in. Do you use Coke as a weed killer? It works as well as Round-Up, but it's hard to tell what caused the trouble. I know because a neighbor of mine sprayed Coke on her perfect grass and then had the most awful dying patterns in her perfect yard. Now, about that fight in the chat room. Mavis and Colin duked it out big-time. You really should try to get in there, honey. Talk to you later, Cora
Subject: Thank You! Dear Cora,
Meanwhile, Cora, I have a problem and I'm hoping you can tell me what on earth I should do. (You seem to have the answer to everything.) Ever since Ryan went away to university, Bernard's been at me to get back to work. We don't need the money and he always wanted me at home, but all of a sudden he says I should try to be more independent so that if something happens I'll be able to look after myself. He even stopped by the school board office and got an application form for me. Cora, the truth is when I applied for that job almost twenty years ago, I had to fib a little. I don't have the university degree I put down on the application. I never passed the student teaching assignment in my first year. They said I was too shy and quiet and the children wouldn't see me as an authority figure. Well, I'm sorry but that's just who I am and children have always loved me so can you understand how much I wanted to be a teacher? And if I hadn't got the job I would never have met Bernard and Ryan. The problem is, schools don't trust people anymore -- they're going to want an actual copy of my degree. Cora, I'm worried sick. I'm hoping that when Ryan comes home he'll help me persuade his dad that I'm perfectly happy where I am. But, that's enough complaining for now. I want to drop in to the chat room before I go to bed. Yes, I finally got up the courage to try it! And Colin is the sweetest man!! The other night he asked if we could chat privately because he could tell I needed someone to talk to. Cora, I think you Americans are the kindest people in the world. You are so WARM and CARING. Your grateful friend,
Subject: Datura Well, honey, it's ridiculous what they require these days to get a job! But I wouldn't go back to teaching if I were you -- not these days. It's hard, what with all the new math and stuff you have to know. Just think, there's a lot more history these days than when we were in school. No, I'll tell you what you should do. Didn't you say Bernard was in real estate? Well, you tell him that you'd have to go back to school to get up to date on teaching and if you have to go back to school anyway, you'd rather get your real estate license. Then you could work with him and go on all those trips with him and eat out with him. If anything happened to him, you'd know how to run the business. I think it's sweet him worrying about your future and I'm sure he'd love spending all that time with you and taking you along on his business trips. My mister used to tell me I wouldn't complain about him playing golf all day if I had a hobby myself. So I took up golf and went with him. It didn't work out, though. I wasn't much good at the game, but I sure did love driving that cute little cart in real fast circles around the flagpole. I hit a ball into the woods one time and found it laying right next to a trillium I'd been wanting for my garden. I had it halfway dug up when Harley came along and made me put it back in the ground, so I didn't tell him about the coneflower seed I had in my pocket. In the end, he decided it was okay for me to stay home without a hobby, which suited me just fine because if you have to go to the little girls' room in the middle of a game and you take a short cut back to the clubhouse, the men who are playing in that direction yell at you even if they do sit next to you in church every Sunday of your life. And you're in luck! Myrtle Hopkins wanted to give me some datura a while back and I told her, no, it was too poisonous for me to have with the grandchildren running in and out of the house all the time. She had foxglove seed too, but I told her no, I couldn't have those either. I called her just now and told her to bring them by for me. Since you don't have any small children or anybody around that would get poisoned accidentally, I'll stick them in the mail to you tomorrow. But you be careful, you hear? Myrtle put foxglove seeds in a dish on the kitchen windowsill and somehow, a few of the seeds got into a casserole she was fixing in the sink and, Lord have mercy, it made her sick to die. She starting seeing things and hearing voices. She said it was like that LSD the hippies used to take! Her son had to rush her to the hospital and it took forever for them to figure out it was the seed. I guess she could have died if Harold hadn't come in when he did. Talk to you later, Cora
