By DS Bauden

As I sit here trying to put to words all that has happened to me, I am trying to imagine your faces as you read it. I guess the first thing I should tell you is that what you are about to read will be as unbelievable to you, as it was to me. Everything that I am going to relay to you will sound completely off the wall. All I can tell you is bare with me as I recapture the most incredible experience of my life.

I guess for starters, I should introduce myself. My name is Frances Theresa Elizabeth Christina Camarelli, but you can call me Frankie. When you are Italian, I guess one name isn’t enough for you; so I went through my childhood hoping the new kids didn’t ask me my name. I made it easier for them and just told them what they could call me. Everyone has called me Frankie since I was little, except for Stacey, my ex, who still just calls me bitch when I see her, but that’s an entirely different story all together.

I am the only child of my parents, Frank and Myrna. My mother left us when I was about two so I really don’t remember much about her. I keep a picture of the two of us on the mirror of my vanity as a reminder. Pop says she couldn’t handle being a mother and a wife, so she opted for neither. Pop forgave her, but I think she was just a chicken shit.

Ma was a real head turner; people tell me I have her eyes. I like the smile I got from Pop though; it’s gotten me out of more shit than I ever intend to talk about. You could probably get it out of Crystal though; she’s never known how to keep her mouth shut, except when it counted. Crystal and I have been best friends since I was about four. She moved here from Ohio, a good choice too I think, I mean, what’s in Ohio anyway? This is Chicago; there isn’t a town like this one anywhere. Some people like New York, it’s just because they haven’t lived here yet. Anyway, Crystal and I have been through hell and back together. We have run from trouble starting with our parents to cops, to the boys on the corner, she’s such a flirt, God, I can’t even begin to tell that story. Anyway, we have done it all. There isn’t much we wouldn’t do for each other, and that theory was recently put to the test.

Bounding my long frame down the steps of my apartment, I looked forward to a new day. It was ten a.m. and time to open. I ran to open the door of Technicolor Classics to the general public. Unlocking the front door I looked out to discover an incredibly blue sky with absolutely no clouds in sight. It felt so fresh and crisp. I knew instantly that something amazing was going to happen today. As I stepped under my purple and black awning, I saw several of the other neighborhood shops begin to open up as well.

My favorite neighbor is Mr. Hooper; no really that is his name. He owns the butcher shop on my block; he has since I have been alive. My Pop and Hoop, my nickname for him, were friends since World War II. He still likes to remind me from time to time how he changed my diaper when I was a baby and how I’m not too old to be put over his knee. Of course the old guy would probably like that a little too much in my opinion. Anyway, he lives upstairs above his shop, as most of us from the old neighborhood still do.

I have run my shop for the last six years. My Pop left it to me after he passed away. It’s an old movie novelty shop with more paraphernalia than anyone deserves to have. I have always loved this place; it gives me comfort in some way. Pop and I would always watch the old movies together. His favorites were the ones with Bogey; you know Humphrey Bogart? I’ve always liked Jimmy Stewart. He had a presence about him on screen that no one else could ever top. Pop wanted to bring a little of that feeling home to us, so he opened up Technicolor Classics. It has wall to wall pieces of memorabilia of the old movies. Some of the stuff I have bought at auctions that I go to, just to keep up with the demand. It still amazes me that people love this stuff as much as I do. I get people coming here from all over saying that they heard about it from a friend of a friend. That is what I love about the people that come in here. They genuinely like the merchandise and get all sentimental about it.

I have a replica of a suit that Clark Gable wore in Gone with the Wind. You know the black one that he wore when he danced with Scarlet during her "mourning" period; yeah she was really sad, whatever. Everyday I get to live out all the movies and I don’t even have to leave home.

My first customer walked in and instantly her mood changed from, "God, I need coffee", to "Oh my God, I totally remember that picture!" It makes me happy to be able to do that with my shop. After my customer and I chatted a bit, I noticed my friend Crystal walk in too.

"Good morning Frankie, how are you on this glorious day?" She asked.

"I'm wonderful Crystal. I feel like something incredible is going to happen today. There is almost an electricity in the air."

"I feel it too. There must be some serious movement with the planets. Look at my arms, I have had goosebumps all day. Whatever it is, it’s gonna be big." She honestly replied and stuck her arm in my face.

"Oh you think so? Have your karmic buddies called you to confirm all of this yet?" I teased and put her arm back at her side.

"Frankie, I’m serious." She said. As I looked into her eyes, I really believed it too.

"OK, I’m sorry. You know how I feel about all of that mumbo jumbo."

"Yeah I do. You need to open your mind a little more. You really need to let me relax you."

"Oh no, I am not going under. I have seen all those films. Nothing good comes from that!" I half jokingly replied to her.

"Yeah well, I have a lot of customers that would disagree with you."

"Speaking of customers, I need to get back to mine. Don’t you have a business to run?" I asked as I moved her towards the door.

"Well of course, I just plan my schedule so I don’t have to wake up as early as you do. My first appointment isn’t until noon." She giggled and stuck out her tongue at me. "I’ll get out of your karmic space, don’t worry. I won’t hex your business, but Frankie?" She suddenly took on a serious tone.

"What is it?"

"I really have strong feelings about today. Be careful and come see me after work ok?" She said as she touched my forearm.

"OK babe, have a good one. See you later."

"Bye now." She said as she walked next door to her apartment.

I turned around to find my customer smiling at me.

"Hi there, is there anything else I can help you with today?" I asked her.

"I just wanted to tell you what wonderful things you have in here. You have so many pictures from the films of my day. It’s nice to know that you’re here. You have brought some wonderful memories back to me." She said as she smiled at me. Her hazel eyes were almost glistening with tears.

"Thank you. I am so glad that you feel that way. Come back and see them whenever you want. We are open every day except Sunday from 10 to 5. Sundays are a shorter day, we’re only open until 3." I smiled back at her.

"I will come back for sure. Take care now."

"You too. Have a wonderful day!" I exclaimed, feeling even better about having this shop.

This day was starting off much better than most. Maybe something was happening in the universe somewhere.

Oh God, please tell me Crystal didn’t hear that from me.

Looking around I saw that I was still alone and breathed in a deep cleansing breath.

Crystal Jacobs was my best friend since we were knee high. Her grandma raised her because her mother died giving her life. She is a small-framed woman, well anyone is small compared to me, I am almost six feet tall. She has long curly brown hair and deep brown eyes. She is a very beautiful woman, but most people don’t see that part of her. You see, Crystal has a gift, well she and her grandma both have the same gift. She has psychic abilities, or so she says. I really have never believed in any of that stuff. Frankly, it gives me the heebie jeebies. Life has already been planned out for us; we just live it out and stop trying to change it, I say. She, and her grandma believe things can be changed, and that we still have the ability to change our lives as we go. I just don’t understand how that is possible. Anyway, because she has always believed this, a lot of people tend to avoid her, some have even called her a freak. Let’s just say those people didn’t say it more than once after I had a talk with them about their manners. They just don’t know the person that she is, Crystal is an amazing woman. Her customers will agree with that as well. She has brought happiness to so many people just telling them what they want to hear. Maybe there is something to all of this, I just don’t know if I want to pursue it.

Five o’clock came and I locked my doors for the day. It was a good day today. I was able to sell quite a few framed pictures today. A new movie house is opening a few miles away and they wanted some photos for their foyer.

My paperwork was finally finished and I put my deposit away for the morning bank run. As I stood, my foot got caught between my desk and my chair. I felt myself falling and could do nothing about it. The next thing I knew I was upstairs on my couch with Crystal looking down over me with an ice pack on my head.

"Hey sleepyhead, I’m glad you are back." Crystal smiled at me.

"What the hell happened?" I replied not knowing what time it was or what day for that matter.

"Apparently the myth is true, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. I was ready to call an ambulance. Nice job on your forehead though, it’ll bruise beautifully." She teased.

"Come on Crystal, enough, what happened? I really don’t remember."

"Well it looks like you fell and hit your head on the corner of your desk. I seem to remember telling you to be careful. You don’t listen well do you?" She smiled.

