SHIMMER/DADDY'S GAME

Michael's clients have requested a picture of the boy he intends on delivering to them, at a price of course.

 Tricia didn’t notice the dark colored van following her as she dropped Corey off at school.  She kissed her son goodbye and left for work with the van following close behind.

  Watching the boy’s mother cross the parking lot and enter the store I noticed how attractive this lady was.  Blond hair, like her sons, nice petite figure, it was almost 8:30 it would be a while before Sears opened.  I reclined my seat and decided to wait.  Waiting wasn’t a problem dad hadn’t taught me anything except patience.  He had restrained me in every position imaginable, throwing in beatings to make it more interesting to himself I suppose.  Always trying to make me screw up by screaming out but he failed that.  At least he was consistent; torture was everyday and always hours at a time.  I hated weekends the most it provided him more time to play his sadistic games.  After the first or second week of his games I had learned to let my mind slip away, to remove myself from what was happening.  He always returned and let me go, just had to be quiet and wait.

“That’s right boy, I trained you well!”

I caught myself methodically massaging my wrists, a nervous habit I seemed to have acquired.  Looking at my watch it was 10 o’clock the store was open and I needed to make a purchase.

  “Can I help you find something sir?”

  Tricia thought the man seemed out of place in the children’s department.  He looked tired, really worn out, too much work and to little rest.

“Yes I’m looking for some underwear for my son.”

 I hadn’t expected the boy’s mother to wait on me.  What were the odds of her working in the very department where I needed to make my purchase?  It was too late to worry about that now, maybe I could make it work out to my advantage.

“The boy’s underwear is right over here.  Do you know what size he needs, or how much he weighs?”

“I’m not sure of his size but he weighs around forty pounds.  He’s only five years old.”

“I have a five year old son myself and he loves the ones with dinosaurs on them.”

“Really, what’s your son’s name?”

“Corey.”

“Well, since Corey recommends the dinosaurs then dinosaurs it is.  Six or seven pairs should be plenty.”

“Do you need help with anything else sir?”

“No, that should do it.”

“Follow me to the register and I’ll get you checked out.”

“Tricia, I want to thank you for your help and tell Corey thank you also.”

  It always surprised her when a customer used her first name.  She almost asked how he knew her before she remembered the nametag affixed to her blouse.  This man did seem familiar though and wondered where she had seen him before.

  Corey, I love it.  Got the kids first name without even trying.  Her name had been just as easy.  Smith was plastered on her mailbox along with the address.  There were a lot of Smiths in the phone book but only one Tricia with a matching address.  Dad must be out of the picture, probably divorce, seems to be the style these days.  Climbing back into the van I wondered how I was going to get this kids picture.  I can’t just walk up and photograph the child that would be a little too risky.  He was in school and when he wasn’t he would be with his mother.  “Better walk away Michael, just walk away.”  Great advise I was giving myself maybe I should try following it.  Looking out the side window I noticed I had driven into Corey’s neighborhood without realizing it.  “Must be an omen.”  Things will work out they always seem to work out.  At home will probably be my best opportunity.  She might just send Corey out to play.  I’ll wait, wait and see what develops.

  “See what develops!”  I couldn’t keep from laughing at the pun I had made.  You’re a comedian Michael, a real comedian.

  Tricia left work and hurried off to pick Corey up at school.  She was running late and didn’t want to be the last mom to pick her kid up.  Corey was his usual babbling self, talking nonstop all the way home.  Hurrying into the house she threw together a sandwich and sat Corey down at the kitchen table.

“Listen Corey, mammas got to go back to work for a little while.  Do you remember what we talked about last night?”

“Yes mom I remember.”

“After you finish your sandwich you stay in the house.  You can watch cartoons or play with your toys until I get back.”

“I’ll be all right mom!”

“I’m sure you will be honey.  I’ll see you after awhile.  I love you.”

“Love you to.”

Tricia made sure the doors were locked behind her and headed off to work.

  “God, he is just too little for this.  Tomorrow I start looking for a sitter or day care.  I’ll scrape the money together somehow but I am not going to leave him alone anymore.”

  “Wonder where mommy is off to.”  I followed her for a little ways until I knew she was going back to work.  “What luck, Corey’s home alone.”  I knew something would develop.  Laughing again I headed back to Tricia’s house.  Needed a plan to lure the kid out, that’s when I spied the puppy.  I knocked on the door seven or eight times before I heard the timid little voice on the other side.

