Lakeshore Advance, 2011-07-06, Page 6Community
,Granny's ringbox
Rick Huntley
:Lakeshore Advance
Local author, Rick I lundey, will
he publishing a third work of fiction
this summer. (See the story on Page
22). His first two were mystery nov-
els revolving around Grand Fend
private investigator, lack Neer. His
private investigator,
Garnished Truth is a col-
lection of short stories, many of
which feature characters from those
earlier lack Beer books, Death at the
Bend and Collingwood Takeout,
The Lakeshore Advance is serial-
izing one of the stories from The
Garnished Truth for your summer
reading enjoyment.
For those who %visit to buy all
early copy of "Ile Garnished 'Truth
(or llundey's other two books)
watch for the book launch at ... or
contact the author online int www,
rickhundeyy.fauxpop,ty or by email
at rickhundey@fauxpop,ty,
13y way of introduction to the first
instalment of 'Granny's Ring Box;
the story took shape after 1 lundey's
friend David Scott, a local play-
wright, suggested there had to be an
intriguing mystery behind a Kijiji ad
he came across, After you read the
'Granny's Ring Box,' we think you
will agree he was right.
Pert 4
Last time, PI lack Beer answered
Lir Washburn's Kijiji ad calling for
help in dealing with a dangerous ex
boyfriend. lack heads to London to
find that l.iz lives off an alley in a
rundown part of the City.
The door creaked open as far as
the chain lock allowed and 1 told the
voice on the other side that indeed,
1 was the PI who answered her Kijiji
ad.
The door eased shut and 1lis-
tened as the chain was disengaged.
When the door swung free, l smiled
into the dine light,
The occupant staggered back and
her jaw hit the floor.
"11i, Liz, I said.
My eyes did a one eighty. Calling
it a studio apartment was a kind-
ness. It was the kind of place that
the down and out go to die. Or
worse.
Everything was ragged and worn
out and stained. The ceiling and
walls were decorated with water
marks and gouges where pictures
once hung or fists once smashed.
The only window faced the pitted
brick wall across the alley.
No spatter how bad things night
be, Liz Washburn did not belong
here. No damn way.
She came to me, in two wobbly
steps.
"Jackie Beer," she said, only it
came with a long, wispy sigh.
"Lizzie Washburn," 1 said to the
top of her head, sighing long and
wispy too, mimicking her, just for
the fun of it.
She laughed at the tease, but she
wouldn't let go, like the hug was a
last chance at redemption. So I
tightened my arms, pulling her
closer, and when the trembling
stopped, still 1 helot on, because 1
knew it helped. And besides, it felt
good to hug someone who really
needed it.
She wiped her nose with the back
of her hand and went to the minia-
ture fridge sitting on a wooden crate,
cracked a beer and sat in one of two
kitchen chairs snuggling up to a cig-
arette -scarred, drop leaf table from
the 1920s. An old lap -top, the only
thing of value in the room, sat in
front of her, giving off a blue glow,
1 took my beer to the two cush-
ioned couch where my torso fol-
lowed my ass, almost through to the
linoleum floor underneath.
Liz picked up a scratched plastic
tumbler filled with ice and a clear
liquid that I was pretty sure wasn't
tap water. She took a long drink and
it brought out a flush high on her
cheek. The barely perceptible lip
smack confirmed that she was
drinking hooch and that it was
unadulterated.
I studied her until she looked
away. I knew her age and she looked
How Well Can Your Child See?
Main Street Optometric
Lakeshore Advance
Did you know that 80% of learning is done
through our eyes? l in 6 children have a vision
lproblem significant enough to impair their
earning ability. The Ontario Health Insurance
Plan (OIIIP) covers annual eye -exams for all
children under 20 years of age. It is never too
fly to - get your child's eyes examined - to help
�, r child succeed and maintain healthy vision,
itts recommended that you have your child's
eyes examined at 6 months of age, at three years
of age, then every 12 months or as suggested by
your optometrist, Regular eye exams starting at
an early age assist in early detection of health
problems such as a turned or lazy eye - these
conditions have a higher treatment success rate
when caught and treated early.
Children naturally assume that everyone sees
the world the way they do, and do not realize
when they are having vision problems. Making
regular eye -exams is important because often
there are not any signs that your child is having
difficulty. Vision is imperative to your child's
development of hand -eye coordination, imitat-
ing, reading, and social skills.
Eye exams can be done at any age - they are
fun and interactive - your child doesn't need to
be able to speak - let alone know the alphabet.
As a parent, after your child's eye exam you will
know if your child has good depth perception
and colour vision; if your child's eyes are healthy,
can focus well, and are working together. A regu-
lar eye exam is a key part of good vision health.
School is out, and summer is here - call Main
Street Optometric in Bayfield at 519-565-2300 to
book an appointment and start your child on the
path to long-term eye and vision health. Evening
and weekend appointments are available.
Article provided by:
Dr. Richard Samuel!, B.Sc. OD
Danielle N. Durand, H.A., CCOA
Main Street Optometric
25 Main Street North
Hayfield, Ontario
519.565.2300
older. Even so, somehow, she was
still beautiful.
"So, Liz:
"So, Jackie."
"Who exactly are you running
from?" I said, though 1 debated
using the word, 'whom:
"First, tell me something:"
"Okay."
"Did you know it was me? Did
you know it was my ad?"
"Yeah."
"But you came anyway."
"I came because it was you."
"You came for my sake? For me?"
"You were my friend, Liz,:"
She looked skyward and swal-
lowed hard. Recovering, she said, "l
was a drunk and pain in the neck:'
"We have a lot in common."
"You're not a drunk."
"Only because I have friends who
regularly pull Inc back," I said, not-
ing that she let the other point of
comparison stand unrefuted.
"I need those kind of friends."
"I used to pull you back."
"But then l went where you
couldn't find me."
"I'm here now"
"How did you know it was me?
That I was the one who wrote the
ad? I've been in hiding and I've been
careful"
"Your sister figured it out."
"You talked to my sister?"
1 did."
"And she referred to me as her
sister?"
"Yeah, Why?"
"Well, we're just half-sisters, for
starters. And we were never exactly
what you'd call close, for another
thing. You sure it was Annie you
talked to?"
"You got more than one sister?"
"No."
"Then I guess it was Annie."
"Yeah, 1 guess so too."
"What's your sister's Inst name?"
"Half-sister," she said again,
because the distinction was impor-
tant to her. "It's Langford. Annie
Langford. I haven't seen her since I
left Grand Bend. She disowned tae.
Right after she married some high
roller dude:'
"She said she wanted to be sure
you were all right."
"Can't imagine why she cares, all
of a sudden -like:"
"My impression is she doesn't.
Reading between the lines, she's
after something,"
"Can't think what. Look around,
Jackie. I'm broke:'
I nodded my head.
"Fact is, I lied in my e-mail ad. 1
can't pay, Jackie. Not...well, not how
you're used to getting paid." She
looked at the floor and sniffled.
"'Tell me what kind of trouble
you're in and then we'll decide
about payment:"
Hanging out with Fred
Justine Moller, Adam Rodrigues, Jesiqua Rapley and Nicole Lemieux spent Canada
Day checking out the sites and sounds in Grand Bend.
Lynda Hillman -Ripley Lakeshore Advance