"Ha, ha… Oh yeah… I remember tripping over my feet or something." I said as I tried to sit up. "Whoa… I don’t feel so hot." I said as I felt instantly nauseous and dizzy.

"Hold up tiger, you probably got a concussion. I think we should have Nonnie check you out." She said sternly.

"Oh man, no she will try and give me some concoction you two worked on all day in your coven." I kidded her about the habits of her and her grandmother all the time.

"I am not a witch! I’m a psychic! I would think that you would know the difference by now. If you would only let me put you under hypnosis once, you would feel my gift. It may even bring some happiness to your life. Do you have any idea how many people leave my parlor daily with a whole new outlook on their lives?"

"Yeah well, I don’t want to know what you do to them when they are "under" your spell. C’Mon Crystal, you know how I feel about all of that."

"Oh the nonbeliever awakens." Crystal’s grandma said as she climbed the remainder of the stairs into my apartment

"Hi Nonnie. Will you take a look at her head? I think she has a concussion." Crystal asked.

"Sure." She agreed and set her coffee mug on my wooden coffee table.

Crystal and her grandma looked into my eyes and they just nodded back to each other like they were communicating or something. It was making me crazy so I had to break their connection, or whatever it was.

"Hey! What the hell is going on?" I said outraged.

"With manners like that no wonder no woman will have you." Her grandma teased back at me.

"I just haven’t found the right one yet, there have been plenty of offers I’ll have you know." I defended.

"Mmhmm , I’ll just bet. I see the line out the door from here."

"Doc? Am I gonna live or not? I can’t take much more of this." I was starting to feel a little irritated that they were talking about my love life as I laid here feeling like I was going to puke at any given moment.

"You’ll be fine. Your pupils are good, but your buddy here is gonna make sure you don’t sleep for any period of time, ok? You think you can handle that?"

"Yes ma’am." I said back to her with a smile.

"Good, then my work here is done." She said as she tucked a long strand of her graying brown hair behind her ear and stood to leave. "I’ll be right next door honey, if you need anything." She kissed the top of my head and caressed her granddaughter’s cheek as she left.

God they were so cute. They had the best relationship I have ever seen. It used to make me jealous with my ma leaving and all, but she adopted me basically when I was a kid, so I didn’t have to crave long for a maternal figure in my life. I looked up to find Crystal’s eyes looking at me in concern which made me think that I had missed something that she said.

"Did you say something? I’m sorry, I think I drifted away for a second there."

"Yes, I asked you if all of that was true. The offers and all. Has there been someone lately?" She asked with a mischievous smile on her face.

"No not lately Miss Nosey Body. It’s been a few months actually if you must know the boring details of my sex life." I chided back.

She smiled down at me and continued to tend to my head wound. She had the gentlest touch, no wonder people came to her for help. I started to wonder what she really did for her customers. Maybe that blow to my head sparked some curiosity in me.

"What are you thinking about Frankie? You looked a million miles away from here." She said with her brown eyes sparkling at me.

"I was just thinking how lucky you are going to make some man one day. You are a wonderful spirit Crystal, thanks for taking care of me."

"Ok, who are you and what have you done with my Frankie?" She joked as she leaned down to kiss my wound. "Thanks for saying so. I just hope that I am not too old before I can understand what love is all about. I think once I get that, then I would be able to die happy."

"Is that what you are looking for in a relationship, love?" I really was interested in hearing her response. This was something we never really talked about.

"Hmm, well I guess that is a large part of it. I want love yes, but I want passion, I want desire, I want to be able to look into their eyes and know that I couldn’t live without them, ever. God even just to feel it just for a moment would be amazing to me. I mean look at me. Who the hell is gonna love me like that?" She said as she fanned her hands up and down her body.

"I would Crystal, but you bat for the wrong team." I smiled at her.

"Smooth talker. I think that bump on your head is making you loopy. Get some rest and I will wake you in an hour or so. OK?" She gently stroked my hair and I felt myself fall into a deep sleep.

"Frankie? Frankie?"

I heard this voice calling to me but didn’t know where it was coming from. The voice was so sweet, it was almost a song to me. I looked and looked but couldn’t find the owner to the voice.

"I’m here!" I shouted to no one. "Where are you? I can’t see you. Please, show yourself." I pleaded with the voice.

"I’m waiting for you Frankie. Please find me." The voice called to my soul like nothing I had ever experienced in my life.

I called out to it one last time. "I’m right here! Where are you?"

"Frankie? Frankie?"

Suddenly I woke up to find a concerned Crystal shaking me out of my sleep.

"Frankie? Are you with me now?" She gently asked.

"Yeah, I… Um… Yeah. Wow I had such a strange dream." I said groggily.

"Ooh, you did? Please tell me about it. You know I live for this stuff."

"Well, I dunno really, it was just strange. I heard a woman’s voice. She was calling my name."

"Frankie if this is some perverted sex story I don’t want to hear about it." She joked.

"No she wasn’t 'calling' my name, it was like she was trying to find me. It was weird. I couldn’t see anything really, and all I could hear was her voice. It spooked me. I shouted for her to show herself, but she didn’t appear. The next thing I knew you were trying to wake me." I was confused, but I felt worlds better than I had before I went to sleep.

"Maybe you mixed up my voice in there somewhere when I was trying to wake you. I did say your name a few times."

"Hmm, maybe that was it. I dunno, it was still really odd. It was almost pulling at me."

"Well then it definitely was me. I was totally yanking on you after you didn’t respond to my voice. Don’t worry about it. If it comes back, let me know. I’ll ask Nonnie about it."

"No, no, you are probably right. I’m sure it was just something going on because of my injury."

"Always the practical thinker. I always loved that about you. You are as practical as I am illusory." She said. "Are you thirsty? It’s about 7:30, I bet you haven’t had anything to eat or drink since lunch." She accused.

"You presume correctly. I would actually love some water. My throat is really dry."

"Sure babe, coming right up." She winked and trotted off into the kitchen.

The bells on her anklet jingled softly as she padded her bare feet through my house. I have always loved the way she dressed. She’s always worn long flowing dresses or long skirts with a non-matching top, and almost never wore shoes. Her grandma dressed in a similar fashion, but she, at least chose to wear shoes. I bet her soles felt like leather. But what an odd question that would be for me to ask her, ‘Hey Crystal, can I feel your feet?’ She would then finalize that I was completely bats.

She wore more jewelry around her wrists and ankles than people should be allowed. I could always hear her approaching. It was either the bells or the bracelets clinking together that gave her away. She really needed to lose the five-inch hoop earrings though. Those went out when Jody Watley did.

She came out of the kitchen with a glass of water and gently held my head up as I drank. "Thanks Crystal, my throat feels much better now. You ever consider being a nurse. You have a wonderful bedside manner."

She slapped my arm and scooted under my long legs to sit on the couch. She grabbed the remote to the home theater and turned all the decks on. With another click of the remote she turned on the big screen TV and pressed play on the DVD player.

There was my man talking to an invisible rabbit. Man Crystal really did know me well. She always knew how to cheer me up. Tonight was no different.

As the credits rolled I felt extra weight on my hips. Crystal had fallen asleep and her body leaned on top of my lower half. Her head gently rested on my right hip and her right arm draped over my left leg protectively. I really hated to wake her, but nature was calling and I had to answer. I gently tousled her hair until she shifted in her sleep. Her eyes slowly opened to reveal the brown eyes I knew so well.

"Is it over?" She said as she wiped the spittle from the corner of her mouth.

"Yes dribble girl. I need to pee, so I need you to move please." I told her.

"Oh I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you. How is your head?"

"It’s feeling better since you gave me such wonderful TLC. I am not feeling sick to my stomach anymore either. I think that is the part I like the best right now." I smiled at her sleepy face. "I’ll be right back."

"I’ll be here." She yawned out.

I walked into my bathroom and turned on the bright fluorescent lighting. I squinted at the lights and looked into the mirror to inspect the damage.

"Oh, that is just beautiful. Nice job Frankie. You really go all out." I said as I fingered the lump on my head.

I used the facilities and looked at my reflection once again. As I was staring back at myself, I suddenly felt like someone was staring at me. I quickly looked behind me and saw nothing, of course, but I would have bet a million bucks that someone was there.

