THE BOLAN CHRONICLES: Reading # 19

19. Approximate Minutes Reading (AMR): 4

Introduction to Characters

THE BOLAN CHRONICLES

Chapter 3

A House

**Murley’s**

March was a much-anticipated month for the couple, but especially for Donna. The baby was due in a matter of weeks, and she had done her best to get things ready for his or her arrival. The baby room had been filled with various pieces of furniture and blankets and other things that Donna had found at garage sales. She'd bought very little of anything brand new. And as much as she would have liked having new things, she had no problem with scrubbing everything that she brought home. It was a difficult task, but it made her happy, just knowing that her sacrifices were not in vain--that their baby would be provided for.

But Donna hadn't purchased baby food or diapers, two things that she wouldn't find at a garage sale. So one evening after Jake came home from work, she asked if he wouldn't mind going with her to the grocery store the next morning. 

They were out the door by 10:00 AM. When they pulled into Lee's Supermarket, Jake said, "If you don't mind, Dearie, I think I'll just sit out here in the car. 

Donna paused for a moment then replied, "Oh. Okay, but it might get cold after while."

He smiled at her and said, "Engine runs, exhaust manifold gets hot, little Jake warm and happy." 

“Oh, you!” Donna said, and she kissed him. “See you in a few minutes!”

Jake tuned the radio to a local rock-and-roll station and reclined his seat. Rod Stewart's Do Ya Think I'm Sexy played, and Jake turned it up. He was a fan of just about any rock-and-roll song, ‘Long as it isn’t a druggie or a fag.’ He hated the Bee Gees, so when Tragedy followed Stewart, he reached over and turned the dial. Then he noticed a sign over a small pawnshop next to Lee's. It read, 'Murley's.' Jake said the name aloud twice. He was sure that he'd heard of or had seen it before, but he couldn't recall when or where.

He turned the radio back on. Tragedy was still playing, so he tuned it to a different station. Donna Summer belted out Hot Stuff. He closed his eyes and said aloud, "Donna Summer; now there is one hot African queen." And he closed his eyes. Once, he’d seen her performing a song called Bad Girls on The Dinah Shore Show while he was waiting in line at the hardware store. Her tight blue glittering outfit had him wanting more, and when the sixty-something male employee standing behind the cash register had asked, “How are you today?” Jake had pointed to the television screen and said, “I’d be a lot better if I could get to that African Bad Girl.” As far as Jake was concerned, she could sing The Birthday Song and it would turn him on. 

Just as he began to nod off, Donna returned. She knocked on the windshield, startling him. He looked at Donna through the passenger window and yelled, "God damn!"

She opened the door and acted like she hadn't heard him. "Hey there! Did you get some sleep?"

Jake said nothing. He put his seat upright and got out to help with the bags. Still a little shaken, he took a deep breath. When he'd relaxed, he asked, "How did it go?"

"Oh, a little busy, but it was pleasant." Then she smiled at him and said, "Sure wish you were there with me, though. I missed you!"

Irritated, Jake replied, "Jesus H. Christ! You missed me? You were gone for at most, twenty minutes!"

Startled, Donna said, "Well, I mean, I just wish that...I mean...I would loved to have had you there." Donna was learning to choose her words carefully.

"Oh, forget it." Jake replied. Donna handed him the bags and he tossed them into the back of the truck. Then he picked up and stared at a large bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos that were placed on top of a large green and white box of Pampers. “Love these things. Love the commercial, too.”

Donna stood at the passenger door and replied, “Yeah, it’s the one where the police officer kicks off the top of the fire hydrant and gets soaked. Really funny!”

Jake said, “Then he steals the bag of chips from the cracker-ass weasel driving the old milk truck,” He laughed and continued, “Avery Schreiber, just another funny Jew. Jesus, they’re everywhere!”

He looked at Donna as he started the engine. She didn't attempt to converse. Jake had turned the radio’s volume up. Eric Clapton sang Cocaine. Jake reached over and turned the radio off then said, “And there’s another drug addict from the other side of the pond who sounds like he hasn’t come down from his latest high.” 

As they pulled out of the parking lot, Jake glanced at the sign above the pawnshop. The ring, he thought. That’s where that dumbo hic bought that ring. Then he thought, Thanks, Murley.