34. Approximate Minutes Reading (AMR): 10
Introduction to Characters
THE BOLAN CHRONICLES
Chapter 3
A House
**Let’s Play Nurse**
In addition to two large mayonnaise jars that he and Donna had filled with dimes and quarters, Jake’s secret compartment in James Joyce’s Odyssey had proven sufficient to cover the police academy expenditure. Ken had allowed Jake to cash his check at the service station whenever he’d wanted, and he’d gotten into the habit of stashing a good deal of it in his book, his secret compartment that he had by now regularly self-referred to simply as ‘The Odyssey.’
In June of 1982, Jake had entered the Bridgeport Police Academy. Mr. Cale was happy to work around Jake’s schedule, but he had a few questions. He sat with Jake at the same corner booth next to the entrance where they’d discussed the service station job and the car.
Immediately, Ken asked, “Did you want to talk about the restaurant?”
Surprised, Jake replied, “The restaurant? What about the restaurant? Is everything okay?”
“I’m just wonderin’ how in the world a guy is gonna work a full-time job, a part-time job, and attend a police academy, all at the same time. Sounds damned near impossible to me.”
Jake shrugged his shoulders and said, “Not quite certain about that, Mr. Cale, but I am sure there’s a way to do it.”
“You start your training every day at 8:00, right?”
“Right.”
“And you finish by 5:00?”
“Correct.”
Ken paused. “And you’re in the fast track program, so you attend on Saturday’s as well, right?”
Jake smiled and said, “Yeah, I wanna get finished as quickly as I can.”
“Well, I don’t see how it’s possible to do it, Jake. Trying to work both jobs is going to take a toll on you and your family, and in my opinion, the extra cash just isn’t worth it,” Then he added, “And besides, assuming that the academy is both physically and mentally taxing, you don’t want to be fatigued before you even get started every day.”
“You’re right, Mr. Cale, but I feel bad about…”
“Don’t feel bad, Jake. You’re doing what you set out to do, and you have no idea how much respect I have for your efforts and charisma, but I just think you’re letting your enthusiasm get the best of you.”
“Thanks,” Jake replied, then he said, “And I couldn’t do it without you, Mr. Cale.”
“I’ll tell you what. You promise me that you’ll continue to put one hundred percent into your job at the station, and I’ll see to it that I take some part in ensuring that you get through that academy training ahead of the financial eight-ball.”
Confused, Jake asked, “Well, I really appreciate that Mr. Cale, but what exactly do you mean?”
Ken paused for a few moments, then he replied, “You’re going to quit working at the restaurant, and I’m going to make you the night manager at the station and pay you seven bucks an hour…that is, if you’ll agree to it.”
Not often speechless, Jake found himself unable to express his appreciation, “Mr. Cale,” he stammered, “I don’t know what to say!”
Ken patted him on the shoulder and said, “You’re welcome, up-and-coming officer Bolan. Things at the station have gone surprisingly well,” He paused and pointed at Jake, “And to a large degree, young man, I have you to thank.”
“My God, Mr. Cale. I don’t know what to say.”
“You can thank me by busting your ass at work, that’s all I ask.”
“Absolutely, Mr. Cale, and thank you so much!”
“So this will be your last week, okay? Do you want to break the news to Twila, or should I?”
Jake sighed. “Oh, geez. That’s not gonna be fun.”
“Well?”
Jake pondered it for a moment then said, “I’ll do it, Mr. Cale.”
“Alright. Atta’ boy. But don’t wait long. I’ll need to get someone else in there to replace you,” Ken grabbed his coat and stood up, “And that’ll be hard as hell.” Then he turned to Jake and added, “Oh, and maybe you can remember to give me a pass when you pull me over for speeding!”
Jake laughed and said, “Absolutely!”
When he got home that night and told Donna the good news, she threw her arms around him and screamed, “Oh my goodness, Jake! Seven dollars an hour! And you’ve barely been there a year!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Jake said. “And it won’t be long before we’ll be laughing at seven-an-hour. I’m gonna get through this unfortunate academy requirement, then I’m gonna start pullin’ in some real cash, dear.”
Donna smiled real big and pretty. Then she said, “How about we spend some time together in the bedroom tonight?”
Jake cocked his head dramatically and replied, “Hmm. Not sure why we’d do that. Housekeeping? Conversation?”
Donna giggled and said, “How about if we just pretend it’s a hospital. I’ll be the good little nurse.”
Jake smiled, “Okay, now. And what am I gonna be?”
“You can be the doctor?”
Jake thought for a moment, “If I”m the doctor, you’re the patient.”
“Sounds good, Doctor Bolan.”
Jake paused, “And I think that you’re about to receive a careful and deep insertion.” He placed his hands on Donna’s hips and slowly moved her to the hallway and against the wall.
Donna giggled again. Then she reached down and rubbed Jake slowly.
“And since you’re gonna get yourself an operation,” He squeezed Donna’s butt with one hand and her mouth with the other. He kissed her hard and said, “You better get yourself a pre-op bath.”
Donna smiled, “Oh, Jake.”
Then he slapped her on the backside and said, “Go on, Donna. Clean up good, now. Doctor Bolan gonna need some lovin’ STAT!”
She paused for a moment and looked into his eyes. A thought occurred to her, and then she said cautiously, “Is this about both of us or only about you?”