Subject: no subject Cora, here I am sitting at the computer on what is truly the blackest night of my life. I hate to burden you with my dark troubles, but I guess by the time you read this it'll be morning and the Georgia sunshine will be pouring into your kitchen. Well, Cora, even if it was daytime, it would not be sunny in my house. You see, Bernard came stomping into the house tonight mad as a hatter because supper wasn't ready. I was chatting with Colin and you know how time gets away on you? I tried to jolly Bernard into a better mood and said that we'd have a nice bowl of soup because we should be eating light to get ready for the turkey feast next weekend. (It's Thanksgiving coming up even though I know you people don't celebrate it until a few weeks after it's past.) And THEN Bernard said, Brenda I TOLD you a month ago that I'm going to Montreal to have Thanksgiving with Mother and Ryan's meeting me there so that we can have a little family reunion. Cora, I can't begin to tell you how bad it is between me and Mother Gauthier which is why there is NO WAY I would go along to Montreal to visit her even if I was invited. That old bag -- please excuse me for being rude about people but I'm so upset and to tell the truth I've had a few nips from the bottle of rye Bernard keeps in the buffet. Now, I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I'm not of those women who drowns her sorrows in the bottle. Lord good, Cora, there's not a bottle big enough for my sorrows! Just every now and again, with Bernard away so much, I have a little party all by myself. But anyway, Bernard's mother, that old bitch (oh, there I go again), she hates me. She's always treated me like some kind of baby-sitter or housekeeper and she actually said to my face that Bernard only married me to have someone to look after Ryan. At least I KNOW that's what she said even though she said it in French. That's the problem, you see, she thinks I'm stupid because I can't speak French except for the bit I learned in high school. Now this is all about politics -- the way the French people in Quebec look down their noses at everyone else -- and I don't understand it well enough to explain it, Cora but I sure hope you don't have a mother-in-law who doesn't give you the time of day just because you don't make meat pie on Christmas Eve. All Bernard will talk about in the festive season is his mother's tourtière. Well, I tell him, Bernard, Swansons makes one that tastes a whole lot fresher than that mess your mother puts on the table and calls a celebration. Anyway, here I am all alone and I was looking forward to seeing Ryan so much so I phoned him tonight after Bernard went stomping out again and you know what he said? He said, Brenda, I hate to say this but you're too good for my dad. I worry about you because now that I'm gone, I don't think he feels much commitment. Commitment? Who said anything about commitment? I'm just talking about marriage and about a man staying home once in a while and watching TV with his wife so that she doesn't have to go surfboarding around on a computer looking for friends. If it weren't for you and Colin, I'd be the loneliest person in the world. Now I have to go find Colin because he wants me to meet him in a new chat room that he says I'm going to love. your sad and lonely friend,
Subject: no subject Oh, Cora, it's me back again. I had such a shock. I went looking for Colin and that address he gave me MUST have been a wrong number because Colin wasn't there and I wouldn't dare tell you what people were talking about!! So, I e-mailed Colin and he answered right back and was so sweet and wanted to know what I was wearing. Well, can you imagine me telling him I was sitting here in a little pink nightie?!! So, I told him I was wearing my navy blue pant suit with the silk shirt that ties in a big bow. He said that didn't sound very comfy and why didn't I go slip into something cuddly and come right back. I just sat here and waited five minutes and now he's not answering. Well, Cora, this is not my night. And I just remembered that I ordered a great big turkey from the Hutterites and I don't know how to get a hold of those people -- I don't think they believe in phones -- so on Friday they're going to be at my door with that bird. Cora, what the hell am I going to do with a twenty-five pound turkey??!!
Subject: re: no subject elp, I've lost my letters. O, Brenda, I know you've ot a problem and I'd love to elp but I've lost my letters. I decided to clean my computer and I dusted it wit Plede. Well, tat didn't work very well, so I ot out te Windex and I tink I must ave spilled it all over te keyboard because te letters stick. Not all te letters, just te middle ones. And ere ou need my elp and I can't ive it. I uess I'll ave to call my son and et im to et me a new keyboard. I'm lad you ot te seeds. Be careful now wit tose foxlove. Tey're very danerous. I tink Colin sounds very sweet to elp you trou te lonely times. Maybe you could invite im over to eat turkey. O, no, I uess tat's silly because e mit live in California or omewere far away. I'm sorry you ave suc a mean moter-in-law. Se sounds quite nasty.