I exited the bathroom rather quickly and felt rather than heard Crystal approach me as I walked right into her.

"Where’s the fire stretch? Man you almost ran me over." She joked.

"Sorry Crystal, I didn’t see you. Are you OK?" I asked making sure I didn’t hurt her in the collision.

"Yeah I am fine. You look like you’ve seen a ghost. You’re as pale as one too. Go back to the couch and I’ll get you some more water."

"I’d rather lay in my bed if that is alright with you." I said to her.

"Sure Hon, go on. I’ll meet you in there."

"OK thanks." I smiled and made my way down the hallway.

I have many old pictures on the walls in the hallway. Lots of Pop and me; my favorite is of him wiping ice cream off my chin with his handkerchief. Crystal took it when we were at the Lincoln Park Zoo. She thought it was the cutest thing she had ever seen. I guess since I was about 19 when he did that, it was kinda cute to see. That was just the kind of man he was. He loved me more than anything. I miss him so much.

He drank and smoked just a little too much. His body just couldn’t take it anymore. One day it just gave out on him. His heart attack hit when he was home and by himself. I hated not being there for him. My biggest question was, would he still be alive if I had been home that day to call 911? I will never know. Crystal says that it was just his time to pass on. That may be true and all, but I still miss him a lot.

I walked into my bedroom and clicked on the lights. I had one of those halogen lamps that lights up the three surrounding counties when it is on. I quickly walked over to it to dim the light. My head didn’t like that at all. I liked the colors of my walls too. They were a deep periwinkle. I loved that color. My bedding was that coloring as well. My walls were covered in huge color prints. Mostly abstract art, but very cool just the same.

I undressed and slipped under my crisp sheets. Crystal soon followed with a glass of water and some Ibuprofen. I took the glass of water and washed down the two pills I put into my mouth. I opened up the other half of my bed to Crystal. She took off her dress and rummaged through my dresser to find some boxers and a T-shirt to wear. This was almost like routine for us. We have spent so many nights at each other’s homes that acting any differently would feel foreign to me. She could always wear my clothes to sleep in; I on the other hand was not so lucky with hers. This brought a smile to my face and she looked over at me questioningly.

"What’s so damn funny? You have the goofiest grin on your face right now." She said with a grin.

"I was just imagining myself trying to wear some of your shorts to bed. I don’t think that they would make it past my thigh." I said as I began to laugh.

She came over to me and brushed my long dark hair behind my shoulders. "That’s because your legs are as long as a giraffe’s neck! I can’t help it if I am normal!" She pretended to act hurt.

"Oh my God Crystal, you couldn’t be normal if you tried." I laughed harder now.

"Come on, get in bed and let’s get some sleep."

"That’s your problem Frankie."

"What is?" I asked.

"You get a beautiful woman into your bed and all you offer her is sleep. No wonder you can’t keep a woman happy." She deadpanned.

"Oh you are in trouble when you stop spinning. I’ll show you an offer."

"Yeah, yeah… Promises promises." She said as she killed the lights and rolled over to face me. I brought my hand up and stroked her curly head as I smiled at her.

"I love you, Crystal. Thanks for looking out for me. Pop would be happy about that."

"I love you too, Blue Eyes. You are the greatest friend in the world. There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for you. Good night." She said and gave me a dazzling toothy smile.

"Right back atcha baby. Good night." I took her hand and kissed her knuckles and slowly fell asleep feeling loved and protected.

I felt myself wandering in darkness again. I tried to use my hands to help guide myself out of there. I was starting to feel very afraid. All of my senses were on edge and very aware. I took a few more steps and stopped.

"Frankie?"

There she was again. I still couldn’t see her! What the hell was going on?

Good God, who was she? Why couldn’t I see her?

"Where are you? I can’t find you. Please just tell me who you are." I pleaded into nothingness.

"Frankie? Come back to me Frankie, please."

This was killing me. I couldn’t stand this torture! "Who are you? If you won’t show yourself to me, stop tormenting me! I want to help you, but I can’ t find you." This was just really getting out of control. I wanted out of there, NOW.

"Frankie honey, wake up. Come on sweetie, snap out of it."

Crystal was shaking me to pull me from the dream. I slowly felt myself return to reality and saw Crystal's silhouette over me.

"Crystal, what's wrong? Why are you waking me? Has it been a couple hours already?" I asked.

"Well, that would have come in about forty-five minutes, but you were crying out. Did you have that same dream again Frankie?" She was really concerned.

"Yeah, I think I did. This time I felt scared though. This woman was calling to me in the darkness and no matter where I was, she still sounded so far away. I have no idea who she is, I just know that she needs to find me for some reason. God, this is making me nuts Crystal. I really hope this is my head talking because I don't think I can handle this on a daily basis." I said sadly.

"Turn over on to your side Frankie." She suggested.

I did as she requested and I immediately felt her hands rubbing my back in small soothing circles. God she had a touch on her. She was gonna have to do that until morning because I really didn’t think I was going to be able to fall asleep. This woman had me so freaked, I just didn't know what to make of it.

I finally gave in and closed my eyes. After a while I slowly felt myself start to relax and surrendered to Morpheus' pull.

The morning came fast as I heard my clock radio turn on with Joni Mitchell singing. This was one of my favorite songs of old. The tune played on as I felt the person in the other half of my bed stir. I looked over to see mobs of brown curly hair coming right at me. The sight was very amusing and would have been even more so had it not been eight o’clock in the morning. Crystal came at me with the purpose of breaking

my alarm clock.

"If you don’t turn that thing off, I will, and then you’ll need to buy a new clock." Crystal grumpily said.

"What, you don’t like Joni Mitchell?" I playfully teased.

"At this hour, I don’t like anything." She said matter of factly.

"Aww, not even me?" I continued.

"Especially not you. Will you please turn that off? God, I don’t understand why you get up so damn early. Your shop doesn’t even open for another two hours for Chrissakes!" She said as she pulled her pillow over her head.

"Come on Crystal, why are you such a grump in the morning?" I asked as I walked over to the window and peered through the mini blinds. "Just look at the sky! It’s gonna be a beautiful day."

"Mmhmm, I believe you." She said as her eyes squinted from under the pillow. "Just don’t make me get up to see it." She said as she continued to pull the covers over her head as well.

"Has anyone told you how adorable you are in the morning?"

She pulled the covers down and stared at me with daggers coming out of her eyes.

"Has anyone told you that you are way too talkative in the morning? Especially when you have a woman in your bed that likes to sleep in?" She just stared at me and I couldn’t help the grin that formed on my mouth.

She was truly adorable. Her hair was strewn all over her head and falling into her eyes. She rubbed her eyes like a four-year-old would. She used balled up fists to grind into her eye sockets while making a cute squeaking sound. As this exercise came to an end I watched as she focused in on me and finally gave me a good morning smile.

"Ah, there she is. Hi Crystal welcome back." I smiled.

"Keep it up girlfriend. I’ll knock the other side of your head silly too." She winked.

"How is that head of yours darlin?" She inquired finding her kind soul again.

"I'm feeling much better today, thanks to you. I really appreciate you taking care of me the way that you did."

"Yeah well, what was I gonna do; leave you on the floor of your shop? Next thing we know is we got another ‘Murder at the Wax Museum’ story on our hands."

"Ha ha very funny. How long was I out?" I truly didn’t know.

"Well, I would imagine only a few minutes. I came after my last appointment, which was around six o’clock, thinking that you would want to get some dinner with me. Lucky for you, I have a key. I saw your head peeking out from around your desk. I got Mr. Hooper to help me get you upstairs. You really spooked me Frankie, I’m just glad that you are OK." She sincerely said.

"Me too, thanks again. You're a good friend Crystal." I replied.

"Right back atcha Frank." She smiled her special smile at me. That always would get the same response from me; I’d get this goofy ass grin on my face that wouldn’t go away even if I wanted it to, which I didn’t.

"OK, I have to get in the shower. Are you going to be here when I get out, or are you gonna go back home and go back to bed?" I asked half teasing.

