Stumble Wheels

                 Chapter One (Sample Chapter)

“I’m sorry, but it’s a signature item.” She checked her clipboard once again. She pointed it out to the man at the door.

“See, there’s a special order for it to be delivered to the addressee only. Mr. Glass will have to sign for it personally. Otherwise I’ll have to card it and he’ll have to pick it up or call us for re-delivery.”

Andrea stood patiently in a snowdrift on the doorstep of an opulent turn-of-the-century mansion in the west end of the city. Warm, cozy lights shone out of the beveled windows and cast long shadows across the expansive front yard. She could see a roaring fire in the huge stone fireplace and beautiful works of art hanging on the oak paneled walls.

The lavishness was limited to the visual senses only, for the blaring of rock music spoiled the tranquility of the scene. A dour odour of pot and cigarette smoke hung heavily in the air. There were young, scantily dressed women draped over the laps of men in grungy jeans and long uncombed hair.

Andrea was a little concerned, both for her own safety and for the safety of the package she was holding. She hoped no one would give her any trouble if she couldn’t deliver it to the person named on the label.

“Hang on. He’s here—he’s asleep. He’s gonna want this. Hell! We all want this. This is the good stuff.”

The burly man turned and shouted up the thickly carpeted stairs, “Hey, Poe! Get yer sorry butt outta bed and get down here. You’ve got a package! It’s from Kenora!”

A barely legal girl at the top of the stairs relayed the message in a screechy abbreviated form down the hall. She threw an empty beer can and it thunked against a door, assumedly Mr. Glass’s door. She heard a crowd of people laugh drunkenly.

A few moments later she saw a young man navigate his way through the assorted drunks and stoners on the stairs. He grinned in the murky hallway and Andrea would later swear his teeth actually glowed in the dark.

"Wow," she thought when he stepped down into view. "How does he fit into this picture?" The man couldn’t quite be described as drop dead gorgeous, but certainly there was an indescribable charm about him. He was wearing a white tee-shirt under a blue pin striped dress-shirt with three or four top buttons undone. Blue jeans. There were battered purple bedroom slippers on his feet. His skin was perfect, not a blemish or a wrinkle. His hair was mussed, as if he had just woken up. How he could sleep through this ruckus she would never know. He looked like some kind of a mascot to this motley horde of partiers.

“Hi,” he said sleepily. “I’m Ed Glass. This is for me?” He removed a pair of wire rimmed glasses from his pocket, put them on and peered down at the shipping label.

“Glad you’re here. Here you go.” She handed him the package with the cumbersome electronic scanner on top. She plucked the inkless pen from her breast pocket and offered it to him. He signed the screen.

As soon as he handed the pen back, a young woman snatched the parcel from his hands and disappeared into the crowd.

“Hey!” He grabbed the scanner off the top of the package and tried to grab the box itself, but missed. He sighed. “Happens every time.”

Andrea looked at him quizzically.

“My mom makes the best cookies. She sends them to me every couple of weeks, no matter where I am. I’d offer you one, but...” He swept his hand around without looking back, already knowing the fate of the gift. Behind him, the box had been opened, passed around and discarded into the fireplace, devoid of its contents.

“That’s horrible!” she said.

“That’s the price I pay for friendship.”

Again Andrea wondered how he could relate to this bunch, but he called them friends. There must be something there.

“Well, I hope someone saved you a couple,” she said, reaching for the scanner. His fingers lightly brushed hers as he passed the machine over. His hand was warm, soft and well manicured. It felt nice.

“No worries. She’ll send another package. I’ll probably get a big box of them for Christmas. Cookies and underwear.” He blushed when he realized what he’d just said.

She laughed. She wished him a happy holiday and with a little wave of her hand, started down the snowy stairs. She could sense his gaze—he was watching her leave. She didn’t mind at all. She knew the memory of his smile and his touch would stay with her for the rest of the evening.

Suddenly, without a slip or a slide to warn her, she lost her footing on an ice-encrusted step. She went flying off her feet and landed hard on the cobbled sidewalk; her scanner, keys and clipboard scattering into the snow. Her head bounced hard on the concrete walk.

