Dissimulants

Parks was looking out the window when Geli returned from the bathroom. He'd been watching the driver of a compact car attempt to park in a space across the street from the Slot. The space was large enough for a full-size sedan, but after several attempts the driver gave up and drove away.

"Sorry," Geli said, closing the door behind her. "I really had to go." She plopped onto the bed.

Parks remained on his feet, pacing, looking at the collection of objects that Geli had on display around the room. "I don't get your reaction to all this," he said. "I mean, your attitude after I told you about the car chasing me, the cops shooting at me — it's crazy. I'd expect, at minimum, a little surprise or some sort of tension when you heard it."

Geli sighed, locked her hands behind her head, and reclined back onto her pillows. "Well, maybe it doesn't sound that crazy to me."

Parks had no idea what to do with a statement like that. He could have confronted her, asked her to explain it. Instead, he picked up the large marble with blue and pink swirls that she kept in an old ashtray from the Fairmont Hotel. Looking at her indirectly, through the reflection in the dresser mirror, he asked: "Why do you have this type of stuff?"

"I collect things," she said. "And you're drifting from the subject."

"How is one marble a collection?" He asked.

"Parks?" Geli motioned him to sit back on the bed.

Returning her marble to the ashtray, Parks spun in place. He looked her in the eyes. "I think you're keeping something from me.".

"I could say the same thing to you," she said. "For instance, you never told me how you escaped from the car."

It wasn't like he was lying. He'd blacked out during it. He didn't even know the truth. That initial thought — that the car had passed through him — was too ridiculous now. He wasn't willing to make himself sound any crazier than he probably already did.

"I just got away, that's all. I jumped up on the sidewalk, they plowed their car into one parked on the street, and I tore out of the area before they could come after me."

Geli sat there saying nothing. It was this way she had about her. It told Parks she didn't believe him. He knew that the worst way to defend a lie was to explain it. He kept quiet.

Neither said anything for more than a minute. One minute of silence can feel very long.

"Okay. Here's the thing," Geli gave in. "A while ago, I met this old lady who I think might be able to help you."

This wasn't anything that Parks expected to hear. "An old lady?" He covered his eyes with the palms of his hands, rubbed good and hard, and gave a cartoon-style shake of his head. "What is it that we're talking about here?"

Geli took a breath. She didn't want to show anger or attitude at the tone in his question. "I'm going by what you told me," she said. "I think she might be able to help."

"Uh huh. So, how is it you know this old lady?" He asked.

She didn't reply. He didn't ask again. Geli's body language told him not to bother. He knew the look well.

"Okay, whatever," he said. "I'm game to try it. When do we go see her?"

It was late, too late for anything to happen right then. The decision — made by Geli — was that she would go to visit the old lady in the morning, alone, and then come back for Parks if things worked out and the old lady thought she could help.

He didn't bother pushing his own idea that they just go together in the first place. Geli, in a way that she had of eliminating options, laid out the plan with no opening for discussion. Besides, it was late. Both of them had been fighting their eyes for a while. They fell asleep, cuddled together on top of Geli's bed.