"Actually I'm awake now. I might as well start to get some stuff done. Do you want some breakfast?"

"Oh, you’re gonna make me breakfast? Did something happen last night and I am just suffering from amnesia?" I set her up for the old joke.

"Baby, if I let you have me, you would have remembered. Trust me." She said the last part so close to my face that I had to control the sound of my swallowing.

"Well?" Shit, I think I missed something.

"What?"

"Breeeaakfast?" She drawled out.

"Oh… um… sure. I’ll be at your place in about twenty minutes." I recovered.

"Bullshit, I’m not messing up my kitchen. I’ll be in there." She said motioning towards my kitchen.

I started laughing at this comment. "OK, I’ll be out in a bit." I said as she was already walking down the hallway waving at me from over her shoulder.

I walked into the bathroom connected to my bedroom and started the water in the shower. As I stretched in the mirror, I noticed the swelling on my head had gone down considerably. I touched it gently and immediately flinched at it’s tenderness.

"Ow, dammit. I guess I won’t be doing that again any time soon. You really did a job on yourself Frankie, you big klutz."

As I brushed my teeth I felt the hairs on the back of my neck start to stand on end. I glanced into the mirror and saw a flash of something behind me. I whipped around and started to choke on the toothpaste.

Nothing.

I finally got the remainder of paste out of my throat and began to breathe again.

A knock on my bathroom door startled me; I walked over to open it. Crystal was there with a concerned look on her face.

"Frankie, are you ok?" Crystal asked.

"Yeah, I um… I stuck my toothbrush too far in the back of my throat. I started to gag. Didn’t know that I was being loud enough to cause alarm."

"Well, I had come back to steal your slippers and I heard you coughing hard."

"My hero… again." I smiled at her.

"Hurry up, breakfast is gonna be done soon. Remember… If you’re too late… you know I won’t wait… and you’ll get nothing but an empty plate." We both finished the last line together and started laughing.

"OK, OK, I’ll be out in a bit. Go on you, get out." I said as we exchanged a kiss on each other’s cheeks.

"I’m out! I’m out!" She said as she walked down the hall.

"I wish…" I said to myself.

I stepped into the shower and began to wash my body.

I washed the remainder of shampoo down the drain with the usual handful of hair that accompanies it, and turned off the water. I got the excess water out of my hair and reached out to get my towel from the rack. To my surprise it was handed to me. I screamed and whipped open the shower curtain to reveal an amused Crystal staring at me.

"Chill out Frankie, I just needed to brush my teeth. I just thought I’d give you a hand. What the hell is the matter with you?"

My heart was racing. "Nothing you just startled me." I said as I took the offered towel from her hands. "Thanks Crystal." I said as I stepped out of the shower naked as the day I was born.

"Never were a modest one were you Frankie?" She smiled as she gave my body a mock once over.

"Never saw a need for it. You don’t like it, don’t look at it." I said back to her smiling face. For some reason I wished she liked it more than she did.

"I didn’t say it wasn’t nice to look at. Unfortunately for you, I am only window shopping." She said with a wink and a smirk and walked back towards the kitchen.

I finally finished getting dressed and dried my hair. I walked into a kitchen that had the most incredible smells coming from it. God what a way to start the day. I could get used to a life like this. Waking up with a beautiful woman in my bed, and then meeting that same woman for breakfast in our own kitchen.

"Hungry?" Crystal asked as she spooned scrambled eggs onto my plate.

"Oh yeah. Thanks so much for making me breakfast." I smiled.

"Oh it wasn't for you, I was hungry and I haven't gone shopping yet. I just used you for supplies." She teased.

"Women, they use and abuse me, then they eat me out of a house and home. Figuratively speaking of course." I smiled back at her.

"Of course." She played along. She handed me my plate, which was now filled with bacon and English muffins with grape jelly on them.

"Ooh, you spoil me. This looks great Crystal, thank you." I said as I sat down and started to eat my food.

"It's about time someone gave you decent food to eat. You can't live on burgers and fries your whole life."

"Says who? Meat is an important part of the food groups, as is bread, potatoes, and the cheese on my burgers, and especially the milk that I wash it down with. I think it is very healthy." I mocked.

"Oh you are incorrigible." She said as she threw her hands in the air and then back on her hips.

"Yeah but you love me." I winked at her.

"Yeah, God help me, I do." She winked back. "OK Frankie, I'm gonna go home and shower and stuff. I have an appointment at noon. Have a great day." She said as she kissed the top of my head. "And please be careful today, huh? I don't want any more head wounds from you this week ok?"

"I promise I'll be careful. I'll watch my footing at all times today. Cross my heart and hope to die." I said as I drew an imaginary X on my chest.

"Well you're lucky I have no needles or I would stick them in your eye."

"Meanie." She pouted.

"OK Frankie, I'm outta here. I'll tell Nonnie that you're feeling better. She was worried about you, you know?"

"I do, you guys have been my family since I can remember. Tell her I'll come by to see her after work tonight." I said sincerely.

"OK, will do. I'll see you later, babe."

"Thanks again for breakfast Crystal, and for everything yesterday."

"No problem, I'm just glad that you are better. Take care." She said as she walked downstairs heading for home.

"Bye."

As she left my house, I sat and stared at the emptiness around me.

Ten o'clock came as it always does, right on schedule. I unlocked my door and welcomed another day of business doing what I loved. I had a few mannequins that needed to be dressed so I put that on my list of things to do for the day. I stepped in the workroom to grab some clothes for the dummies when I heard the doorbell chime to let me know someone had arrived.

I poked my head out to find no one. I scanned the store and decided that I must have been hearing things. I grabbed the clothes that I needed and set off to do my work. I hated trying to get the shirts on the mannequins, because these days they are so anatomically correct it's almost embarrassing when people walk in and I have plastic boobs in my face.

I had almost finished the first mannequin when I noticed that I had knocked her hand off. I looked down and I couldn't find it anywhere.

I got down on my hands and knees and began to crawl around like an animal looking for the hand.

"It's over there, under the table." She said.

I was under a display and was so surprised by hearing someone's voice that I smashed the back of my head on the shelf above me.

"Ouch! Dammit." I silently cursed as I rubbed the back of my head. "Thank you, I have been looking all over for this." I said as I grabbed the hand and stood to thank my customer.

"I can't believe I couldn't find…" I started to talk in the direction of the voice when I noticed that my shop was empty. I frantically turned around looking for the owner of that voice. Thinking about it a little more, I realized that I had heard that voice before… in my dreams. "Oh my God. It was her! It was that same voice." I steadied myself against one of my shelving units before I fell on my face again.

I’d had enough of this; I was really starting to get pissed. "If you are still here, show yourself! This is really getting old!" I screamed into the empty store.

I stood there and waiting for what seemed like an eternity, when I returned to my work. "This is getting outta hand… anymore of this and I'll be forced to tell Crystal.

Oh, she'll love this. God I'm never gonna live this down." I breathed out. "I really must have hit my head hard yesterday. That's gotta be it. It has to be…"

I shook my head and began to work harder than I have in a long time. I really needed to stay focused.

All day I had in the back of my head that nagging question of "who is the owner of that voice?" I just wished I knew.

I looked at the clock and again I missed lunch. If no one reminded me, I seemed to always forget or had too much to do to go and get something for myself. Crystal usually reminded me of my poor eating habits, but today she had a lunchtime appointment and didn't show up. I looked forward to our lunches together.

"Oh well, maybe we'll grab dinner or something together." I said to one of the

mannequins. "God I really need to get out more." I said as I walked back up to my front desk.

I looked around and felt a loneliness I never felt before. I had a pulling in my gut that I just couldn't explain. It didn't hurt or anything physical like that, it was just something very foreign to me. "I think I need a vacation." I sighed and put my head in my hands.

Crystal came bounding into the shop at 5:45 with a huge grin on her face. I had given her a key to the shop years ago. It was much easier for her to let herself in. God knows she would just keep banging on the door until I let her in. That got real old, real fast.

"Hey girlfriend! You done yet? I'm starving!" She exclaimed.

I turned from my paperwork and smiled back at her. It was so hard not to when she was in a mood like this.

