“About O’Toole?” asked George. ”Why insist on a perfect world? So he first had his eye on Anna. So what!”
Fred thought, “A con artist, and he knows how to schmooze.”
George noticed Anna glaring at him.
“He’s got Mamma wrapped around his finger,” declared Angela.
“Something’s wrong,” whispered Higgs
“Thank you, George,” said Maria. “I thought there weren’t any decent men left. You hear that, Lenny? My thoughts right now are so indecent. Lenny! You’re my oldest friend. Where would you take me if we were to run off together?”
“To Vegas,” Higgs announced without batting an eye. Anna jerked her head up and stared at her mother.
“Mamma, have you lost your mind?” cried Anna.
“I wouldn’t, would I?” asked Maria. “You don’t think I’d run off to Vegas with Lenny, do you? It’s okay for Anna to think about taking off to L A. Then what’s wrong with me running off with Lenny? Come on Lenny! Put your money where your mouth is. I’m going to cost you a pretty penny. Lenny, why not Vegas?”
“Sodom, here we come!” declared Higgs, standing up.
“Are you nervous, Lenny?”
George was heard muttering, “Faust stay out of this.”
“What are we waiting for Lenny? For you to have a heart attack?”
“Let’s go!” roared Higgs. ”I love her! I’ve always loved her!” Out of breath he grabbed Maria’s hand and started pulling her toward the door. ”I love you!”
While this drama unfolded the intensity of the party increased a notch. Everyone drank, some shouted and laughed, and all were completely uninhibited. Kitty headed for the front door, obviously embarrassed by her father.
“I love you!” shouted Higgs.
“You’re too drunk to know that,” Maria laughed. “I’m me. You’re you, and why not? (She pointed to Angela.) Blow your nose. Wipe your tears. Don’t be sad. All of his life Lenny has had a crush on me. Lenny, are you ready?”
“Ready! Vegas here we come!”
“Mamma, would you really go to Vegas with Higgs?” asked Angela.
“Jilt O’Toole, and you won’t disappoint us.” It was Anna’s turn.
“No!” cried Maria, and seizing Higgs she wrapped her arms around him, and as soon as she did she started to weep.
“No,” said Anna. “No! That’s it! I can’t stand this. I’m going, going to L A.”
“Mamma! What are you doing?” wailed Angela.
“Wailing is not becoming!” cried Maria.
Anna stepped between her sister and her mother. In her best dress Angela stood facing her sister. She wasn’t going to budge.
“Your envy is showing!” Anna shouted at her.
“Maria!” cried Higgs, as Kitty dragged him to one side. Kitty’s whole being now was focused on rescuing her father.
“She loves me!” he kept repeating. “She loves me!”
“He’s too old to have fun!” proclaimed Fred.
“I’d head first to Caesar’s Palace!” cried Brian.
“Cesar! If you have money to burn go to Cesar’s!” enjoined Higgs. Obviously excited Higgs suddenly collapsed.
“Fainted!” people around him observed.
“They waited too long,” someone shouted.
“Get him some water! Someone do something,” cried Kitty. Almost at once it became apparent that he’d live. His breath was deep and sonorous as if he’d fallen asleep.
“There goes the trip to Vegas,” said Anna.
“It was utterly ridiculous anyway,” declared Maria, as she helped Kitty with Higgs. “It wasn’t meant to be. There, he’s already coming around. Angela, let’s go home. Good-bye Anna. Good-bye. Write sometime.”
As a farewell gesture Anna kissed her mother lightly on the forehead.
“I was thinking,” Anna said, trembling with emotion, “thinking about staying. It was certain that I’d leave. Now I won’t ask you to understand why I must go. You are ridiculous people. Utterly ridiculous. Now I have to think of what’s best for me. And yes what’s best for my baby. You have to believe me that I’m sad. All I know is that I have to escape. Tucson has a way of ruining people. Mamma, I won’t end up on the street. You heard me. I know how to take care of myself. Don’t think badly of me.”
But before the final farewell George rushed outside. Angela overtook him near the corner.
“George, talk some sense into her,” she said. “Anna doesn’t want to go to L A.”
George looked at her, shook his head, and walked on.
Angela watched George cross the street in the opposite direction. “Where are you going?” she yelled.
“To Cesar’s!” shouted George. “I need a beer.”
Then Angela walked home with her mother. Both women were thinking of their dreams. More than once Angela imagined Anna interfering with those dreams.
“A shame! Lose a sister. Lose a stepfather. Both on the same night.”
A couple of the other guests, who came outside shortly after Angela and George, said good-bye to each other.
“I have a gun,” Fred said to Anna. “And if you don’t leave town will I shoot you with it? Yeah.”
Randy Ford
