Gerty V in gerty

Charlotte stood near the doorway with James saying her goodbyes. Gerty had manipulated herself out of the hospital. Charlotte leveraged herself out on Gerty’s coat tails.

“You know James, if you ever get that PhD you might want to ring me up. I am always in the market for a promising young man in my life as long as he knows I am a girl of great needs.”

James flashed a grin and pictured what kind of life that would really be. Exciting and doomed to failure was his thought.

Gerty had said her goodbyes and was standing at the bottom of the steps waiting for her limo to arrive. Charlotte’s parents have already pulled up front and were silently standing with Doctor Castro. They were not upset about Charlotte’s incident other than she had to come back home. Gerty came over and struck up a conversation.

“So Mr and Mrs Bergstein I see you are from Connecticut. I hear it is lovely there. Do you live on the shore?”

Mrs. Bergstein took a look at the adorable young stranger and asked,

“And who are you my dear?’

Well I’m Gerty, one of Charlotte’s closest friends here. We are both getting out today.”

The Bergstein’s were surprised Charlotte could make a female friend. Usually she turned toxic on anyone she saw as competition for the attentions of the young men around her.

“Yes, we live in Bridgeport and have a lovely coastal home. Charlotte should invite you by some day.”

“That would be just grand if she did. Who knows maybe I’ll stop by sometime and surprise her.”

With that Gerty gave the Bergstein’s a big smile and walked away to the curb to wait for her ride.

Charlotte noticed Gerty talking to her parents and immediately sensed things were not right. Charlotte knew Gerty should not be trusted for anything including talking to her parents. Charlotte gave James a quick hug and knowing nod to stay in touch. She headed down the steps where her bags and parents waited.

“What did she want?”

The Bergstein’s recognized the all too familiar sound of disrespect in their daughter voice. They rued what home life will be like now she is back.

“Your friend was just being polite and showing interest in where you lived sweetheart.”

“Friend? That bitch is no friend of mine! What did you tell her mother?

Eleanor Bergstein had spent a lifetime of exercising calm in dealing with her daughter and her childish disposition. She just learned to roll with the punches and count the days until she could let her take her own path.

“I just mentioned we are from Bridgeport.”

Charlotte exploded.

“You told where we live? The girl’s a psycho mother! She’s hates my guts!”

Eleanor mused “no shock there.” .

The limo for Gerty finally arrived and the familiar face of Fritz Schultz shone through the windshield. The estate had employed Fritz upon Gerty being orphaned. There would be no strange uninvestigated males in Gerty’s life. Gerty would be surrounded with familiar employees she would hopefully come to trust. Fritz seemed to have succeeded in this endeavor.

Fritz was out of the vehicle. The bags were in the trunk within moments and Gerty was politely placed in the back seat. The car was off and down the driveway without a word of goodbye.

“Change of clothes per you request Miss Gerty.”

“Thank you Fritz.”

The privacy screen immediately rolled up and Gerty changed out of what she felt was nothing more than a disguise. Once dressed in jean shorts and a two button polo Gerty said,

“Fritzy, we need to find us an army surplus store.”

Last updated December 30, 2016