Subject: Sincere Apologies Dear Cora,
I've been thinking also about you golfing with Harley and I just now decided that I'm going to Calgary to surprise Bernard at that hotel he stays at. He never leaves a number because he says I can always reach him on his cell phone but I know the name of the place from looking through the Mastercard bills when I was dusting the inside of his desk. Maybe you'll even hear from me in Calgary. When I told Colin that I might be away tonight, he said I should find a cybercafe (can you imagine ME in one of THOSE places??!!) so we can stay in touch and I have to tell you in confidence that I can certainly see why he is reaching out after all of the things he has told me about his wife. So you see, Cora, once again you've been such a help. Thanks to you, I know exactly what I have to do and I was so down in the dumps what with Bernard away for this whole week and then off to Montreal on Friday and it's been so terribly quiet with my next door neighbour away as well. I hope all is well with you and Harley. It's good to know there are people who are together and loving each other. Have a Happy Thanksgiving (whenever you have it) and I will write to you when I get back. Your most appreciative friend,
Subject: Re: Sincere Apologies Oh, Brenda, you don't have a thing to apologize for. I'll tell you a little secret. When my bridge club meets every second and fourth Thursday, we all sip a tiny glass of sherry before we start the game. You should hear us giggle during the first few hands. But don't you tell anybody because Harley would kill me if he knew. Honey, Harley and I've been together so long, neither one of us would know how to go about looking for anybody else. Besides, as I tell him all the time, nobody else would put up with his smelly socks. He just laughs and says I couldn't find a man who would let me talk on the phone all day, even though he admits I don't talk so much since I got this computer and have made such wonderful friends -- even one all the way up in Canady. It's wonderful that you're getting away for the weekend. I'm planning a little trip myself after church on Sunday. Harley and I are going over to Crokerville to see his cousin's new barn! That Colin sounds like a nice man. Imagine him wanting you to stay in touch so close like that. But you watch out, dear, a man who's got an unhappy marriage is likely to go out looking for a young girl to make him feel better. So don't be expecting him to stay in touch with you once he finds one. He's just lonely now and needs a friend to talk to. You listen to me 'cause I saw it happen to a friend of mine. Joe Parker, over to the butcher shop, got to telling Myrtle Hopkins all about his marriage problems. Only Myrtle, you know, well bless her heart, but she's been a widow for years and not happily married like you are. Anyway, Myrtle got to thinking Joe liked her a lot and he'd tell her the most lovely things. Then all of a sudden, he was leaving town! He had hooked up with a girl young enough to be his daughter and up and left his wife of 35 years! Myrtle was heartbroken because after he got this young gal, he never talked to her again. But you be the best friend you can to Colin right now and keep it in the back of your mind that once he finds himself a young gal and leaves his wife, you'll still be happily married to Bernard. Love, Cora
Subject: My HAPPY marriage! Now, Cora, you're the dearest friend I have at the moment so I hope you won't take offence when I tell you that you seem to have missed a few things about Bernard and me. I am NOT happily married. Especially after what I found out today. I can't give you the details from a public place like this (I'm at a cybercafe waiting for Colin to log on), so let me just say that when Bernard comes back from Montreal, he's going to have a lot of questions to answer and when I finish with my spray bottle of Coke, Barbara Stewart's lawn is going to tell all of Didsbury what kind of a woman she is. And now that I know what Bernard's been up to, I'm going to meet Colin in any old room he invites me to. Don't you believe, Cora, that what's sauce for the gander is sauce for the goose? Oh no! That reminds me that I forgot to leave a note on my door about the damn turkey. I have to go find a way to head off those Hutterites. Brenda
Subject: Re: My HAPPY marriage Now, Brenda, calm down. I can't imagine what's got you so upset, but, Honey, I'm sure Bernard will be able to explain everything. Men always can, my dear. And you've got a good man there that works hard so you can stay home and make a nice home for yourself -- why, look at how much he travels. Life on the road is hard, Brenda. I ought to know because my Harley used to travel quite a bit and he'd come home so worn out and ornery, a snake wouldn't get near him. So you just calm down and everything will be fine. I think it's so nice that you're helping Colin through his marital problems. Does he travel? Oh, and before I forget. Brenda, honey, I don't know how in the world this happened, but you remember a while back when I mentioned spraying Co-Cola on the grass? I think somehow you may have misunderstood what I was saying. I only meant to warn you against doing it because it'd kill the grass, for sure, and somehow, you must've got that part mixed up. Have a lovely time in the city, and buy yourself something pretty. You'll feel so much better. Cora
Subject: A little trip Dearest Cora,
I took the rest of your advice too, Cora, and bought myself a whole suitcase full of pretty lingerie. I feel like a new woman. Gratefully yours,
