Conclusion to 'Wheeling"

I headed to the yellow doublewide surrounded with artificial plants that Ron used for an office. The plants added a little glamour, but they also served a strategic purpose. They provided a place for the mobile home salesmen to hide and size up the customers in privacy. As I got closer to the steps of the doublewide I noticed the leaves rustling on one of the fichus, and a couple of sets of eyes peering out.


“It’s just me guys, the sales lady from the radio station.”

The rustling abruptly stopped.

I found Ron at the kitchen table of the doublewide trying to close a deal with a young couple who’d been at the remote since early morning. The husband was tall and thin and wore a navy blue windbreaker with white lettering on the back, Powhatten No.6. The wife looked very young, very tired, and wore a matching windbreaker. A baby about 6 months old sat in her arms grabbing at her long blonde perm. Lou’s live broadcast boomed in the background.

Ron was in high gear. “Now if the down payment is a problem, I bet that pretty wife of yours has a Christmas Club account at First Wheeling with enough to get things started. All we need…..”

The husband abruptly put his hand up to stop Ron in mid-pitch. When Ron didn’t even slow it down, he raised his voice, “I’ve got to hear this….it’s the mine closings.”

“SAGO MINE CLOSED, McELROY MINE CLOSED, POWHATAN NO. 6 CLOSED”

The young husband peered out from under his John Deere cap at his wife, and slowly shook his head while Ron ran his hand through his hair preparing to gear up again. He started to say something to save the sale, but stopped for a moment when he noticed me hovering a few feet away in the breakfast nook waiting for a break in the conversation. I hoped for both our sakes I hadn’t thrown him off his stride.

“The mines always go like that. Open, closed, you know. I know I can get you financed, no problem. Why make the landlord rich? Kiss him good-bye!’

As I listened to the deal fall sadly apart, I repositioned myself in front of the door. I had to get paid today. Cash would be best, but a check, even if it bounced, would buy me time. I shouted out the door and called for Lou to come in and join us. I hoped Lou’s presence would make Ron more willing to reach for the check book when I asked. Even the fake Boxcar might have given me extra leverage.

Lou popped his head in the door “What’s up?”

“Lou, I brought a few more albums with me. They’re in the first bedroom. You want to grab a few? And bring out something special for Ron’s customers.”

“That right Lou, get something special for Chuck and Donna here.” Ron added.

Lou returned with a couple of Staler Brother albums, and handed them to Donna.

 “Now that’s nice.” said Ron. “Some good country to listen to when you’re soaking in that garden tub together” He rubbed his hands together.

Once again Chuck told Ron they had to think about it.

“But can’t you imagine you and your wife….”

“Hey Ron” I jumped in. “I need to talk to you about something…the check?” I lowered my voice.

Lou pretended not to hear this. He continued to examine the back of the album covers with Donna. Unfortunately, Ron pretended not to hear me either, and brushed past me, escorting Chuck and Donna out of the mobile home to continue their discussion without further interruptions.

After Rick, Donna, the baby, and the record albums drove off, Ron promptly disappeared behind two large artificial palms. I looked around the lot for him, and of course none of his salesmen had seen him. I closed my eyes and leaned against the remote truck. I could just see Harry and Jean and the rest of them coming at me like a pack of mad dogs, or sharks.

“Gee Lou, thanks for your help in there.” I pushed the sarcasm as far as I dare.

“No problem.” Lou answered calmly. “Glad to help. The albums were right there.”

I got in my car and headed right to the mall, which served as my third place before I’d even heard of such a thing. I paced for 15 minutes and decided I needed help.

“Doug? This is the new sales lady. Do you have a minute to talk to me? Better yet can you meet me at the mall?”

“I’m married and I have a wife and a dog.”

“Yes, of course I know that, and I respect it. Mary is your wife, right? Doug I need some help.”

I gave him a recap.

He put the phone down on his desk. I heard him shout. “The new saleslady’s been burned by Ron Small. He put her out of business, at the remote.” I could hear the laughter in the background. “What do you think?”

I waited a painful minute for Doug to return to the phone. “We’ve taken a vote. Meet us at the diner next to Ron Small’s in twenty minutes.”

The plan was simple. My job was to stake out Ron’s office. Boom knew Ron’s pick up, so he was assigned to cover it. Joe covered the back exit out of the lot, and Doug parked his car across the front entrance.

As I approached the yellow double wide I saw sudden movement behind the fichus. It was Ron. I shouted, “Ron! It’s me! The lady from the radio station! I need a check!!!”

Ron glanced over his shoulder at me and started walking double time across the lot toward his pick-up.

Joe shouted, “He’s on the run! He’s headed for his vehicle!”

Boom, who was squatting in the bed of the pick-up with just the top of his head visible, popped up too soon, and gave Ron time to change course. Ron took a ninety degree turn toward the back entrance. When he saw Joe’s car parked across it, he made a 180 degree turn, heading toward the front entrance. When he saw Doug’s car, he back tracked into the rabbit warren of mobile homes. I tried to keep track of him, but I lost sight of him, and we had to break into search parties.

After 15 minutes of slamming doors and splashing through mud puddles, Doug shouted. “I have him!”

We all converged on a light blue single wide, left over from two seasons ago and specially priced at $9,999.00 , because of some moderate water damage.

Doug was talking calmly to Ron. “Listen Ron, we need paid. This new saleslady needs her money or she’s going to be out of work. I know you don’t want that.”

Ron murmured sympathetically.

“Now come on out from under the table.”

We all watched in silence as Ron crawled out from under the kitchen table and took a chair. “Business hasn’t been so good lately.”

“Hey we understand. Just give us a few hundred today, and the saleslady will be back next week, and the week after, and the week after that, till she has the rest. At least that way, the new saleslady can keep her job.”

I was very, very grateful to the rest staff and promised myself I would make it up to them at some point. That point came almost a year later.