| Mystery and Crime Fiction posted July 28, 2024 | Chapters: |
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Hattie meets more residents.
A chapter in the book Murder At The Berkshire
What Is In A Name
by Douglas Goff
Previously:
With Hattie being alone and her daughters living out of state, the older daughter placed her in a home for the elderly.
New Chapter:
“So, I hope you’re finding our little place hospitable?”
“I—-“
“Because that’s what we’re all about here at The Berkshire. Everybody who lives here calls it The Berkshire. Friendly hospitality is important. Don’t you agree?”
“Well—-“
“Anyways, I heard you’re an author. Anything I may have read?”
“I’m not su—-“
“I read constantly, especially before I go to bed because it always makes me sleepy, not that all books are boring, you know what I mean.”
“Yes, I—”
“Well, you should just fit right in. Everybody loves a celebrity. I could introduce you to my friends if you like?”
“I would—”
“Well, you’ll meet everyone eventually, anyways. I mean, it’s not like we’re going anywhere, is it?”
Hattie kept her mouth shut this time.
“Okay, gotta run. Girl, you sure are a quiet one.” Then Chatty Kathy and her beehive hairdo disappeared into the blue hair sea that surrounded them.
Hattie simply shook her head. That was . . . something.
Hattie noticed a similarly aged Italian man, who had his thick-black hair gelled back, winking at her in a lascivious manner.
Jerk Beefy. That wasn’t his real name, of course, but that is what she had dubbed him on day one. His real name was Howard Martin and he had approached her on her very first day wearing a brown tweed three-piece suit. Never trust a man with two first names. Nor one who wears tweed. At least that’s what my mother used to say.
“If you need somebody to show you around, let me know.” Jerk Beefy had offered. “And the tour ends in my room where you’ll get the full Berkshire experience.”
Hattie had simply ‘harrumphed’ him and scurried as far away as she could. Now, every time she looked at the man, he would merely wink. Save that sleazy crap for a floozy.
A chunky woman with a blue-tinted afro came and sat beside Jerk Beefy. She was Lisa Furlewitz. Lisa roomed directly across from Hattie on the third floor. Now Hattie would like to claim she came up with the name, but the entire center called the woman Moaning Lisa.
That came from the awful moaning that came from her room every other night. It was so loud her first evening at the center that Hattie had gone to knock on her door to check on her. She was interrupted when Jerk Beefy exited Lisa’s room. He simply winked at Hattie and said, “Let me know when you want your turn.”
Jerk Beefy didn’t belong on the third floor as it was reserved for the women. The second floor was for the men. Everything on the first floor was public areas such as the dining room, exercise room, nurse’s center, both large and small reading rooms, a big tv room, a game room, and such common venues.
Hattie ignored the pair that was watching her intently and finished her meatloaf. Strange birds. Just as she was finishing, Barfett came and sat at her table.
The obese woman stared greedily at a large plate of food she had set down, and said nothing to Hattie as she began shoving chicken into her mouth. The chewing was the worst as several greasy chunks escaped from her gnashing teeth and fell back to her plate.
Hattie did not know the frumpy lady’s real name, but Barfett seemed to fit perfectly. With great joy at having finished, Hattie happily rose and took her plates to the dirty dish bin.
As she passed by Jerk Beefy and Moaning Lisa’s table she saw a squat bald man handing the sleazy man a bottle full of blue pills. What the heck? All meds were supposed to be dispensed by the Berkshire nurse, a spunky young blonde lady named Debra. It wouldn’t surprise me if those were drugs. Those two look like dirty hooligans.
Hattie made her way to the third floor where she passed by an abnormally skinny black woman who was quite pretty. The lady, named Nancy, nearly ran into her as she was messing with her hair while staring into an ornate handheld mirror.
She had struggled finding a name for the woman, but now it dawned on Hattie that the lady was always staring in that mirror. In fact, she had never seen her without it. Narcissistic Nancy. Perfect.
Once in her room, Hattie laid on her bed and cried. She had never felt so alone. She would keep her eyes open for an opportunity to connect with people. If I don’t, I will die here.
CHARACTERS:
Hattie May Hatfield-New resident who had made her living as an author
Paul Hatfield-Hattie's deceased police detective husband
Sarah Hatfield-Hattie's oldest daughter
Harold Chapman-Pencil pushing Berkshire Director
Katherinne Beck-Chatty Kathy, a resident who talks constantly
Art Antica-A cold, but cute resident
Grumpy Gus-A cranky, very old residents
Jerk Beefy-An amorous sleazy resident
Moaning Lisa-Jerk Beefy's girlfriend
Narcissistic Nancy-A resident who looks at herself in the mirror constantly
Barfett-a slovenly resident who eats sloppy
Debra-The Berkshire Nurse
Previously:
With Hattie being alone and her daughters living out of state, the older daughter placed her in a home for the elderly.