                                    ~ * ~

“Ohmigosh,” Poe cried and leapt down the stairs to where she lay. “Are you okay? Can you hear me?”

Her eyes opened and looked up at him. She was in obvious discomfort. She reached out and grasped the lapels of his shirt and tried to pull herself up.

“I think I’m in trouble,” she said, trembling, and then she went limp. He had to catch her and lay her down gently, for she had lost consciousness.

“Owen! Marty! Call an ambulance! I think she’s hurt pretty badly,” Poe cried, wrapping an arm around her, trying to keep her from lying in the melting snow.

Owen grabbed a throw from one of the living room couches and brought it over to Poe and the girl.

He put one skinny hand on Poe’s arm and in a slurry northern English accent, spoke closely into his ear. “I think an ambulance would be a very bad idea right now. Remember what I told you? You are required to keep a low profile. I don’t think flashing lights and sirens would be overlooked, especially in this neighbourhood. You’ve got a reputation to mend, my friend.”

Poe looked at him incredulously. He took the throw and carefully wrapped the woman in it.

“I can’t believe you, man. This girl could be dying for all we know. What are we supposed to do? Leave her here? Let her freeze to death? Give her an aspirin? She needs to go to the hospital; we have to get her to a hospital.”

“Right,” Owen said. “Marty, get the van, please,” he called to the big bearded man. “We’ll get her there ourselves.”

Poe agreed grudgingly. “Don’t worry, my friend, we’ll see to ‘er.”

A few minutes later Poe and Owen bundled the still unconscious woman into the van. Marty’s girl friend, Christine, climbed over the snowbank and retrieved the scattered clipboard and scanner. She hopped into the van after them.

It only took ten minutes to get to the hospital. Marty dropped them off at the Emergency room entrance and drove off to park.  

                              ~ * ~

Andrea didn’t wake up until she was on a Gurney in the hospital hallway.

She looked around and in a trembling whisper said “I don’t know where I am. I grew up around here, but I don’t know where I am.” Then her eyes seemed to clear a little, she seemed a little more lucid.

She looked at Marty and said, “I remember you. I delivered a package to you.” She frowned. “No, it wasn’t you, she turned her eyes toward Poe. “It was you. Your mom sent you cookies. You’re Ed. Ed... Glass.”

Poe smiled warmly at her. 

“Yeah man. They were great, as usual. Don’t give me that look, Christine saved you a couple. They’re in the kitchen.”

Owen suddenly appeared beside her, a cup of coffee in his hand.

“Oh, our princess is awake,” he said. “Good morning, darlin’. Trust you slept well.”

“Owen, don’t be an...” Poe started.

“Just havin’ a little fun, Poe. Trying to make light of the situation. Just trying to wrap my head around the situation.” He winked down at Andrea. “You know what I mean, Luv?”

She rolled her eyes and looked over at Poe. He smiled crookedly and shook his head as if to say ‘don’t blame me for his bad jokes’.

“How are you feeling, princess?” Owen asked, truly concerned.

“I don’t know. A little dizzy. I think I’m getting a bump on my head.” She touched it gingerly. “I think my brains are starting to become unscrambled, though. It’s odd; my memory is kind of spotty. I remember starting down the stairs, and then the next thing I remember was trying to climb up your shirt.” She nodded in Poe’s direction.

“I think I said ‘I’m in trouble’ or something like that. I don’t remember falling or hitting my head. I don’t remember anything else until I woke up here.”

“Sorry about the steps, luv. That snow must’ve drifted up since dinner time. It wasn’t there when I came in.”

“I don’t think it was the snow that tripped me, I was just clumsy. I was...distracted.” Andrea admitted.

“Well, sorry.” Owen said, finishing off his coffee and tossing the cup into a garbage can. “Hate to run, but we’ve got to get back to the house. I don’t want things to get out of control there, nor do I want the house guests to start walking off with souvenirs. We’ve got to keep things on the up and up...no stories leaking out, am I right? C’mon Poe, you’d best come with me. Marty and Christine can sit with her until the doctor comes, all right?”

“No, Owen.” Poe said firmly. “I’m going to stay for a while. You guys go ahead... I’ll take a taxi later.”

