Short Story
In center of a hall in a country club stands an annoyed young man watching as it's made ready for a party that evening. There's extravagant yet tasteful party decorations, mood lighting, and a very large birthday cake taking up half of the front table.
"Chauncey I specifically said I didn’t want all of this. And what’s with all the cake? How many times do I have to say I’m more of a pie person?"
"Sorry sir. But your parents demanded it," said the butler as he scurried off to check everything was going smoothly.
Ricky sighed loudly and looked out the window to where the tents for tomorrows golf tournament were being set up. He noticed a small woman in a jumper darting across the golf course with several golf bags on either shoulder. However, only one had any clubs in it. She kept flashing her caddie badge in the face of anyone who even glanced her way. She finally made it across to the door of the hall and chucked the one legit sack behind the shrubs. As she came inside the bags got caught on the door and they fell to the floor. There was a clatter and as the door swung closed dirt was swept everywhere. Chauncey would not be happy about that. Surprisingly, no one seemed to hear the commotion.
"Hey bub, what’s with all the cake?" said Lisa.
"What’s with all the bags?" Ricky responded.
"Touché."
"And why’s there so much dirt coming out of them?" He continued.
Eliza hurried and moved in front of his line of vision as if that would stop him from seeing what he already saw. She clutched her caddie badge around her neck.
"Geez what’s with the third degree? What does it look like, I’m a caddie! She thrust the badge in his face. The photo was partially covered by her fingers. Below it read: Lisa Lauren.
"Yes, well caddies don’t usually carry that many sacks and they usually take better care of them. You must be new. What are you doing in here?"
What’s it to you? I-I’m on my way to the caddie yard," she said sharply while beginning to gather her things.
"Do you know something? I’ve never trusted anyone who’s whole name is two first names. Even a new caddie knows you don’t go through the main building to get to the yard."
Lisa stiffened. Her bags fell off her shoulder and more dirt and bits of leaves and branches came pouring out. She scrambled to shove everything back into them.
"You know I think I recognize you. This whole thing is for you isn’t it? Your Richard Damon Jr. YOU HAVE TWO FIRST NAMES! Your parents own this stupid country club. They torn down 10 acres of trees to make it. I didn’t realize a boring game of golf was more important than oxygen!"
Ricky’s mouth hung open. Snapping it shut, he said, "Please, Richard Damon’s my father, hence the distrust. I go by Ricky. Allow me to assist you. What do you have there anyway?"
"I can’t tell you," she responded sourly. "I know your kind. You’re practically one with this place. I mean just look at the size of that birthday cakes you ordered! Do you really need so much? I know a country club rat when I see one."
"I. don't. like. cake."
"Well what the hell does that matter? You're still a rat."
"It...it just does! I’m just more of a pie person that’s all. It’s a personal preference. If a person wants to be able to eat pie on their birthday, they should be able to..." he said adjusting his collar and puts his hand on the nape of his neck. "Anyway if I wanted to I could’ve already called for someone to remove you."
Lisa rolled her eyes.
"You’ve just said you don’t trust yourself. Why should I trust you Country Club Rat?"
He smirked and musters up his best snooty voice, "because Country clubs don’t have rats."
Despite herself Lisa giggled but stopped as they heard foot steps coming down the hall. She shot forward toward her bags.
"Come on then help me out. But if you tell anyone, I’ll shove this dirt down your throat before they drag me out."
Ricky raised his eyebrows high over his now saucer sized eyes. But he helped her scoop handfuls of the mess back into her bags and ran out the door just as Chauncey was coming back in. "Where the hell did all this dirt come from?"
They hid behind the pillars outside the hall while he peaked outside.
"Poor guy, I wasn't trying to make more work for anyone," Lisa whispered as they watched Chauncey walk away.
"Why do I have the feeling that whatever's in your bags is going to make a lot more work for everyone?" Ricky asked leading her away.
She glared at him but admitted, "I hadn't thought of it that way. But progress will always cause inconvenience," she said recovering quickly.
They walked a while in silence before she stopped in her tracks.
"Where are you taking me?"
"The caddie yard of course."
"Why would you be taking me there?"
"That's where you said you were going."
"Obviously, I'm not going to the caddie yard!"
Well then, where do you want to go?"
"The greens of course."
"The greens! Why would you want to go to the greens? I thought you said golf was boring!"
"It is!"
