C4 An Inauspicious Visit from Aunt Violet

Three weeks after the blog posting …

“No way, Shel; forget it.”

“It’s too late to back out, Mel; arrangements were already made ... you have to do it, now. Besides, we talked it over; and, I thought you were onboard?”

“Yeah, well; I thought about it over some more, and decided to unboard this train wreck of an idea before the actual collision. I swear, I don’t know which one of us is crazier; you for coming up with this idiotic idea, or, me for saying that I would do it.”

“What’s so idiotic about it, Mel? You could use the money; right?”

“Well … sure; but …”

“And; wasn’t he going to give you a $500,000 check to keep quiet?”

“Yeah; but …”

“Enough with the ‘buts’ already, girl; you need the money, and they got it … and then some. Trust me, the Bromley’s are loaded; so, what’s wrong with you getting a little piece of the action, huh?”

“Maybe; I don’t know … I suppose you have a point …but; this just feels wrong.”

“Feels wrong? … Mel, look at it this way; if I were you in position, my attitude would be like … ‘if getting what’s mine is wrong; I don’t want to be right’.

Melinda slowly shakes her head and grins...

“Relying on lyrics from the 70’s to get your point across, I see.”

Shelby smirks...

“Gotta love them golden oldies. Besides; whatever works I always say. … So, come on, girl; and, ‘shake that booty’ … let’s go.”

Shelby gets into her car.

Melinda thinks…

Oh, well … guess it’s time to get my groove on.

Melinda gets in. And, there off … on their way to the Bromley Crown Royal Hotel … to get what Melinda has coming to her.

********

Three days after the blog posting …

'Gone; but not forgotten'; another old saying … one that’s way more poignant than the one quoted by that douche bag … but, one that’s giving Melinda just as much grief.

The article and photos may have simply vanished from the internet a few days ago; but; the memory of it is fresh in the minds of everyone that happened to view it while it was still posted.

And, of course; thanks to the ‘insane luck’ bestowed upon Melinda McDaniels ... ‘she’ had been one of those viewers.

Melinda’s sitting at a small dinette table, going through a daily accumulating pile of mail; or, more like, bills. And, while a few of them haven’t reached their due date, yet; most of the rest are an assortment of second notice, third notice, and, Melinda’s ‘favorite’, final notice.

She’s racking her brains out over trying to figure out a solution to their financial dilemma, thinking…

Darn … I should have took that check … stupid, stupid, stupid.

Ray sits down at the table, and starts eating cereal that's filling a large, Tupperware bowl to the brim; saturated in what looks like could almost be a quart of milk. Her attention is momentarily drawn away from the bills, as she gawks in disbelieve at the ridiculously large serving.

Ray asks, with a heaping spoonful of cereal still in his mouth; and, milk running down his chin...

“What?”

With her eyes scrutinizing the size of the bowl...

“Little hungry there; are we?”

Ray shovels in another spoonful of cereal; and, gulps it down before cheekily replying...

“Might as well eat while we still got food left.”

Melinda knows Ray’s just trying to be funny; but, right now, she’s not feeling very humorous. She’s really worried … in fact; this is the most worried about their finances she’s ever been since their mom passed.

Shortly, Bob meanders up to the table, with a can of beer already in hand; dressed in his usual morning attire … a dingy pair of boxer shorts, with a pronounced yellowish-tint from urine stains around the ‘fly’ area; a dingy ‘wife-beater’ style t-shirt, with food and coffee stains; and, a pair of, yes, dingy tube socks; with holes where the big toe used to fit in, on both socks.

He plops down in a chair; and, Ray flippantly quips …

“Ah; good ol’ Budweiser … the breakfast of champions.”

Focusing on the size of the bowl sitting in front of Ray; Bob resorts to a ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ reference...

“It’s too early in the morning to be giving me your shit, ‘Jethro’.”

Melinda thinks…

And; it’s also too early in the morning to be chugging down a beer.

She grabs a bunch of the bills from the pile in front of her, and starts waving them in the air; while announcing...

“I think it’s time we start focusing on how to get some money coming into the household.”

Bob takes a big swig of beer; then, unabashedly remarks...

“Why don’t you get your rich CEO boyfriend to float us some money? After all, you’ve been given him the goodies; ain’t you?”

Infuriated; Melinda decides it’s best to bite her tongue for a moment, before saying something that they’ll both really regret her saying.

Of course; she’s really only concerned about the ‘her’ part of that equation … so, in the meantime; she snatches the beer out of his hand, and stomps off into the kitchen to dump it down the sink.