“Ffftt. Fat chance at that. I’m not leaving you anywhere by yourself. Trouble follows you like fruit bats to a banana.” Owen’s thick accent made it sound like baw naw naw.

Marty started laughing, his big belly quivering. A nurse looked up sharply at the ruckus.

“Go on, get out of here, Owen,” Marty finally said through his chuckles, “I’ll stay here with him. We’re in a hospital and there’s a cop at the door. We’ll be fine.”

He threw Owen the keys to the van. “I parked on the front street, near the florist. Just don’t go fooling around with my girl.”

“As if that’ll happen,” Christine said, looking over Owen’s skinny frame. “I like a little meat on my men.” She turned to Poe, “I think it’s sweet that he wants to stay and take care of her. Her knight in shining armour. C’mon, Owen, I’ll drive.”

She snatched the keys from his hand.

He sighed. “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. You’ve got your cell phone, Poe? I want you to keep in touch.”

“Oh, my gosh. Thank you for reminding me.” He removed the phone from his jeans pocket and punched a key, turning it off. “You’re supposed to turn off your cell phone when you come into a hospital. It’s messes with the equipment.”

“You’re just trying to annoy me now, aren’t you? I...oh, forget it. I know better than to try to argue with you. Just ring me up on the public phone when you get the chance, all right? And don’t stay too late. You never know who’s lurking in the dark.”

“Okay, Owen. I promise. I’ll be good,” Poe said sarcastically.

Owen turned and put his arm around Christine and blew kisses into her ear. They started walking. “Ta, Marty. I’ll take care of ‘er.”

She pushed him off her and feigned disgust. Then they were gone.

Andrea covered her eyes with the palms of her hands. “This light is so bright,” she said to no one in particular.

Poe looked around and realized, perhaps for the first time since they arrived, that they were in the hallway.

“This isn’t right. We’ve been here for almost an hour. They should have found a room for you by now.”

“You’re not from around here, are you?” Andrea scoffed. “I’m lucky I’ve got a bed and a blanket. Health care isn’t what it used to be. It’s okay, though. I’m so tired. I just want to rest for a while, ‘kay?”

“Sure. You sleep for a while. I’ll go check about the room. Um, by the way, the nurse was asking your name. I couldn’t tell her because I don’t know it and you’re not carrying any ID. The nurse checked your pockets,” he added quickly.

“Andrea. Anderson.” She smiled weakly. “Thank you for taking care of me.” She meant it. She had been feeling very detached from people this Christmas. The world around her seemed to be caught up in the spirit of the season. Andrea, however, was feeling very neglected by the people who were supposed to be the closest to her; her friends, her family.

Christmas at her house was the most chaotic time of year. The whole family worked at the courier company and they were all stressed to the max with the extra work the season brought. The hectic schedule distanced them from each other and Andrea felt isolated.

Perhaps this diversion to the hospital wasn’t such a bad thing, she thought. This man and his friends were filling the void of loneliness. She finally felt a little of the Christmas spirit being ignited.

She said, “I’m glad you’re here, Ed.” “They call me Poe. You can call me Poe.” He patted her hand.

Poe, she thought sleepily. That sounded familiar, like the writer... She was starting to drift off. She yawned and turned to her side. A thought suddenly and painfully struck her.

“My ID! It’s in the truck. What’s happening with my truck? Is it okay? I didn’t lock the door. Aw, nuts, I’m going to be in for it if anything gets stolen.”

“I’ll call the house and get someone to go and lock it.” Poe offered. “We’d better find the keys first. I’m guessing they’re out in the snow somewhere, but don’t worry, we’ll take care of it.”

She knew she had no choice but to leave it in his hands. Her head throbbed fiercely and the bright fluorescent lights were searing through her eyes. “Maybe you’d better call Randy at the office and tell him what happened. The number’s on the clipboard. Thanks, Ed...I mean Poe.” She rolled on her side and pulled the covers over her head.

Poe stood up and touched her back reassuringly.

Turning to Marty he said. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, I want to see if I can get Miss Anderson here a decent room, and I guess I’d better call about the truck. Stay with her, okay?”

“You want me to do it? It might be safer,” Marty asked.

“No, I’d feel better if I did it myself.”