Not exactly sure at first what she meant, Jake said nothing.
“Jake?” Donna said.
“What the hell did you say?” Jake finally replied.
“I mean, I mean…”
“What you mean is that I don’t have the ability to think of anyone but myself, is that right?”
Quickly, Donna replied, “No. That’s not what I meant”
But it was exactly what Donna meant. In that moment, when she had looked into Jake’s eyes, after he had slapped her butt and had commanded her to do something so personal, clean herself up, she concluded that their lovemaking was rarely romantic. Donna was a romantic at heart. She loved being close to Jake, but lately, he rarely responded in kind. And it had been a long time since Jake had looked into her eyes and called her his wide-eyed beauty. It had been a long time since he had suggested that they have coffee together in the morning, and it had been a very long time since he had told her that he loved her.
Jake turned and walked into the living room.
“Jake, I’m not upset at you. I just wondered…”
Calmly and quietly he said, “Fuck off, Donna,” He looked directly at her and smiled. “Maybe you can pleasure yourself tonight,” Then he grabbed himself and continued, “But good luck finding a toy like what you could have had right here.”
Donna began to cry.
“Oh, no worries, Dear,” Jake said, “This selfish prick is gonna make its way out of here for now. Don’t wait up for me, ‘cause right now, I got nothin’ up for you.” He grabbed the coat that was draped over an arm of the couch and slammed the front door behind him.
Donna stood motionless for a moment then she slid down the hallway wall and curled up, head between her knees. She heard the truck engine start and then the squealing of the tires. For a few minutes she was quiet, but the tears came back, and the sobbing began. She tried to keep quiet. Little Dean was sleeping.
After she pulled herself together, Donna made her way into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of iced tea. She sat quietly on the sofa and stared at the wall then looked down at the coffee table. On it sat two pictures of she and Jake on their honeymoon in Old Saybrook. In one, Jake had his arms wrapped around her from behind, and the look on his face said almost everything about his character—confidence, passion, and drive. And she studied the look on her own face. She looked at herself in a way that she never had before, like looking at someone she barely knew. She looked again at Jake then back at her own face. Then she sighed.
The other picture was of the two of them with Val and Fawn, the hotel employees who had been so kind and wonderful to them. The four of them were sitting on a long bench in the garden area adjacent to the hotel lobby, smiles from ear to ear. Just above them was the carved oak sign, The Breakwater Inn.
Donna smiled, and for a moment, she wished that she could be there again; that she and Jake could experience the kind of freedom that they felt then. But she stopped herself, vaguely ashamed at her dissatisfaction, and told herself that from time to time, these kinds of disagreements happen in a marriage.
She curled herself up on the couch and watched a fly scurry across the coffee table. The sun was just setting, and the faint yellow light that entered the house through the large window mellowed her. She glanced up at the wall and thought about how blank it looked and about how additional pictures might help give the house more of a home-like feel. The fly had found a tiny crumb on the corner of the table. With weighty eyelids, she slipped into that middle world where most of the bad thoughts disappear.
---------------
Jake stepped through the back door of the restaurant and found Twila standing at the till, counting money.
She looked up. “My goodness, Jake, what are you doin’ back here? Forget somethin’?”
“No. I needed to talk to you, Twila, but I’m happy to wait until you’re finished counting.”
“Nonsense, honey, I just started countin’ and it can wait. Let’s take a load off at the bar.”
She poured Jake a beer and filled a large glass with ice water for herself. “Now, what is it, honey.”
“I’m just gonna get right to it, Miss Twila. This is my last week here.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Ken offered me more hours and a sweet raise at the station, and I think I’d be stupid to turn it down. It’d be tough to work two jobs on top of my police academy obligations.”
Twila sighed and watched a condensed drop of water slide down the side of her glass. She looked at him and said in a mellow tone, “I’m sorry, Jake. I know this is all good for you, but I can’t tell you how much I’m gonna miss you.”
“I know, Miss Twila. I’m gonna miss you, too, but you know that I’ll be stopping in all the time. I can’t stay away from this place.”
“Oh, I know, honey,” She sniffled and took a gulp of water, “It just ain’t gonna be the same around here without you.”
“Well, who knows, maybe I’ll work here again sometime. Maybe the whole cop thing won’t turn out to be what I thought. I can come back here and work it as a second job like I’ve been doing up to now.”
“Oh honey, me and you both know that ain’t gonna happen. You’re a cop at heart—through and through. I knew that the day I metcha. You’re gonna be the best derned policeman this city ever saw.”
Jake stood up and gave her a hug. “Thank you, Twila. That means a lot.” And he quickly wiped his eyes.
Twila began to cry, and she hugged him. Then she pulled a napkin from her apron pocket and blew her nose hard.
Jake finally broke the silence, “Well, I better get home before Donna thinks I’m out sellin’ my body again.”
They both laughed, and Twila escorted him out the door.
---------------
She felt Jake nudge her arm. “Donna, get up. Let’s get to bed.”
She looked around and quickly recounted the evening. Then she whispered, “I’m sorry, Jake.”
“Let’s just forget about the whole damned thing. I’m done with it, and so are you.”
Donna tucked herself into her cozy side of the bed. When she felt Jake moving about next to her, she asked, “Where did you go?”
Jake stilled for a moment and said nothing.
“Never mind.” Donna said.
“Yeah, that’s right. Never you mind.”
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