Subject: Re: A little trip Oh, my! You're going to have a wonderful vacation! It'll do you a world of good. I've always wanted to tour out West. It sounds like you're going to roam the highways. Wouldn't it be something if you found yourself near Atlanta and could stop by for a nice little visit? I tried to forward your last e-mail to my son but ended up sending it to my cousin, Edna Jane, instead. Good thing there was nothing there she could get into a snit about. I guess a person should be real careful what they say on e-mail. My son wouldn't know anybody way out in Montana, though. The furtherest he ever goes is to Boaz, Alabama, for the auctions on Friday nights. You can get a good deal over there but I doubt if you'll make it that far over my way, but wouldn't it be lovely if you did because Boaz is just right over the Alabama line from me. You have a marvelous trip, sweetie, and I'm sure Bernard will love your new lingerie. I smell romance in the air and the doubts you had about your marriage will be gone by the time y'all get back. Cora
Subject: My VERY HAPPY marriage! Dear dear Cora, You must think I'm such a dumb bunny. Finally, I understand what you've been trying to tell me. Of course you're right! I am HAPPILY married and I wouldn't want ANYONE to think that I wasn't. Why, if anything happened to Bernard, I think I'd disappear from the face of this earth. Bernard will be back tomorrow night and I'm going to give him the welcome he deserves. In the morning, I'm going to make his favourite salad. It's his mother's mixed greens with walnut oil dressing (she would never give me the recipe but I sniffed out the walnut) and a few other secret ingredients. He'll be so surprised when he finds it in the fridge, he'll probably invite someone special over to share it. You're so modest about your son, but I'll bet he's known all across the country even though he's never gone farther than Borax or wherever that was. And, I'll bet if I call Krazy Klaus's Karz in Sweetgrass and say Mr. Gazaway down in Atlanta sent me, they'll have a car all ready and waiting and no questions asked. You won't hear from me for a while because I have a lot to do. We had a foot of snow last night so the sidewalks need shovelling and Barbara Stewart's lawn has a lovely blanket over those brown patches that were just beginning to show. By spring, they won't be visible at all. Oh yes, and I'll do a quick cleaning and get rid of the leftover seeds and cuttings you sent me. I think I'll plant them on the south side of Barbara's house where the snow didn't stay. Colin told me last night that I should unload all my troubles and I'd feel free as a bird. I think you two are the only people on earth who understand me. Isn't it a coincidence that the two of you have been giving me the same uplifting advice all along! That must be the American Way! Well, I'd better get this house tidied. It's way too much space for us now that Ryan's gone but you probably know about that too. You do have a guest room, don't you, Cora? Au revoir, (that means until I SEE you again my dear dear friend!)
Subject: Your little trip Well, there's nothing like a day shopping to lift the spirits, is there? You just cook that special dinner for Bernard and everything will be fine. You say you're going to plant the "rest of the seeds" which makes me think you are a true gardener. Only a real gardener would have shared seed with a friend and I'll bet your friend Barbara loves them as much as you do. I could have sent you more for her if I'd known she wanted some too. Lord, honey, I do know about big houses. We're stuck in this big old farm house, way out in the country, with just the two of us now. It wouldn't be so hard sometimes if we had a neighbor in sight and I think that's why this computer comes in so handy. It seems to bring people closer, doesn't it? Talking to you, I feel like I know you as well as I do my bridge club and it might be you on my doorstep instead of them. But they'll be here in an hour and I've got to start the coffee and get Harley's fishing gear out of the living room. I'll sure be glad to have a whole week to myself. He's planning a fishing trip with some friends on the 10th and has already made a mess pulling everything out of his tackle box. I opened a big old bucket of worms and they're crawling all over creation. No, don't you go thinking I'm no Organic Nazi with no store-bought worms like Mavis Pierson -- these are just plain old fishing worms from out in the yard. But you know how it is when you open that bucket of worms. You never know what's gonna crawl out. Bye now, Cora
Subject: Brenda, are you there??? Brenda, honey, where are you?
Subject: HELLO!!? Brenda, answer me!
Subject: Brenda Gauthier Dear Mrs. Gazaway: I hope you won't mind getting e-mail from a stranger. My name is Ryan Gauthier and I found your address in my step-mother's address book. Her name is Brenda Gauthier and I urgently need to find her. She disappeared two weeks ago. The day after she left, my father's neighbour, Mrs. Stewart, apparently brought dinner over for him and they both suffered a horrible death from some poisonous seed in the salad. Actually, there was also a jar of some strange vegetable that nobody can identify. Brenda doesn't know about this tragedy and I want to find her first to break the news gently. The police are looking for her too. There was only one other person in Brenda's e-mail address book and that was some man in Montana. I got a reply from his wife yesterday and she sounded so upset I won't bother her again. Ten days ago, her husband told her he was going to meet a "buddy" from one of those internet forums -- something about gardening -- but that he wouldn't be long. He was found dead in a motel in Colorado two days ago and they haven't got the autopsy results back yet. If you can tell me anything at all, Mrs. Gazaway, it might help. My stepmother tends to be a little unstable at times and I'm very worried about her. The only clue I can find is a notation on her calendar for the 10th -- today, that is. It says, "Harley gone fishing," but I have no idea who Harley is. Sincerely,
Subject: Mrs. Gazaway Mrs. Gazaway, are you there? * * * |
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