“Okay, but make sure you use the phone in a safe area. Stay close. I don’t want you wandering around the hospital. You know how easy it is for things to get out of control.”

“You’re getting worse than Owen, Marty. I’m a big boy. I’ve been okay so far, I’m sure I can find my way safely to the desk”. Poe sneered bitterly. He was getting very tired of being watched every moment of his waking life.

He snatched up Andrea’s clipboard and padded around to the nurse’s station. Standing at the staff entrance, Poe saw the desk was behind a large open window that faced out into the dimly lit waiting room. The room was very full of people, young and old. He set his jaw and stepped forward as far into the station as he dared, keeping his face from view.

“Excuse me,” he said to the nurse on duty. She was at her computer, typing furiously. “Excuse me, I...”

“I’m sorry, you can’t come back here. You’ll have to go around to the front, please,” she said, not looking up.

“Um, I don’t think that would be a good idea. I, um, was just wondering if ...”

The nurse turned in her chair and sternly said, “Well I think it would be a good idea. You’ll have to go around to the front. It’s hospital policy”. She kicked the heavy door closed with a snap.

Poe stood speechless. Should he chance it? He looked through the small window on the door to the waiting room and decided that it just might be dim enough. The people seated in the waiting room just may be preoccupied enough with their own worries to not notice him. He’d risk it.

With a deep breath of courage, he pushed the door open and slipped as inconspicuously as possible over to the nurse’s station. With his shoulder hunched, he leaned over the wide desk and spoke to the nurse in a careful whisper.

“I was just wondering if it were possible to move Miss Anderson—that’s the woman with the head injury lying in the hallway back there—If it were possible to move her to a more private location, preferably a room.”

The nurse continued typing. “I’m sorry, but all the rooms are taken. It’s a very busy night.”

“Well, how long do you think it might take?” he asked, a small anger beginning to boil in his chest.

“I don’t know. Please just have a seat and we’ll take care of her as soon as possible.”

When he didn’t move, she stopped typing and with a sigh, picked up a chart and flipped through it. “Miss Anderson will be going for X rays in just a few minutes. When she gets back I’m sure we’ll be able to move her to a more private location. I’m sorry I can’t do more for her. I understand your concern, but the emergency room can be an extremely stressful place for all of us during the holidays. Now, I must ask you to please take a seat. I will call you when she’s ready to be moved.”

Poe considered this and nodded. “Okay, fair enough. I know you’re doing your best. I’m just a little security conscious. Speaking of security...do you have a private telephone I could use?”

“A private telephone?” she scoffed, her impatience growing once again. “The payphones are against the wall”.

She abruptly turned and began to pull files from a shelf behind her, her silence indicating the conversation was at an end.

Okay, he thought, these are my options. Use the public phone. Go outside and use my cell phone. Or don’t call at all. He dismissed the last thought—of course he had to call. The cell phone option was tempting, but he was reluctant to stray that far from the safety of his bodyguard. The public phone, then.

He shrugged his shoulders and tried to look nonchalant as he turned and started for the payphone. He fished a quarter out of his pocket and fed it to the phone. He dialed the number for the house.

“Hey, is that Rita?” he asked when the female voice answered. “Listen, can you do me a favour? Could you find Andrea’s keys...”

“Who?” Rita asked. “Where did you guys go? I miss you, you little cutie. Who’s Andrea?”

Poe could practically smell the alcohol on her breath over the phone. “Andrea. She’s the woman who I’m at the hospital with. Could you find the keys—I think they’re in the snow somewhere...”

“In the snow? It’s cold out there. I don’t want to go out there. When are you guys coming back?” She hiccupped. “We wanted to go to the beer store. Maybe I’ll just walk.”

“Rita, if you’re willing to go outside for beer, couldn’t you just stop and look for the keys on the way out? Let me talk to someone else. Someone sober.”

“Maybe we could drive the truck to the beer store.” She turned her face from the receiver and stated to the crowd “Hey, if we find the courier chick’s keys, we can drive the truck to the beer store.”

“Rita!” Poe cried into the receiver. “Rita, come back on the line!” He could hear cheers and hollers in the background. Fortunately, he could also hear a couple of sane voices telling Rita she shouldn’t do that. The phone was picked up again and a sober voice came on the line.