"Yeah, I just have a few more things to finish up. I'm quite hungry myself. I forgot to eat lunch again today." I knew this would get a rise out of her.

"God dammit Frankie! That isn't good for you! How many times do we have to talk about your eating habits? It's a damn good thing that I fed your ass this morning."

She seriously said with her hands on her narrow hips.

"Crystal I'm sorry." I loved that she cared so much. "I didn't have my usual alarm come in and remind me."

"What would you do without me?" She asked mockingly.

"I really don't wanna know that answer darlin." I said truthfully.

She smiled at me and took my hand in hers. "Come on, let's go eat. Nonnie is expecting us."

"Alright, give me two seconds here and I'll be done." I said as I finished the rest of my paperwork for the day's business.

We walked into Crystal's place to find Nonnie waiting for us on their couch. Their home was unlike what most people would expect from them. They lived very normally, if you wanted to use that word. They had a couch, a couple of lights, some nice artwork on their walls, the usual décor for a family room.

Nonnie looked up from her crossword puzzle and smiled at us. "Hey girls, are you hungry?" She asked.

"This one forgot to eat again, so let's make sure we stuff her to the gills." Crystal said while motioning towards me.

"Oh, I see. Well, lets see if we can make her eat some of my spaghetti."

"Oh, Nonnie, you know I could never turn that down." I said as my mouth began to water at the mere thought of eating her pasta. If Nonnie was in it for the money, she would make Chef Boy Ardee go out of business.

Dinner was eaten in silence since it was rude to talk with your mouth full. Nonnie's spaghetti always did that to me. I usually ate the stuff until it didn't taste good anymore. This night was no exception.

Crystal got up and walked into the kitchen to start the dishes. I patted my belly and leaned against the back of the chair. "God Nonnie, you did it again. That had to be the best meal I have had in weeks."

"Aww, thanks child. You only say that since you don't eat on a regular basis." She smiled at me.

"No it's not like that at all. I really just love your cooking. You can taste every ounce of the time you spent making it. Thank you again for inviting me over to eat with you." I said as I stifled the air trying to escape through my throat.

"You are welcome. I'm going to go to my room and make some phone calls. Have a good night." She said as she got up.

"Good night Nonnie." I got up to go help Crystal in the kitchen.

"Do you want some help cleaning up?" I asked as I peeked my head into the kitchen.

"Grab a towel. I'll wash 'em if you dry 'em." She smiled.

"Man, you guys have a dishwasher, why don't you just throw all of the dishes in there?" I asked as I motioned to the appliance.

"Nonnie hates the smell of the dishwater soap. She much prefers her glasses to smell like Palmolive." She smirked.

"Oh come on, you are gonna tell me if you snuck in a few glasses in the dishwasher, she would know the difference?"

"You bet your sweet ass she would. Then I would have to deal with her, so don't even try it." She accused.

"OK, OK" I laughed.

I was trying to figure out how to ask Crystal about this voice in my head without her freaking out on me. God knows I have never shown an interest in this stuff before. She will probably have a heart attack. I figured I should just get over it and just come right out and ask her. The moment I reached this decision her eyes pinned me with a questionable stare.

"What?" I asked nervously.

"Are you going to ask me your question or not. You have had the strangest look on your face for like the last fifteen minutes. It must be a doozy since you can't come right out and say it."

"Well… actually I do have kind of a strange question for you."

"Well spit it out. You look like you are going to waste all of that food that Nonnie made for you."

"I'm not going to be sick, Crystal." I hoped. God I was so nervous.

I took a deep breath and met her eyes again. "Crystal, have you ever had the feeling that you were being watched, I mean not by a physical presence either… I mean… oh God, what do I mean?" Crystal touched my arm and took me to the kitchen table.

"Come here and sit down and really try to tell me what is going on, OK?"

"OK." I took another breath. "Last night, ok, I had this dream, remember? Well I had a couple of them."

"I remember. What about them?" She softened her voice.

"Well, this morning when I was in the bathroom getting ready for my shower, I could have sworn someone was watching me brush my teeth. When I turned around, no one was there, but I swear I saw something in the mirror. That's what made me start coughing, it wasn't my toothbrush I was just freaked out. Then when you handed me my towel, I thought I was gonna find a person that didn't belong in my bathroom."

"What did you hear? Anything?" She was genuinely concerned.

"No, not at that time. All I know is that I felt the strangest sensation in my belly, and then the hair on the back of my neck was totally standing on end. Then it was gone." I took a deep breath and looked into her eyes. She wasn't going to razz me, I couldn't believe it.

"What else Frankie. I have this feeling that you have more to say." Shit, how does she do that?

"Today in the shop. I heard the bell ring when I was in the stockroom. I looked out to find that no one was there. So I continued doing my work. I was dressing up one of the mannequins. I knocked off one of her hands and couldn't find it anywhere. I got down on the floor and started to look for it. Then someone said 'It's over there, under the table', I banged the back of my head on the shelf above me I was so startled by the voice. I grabbed the hand and stood to thank my customer for finding the elusive appendage, but there was no one there."

"You are sure you heard someone say that, and didn't imagine it?" She asked.

"No Crystal I heard it with my own ears. It wasn't just any voice either, it was the same voice from my dreams. I don't know what is going on here, but it is starting to get to me." I confessed.

"It must be since you are actually talking to me about this. I know how you feel about all of this stuff." And she really did know.

"So what do you think this means Crystal? Am I just hallucinating from the blast to my head yesterday?" I really needed to know.

"No I don't think that is it at all." She stopped.

"Well, what DO you think it is. I can't take much more of this. Things like this may happen to you everyday, but it is really not my cup of tea."

"Frankie, do me a favor OK?" Crystal looked at me dead on with a totally serious expression on her face.

"OK, what?"

"When you go to sleep tonight, if you have another dream like you had, write down anything you may remember from it when you wake up."

"What will that do?"

"When you awaken from a dream all of it will be really fresh in your mind. I wanna get a better idea of what is going on. It may be that someone is trying to reach you from the other side."

"You have GOT to be kidding me. Why me? What did I do to deserve that?" I said more loudly than I had wanted.

"I don't know Frankie, but it sounds like she is looking for you. Just do as I ask , please? If it doesn't happen, then we can just write it off as a strange happening. If it does happen again, maybe Nonnie and I can help whoever it is find out why they are here."

"Oh God, you aren't gonna tell Nonnie are you? She will never let me live this down. She has always called me the non believer."

"This isn't something that Nonnie will joke about. Trust me on that. She takes this very seriously and won't kid around." She said with a serious look on her face.

"Where is Nonnie?"

"She went to her room to make some phone calls." I answered.

"Oh alright. So tonight try and write down anything you remember." She said again.

"OK Crystal… if anything happens tonight, I will write down as much as I can remember." I agreed.

"Good girl. Let's go to your place and watch a movie." She suggested.

"OK, you are on." I smiled.

"What do you want to watch?" She asked.

"It's your night to pick."

"Aw Frankie, I picked last night." She whined.

"OK, OK, how about The Matrix?" I asked knowing that she would cringe.

"Sure."

"What no argument?" I couldn't believe it, she always argued about that movie. So what if I've seen it 25 times already.

"Nope, I said it was your turn to pick, so you get to pick."

"OK, now I am scared."

"Don't be scared, but don't be surprised either when the next film we watch is something not to your liking."

"Oh no, not another romantic comedy." I dreaded those. She would get all teary and mushy on me.

"You'll just have to wait and see."

"I can't wait." I said as we walked out her kitchen door, which led to the stairs to my place.

The movie ended with Crystal sound asleep leaning against my shoulder. How could she sleep through a movie like that? There was more gunfire in the last half-hour to keep the dead awake. But here she was, sleeping like an angel on my shoulder. It was late though and I needed to go to sleep myself.

"Crystal? Crystal honey, wake up." I gently nudged her.

"Mmm, is it over?" She said as she stretched on the couch.

"Yep… and you missed it."

"I'm sorry Frankie, I guess I was sleepy."

"You're always sleepy, but it's a cute quality."

"Gee thanks." She smiled and rubbed her eyes again with her fists, God I love that.

