Scott Wittenburg - The May Day Murders

So it seemed only fitting that he tie one on…

Ann stared at herself in the mirror, straightened up her hair for what seemed like the hundredth time and glanced over nervously at the clock on her nightstand. It was 7:55. In a last minute panic she brushed her shoulder-length auburn locks for the last time then carefully examined her makeup before stepping back and eying the rest of herself in the full-length mirror. She was wearing a plain gray skirt with a navy blue silk blouse. She realized that the outfit was a bit on the conservative side, but that had been her intention. She didn’t want to look flashy on her first date with Jerry Rankin. She was nervous enough as it was, and the last thing she needed was to feel like she was being gawked at all evening.

Just as she had expected, Amy hadn’t bothered to ask her who she was going out to dinner with when she’d come home after school to get ready for the football game. Oddly, Ann had been a little disappointed-she would like to think that her daughter might at least be a little curious about her life once in a while. But this was typical Amy behavior nowadays-so wrapped up in herself and her own plans that her mother may just as well not exist.

The doorbell suddenly rang and Ann’s heart skipped a beat. She took one last look at herself and realized in horror that she looked like a middle-aged schoolteacher. Shrugging her shoulders in exasperation, she turned and headed down the stairs. She paused at the living room window and peaked through the curtains long enough to spot Jerry Rankin’s BMW parked behind her car in the driveway. She went over to the door and opened it.

“Good evening, Ann,” Jerry greeted. He was dressed casually, she noted in relief, wearing a tweed sport jacket, sweater, and a pair of khaki Dockers.

“Hi, Jerry,” she said nervously. “Come in.”

“Thank you,” he smiled. He stepped inside and glanced quickly around the room before looking her over approvingly. “You look wonderful, Ann.”

Ann blushed. “Thanks. I wasn’t quite sure how to dress-you never mentioned where you were taking me.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “But I wasn’t sure what kind of food you liked, so I decided to wait and see if maybe there was somewhere in particular you’d like to go.”

“I like all kinds of food. And as far as restaurants go, I must confess that I haven’t been to all that many since moving here.”

“In that case, how does Italian sound to you? I know of a marvelous Italian restaurant in Dublin,” he offered.

“I adore Italian food.”

“Then it’s settled,” he smiled. “Your house is charming, by the way.”

Ann strode over to the hall closet to get her coat. “Thanks. I’m still not quite done furnishing it yet.”

“I love these older homes. I live in a relatively new house and it doesn’t have half the character of this one. My neighborhood also leaves a bit to be desired. Hardly any trees, no sidewalks, and everything is so bloody new-too new.”

Ann returned, carrying her coat. “I’m only renting, unfortunately. I have an option to buy, though.”

“Here, let me help you on with that,” Jerry offered.

He took her coat and Ann slipped into it. “Is that your daughter?” he asked, glancing over at Amy’s school picture on the mantle.

“That’s my little girl,” Ann replied.

He went over for a closer look. “She’s lovely. Why, she looks just like her mother!”

Ann blushed again. “Maybe after you’ve tacked on a few decades or so.”

“You certainly don’t look old enough to be mother to a teenager, Ann. It’s quite remarkable.”

“Your flattery is a little overwhelming, Jerry,” Ann replied cynically.

He turned and stared into her eyes, his handsome face wearing an expression of sincerity. “I’m being quite honest, Ann; I’m not trying to embarrass you. I tend to be very straight-forward at times and say what I feel when I feel it. I hope that doesn’t put you off.”

His tone of voice almost made it sound like an apology-he apparently sensed that she regarded his compliments as so much bullshit. Ann said, “I appreciate honesty and frankness, Jerry. It’s been a long time since I’ve been complimented so much. I guess I’m just not used to it.”

“You’d better start getting used to it, then. Otherwise, I’ll find myself biting my tongue an awfully lot,” he declared with a grin.

Ann chuckled. “I’ll try to, Jerry.”

“I’d like to meet her,” he said, his eyes returning to Amy’s picture.

Ann replied, “Unfortunately Amy’s not here right now-she’s at the school football game. Maybe some other time.”

“I’d like that… Well, shall we go?”

“I’m ready,” Ann replied, heading toward the door. Jerry followed her outside and stood by while she locked up. When they reached his car, he opened the door and waited until Ann was inside before walking around to the driver’s side and getting in.

“Nice car,” Ann commented.

“Thanks. I prefer sportier cars actually, but this one accommodates my clients quite nicely.”

“What kind of real estate do you handle?” Ann asked as Jerry started the car and backed out of the driveway.

“Mostly residential, a little commercial. I lean more toward the speculative market. Condominiums in particular.”

“I see.”

It started to drizzle and Jerry turned on the wipers. They drove several blocks in an awkward silence. Ann noticed that Jerry was tapping the steering wheel with his fingers and suddenly realized that he was probably more nervous than she was. This made her feel more comfortable for some reason. She assessed how things were going so far and had to admit that she felt fairly at ease in Jerry Rankin’s company. He looked even more handsome than she remembered him looking the day she’d met him at the supermarket and she was impressed with his impeccable manners. Sam had only opened a car door for her a handful of times in all the years they’d been married. And two of those rare occasions had been on their wedding day…

“Would you mind a little music?” Jerry suddenly asked.

“No, not at all.”

He turned on the stereo and inserted a CD. Ann immediately recognized the song, Gimme Some Lovin’ by The Spencer Davis Group.

It’s an oldies collection,” Jerry explained. “They don’t make songs like this anymore.”

Ann smiled at him. “You can say that again. Amy plays some of the most nerve-wracking stuff imaginable! Rap music. Heavy metal. And she always plays it so loud!”

Jerry gasped. “That must be dreadful! How do you deal with it?”

“I put as much distance as possible between her bedroom and myself.”

He laughed. “How’s she doing in school?”

“Passing by the skin of her teeth. Amy’s a bright kid, but her social life takes precedence over her studies. She used to get all A’s and B’s through middle school, but she simply doesn’t apply herself anymore. I don’t think she realizes that it’s all going to catch up with her in the end if she doesn’t start shaping up.”

Jerry said, “She’ll come around, Ann. Most of the kids her age that I’ve worked with at church have the same problem. It’s not easy becoming an adult nowadays-the old, innocent days of Leave It To Beaver and Ozzie and Harriet are extinct. I think the family structure in today’s society is partially to blame for a lot of this generation’s problems.”

“Divorce doesn’t help much, either,” Ann muttered half aloud.

“What was that?”

Ann sighed. “I said that divorce doesn’t help matters any, either.”

Jerry hesitated a moment, then said, “Divorce is an unfortunate fact of life. But it certainly doesn’t have to destroy a child’s life. As long as there’s plenty of love and understanding at home, they can adjust eventually.”