When Melinda returns, she sits back at the table, and starts gathering up all the bills; while adamantly informing her father …

“First of all; Edward Bromley is not my boyfriend ... nor, am I in any sort of tryst with him. And; I’m certainly not ‘giving him the goodies’ … which, by the way, is really not a ‘respectable fatherly comment’ for a dad to say to his own daughter.

Second; any person with half a brain would be able to realize that, considering how that blog was taken off the internet so fast. So; I really shouldn’t have had to tell you that he isn’t my boyfriend in the first place.

And, finally; if you want money so bad … go out and earn it yourself.”

She throws the stack of bills down on the table in front of him...

“And, by the looks of those; you better do it fast.”

Ray quips, “And … looks like the shit just hit the fan; ladies and gentlemen.”

Melinda snaps, “Quiet, Ray; I’m being serious here! ... Just finish eating.”

Taking into account the anger evident in her tone ... and, that seething gleam in her eyes ... Ray figures it’s best to ‘runaway now, and live to fight another day’; so, he goes back to shoveling spoonful’s of cereal into his mouth.

She’s glaring at Bob; who’s keeping his eyes staring downwards to avoid having to look the ‘ferocious wild beast’ directly in the eyes.

With a touch of a sublimely, submissive inflection in his delivery …

“Jesus, kiddo; you’re just as much of a firecracker as your mother was.”

“Well; I’ll take that as a compliment.”

He starts to slowly flip through the bills...

“But, you’re right; we need to get a hold of some money … and, pronto.”

The doorbell rings; and, an agitated, on-edge Melinda exasperatedly huffs …

“Now, what? … Ray; go see who’s at the door.”

A now ‘wiser’ Ray immediately follows her orders; keeping his mouth shut.

And, when he returns with the visitors; Melinda instinctively rolls her eyes … sort of like an automatic reaction which occurs every time she sees them … and, she thinks…

Aunt Violet and Julia? Well … I guess it’s true what they say; ‘when it rains; it pours’.”

Aunt Violet, her mom’s sister, never liked Melinda’s dad; but, tolerated him for her sister’s sake. But, now that mom’s gone; Aunt Violate is free to despise him. And, of course, being his offspring; the same rules have always applied to Melinda and Ray.

Aunt Violet … along with her daughter, Julia … have always condescendingly looked down upon them; just because she had fortuitously married into the nouveau rich class.

Catching a glimpse of the eye roll; Aunt Violet addresses Melinda in her typical, haughty tone...

“What’s the matter with you, Melinda? By the expression on your face, I’d have to surmise that you’re not too happy to see me and your cousin.”

Melinda immediately thinks…

‘Surmise’; really? Is that how all those hoity-toity types in your circle speak?

Then, she impishly grins; as she retorts with a facetious innuendo...

“Don’t be ridiculous, Aunt Violet; you should know by now that I’m always as happy to see you, as you are to see us.”

Aunt Violet patronizingly smirks...

“I see you still like to wield that sharp tongue of yours around; missy. I suppose it’s to be expected from this bunch, though … a useless, drunkard father; a flippant, wisecracking … and, from what I recall from the grades he use to get … a slacker of a son; and, last but not least, a sharp-tongued, impudent, whore of a daughter.

Honestly; I know that at this very moment, my dear sister must be rolling in her grave. God rest her soul.”

Melinda loses it; and, the claws are out.

“Whoa … hold up … what do you mean by ‘whore of a daughter’? Who in the hell do you think you’re calling a whore; you old, faux rich bitch.”

Julia abruptly interjects, “Don’t you dare speak to my mother like …”

Melinda throws up her hand; and, sternly stares at Julia.

“Stay out of it, you wanna be princess; unless you’re ready to lose those poorly entwined hair extensions of yours. … Seriously, you guys always brag about how much money you have; can’t you at least afford a better weave?”

Melinda looks back over and reproachfully glares at her aunt …

“Now; you … who are you calling a whore; again?

“Of course, I’m speaking about the sharp-tongued, impudent one standing in front of me; whose face was plastered all over the internet the other day, after being caught at the Bromley Crown Royal Hotel in a compromising position with none other than Mr. Edward Bromley himself.

Now; tell me … and; be totally honest with me, missy … are you having an affair with the man; or, not?”

Her ire is skyrocketing; but; for the sake of her mother’s memory, Melinda wants to try to quell it down … at the very least; keep it in check enough so she doesn’t go overboard too much.

She’s already feeling a little guilty over the whole ‘faux rich bitch’ thing. But, of course; she still has no intention on fully curbing her sharp-tongued, impudent side. So …

“To be totally honest with you, Aunt Violet; whether I am, or not, is really none of your business. But; just to clear the air, and clarify things … no; I am not having an affair with him.”