“Who is it?”

“Is your mommy home?”

“She can’t come to the door right now she’s in the shower.”

“Listen, my puppy crawled under the fence in your backyard, could you get him for me?”

“I’m not supposed to leave the house!”

“Please, he’s just in your backyard, and I’ll give you a reward for helping me.”

 Corey moved the living room curtains aside so he could see the person standing on his front porch.  He was confused, this didn’t look like a bad man and he did offer him a reward.

“Are you still there?”

“Wait a minute.”

  I waited for what seemed like an eternity, when the front door swung open I found myself face to face with Corey.  He had the puppy squeezed tightly to his chest.

“Thank you so much, you’re a lifesaver.  I’ll tell you what, hold the puppy up close to your face and I’ll take your picture.  Then when your momma gets out of the shower you can show her what a hero you were.”

“OKAY!”

  I snapped two quick photos of the little boy and on the bottom of one wrote “THANK YOU.”  I took the puppy from his arms and handed over the picture along with a five-dollar bill.

“WOW!!, five bucks!”

“It’s worth it, make sure you lock the door back when you go inside.”

“I will, I can’t wait to show mom, bye.”

  Rounding the corner I dropped the puppy off where I had found it and headed for the airport.  This was going to be great.  Not only did I have the boy’s picture but I also had a name to go with it.  My clients were going to be very pleased.  Hell, I might get a bonus for doing such a good job.

  Corey attacked his mother as soon as she opened the front door.  Tricia had to drop the bag she was carrying in order to catch her air born son.  She carried him back through the doorway, pushing it closed with her foot.

“Look mamma!  Look!”

Tricia looked at the picture he was holding with the word thank you written at the bottom.  A shiver ran down her spine.

“Corey, where did you get this?”

“A man came to the door and his puppy had gotten into our backyard and he asked me if I could help him get his puppy.”

“I told you never to open the door when I was gone!  Damn it Corey what if he had hurt you?  I thought you understood what to do while I was away!”

“He didn’t know I was alone momma.  I told him you were in the shower.  He gave me five dollars for helping him, and he told me to lock the door when I went in.”

  Tricia looked at the five-dollar bill her son was proudly displaying in the palm of his hand.  He just didn’t understand the danger he had placed himself in.  Hugging her son she didn’t try to explain the danger, nor the tears that had leapt into her eyes.  Picking up the phone directory Tricia called different day care centers until she found one that would take her son after school.

“You won’t be left alone again Corey.”

“But the man said I was a hero mom!  He didn’t try to hurt me, he was nice mom!”

“You are a hero and I need to make sure my little hero stays safe.  No one is ever going to hurt my baby cross my heart and hope to die!”

“Are you mad at me?”

“No, I’m not mad at you son.  I’m mad at myself.  Momma should have known better, it’s my fault for leaving you here alone.”

  The incident seemed harmless enough, but why would a man be walking around the neighborhood and just happen to have a camera available to capture his dogs rescue.  Her mother’s instincts were on full alert, Tricia needed an answer.

“Corey, the man that took your picture, what did he look like?”

“I don’t know mom.”

“Was he taller than me or about the same size?”

“Taller I guess.”

“What color hair did he have?  Was it blond like ours?”

“No it was brown.”

“Did he walk back to his car to get his camera or did he have it with him?”

“He took it out of a bag.”

“Pay attention Corey, quit fooling around with that damn toy!  Did you notice anything else about this stranger?”

“I saw something else in his bag.  He had underwear like I wear.”

“Ones that have the pictures of dinosaurs on them?”----- Oh god Corey!  Oh god!”  Tricia grabbed the phone and dialed 911.

  The airport traffic was heavy and I was already fifteen minutes late for my meeting with mom.  The best case would be if she had gotten tired of waiting and left.  If mother left the gate I would never be able to find her in this airport.  Hell, I didn’t know what she looked like how could I possibly find her?

“Pete, glad you could make it.  Mother has been waiting.”

  The two very large men had walked up beside me as I entered the airport.  Their sudden appearance spooked me, but what worried me the most was their ability to recognize me on sight.  Both wore dark suits, white shirts, and black ties.  They looked like a couple of goons from a poorly done gangster movie.  The large canvas bag the one was carrying held my attention.  I was ushered into a small eatery.  Mother wasn’t what I had envisioned.  Much younger, probably in her early thirties, dark complexion, long jet-black hair with eyes black as coal.  She was an attractive woman by any one’s standards.