"Ok sleepyhead, I think I need to get to bed myself. Do you want me to walk you down?" I said as I stood. I took her hand and helped her to stand.

"Nah, I'll be ok. Night Frankie, and remember what we talked about." She said as she hugged me.

"Yes, I remember. I will bring a pad and pencil to bed with me tonight." I hugged her back.

"Good, I look forward to hearing from you tomorrow. Bye." She said as she gave me a wink and headed home.

"Bye hon." I waved and headed down the hall to get ready for bed.

I turned down all the lights and walked into my room. I went to the bathroom and washed my face and brushed my teeth. I clicked off the light to the bathroom and headed to bed.

I stripped off my clothes and jumped into cool sheets. 'Damn I forgot the paper' I got up and walked my naked self into my kitchen. I grabbed a pad of paper and a pencil and walked back to my room.

I put the two items on my night table and got comfy again.

"Alright whoever you are, I am ready for you now. Come and get me." I wasn't sure if those were the right words to use, considering I didn't know what was going on or who the voice was for that matter. Oh well what's said was said.

I closed my eyes and waited for my body to surrender once again to sleep. I didn't have too wait long.

My eyes drifted open as I heard my alarm turn on. "Damn, again with Joni Mitchell.

They need to change the deejay on this channel." I leaned over to hit my alarm, but it wasn't there.

Holy shit, where the hell is it? Now I was starting to panic. There must have been someone in my house last night. Why the hell would they take my alarm clock? Why is it that this song won't stop playing? Where was the music coming from?

I rubbed my eyes again and sauntered over to the window. I looked down and I felt my mouth fall open and pressed my head to the glass.

"What the…?" My eyes didn't believe what they were seeing. I was looking down at my neighborhood, but it looked like it did in the seventies.

Jesus what is going on? The Twilight Zone ended years ago, but I'll be damned if I don't feel like I'm there now. I thought to myself.

I went to bed naked, but here I was with clothes on, and ones I don't remember buying that's for sure. I had on long ass bell bottoms and a gray top with a big flower in the middle of it.

I think I need some fresh air. I'm going to take a walk outside I think and try to clear my head. Where the hell is that music coming from?

As I got closer to my bedroom door the music seemed to be getting louder.

"OK, Frankie, you can handle this." I blew out a long breath and grasped the doorknob.

I slowly walked through the doorway and minded all the creaky spots on the wood floor. I felt like a cat burglar sneaking through my own house. "Jesus!" I whispered, there was a shadow of a person hanging on the wall. My heart was totally racing, but I needed to call someone, anyone at this point for help. Then he spoke.

"Honey, can you help me for a minute?" I heard the voice, but I couldn't believe my ears. This man sounded just like my father.

"Just a minute Frank, I'll be done in here soon." I heard the woman say.

I pressed the back of my head against the wall for support.

What the hell kind of joke is this anyway?

I needed to see this with my own eyes. I tried to control my breathing and gather up enough courage to peek into the living room.

"Come on Frankie, you can do this." I whispered my own support to myself.

I slid down my hallway that was now empty of all my pictures. I was so close to the front room I could barely breathe. I heard the song end and start back up again.

Joni kept singing without a care in the world.

Well she has the "help me" part right… I need it really badly right now.

One more step and I would be able to stretch my neck into the family room to see my unwanted guests.

As I looked, my eyes instantly welled with tears. There was my father sitting at the kitchen table trying to fix something. I lay back against the wall to try and hold myself up. I took another quick look around to see that my furniture was all gone; only to be replaced by the furniture I remembered from my childhood. I saw the record player; you know the kind that if you left the arm all the way to the side, the record would keep playing?

Man I haven't seen a 45 record in ages.

"Sweetie? I'll only be a second ok?" The woman popped her head up from behind one of the counters.

Jesus Mary and Joseph… it was my mother! God she was more beautiful than the photos I had. I can see why my dad fell for her.

This was too much. I felt my knees start to give, so I grabbed onto the wall for dear life.

I slowly walked back into my room, which was now clear of any evidence that I was even here. My room was empty save for a few boxes of things left in one of the corners.

"I have to get out of here." I said to myself. I went over to the window and opened it slowly. I climbed over the fire escape to the ladder, just as I did when I was a teenager to sneak out with Crystal.

I moved my numbing body down each rung of the ladder. When I reached the sidewalk I took another look around. My dad's shop was still there, and looking across the street I could see Mr. Hooper's butchery, but everything was different. Crystal's grandmother's palm reading shop wasn't even here.

I heard movement above me and saw my dad's head peek out of the window. I stared at him but he didn't see me. He shook his head and closed the window.

"What the hell am I going to do now?" I asked aloud only to get stares from strangers wondering who I was talking to.

As I made my way down Sheridan Road, I saw the campus come into view. I knew there would be people there that didn't care that I was loony and was seeing shit from nearly thirty years ago.

"I am in Oz, in clothes that I don't recognize, no money to my name…well…" I reached into my pocket to find a twenty dollar bill. "OK, twenty bucks to my name, don't know where I got it from, but I'm not questioning anything anymore." I knew anyone within an earshot was gonna grab me and commit me to the nearest mental hospital.

I walked a little further to find a tiny diner.

I think a blast of caffeine will be just what the doctor ordered.

I pulled on the handle and as soon as the door opened, I smelled the greatest aromas coming from this place. My stomach growled in agitation, so I thought I'd get something while I was here. I went up to the counter and sat down. The waitress had her back to me, but I could tell that she was young. Perhaps she was a student at the university.

"I'll get your order in just a minute." I heard her say.

I blinked twice after my head started racing with disbelief.

That voice… it was her! Jesus!

She slowly turned around and I found myself lost in the deepest green eyes I had ever seen. My eyes slowly took in the sight before me. Long blonde hair tied back away from her face. Full lips with the tiniest dash of color to them. Beautiful bone structure in her cheeks and jaw. God this was the most angelic face I have ever seen. Her skin was like porcelain, not a flaw to be found.

"Did you want to order something darlin'?" She asked again with that beautiful voice.

"Uh…" I so profoundly answered. God I couldn't feel my tongue. "Yes I would." I finally managed to put a sentence together. It wasn't much of one, but hell I was proud at that moment.

"What can I getcha?" She said as she smiled the most amazing smile at me. God she needs to stop that so I can breathe again.

"Can I see a menu please?"

Whoa, good girl Frankie.

"Sure Hon, here you go." She said as she handed me their menu.

"Thanks." I nervously smiled at her.

"Just holler when you are ready, ok?" She asked.

"Sure, thanks." I answered. Thank God she walked away. I needed to calm down. I didn't think I could eat right then if I wanted to. I probably would have lost everything as soon as I ate it.

I looked around and noticed a newspaper on the seat next to mine. I saw that it was the Tribune and picked it up. I took a drink of water from my glass and spit out the contents as soon as the date flashed in front of my eyes.

April 22, 1974

I was coughing and gasping for air as more water jetted into my lungs. The waitress came over to my side instantly.

"Are you ok? Breathe in through your nose and out your mouth slowly." She said as she softly rubbed my back. Funny how you are extremely aware of things like that when you are choking.

My breathing slowly returned to normal and I looked into her eyes again. God I could have gotten lost in them.

"Thank you. I guess my water just went down the wrong pipe." I smiled weakly.

"Well, that's a relief. I would hate for one of my customers to choke to death." She smiled back.

"I think I am ready to order."

"OK." She said as she went behind the counter again. "What'll you have?" God I was thrown back into that bad Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer ad with that Elvis impersonator.

"I will have scrambled eggs, a side of bacon, and toast."

"Anything to drink with that?"

"Yeah I'll have a Diet Coke."

"You mean Diet Pepsi?" She corrected.

"No, Diet Coke." I corrected right back at her. There is a HUGE difference.

"Umm… I don't think there's such a thing. We do have Tab and the new sugar-free Sprite though." She offered.

"No, I need caffeine… better make it Diet Pepsi."

She placed the beverage in front of me and I realized that she was wearing a nametag. "Annie" What a perfect name for her. I watched her interact with the rest of the customers in the diner. Everyone seemed to love her. She was talking with an elderly man that kept smiling at her. She just patted his head and touched his cheek as she took the check from him.

