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Chapter 3 – The Caterpillar's Loss
It turned out that Mr Campbell and Charlie's father had been best of friends while "Frank" had been working his way through college. Although her father wouldn't say it seemed as though they had been riven apart by some cataclysmic event in their distant past. Now, reunited they decided to make up for lost time.
Charlie's father broke with his normal behaviour and took the three of them to dinner in a tragically expensive restaurant up town. Charlie had dressed in her best slacks and businesslike blouse – she didn't even own anything remotely resembling a skirt. Her sole consolation to the outing was to leave her dark brown shoulder length hair out, instead of in its regulation pony tail.
She had showered and shaved her body. Since puberty Charlie had religiously shaved her vagina, in rebellion against the changes taking place. She wasn't going to fill a stereotype just because her body told her to, no by shaving away her pubic hair she was making the statement that she liked herself the way she was. Her ability to match it with the boys on the courts wasn't going to become beholden to some hormone.
Frank was already waiting at the table as Charlie and her father were shown to the table by the Matre De. As before he was immaculately dressed, however he had now donned a dark jacket over his trademark vest. He stood as the two approached. Frank and Charlie's father hugged again and on turning away Frank Campbell took Charlies hand, she attempted to shake it, however Frank was in too fast and deftly kissed Charlies hand.
"A pleasure Charlotte – I see you've rid youself of those awful clothes and adopted something slightly less outlandish."
"It's Charlie thankyou Mr Campbell. No-one calls me Charlotte."
"Why ever not, it's such a delightful name." And then to her Father "I took the liberty of ordering drinks ahead for you, I assume you still enjoy a Miller before dinner?
"Certainly, and you a Corona?"
"Some things never change." Mr Campbell noted as the waiter approached with two beers and an orange juice.
The waiter placed the beers before the men and the juice in front of Charlie.
The two friends picked up where they had left off years ago. Frank, Mr Campbell as far as Charlie was concerned, explained how on finishing college he had returned to his father's business. Having being brought up around the trade and having further learnt the particular intricacies on his return he had taken over his father's store on his retirement.
He alluded to his success in the futures markets and suggested that although he continued to work as a tailor he had no need to. It was in fact his love for the trade that saw his continued involvement with tailoring.
Charlies father returned the favour, describing how he had risen through middle management to a partnership in his firm. He briefly mentioned Charlie's mother, and Charlie noticed Mr Campbell's increased interest at the mention of her name.
"So I have a nice home back home, Charlie and I look after each other. Ever thought of returning to the business Frank? You were one of the best."
"Never, it got me through college, I've made myself enough money to get by. I devote myself to… other pursuits these days. They are most fulfilling." Frank responded.
"Another drink Charlotte?" Mr Campbell enquired, noticing that Charlie was nursing her orange juice and looking vacantly out the window.
"It's Charlie, and no."
The dinner progressed through the night with Charlie largely tuning out of the conversation. Just prior to its completion Frank and Charlie's father agreed to keep in contact.
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Months passed, school recommenced and Charlie's father was called on to go on further business trips to the city. Charlie thought back on her trip with mixed feelings. The City had been dull, until the snowfall had lessened. She had found Mr Campbell annoyingly moral and annoying, contrarily she thought back to the incident on the basketball court with a mixture of fondness and distress.
She was fixing herself some microwave popcorn and was preparing to return to her beanbag in front of the television, the LA Lakers match was due to start and she planned on a long evening in front of the tube. Her dad was also due home tonight after a trip to the city, he'd promised her tickets to the next home match and she was already picturing just how close to the players benches their seats were. Just as the commentators started the run down over tonight's squad, the phone rang.
Her world turned upside down after she answered that call. A police officer had phoned, informing her to get to the hospital as soon as possible. Her father had been in a traffic accident, they told her he was stable, but in the next breath offered her a lift if she was unable to drive or catch a cab.
She hung up the phone and waited for the police officer to arrive to take her to the hospital.
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