Joe by Jacqueline Druga Page B

“But you do kind of have a knack for moving him.”
    “It’s realistic huh?”
    Henry tilted his head. “You do it good. You just need to work on the mouth thing.”
    “Here comes Jenny. Man, she looks pissed.”
    “Don’t make Bob talk to her, then Frank, she’ll get even madder.”
    “Frank,” Jenny said in a scolding tone, arms folded.
    Bob peeked down from Frank’s arms and straight into Jenny’s eyes.
    Jenny looked at the dummy. “Why is that thing in my face?”
    “Thing?” Bob retorted. “Thing. She called me a thing Frank.”
    “I heard.”
    “Frank.” Jenny huffed out. “I can …”
    “What do you need toots?” Bob asked. “Gotta go through me to get to the big guy.”
    “Frank, I can see your lips move, you’re not fooling me.” Jenny raised her eyebrows.
    Frank turned his head into his shoulder hiding his mouth. “No you can’t.”
    “Frank!”
    At first he answered as Bob, ‘What!” then Frank cleared his throat. “Yes.”
    Jenny opened her mouth to speak. “Can you please put that away? I need to speak to you.”
    “He’s my friend, he stays. He may be my new advisor.”
    “I find it annoying, especially now.”
    Henry interjected. “You know, Jenny, you’re not being very nice.”
    “Oh, and this dummy doesn’t annoy you?” she asked.
    “Since he irks you, he doesn’t annoy me anymore. Thanks, Bob.”
    “You’re welcome,” Bob said.
    Jenny growled. “Fine. Be childish. Frank, at the hospital they said they are waiting on you to speak to Jimmy before they release him. Can you go do that?”
    “On my way now.”
    “And can you be a leader and have a town meeting?”
    “Why?”
    “The brain flu. We need an antidote and an update.”
    “Talk to Roy.”
    “Who?” Jenny questioned.
    “Who's Roy?” Henry followed up.
    “Roy?” Frank asked. “What are you talking about?”
    Jenny said, “You told me to talk to Roy.”
    “No I didn’t.”
    “Yes you did.”
    “You did, Frank.” Henry added.
    “I did?” Frank looked at Bob. “Did I say Roy?”
    “No, I did,” Bob replied.
    “Fuckin Bob.” Frank shook his head. “Sorry.”
    With a smug look, Jenny tightened her arms go her body. “You of all people have no right to joke around today since the jig is up for you buster.” She poked him in the chest.
    “What the fuck are you talking about?”
    “You know and when El finds out and knows then with Ellen’s support I’m moving for your impeachment.”
    “For what? I didn’t start the brain flu.”
    “Sometimes I wonder.” Jenny spun hard and walked briskly toward the school.
    “She wants to impeach me over the brain flu?”
    “Don’t worry about it, Frank,” Henry said. “She’s just upset about something.”
    “To blame me for a virus.”
    “Maybe it’s something else.”
    “Man, and people call me retarded.” He looked at Bob. “Ready to go, Bob?”
    “Yeah, let’s get out of here.”
    “See ya Henry.” Frank gave a nod and walked off with the dummy.
    “They sometimes have reason to call you that Frank.” Henry mumbled, then after watching Frank talk with the dummy all the way to the clinic, he went back to the truck.
    *****
    So dramatic, Andrea closed her eyes as she stood with Melissa in the lab. “Sweet Jesus, was Jenny upset or what?”
    “I think she was mad because Ellen is her best friend.”
    “And Richie, he walked in at the right time.” Andrea said. “Was it me or did he seem to enjoy hearing it.”
    “Shocked, like us all. I’m glad he’s the one breaking the news to Ellen.”
    “How many children did we have at the clinic yesterday?” Andrea asked.
    “Tons, it was immunization day.”
    “So any of them could be Frank’s illegitimate child.” Andrea shook her head. “Why hide it? And who is the mother? Which woman around here would sleep with Frank behind Ellen’s back?”
    “I think the question should be which woman would beside Ellen would sleep with Frank.”
    So motherly, Andrea reached out.