The Secret Garden Of Martha Grim..
By Richard A. Lopez (c)1992

PAGE 2 Continued...


Yeah, Willie thought, That house was a beauty alright, but only half as beautiful as its owner. Cole thought of Martha Grim as a goddess. Her long, brown hair cascaded down her back, flowing out over her shoulders like a brunette waterfall. He just knew it had the feel of silk. What else could it be. Her face was smooth, flawless.
Not a wrinkle to be seen. The color of creamy, white milk. Every time he had seen her, as she strolled through her garden, wearing those long flowing sundresses. The type that, if the sun hit just right, you could see right though. She had the figure of a model. No...a Greek goddess. Like those statues chiseled from marble.
Yes, Martha, thought Willie, the Gods had been very good to you in that department.
A leering smile slowly made its way across his face. He'd often dreamed, no, fantasized about what it would be like to get the fair Ms.Grim into bed. For now it was just a midnight fantasy. But soon...soon.

Just at that moment, Willie was hit from behind with a splash of cold water that shocked him back to reality.
It was Tommy Hawkins. The little bastard had hit him square in the back with a water balloon.
"You little shit!" Willie yelled, "I'm gonna kick your ass all the way to New Jersey for that one!"
Tommy just laughed, and fired his cap pistol at Cole, twice, as he sped off on his dirt bike.
Willie started to chase after the boy, but thought twice when he saw the kids father pulling into their driveway. John Hawkins got out of his car just as Tommy came riding up. Willie could see him pick the kid up and treat him as if he were an angel.
The little bastard could do no wrong in daddy's eyes. Willie knew better, and so did the kids mother. For now, the Hawkins kid would have to wait. Willie had other things on his mind.
He turned his attention back to the "Jungle House".
The gates of the Grim House were opening. She must be getting ready to go out, he thought.
Quickly, Cole tossed the last of his equipment in the back of his truck, and got in. Starting it up and moving forward slowly. He was going to get a word in with Ms. Grim, today. Whether she liked it or not.

He could see the front hood of Martha's old model Lincoln pulling slowly out of the gate. This was his chance. Willie tapped the gas peddle, the truck lurched forward, the tires squealing on the asphalt. He came to a halt, just in front of her driveway, she had to brake hard to avoid hitting Cole's truck.
Getting out of the truck, Willie sauntered over to the drivers side of Martha's car and motioned for her to roll down the window. Now was just as good a time as any to hit her up for the "secret". She wasn't going anywhere, as long as his truck was blocking the way.
A few minutes passed, and then the window came down a couple of inches. The scent of lilacs hit Cole like a soft slap to the face. She looked at him with a subtle contempt, and spoke at last, "Just what do you think you are doing, Mr.Cole?" The words coming out with just a hint of spite.
Willie put on his best sheepish grin, and tossed his hair with his hand, "Why Ms.Grim, I do believe that you and I were leaving 'bout the same time. I'm awful sorry 'bout that."
The look in her eye's said she wasn't buying it. He had to think fast. Willie was trying to see what she was wearing, but the window was down but a few inches, and the interior was too dark to make out anything but the cold resentful eyes staring back at him.
That, and the scent of perfume...was it lilacs, or roses?
Roses, he thought.
"Yes Mr.Cole, it would seem as such" She said after a what seemed a long while. Her voice, soft but firm. Cold.
Willie just decided to come out and ask, "Well ma'am, now that I got you here, I had been meaning to ask you," he said, trying his best to sound sincere.
"It's about your garden, Ms Grim,"....
He could see it...like a change in a storm, the eyes flashed like lightening....
"Mr.Cole, We have been over this before.."