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Click HERE for all of Don’t Forget Schuster.
Click HERE for all of Route 66-based story.

mystery story sequel-continuation

Having finished his reminiscing & locked up the house, Vern steered his 1975 Caprice Classic out of the 2-car detached garage; he’d decided to do what Marty suggested. But, as he drove the Caprice past the house towards the main road, the seemingly-sophisticated & unmistakeable front of a 1977 Chrysler New Yorker, a face probably just as stoic as the person driving the car, turned into his driveway. He stopped the Caprice just out in front of the house & the huge Chrysler stopped next to it, such that the respective drivers were sitting next to each other.

“What brings you here?” Vern asked while Old Lady Yannich pulled her car to a final rest.

“Well,” her voice cracked, “looks like I’m just in time. I want a ride in that convertible of yours. Figured it’s about time.”

To understand the irony of that statement, you had to have been there when, just about a year after Old Lady Yannich bought her brand new 1974 Ford LTD coupe, Vern had bought the 1975 Caprice convertible off the new-car dealer lot. Back then, Old Lady Yannich prided herself in having the town’s newest car, & Vern’s purchase 1-upped her, & she did not like that. Course, her dislike for Vern hastened her aggravation. So, when she was able to buy again, she bought the 1977 Chrysler New Yorker sedan to spite Vern, or so many thought.

Vern shrugged: “I suppose you could go with me, if you want.”

Old Lady Yannich hadn’t waited for the invite; she’d already rolled up her car’s windows, got out, locked the car & walked towards the Caprice’s passenger side door.

“Do you want me to help you?” Vern asked, half-yelled, while watching Old Lady Yannich walk across the front of the Caprice.

“No,” Old Lady Yannich said as emphatically as she could with her feeble voice. “I’m already half way to the door now.”

Vern tried not to roll his eyes. Meanwhile, Old Lady Yannich carefully opened the passenger door & slowly got in. Once settled, she looked at Vern & said: “Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s go!”

Vern nodded & steered the Caprice towards the road. He started to turn right, but Old Lady Yannich said: “What are you going that way for? I just came from town. I know you weren’t going to just drive this to town.”

Without admitting anything, Vern turned the Caprice to the left & said: “OK, we can take the long way, I guess.”

No sooner were they on the road than Old Lady Yannich revealed why she was there, verifying Vern’s hunch about the reason for her visit: “I hear you are postponing your trip to Nashville.”

“So, Marty put you up to this, did he?” Vern asked without taking his eyes off the road.

“No, Marty didn’t put me up to anything,” Old Lady Yannich said innocently. “But, he’s very concerned about you.”

“I know,” Vern half-sighed.

“Do you remember when I came to tell you & Amy about my son’s death?”

“Yes,” Vern affirmed, thinking to himself, ‘How could I not?’

“Well, do you remember what your Amy told me?”

“She told you many things….” Vern let his thought & voice trail off because he knew what she meant.

“Yes, she sure did!” Old Lady Yannich’s voice had a high-pitch crack. “Now, since you’re driving, mind the road while I tell you something about what your Amy told me.”

Vern nodded, noticing the “your” in front of “Amy”. Not completely new, but it sure seemed to reinforce Old Lady Yannich’s softening view of him.

“Anyway,” Old Lady Yannich attempted to clear her throat. “Your Amy told me that we must continue moving forward in life because, if we don’t, we are disrespecting our loved ones. & Vern, by postponing your trip to see your Nephew, you are doing just what your Amy said not to do!”

Vern shook his head: “But, I am moving forward. I just want to celebrate Ricky’s life with the rest of our town & then watch the groundbreaking for the new gas station.”

“I know,” Old Lady Yannich said, “but something we’ve always been taught around here … family comes 1st. That would be your Nephew, not us townsfolk.”

“On that we disagree,” Vern said. “Townsfolk here ARE family, just like my Nephew.”

“We’ve disagreed on a lot of things,” Old Lady Yannich said, while Vern continued driving, her voice becoming more feeble, slow & deliberate as she spoke. “But, I’ll tell ya, I was wrong about you. You were exactly what Amy needed & Amy was exactly what you needed. My son messed things up with Amy, & I couldn’t be angry with him, he’s my son, you know. So, I had to be mad at someone else, & since I loved Amy, I had to be mad at you.”

“I know,” Vern acknowledged. “But that just goes to show townfolk around here ARE family.”

“So, why are you stalling going to Nashville?” Old Lady Yannich blurted out, desperately trying to change the subject. She despised vulnerability, & she had just landed herself there big time.

“I’m not,” Vern said.

“That’s not the way it looks from my vantage point, Vern. You know people will understand if you’re not at Ricky’s services. &, as for the groundbreaking, good night shirt tail, how many groundbreakings have you missed already in this town?”

“Point taken, but with all due respect, I want & feel the need to be here for both this time.”

“Well, OK,” Old Lady Yannich conceded. “You know best, I suppose. But, go ahead & turn back around so I can get back home now.”

“Yes ma’am,” Vern said, starting to steer the Caprice around to change course. “Oh, & tell Marty, he doesn’t need to worry about me as much as he is. I am FINE.”