New Chapter:
“So, I hope you’re finding our little place hospitable?”
“I—-“
“Because that’s what we’re all about here at The Berkshire. Everybody who lives here calls it The Berkshire. Friendly hospitality is important. Don’t you agree?”
“Well—-“
“Anyways, I heard you’re an author. Anything I may have read?”
“I’m not su—-“
“I read constantly, especially before I go to bed because it always makes me sleepy, not that all books are boring, you know what I mean.”
“Yes, I—”
“Well, you should just fit right in. Everybody loves a celebrity. I could introduce you to my friends if you like?”
“I would—”
“Well, you’ll meet everyone eventually, anyways. I mean, it’s not like we’re going anywhere, is it?”
Hattie kept her mouth shut this time.
“Okay, gotta run. Girl, you sure are a quiet one.” Then Chatty Kathy and her beehive hairdo disappeared into the blue hair sea that surrounded them.
Hattie simply shook her head. That was . . . something.
Hattie noticed a similarly aged Italian man, who had his thick-black hair gelled back, winking at her in a lascivious manner.
Jerk Beefy. That wasn’t his real name, of course, but that is what she had dubbed him on day one. His real name was Howard Martin and he had approached her on her very first day wearing a brown tweed three-piece suit. Never trust a man with two first names. Nor one who wears tweed. At least that’s what my mother used to say.
“If you need somebody to show you around, let me know.” Jerk Beefy had offered. “And the tour ends in my room where you’ll get the full Berkshire experience.”
Hattie had simply ‘harrumphed’ him and scurried as far away as she could. Now, every time she looked at the man, he would merely wink. Save that sleazy crap for a floozy.
A chunky woman with a blue-tinted afro came and sat beside Jerk Beefy. She was Lisa Furlewitz. Lisa roomed directly across from Hattie on the third floor. Now Hattie would like to claim she came up with the name, but the entire center called the woman Moaning Lisa.
That came from the awful moaning that came from her room every other night. It was so loud her first evening at the center that Hattie had gone to knock on her door to check on her. She was interrupted when Jerk Beefy exited Lisa’s room. He simply winked at Hattie and said, “Let me know when you want your turn.”
Jerk Beefy didn’t belong on the third floor as it was reserved for the women. The second floor was for the men. Everything on the first floor was public areas such as the dining room, exercise room, nurse’s center, both large and small reading rooms, a big tv room, a game room, and such common venues.
Hattie ignored the pair that was watching her intently and finished her meatloaf. Strange birds. Just as she was finishing, Barfett came and sat at her table.
The obese woman stared greedily at a large plate of food she had set down, and said nothing to Hattie as she began shoving chicken into her mouth. The chewing was the worst as several greasy chunks escaped from her gnashing teeth and fell back to her plate.
Hattie did not know the frumpy lady’s real name, but Barfett seemed to fit perfectly. With great joy at having finished, Hattie happily rose and took her plates to the dirty dish bin.
As she passed by Jerk Beefy and Moaning Lisa’s table she saw a squat bald man handing the sleazy man a bottle full of blue pills. What the heck? All meds were supposed to be dispensed by the Berkshire nurse, a spunky young blonde lady named Debra. It wouldn’t surprise me if those were drugs. Those two look like dirty hooligans.
Hattie made her way to the third floor where she passed by an abnormally skinny black woman who was quite pretty. The lady, named Nancy, nearly ran into her as she was messing with her hair while staring into an ornate handheld mirror.
She had struggled finding a name for the woman, but now it dawned on Hattie that the lady was always staring in that mirror. In fact, she had never seen her without it. Narcissistic Nancy. Perfect.
CHARACTERS:
Hattie May Hatfield-New resident who had made her living as an author
Paul Hatfield-Hattie's deceased police detective husband
Sarah Hatfield-Hattie's oldest daughter
Harold Chapman-Pencil pushing Berkshire Director
Katherinne Beck-Chatty Kathy, a resident who talks constantly
Art Antica-A cold, but cute resident
Grumpy Gus-A cranky, very old residents
Jerk Beefy-An amorous sleazy resident
Moaning Lisa-Jerk Beefy's girlfriend
Narcissistic Nancy-A resident who looks at herself in the mirror constantly
Barfett-a slovenly resident who eats sloppy
Debra-The Berkshire Nurse
© Copyright 2024. Douglas Goff All rights reserved.
Douglas Goff has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.