“Hey, Poe. It’s Doug. What’s happening?”

“Doug! Do not let anybody drive the truck. Just find the keys and lock it up. I’ll send someone from the courier company over to get it.”

“Okay, but I hope I find them first.”

“Try. Thanks, Doug. I’m glad you’re there. I know I can trust you.”

“How is the girl, anyway?”

“I’m sure she’ll be fine. They’re sending her for X rays in a few minutes. I’m going to stay here for a while until she gets settled into a room. Owen and Christine are on their way back.”

“Okay. No worries, man. See you later.”

“See you. Find those keys!” Poe hung up. He closed his eyes and said a prayer. “Please let Doug find the keys first. Please, God.”

He looked behind him and he could see people staring at him. One young girl leaned over to the older woman sitting beside her and whispered in her ear, never taking her eyes off him. He quickly picked up the phone, inserted another quarter and dialed the number on the clip board.

“Impress Express,” said a gruff voice on the line. “Randy speaking.”

“Hello. My name is Ed Glass. I’m calling to let you know that one of your drivers, Andrea Anderson, has had a little accident.”

“Oh, my God. What has she done to my truck, damnit? We’re too fricken’ busy for this today. Where is she? What did she hit?”

“Andrea slipped and hit her head. She is in the St. Mary’s hospital. She has a concussion and the doctor...” Randy cut him off.

“Where’s the truck?” Poe pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it as if it were a dead animal in his hand. After a pause, he raised the receiver back to his ear and said curtly, “I think you should be more concerned with Miss Anderson’s health. I’d like to speak to your supervisor, please.”

“I’m the boss, here. I own this company. Where’s the truck?” he said flatly.

“It’s on Middlegate crescent. Number 1448.” The line went dead.

Again, Poe stared at the phone. He slowly replaced it in its cradle, thinking, "What a horrible man. Why on Earth is she working for him?"

He turned around and found himself facing the girl who had been whispering to her mother, pen and paper in hand.

“Um, Mr. Poe,” she stammered, “Could I have your autograph?” The girl’s sweet smile was a blessing to him after such an encounter with nastiness. He didn’t like signing autographs, he didn’t see the worth of it... not for himself, but for the people whom he signed it for. They seemed to like it, though, so he usually obliged them.

When she squealed with delight over his scribbled sentiment of Wishing you miracles, Love, Poe, the faces of other people in the waiting room turned their way. A young woman sitting in a wheelchair next to the waiting room door gasped and called out—“Oh my God, it’s Poe!” She tried to get out of the chair, but winced in pain and slipped back down again.

A low cacophony of voices bubbled up. Several young people rose to their feet and approached Poe, backing him up against the payphone.

A teenage boy wearing black goth makeup and dark leather clothing reached out and stroked his face. The woman in the chair next to the phone tried to hold his hand. A few pens suddenly appeared, begging to be used.

He was frustrated with this sudden attention. Under usual circumstances he was patient and understanding and wouldn’t hesitate to show his gratefulness to his fans for their loyalty and support, but these weren’t usual circumstances.

He was especially nervous knowing Marty was on the other side of a locked door.

The noise grew louder with every moment, and finally the nurse stood up and leaned out of the booth.

“What...” she hollered, “is going on here?” The room silenced.

Poe looked up at her and said, “I guess you should have let me use the private phone.”

                                   ~ * ~                                   

The nurse ushered him back into the emergency room hallway, wagging her finger at him.

“If you can’t control your groupies, we’ll have to ask you to leave, got that? This is a hospital, not a nightclub.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Poe replied.

The nurse had conceded that moving Andrea might be best after all and made the arrangements. As soon as Andrea returned from the X ray department, Poe returned to her side.

He held the door open as she was wheeled into the makeshift room.

“It’s the best we can do, my man.” The big orderly backed Andrea’s Gurney into the small room.

Crutches and splints and rolls of bandages hung on the walls. There was a large laundry sink in the corner. Despite the high humidity, the air seemed thick with dust. There was barely enough room for the bed and a couple of chairs.