I heard the bell come from the kitchen and Annie walked over to the window to get what looked to be my order. She walked over to me and placed the plate down in front of me.

"You aren't from around here are you?" She smiled.

"What gives you that idea?" My eyebrow went up on it's own accord.

"You just seem a little out of sorts is all. I can read people pretty well." She gestured to the diner. "It comes with the job I guess."

"God, I bet." I smiled at her. "I guess you could say that. I used to live here, but it has changed a whole lot since I was here last."

"The neighborhood is going through quite a bit of change. It seems to be for the better though." She smiled.

I took a mouthful of food and started to hum my appreciation. It had seemed like forever since I had had something to eat. I lifted the glass to my beverage and proceeded to drink almost all of it in one gulp.

"Easy darlin, you'll get a stomach ache." She soothed. "So what are you doing here? Visiting family?"

"Yeah you could say that. I just saw my parents this morning." I smirked.

"Oh, from the look on your face, it doesn't seem like it was a good visit." She softly replied.

"Well let's just say that they weren't expecting me." I winked.

"I gotcha, kind of a surprise visit?"

"Yeah, exactly." I answered.

I smiled back at her adorable face and continued to eat every ounce of food on my plate.

"So umm… " I started nervously. "Have you worked here long?"

"About two years. I am a student at the university so this helps with the bills."

"What are you studying?"

"Creative writing."

"A regular William Shakespeare eh?" I kidded.

"Well, not yet, but maybe someday." She winked back at me.

She was called over to another customer thankfully, now I could try to digest my food. The wall clock showed it was about twelve noon. I wondered how long I could stay there without it looking conspicuous. I didn't want her to leave my sight, ever. I needed to find out more about her. Why was I hearing her voice in my dreams? She didn't seem to recognize me at all.

"I am getting off in a half hour, do you have any plans for the rest of your stay here…" She trailed off.

"Frankie." I outstretched my hand to take hers in mine.

"Frankie." She smiled sweetly giving my stomach another run for it's money.

"I… uh… actually, no, I have no plans today. What did you have in mind?" I inquired.

"Well, I was gong to take a walk down by the beach. You don't see many April days in Chicago that are over seventy degrees."

"Very true. Do you want me to wait for you?"

"If you want. My boyfriend will be here to pick me up. I'm sure he won't mind giving you a ride."

"If it doesn't get you in trouble with your boss, sure I'll wait." I smiled trying to hide my disappointment.

"Great. Well if you see a big burly guy with longish brown hair, that's Billy. Just let him know who you are and you guys can wait for me. Sound good?" She said hopefully.

"Yeah, sure. Why not?" I smiled.

"Great. I'll see you in a bit. I have a few more people to serve and then I'll be done." She grinned.

"See you soon. I'll keep watch for Billy."

"Excellent. Bye." She said as she disappeared into the kitchen. I don't know why I agreed to going out with her and her boyfriend. I'm just a sucker for a beautiful face, and she definitely fell into that category. Here goes nothing. A tall longhaired guy walked into the diner.

That has to be Billy.

He looked over at me and I smiled at him and approached.

"Are you Billy?" I asked.

"I'll be whoever you want me to be baby." He said as I swallowed back the bile that had found its way into my throat.

"Well, Annie said someone with your description would be coming in here soon. I just assumed it was you. I apologize if I was mistaken." I said through clenched teeth.

"Where is Annie? She better not be late getting off work again. I got shit to do." He grumbled.

"Well she didn't say that she was going to be late. If she is no big deal, I got no where to be." I challenged.

"Well I'll give her five minutes… after that I'm outta here." He stated.

I rolled my eyes and watched the clock over the kitchen doors.

Just as I was going to have to control myself Annie walked through the doors with thirty seconds to spare.

"Girl you are damn lucky you are on time." He walked up to her and grabbed her upper arm rather roughly. "You said twelve thirty. You know how I hate to be kept waiting." I saw fear shining through the pale green eyes that were so bright a half-hour ago.

"Sorry Billy. I won't be late next time." She weakly smiled.

"Well see that you aren't, or I won't be here when you come out." He released her arm and started walking towards the door. "Well, are you coming or not?" He grouched again.

"Yeah, come on Frankie. Let's not waste this wonderful day. You don't mind that I invited her do you Billy?" She asked tentatively.

"Whatever, let's just go." He said as he stormed out the front door.

I gave her a tiny smile and out of pure reflex rubbed her back. "Well, he was pleasant."

"You just have to get to know him. He is really very sweet." She defended.

"Oh, I'm sure. I hope to have someone like that father my children." I deadpanned hoping she wouldn't take offense.

Luckily for me she burst out laughing. "Thank you for that. Sometimes he just gets… well, nevermind. Let's go enjoy that sunshine." She beamed while hiding what looked to be pain.

"Good idea. After you…" I said as I held the door for her.

"Thanks M'Lady." She winked as she left the diner.

The ride to the beach was a quiet one. I could feel the tension between these two, it was very thick. She sat between us in the cabin of his truck. The closeness of her body was making me twitchy. She needed to leave this bastard. And soon. Billy's pick-up truck stopped at the Northeast Beach of Campus, right off Pratt Lane. It was truly an awesome day, and many other patrons felt the same way.

"Wow, how many days do you see like this in April eh Billy?" Annie said excitedly.

"Yeah babe, just point me in the direction of the keg. Corey said he was gonna have one down here today." Billy said looking around. His eyes landing on his target,

"There he is, let's go. I don't want to wait for a cup." He said as he bolted from the truck to find his nectar of the gods.

"It's nice to see a man with priorities." I joked. The look on Annie's face was forlorn. "What is it Annie? Did I say something wrong?" She turned slowly to look at me.

"No, I just don't like him to drink so much. He just won't listen to me. Every time I bring it up we fight and he gets really upset and then he… well let's just say I don't bring it up anymore." She finished quietly.

I was really pissed off now.

If he has done ANYTHING to you, I will kill him where he stands.

My protective feathers were ruffled tremendously. There was something inside of me that needed to protect Annie with everything that I had. I wasn't about to let her down.

"What d'ya say we find a volleyball game or something to watch?" I suggested.

Her face instantly lit up. "What do you mean watch? Let's go kick some ass!" She said with an amazing fire in her eyes. She dashed out to the game already in progress.

Annie ran up to some friends of hers that were there and asked if they needed any more players. I stood at the sidelines of the pseudo playing court and waited for a signal from Annie.

Annie's face was beaming from the sunshine and the adrenaline rush of wanting to play.

I was taken out of my thoughts by a snapping set of fingers in my face. "Frankie? Darlin, you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, do we get to play?" I asked hoping to be able to take out some aggression on an unknowing ball.

"Yes ma'am, this is Betsy, she lives on my floor." She introduced, "Betsy this is Frankie, we just met earlier today. She is very nice." She leaned over conspiratorially to Betsy, "And she is very attractive, don't you think?" My face instantly blushed and I tried to turn away. Annie caught my face with her fingertips, and spoke directly into my eyes. "You are darlin, don't take for granted what you have been given freely." God… those were words to live by. "Hell, you could have anyone here if you wanted!" They both started laughing, and Betsy chimed in,

"And we do mean anyone!"

"Thanks. I guess I'm just not very good at accepting compliments." I said almost shyly, surprising even me.

"Come on Frankie, let's go kick some ass!" Betsy said as she put her arm around my shoulders and led me towards the team.

The three of us took the front row of our little squad and awaited the serve from the other team. I took the middle, Betsy was front right, and Annie the front left.

"Incoming!" Screamed one of girls in the back row. I looked up to see the serve coming right for Annie. She watched the ball come right for her. She connected solidly with the ball and bumped it to Betsy who in turn set it up for my spike. I eyed the ball and leapt as high as I could.

WHACK!

"YES!" The girls on my team shouted as my shot landed in between two girls on the other team in the back row.

"Way to go Frankie!" Annie beamed at me. I couldn't help but smile back.

This was easy. Although, I think I had quite an advantage over them.

"Annie! Get your ass over here!" Billy shouted from the sidelines.

