Jessup, Wisconsin, Chapter 1 (AU)
by Simahoyo
A/N I wanted to find out the one thing I could change which would change all the characters the most, so I took them out of the big city, and plopped them down in a small town in Northern Wisconsin. Fortunately, I have lots of sources on Northern Wisconsin so thanks Traci, Mickey, Joan and all in advance.
Spring had finally come to Jessup, Wisconsin, population 6, 452. The snow still stuck around in islands–floating in a sea of mud.. A fresh breeze fluttered over the town while heavy winter coats, hats, boots, scarves, earmuffs and long johns were retired for windbreakers, work boots or rubber gardening boots and a smile. Mudrooms lived up to their names, as family and visitors alike scraped mud off with old table knives, left over from everyday table wear which had seen too many days of tablespoons used to dig holes, and forks thrown into the ground in a modified, less dangerous game of mumblypeg . They left boots and jackets while they went into the kitchen for coffee, a bite to eat and gossip.
That was not the serious gossip, if you wanted to know what was really going on, you went to the Coffee Spot Café, and grabbed a booth. Which booth depended on your interests. The political booth was filled by Mayor Isles, Sheriff Cavanaugh, and Warden Korsak, plus Jim Gantry, the richest farmer in La Follette county, and Minnie Hooper, who owned most of Main Street. If your interest was education, you joined Principal Isles, who was also the mayor's wife, Tom Meyer, the Superintendent of Schools, and Ted Beezley, editor and publisher of Weekly Gazette. Sometimes, when she wasn't trying to get more books for the public library, Hannah Moore, would drop in for a harried half hour before running to the library to get it open and running.
Proprietress, Angela Rizzoli, went from table to table, pouring coffee, feeding everyone, and, "Moming" them. It was natural since her two kids were already grown, and sitting together at their table with their cousin, Tommy, and Frankie's best friend, Barry Frost, who alternated between fending off neighbors who wanted free help with things electronic, and sneaking his glasses on so he could read the Gazette. All of these young ones were good looking, Frankie, Tommy and Barry with dark hair and brown eyes, and all male. Barry was darker than his Italian friends, since he was one of a handful of African-Americans in town. The remaining Rizzoli was sitting there in a brown uniform shirt, tan trousers, a tan tie and a big patch on her sleeve. Black oxfords were on her feet, and her long, curly hair was pulled back into a ponytail. The Smokey the Bear hat was on her table, and her uniform jacket was draped over the back of her chair. The uniform did everything possible to make her look masculine, but it wasn't possible. She could have been a model in a big city. The men with her were quite a sartorial contrast. The remaining Rizzoli's wore shirt's embroidered Rizzoli's Garage, and Barry's was a golf shirt with a name pin above his pocket.
Then there were the hardcore gossips. Cora Beach, May Swensen, Mattie Krause and Howard Mason. They sat, heads together, voices lowered, and looking around the room. If anything happened in, around, or near Jessup, they knew it, twisted it and spread it. That was a table most people avoided.
Schools was going to start soon, so Principal Isles was out the door after a quick detour to kiss her husband goodbye. Superintendent Meyer looked at her leave with a smile. "Our high school would fall apart without that woman." Ted nodded, then attacked his lumberjack special, steak and fried potatoes with a side of french toast.
"Yup. She's tough enough to keep them in line, and smart enough to keep them interested in school. You shoulda promoted her years ago."
"I couldn't. Her daughter was in school then. And there's a reason she got her nickname, "Mischief."
"Uh huh, but look how she turned out. A pediatrician in Green Bay. I never would have expected..."
"Why not? She was such a smart little thing."
"I kinda thought she might wind up in jail."
Meyer tossed his roll at Ted, who caught it one handed, split and buttered it, then took a big bite,
The door opened and Mo Malamood, the taxi driver (part time) and tow truck driver (Also part time) ran in, rubbing his hands together, a habit he had when he had a great story to share.
He went straight to the table the young Rizzolis plus Barry sat.
"Guess who I gave a ride home from the airport to."
"Celine Dion?", joked Tommy. Mo was a notorious fan."
"No, but, God willing, someday. That woman can sing. It's someone you know."
Barry squinted his big brown eyes. He thought his glasses made him look nerdy, so he never wore them except at work. "Mrs. Alldred?"", naming his elderly neighbor who had gone to Milwaukee to visit her grandchildren.
Mo chuckled. "Deputy Jane, it's someone you knew well."
"Oh? Someone I haven't seen for a while?"
"That's right." Mo dimples as she smiled
"OMG, do you think it might be...Mischief?", asked Frankie.
Mo's eyes twinkled as he touched the tip of his nose with hs finger.
"You're kidding! Where did you drop her off?" Jane picked up her hat and plopped it on, pushed back her chair, put some money down and finished her coffee.
"The High School.
"Thanks Mo. Jane grabbed her jacket and was out the door.
TBC