With a smug face now etched upon her face...

“Of course you aren’t; why would you be … there’s no way a man as wealthy and prominent as Mr. Bromley would ever waste his time with such a lowly, status girl as you.

This was apparently a fabricated scandal created to incite a sensation on the internet. I knew it all along.”

“Really, Aunt Violet;” with a slight impish grin...

“if you knew it all along; then, why’d you bother to come all the way out here just to ask me if I was having an affair with him or not? … What; don’t tell you felt like slumming it for the day?”

“Actually, Melinda; I just wanted to make sure that you aren’t trying to upstage your cousin’s upcoming engagement to William Buckley III ... a senior Vice President in the Rendall Corporation.

I’m sure you’re aware that day is rapidly approaching; and, the last thing I want is for any negative attention to be thrown upon this glorious event by embarrassing … and; I really hate to say this … relatives.”

“So; I’m guessing then, we shouldn’t be looking for our invitation in the mail?”

“I repeat ... always the sharp-tongued, impudent girl.”

“Hey, Vi …”

What are you doing, Dad … you know Aunt Violet hates it when you call her ‘Vi’.

“Not to change the subject; but, if I can talk to you for a minute about something else.”

Not to change the subject … that’s exactly what you’re doing. … Speaking of; just what exactly are you up to, now?

“It’s just, we’re kind of in a bind here … financially …”

Please don’t, Dad; not now … not ever. Please don’t ask her what I think you’re about ask … please don’ do …

“So; I was wondering if you can give us some money to hold us over until Melinda can find another job.”

And; he did it … crap! … And; why is it that I have to be the one to find the job? … Like this whole thing is my fault that we need money.

Aunt Violet derisively sneers at Bob.

“Perhaps all that alcohol that you’ve ingested over the years has finally killed off enough of your brain cells to do permanent brain damage; or perhaps, you’re just simply daft … but, didn’t you just hear what I said?

Julia is about to be engaged; and then, married not too long after that. I’m obviously planning on making both these ceremonies grand events; which means, I’ll have no available funds to squabble away on trifling, frivolous nuisances, such as yourselves.

And, even if I did have the funds to spare; I’m positive that there are plenty of other charities out there that would actual matter to me.”

A totally oblivious Bob, shamelessly asks...

“So … is that a definite no; or, you need to make sure you’ll have enough for the engagement and wedding first?”

Darn it, Dad … I swear; you’re both brain damaged and daft.

An obnoxiously pompous Aunt Violet condescendingly remarks...

“Come now, Julia; we wasted enough of our precious time here in this hovel. There’s still plenty to be done before your engagement ceremony …” She specifically looks to Melinda...

“Which, by the way; I’m looking forward to ‘not seeing’ certain unwanted relatives attending … so; we need to be on our way.”

And, with that; Aunt Violet and Cousin Julia take off on their ‘high horses’ … ending this inauspicious visit.

********

Back to three weeks after the blog posting …

Still seething in the shadow of Aunt Violet’s barrage of belittling criticisms arrogantly targeted at her family during that brief, unceremonious ‘family reunion’ … and, wanting to make sure that her prideless father doesn’t go graveling back to her pretentious aunt for money ever again…

Melinda has agreed ... albeit, not without reservations ... to allow Shelby to coordinate, and assist her in getting what she has rightfully coming from Mr. Edward Bromley; after the degrading way he treated her that morning.

After pulling into the first available space she comes upon in the underground parking garage of the Bromley Crown Royal Hotel; Shelby hastily exits the car … eagerly raring to implement her self-proclaimed ‘ingenious’ plan.

Melinda remains sitting in the passenger seat of the car; once again feeling apprehensive about going through with it.

Shelby knocks on the passenger side window ... drawing the seemingly catatonic-looking Melinda’s attention … and gestures for her to open the door. Once she does; a zealous Shelby ushers her out of the car …

“Come on, Mel; it’s time to get this party started.”

“I don’t know … are you really sure we’re doing the right thing here?”

“Yes, girl; I’m sure. … You deserve compensation for what that jerk … no, wait; I believe the term you repeatedly used was ‘asshole’ … did to you.

And, now; we’re going to take him for all the money you can get your hands on. … Now; hurry up before we’re late.”

“Alright, alright; fine, I’m coming.”

And, off they go: Shelby Harris, a one-and-a-half year Junior Assistant Concierge employee of the Bromley Crown Royal Hotel; and, Melinda McDaniels ... the soon to be newest hire of the Bromley Crown Royal Hotel.