"Billy, I'm in the middle of the game here, give me a couple seconds ok?" She asked.

"No, I want you now! Move it girlie!" He gruffed.

Annie's face fell as she walked over to him. "Hey, sorry guys, I'll be back in a sec." She said.

I couldn't help but watch the interaction between them. Billy was an asshole, plain and simple, I just didn't understand what Annie saw in him. She could do so much better than him. She deserved much better than him. He was just too stupid to realize what he had.

Annie walked over to Billy and again he grabbed her upper arm roughly. "When I ask you to come over to me, you do it! Not in a few seconds or minutes. Now means now!" He sputtered.

"I'm sorry Billy, what is it that you wanted?" She quietly asked.

"We need more beer. Go to the store and get another half barrel." He pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket and handed it to her. Annie took the wadded bills in her hands as she took his keys. She weakly smiled at him and he leaned down for a kiss. He grabbed the back of her hair roughly pulling her head back to face him. She whimpered slightly as she let him kiss her sloppily.

She pulled back and started to walk towards the truck. Billy slapped her ass as she walked away and downed the rest of his beer. He laughed with his buddies about his role in their relationship.

"Damn bitch, never listens to me. I'll straighten her out later on. You think you can embarrass me in front of my friends? I'll teach you some manners…" He trailed off when I approached him.

"What do you want?" He asked as he staggered and tried to focus on me.

"Something tells me that even a dog wouldn't obey you. If she has any sense to her at all, she'll leave your sorry ass. Since I believe she has more sense than you'll ever have, it's just a matter of time." I really wanted to lay him out, but something told me that this wasn't a good time for that.

"Bitch. You sure don't know shit about women. Annie likes the way we are. Don't you baby?" He yelled out to her and she nodded slightly. I couldn't believe my eyes.

"See? She ain't going nowhere. Not without me anyway." He smugly said as his friends joined him in his snickering.

My thoughts took control and I didn't feel the slight tug on my sleeve.

"You want to come with me to the store Frankie?" Annie asked. "I gotta pick up some beer for the guys." She asked with a look that almost pleaded with me to come with her.

"Sure." I said as I eyeballed Billy. "Asshole. Don't say I didn't warn you. She'll be gone before you know it." I smiled at him in a feral kind of way.

"Let's go Annie." I smiled a sweet smile her way and turned towards the truck.

"Hey Bets! We'll be back in a few, OK?" Annie shouted at our teammate.

"Sure guys! See you soon! Don't do anything I wouldn't!" She shouted back to us.

We walked to the truck in moderate silence. Annie looked distraught, and it wasn't hard to figure out why. Her so-called boyfriend had just humiliated her, and you can be guaranteed that it wasn't the first time. We got in the truck and sat in silence for a few moments.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked softly.

She looked up with tear filled eyes that almost broke my heart. "I don't know why he has to drink so much. He is never like this when we are alone. I'm sorry that you had to see that, being that we just met and all. Thanks for sticking up for me though." She added as she gently touched my forearm.

"Who wouldn't stick up for you? He was being a real jerk and he needed to be told off." I explained.

"Well, still, thank you. I really appreciated that."

"I'll do it again if I have to Annie. He shouldn't treat you like that. Drunk or not, he was an asshole. Forgive me for saying so."

"No need to apologize, Billy was being an asshole. I just need to stick up for myself more. It's just…" She trailed off. "Well let's just say he doesn't like those discussions." She said to the air above her as she rested her head against the seat and blew out an exasperated breath.

"Annie, I know you and I really don't know each other well, but can I ask you a personal question?"

Her eyes returned to mine. "Sure. I can't promise I'll answer, but you can ask." She smiled weakly.

"OK, there is no easy way of asking this, so I'm just gonna ask."

"Ok." She fully focused in on me.

"Does Billy hit you?"

She turned in the driver's seat and gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. I could see tears rolling down her face. I reached up to wipe away her tear when she flinched at my touch. Her face went from showing sadness to fear in a matter of milliseconds.

"Hey… Annie? You don't ever need to be afraid of me. I would never lay a hand on you. Please know that." I said in my most gentle but most reassuring tone.

"I'm sorry Frankie… " She started. She looked out towards the beach and took a deep breath before continuing. "No one… Knows anything… No one has ever even bothered to ask. It took a total stranger to see all of this. You don't feel like a stranger to me though. I'm so comfortable with you; it's almost scary." She turned to face me and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know how to leave him. It's always been this way. My dad was the same way with my mom… well before she left us."

"She left you with your dad?" I asked.

"Yeah… He had never hit me, so I guess she thought I would be safe. She just knew that she had to leave. She left me a note though… wasn't that thoughtful? That was over ten years ago. I've never heard from her since."

Somewhere in this conversation I found a very sad and lonely girl. She was becoming a statistic. Raised by a father who beat her mother, who in turn started beating her, and now she was dating a man who beat her too.

"Frankie?" She broke me from my reverie.

"Sorry, kinda spaced out there for a minute. You know, my mom left my Pop and me when I was two. So I kinda know where you are coming from. The only difference is that my Pop didn't beat me." I said honestly.

"You were one of the lucky ones that's for sure. It just makes you wonder why, you know?" She rhetorically said, I knew she wasn't looking for an answer.

"Well, if you need help with Billy, I'll be here for you, I promise." I said as I noticed her rolling her eyes. I took her forearm gently but firm enough for her to face me. "A Camarelli never breaks a promise." I said very seriously.

"Thank you Frankie, I think I might even believe you." She replied.

"Good, because I'm very serious about this." I finished as she took my hand in hers and gave it a squeeze.

"Let's get this damn thing over with. I can't believe that they drank all of that already. This party only started a couple hours ago." She said disbelieving.

Annie started the engine and we headed off to liquor store. We drove down Sheridan Road and I was still in shock from all of the changes that I was witnessing.

We drove past the 400 Theater and I looked at the Marquis. The Godfather Part II. My head was spinning so badly I felt like I was in Back to the Future.

"I think I liked the third Godfather the best." I said without thinking,

"The third Godfather? Frankie, there are only two."

Dumb. Dumb. Dumb Frankie!

"I meant I liked this one the third time that I saw it."

"Oh." Annie said as she was eyeing me suspiciously.

"I need some music, do you mind if I turn on the radio?" I quickly asked.

"Sure, I could use some myself." She said as she leaned over to turn on the radio.

She was turning the tuning knob like mad. God I forgot how radio's used to look without a CD player or a cassette deck in them. I wouldn't have been surprised to have seen an eight track in there somewhere. She finally settled on Elton John's

I had always had a soft spot for Elton John. It made me happy to see that she felt the same way. I watched her as she sang along with the melody as the chorus kicked in. She had a beautiful singing voice.

I smiled as I watched her slam out sound of the B's in the word Bennie over and over again. I looked over at her and she started to look a little fuzzy to me. I rubbed my eyes and tried to sharpen my vision. I felt myself get extremely tired and was helpless to fight it off. I closed my eyes thinking that if I rested for a second or two I would feel better. My eyes were shuttering close and I could see Annie talking to me but I couldn't hear her voice anymore.

"Annie? Annie?" I heard myself mumble.

"Frankie? Come on sweetheart, wake up." I heard a familiar voice say. "Frankie? You are dreaming Hon, come on wake up." I finally recognized the voice, but it wasn't Annie, it was Crystal. Oh shit… no…

My eyes slowly opened to find concerned brown ones staring back at me. The curly brown hair and deep brown eyes were unmistakably Crystal. She looked down with a small smile on her lips.

"Welcome back darlin. Are you ok?" She asked, but I couldn't speak. After a couple of attempts I finally took a deep breath and concentrated on forming words that were so hard to annunciate.

"No… it couldn't have been… God damn it." I closed my eyes as they were filling with tears.

"Frankie? What's wrong? Shh… why are you crying?" She gently asked as she stroked my sweat soaked bangs.

"I can't believe it was just a dream. I just cant… She was right here… I touched her Crystal… Oh God…" I rolled onto my stomach and began to cry mournfully. I felt a loneliness I hadn't felt since my Pop passed away.