“Thanks...” Poe looked at the man’s name tag. “...Michael. This is great. I appreciate it.”

“I guess you’re used to that, huh? All them girls?” he nodded over his shoulder in the general direction of the waiting room.

Poe shrugged and looked away. “I guess so,” he said, in a noncommittal tone.

“Geeze. Lucky guy. Anyhow...t’aint no call button in here, but if you need anything, the nurse’s station is just down the hall and to your left.” Michael left the room, the door swinging shut behind him.

“Achoo!” Andrea awoke with a sneeze. She immediately followed the sneeze with a wince and an “ow”.

“God Bless you!” Poe cried.

“Where am I? What is that smell?” She looked around. “I see I’ve been moved to the penthouse suite.”

“You seem better,” he smiled warmly at her. “How’s the head? Did the painkillers kick in yet?”

Andrea did a quick self analysis. “My skull still hurts,” She touched the spot where the large lump had formed. “My headache is going away. I still feel a little hazy, though. Things seem just a little jumbled.”

“The X ray technician suggested there was a fracture, probably a concussion. She wouldn’t tell me officially, of course, but that’s what it sounds like.”

“I guess I’ll be fielding ‘hard head’ jokes from the guys at work.” She winced at that thought. “Oh, yeah. Did anyone phone about the truck?”

“I called your boss. Randy, that’s his name, isn’t it?” Poe said, hoping his voice sounded positive.

She pursed her lips and asked vapidly “What did he have to say?”

“He’s sending someone out to retrieve the truck,” Poe stated. “But he’s more concerned about you.”

“Liar,” she said. “It’s business first. He’s worried about the money he’s going to lose.”

Poe shrugged his shoulders and nodded dolefully. “Why do you work for him if he’s such a jerk?” He stopped himself. “Oh, no, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked you. That’s none of my business.”

“It’s okay.” She sighed and said reluctantly, “I don’t really work for Randy. He’s my-"

She was cut off by a soft tapping at the door, and Marty poked his shiny bald head around the door. “Okay to come in?” he asked.

“Sure. The more the merrier.” Andrea said. She wasn’t being completely honest. She was enjoying the quiet comfort of Poe’s company. She liked the fact that he tried to cover up Randy’s coarseness. She had met so many sassy, self centred young people in the course of her job, but Ed seemed kinder than most.

She studied his face for a moment and began to think perhaps he wasn’t as young as she first made him out to be. He must be stronger than he looks, too, she thought. Although she remembered little of the accident, she had a vague memory of Poe carrying her to the van. Now when she looked at his tall, lean frame, she could see his arms and chest were indeed sturdy and fit.

"I wonder what his butt looks like." She smiled at her own lecherousness.

Marty saw her smile and misinterpreted it as a welcome. He squeezed into the close quarters of the small room. He sat down at the foot of her bed and handed Poe a can of ginger ale.

“I can’t offer you one; the nurse said no. Sorry.” He cracked the top of his own can. “I can get you some ice chips to suck on, if you want. She said that would be okay. I didn’t bring ‘em ‘cause I didn’t know if you were awake. You want some?”

She realized she was thirsty, and if all she was allowed were ice chips, then so be it. “Yea, actually, I would. Thanks.”

“Not a problem. I’ll be right back.” He stood, took a slug of his ginger ale and set the can down on a ledge.

“You guys are being so good to me.” Andrea said as Marty made his way to the door. “I really appreciate what you’re doing. It’s nice to know some people still care.” She sank back into the pillow, warm with a feeling of security.

She didn’t know why she was trusting these two men, why she felt so at ease with them. She had no clue who they were. They were being nice to her, but... No. No buts. She should just accept them for who they are right now. She could worry about who they were later. Right now, she should just allow them to take care of her in her time of need.

She looked at Poe sitting beside her and said, “It’s nice to have a guardian angel.”

He smiled and wrapped both his hands around one of hers and held it to his chest. “You’ll be fine.” Marty pushed the door open.

Suddenly a voice cried out, “Hao, man. Absolute!” Andrea looked up and saw a man with a cell phone in his hand. It took a few moments before she realized it was a camera phone and he had taken their picture with it.                  

End of Sample Chapter.