"Okay, the suspense is killing me. I think you better show me what's in the bags so I know what we're dealing with here."
Lisa took a step back glaring at him again and looked him up and down as if she was trying to figure out if she could trust him. Her eyes lingered on the once shiny shoes now scuffed up and the dirt below his knees. Just as this was beginning to sway her.
"Um, excuse me miss, my eyes are up here," Ricky said.
Never mind.
"Oh you." She turned stalking in the opposite direction.
"Kidding. Kidding. Come on just show me already. We're already out here."
"Fine. But if you," she said pointing a finger in his face.
"I know, I know, you'll shove dirt down my throat." He smirked and gestured toward the bags.
Lisa opened one of the bags and leaned in close pointing inside.
"These are saplings." She looked up at him with bright eyes. "I was going to sneak onto the greens while everyone was at your party and dig out each of the nine holes and put in a tree!"
"Guards quickly saplings!" he pretended to shout.
"You traitor," said Lisa as she quickly slapped a hand across his mouth.
He just laughed and took a few of the bags off her shoulder and turn back the other way. "Come on the greens are this way."
"You play too much," she grumbled.
"Oh come on, no one can hear us we're too far away. Loosen up a little. What do you think this place is a medieval castle?"
"Well it does have a moat your lordship Benedict Arnold."
Ricky through his head back laughing. "What a reference."
Lisa once again found herself smiling. He waited for her to catch up and they walked in silence for a ways before they got to the first hole.
"Ugh, we should've taken a golf cart. We've got a long ways to go from here," he said."
"Backing out already?"
"No, just making an observation."
"Good, there should be a shovel, spade, and a hammer in one of those bags. Hand it over."
So you're some type of tree hugger?" Ricky asked.
"Yes," She sniffled. "Why are you helping me? Daddy issues?"
"Yes," he deadpanned. "But mostly because I do want to eat any cake."
She dropped tools and put her hands on hip. Looking up at him.
"Fine, I guess it's because nobody ever listens to what I want. I didn't want a party. I would've been happy with just a quiet night in with my family. But everything always has to be a big production with them. I mean I didn't even get to choose my own dessert for goodness sakes. Not everybody wants to eat cake on their birthday. For once I’d liked to make a decision."
"Poor little rich boy," Lisa said smiling at him while holding out a shovel.
He took it smiling back. "Finally someone who gets it."
"You know if they were gonna bother with cake the least they could've done was make it a cheesecake. It’s stand alone decadence without all the hubbub it takes to get regular cake that way," Lisa said beginning to hack away at the hole.
"Marry me?"
"What?"
"Huh? What? Nothing. You know once it’s time for the tournament tomorrow they’ll have the groundkeeper pull all these up."
"I know," Lisa said looking down sadly. "I guess it was just more about making statement than anything else. Solid act of rebellion, spitting in the face of the man...your father that is...but I guess I didn't really think this through. I definitely don't want the sapling to die for nothing. I also didn't think about how long this would take. Won’t they miss you at your party?"
"Nah, we Country Club snobs like to be fashionably late. And pretty soon they’ll too drunk to notice. He smiled at her mischievously. "You know, that very man has just given me access to my trust fund. Said man is also trying to purchase another ten acres of woodlands that way to expand the course. We could go to the city office first thing in the morning while they're still nursing their hangovers so this poor little rich boy can make a big boy purchase."
"What are you saying? You'd buy the land instead of your father? And then do what with it? Would they even let you do that if your fathers been trying to buy it?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Dad is schmoozed the parks and rec director with and invite to the party. But his secretary Stacy has to work tomorrow and she'll be so annoyed that she missed out. I'll just tell her that dad sent me to make the purchase to continue the family legacy. Then we can just donate the land back to the state provided they keep it as a nature reserve."
"Do you really think you can pull that off?"
"I guess we'll find out. Either way we can always plant the saplings back in the woodlands so they stand a fighting chance."
Lisa stuck out her hand. "Lisa Wright. Pleased to meet you."
Ricky took her hand in his but forgot to shake it. He smiled broadly at her.
"What an improvement on your last name!"
Eliza looked down and pulled her hand away.
"Yeah well you still have two first names," she mumbled.
"I guess I should go make an appearance before we go," said Ricky chuckling. "Would you care to join me?"
"Nah, I got a better idea, how about I take you out for a slice of pie instead?"
