Caroline in Richard's Mother's Womb

Written by Mitch

Email: mitch_work1@yahoo.com

Rating: PG

Genre: Drama

Chapters: 18

Summary: Caroline has fallen on hard times.

Author's note: At the beginning of this story, Richard and Julia have been married for 1-1/2 years, and still live in his old apartment, as poor as ever. Characters' thoughts are in italics.

Thanks to Eliza for her help and encouragement.

Chapter 1

"Hey Red, are you okay? Hey Red, wake up!" said the bum as he jostled the mousy little redhead.

The redhead struggled to get her eyes even half open. "Where am I?" she wondered. She resembled a rag doll, and was a real mess. She closed her eyes again.

"Oh, no you don't! You can't stay here!" declared the bum, as he jostled her again. "You gotta get up!"

She again struggled to open her eyes, and looked around. It had stopped raining. The rest of the alley was wet, but they were mostly dry in their corner, under their "roof", a large rectangular piece of canvas with a wooden frame, leaning against a wall. "What was it?" she tried to recall through her foggy memory. "Ah, now I remember. When it started to rain, I ran to this alley for shelter when I saw this roof." She had recognized it as a familiar painting, even though nearly three years of the elements had taken their toll. She had checked the lower right to confirm her suspicions. "Karinsky" she read. "What was it? What was it he called it? … Oh yeah, "My Mother's Womb" she had thought "Richard, my sweet Richard". Though it had been months since she had seen or spoken to him, her obsession with Richard was as strong as ever. She muttered "Richard, Richard…" and passed out again.

The woman's breathing became shallow, and the bum became worried. "Oh shit" he muttered. He thought a moment about what to do, then he remembered something. The bum's friend (more of an acquaintance, really), Charlie, had put the word out on the street a couple of weeks ago to be on the lookout for a petite redhead, and this dame certainly fit the description. He'd go see Charlie, and tell him about her.

******

The bum was in the lobby, and examined the listings. "There it is! Cassidy Greeting Cards. But they have several floors. Shit! Which one is Charlie on?" he puzzled.

"I'm sorry sir, you can't go up" said the guard, as he eyed the bum suspiciously. "I'm sure what you're looking for isn't here."

"Yes it is" answered the bum. "Cassidy Greeting Cards" he said as he pointed to the listing. "I'm looking for my friend Charlie".

"Charlie, huh?" responded the guard, suspiciously. "What's his last name?"

"I don't know" answered the bum, defiantly. "But he always goes around in roller blades, never wears shoes."

"Oh, that Charlie" the guard smiled. "I'll give him a call".

……

Charlie emerged from the elevator and cheerily greeted the bum "Hey Whitney! What's up?"

"Charlie, remember you told me to be on the lookout for a mousy-looking redhead. Well I got one at my place, and she ain't doin' too good. And she keeps asking for a Richard."

"Oh my god! That may be Caroline. Let's go!" Charlie cried out as he hurriedly skated away.

******

They arrived at the alley, which fortunately wasn't too far away. Charlie spotted her, at Whitney's place, under the "roof" in the alley. "Caroline?" he asked. The woman before him appeared to be Caroline, but she had changed almost beyond recognition. She was lying face down, head turned to the side. Her red hair was a tangled mess, she had a disheveled look, wearing loose, tattered clothes, and she reeked of booze, sweat, vomit, and urine. Always slender, she had wasted away, and by then was little more than skin and bones. She was nearly dead to the world, body totally relaxed, except for the death grip with which her right hand held a flask of booze. "Oh my god, it is Caroline!" exclaimed Charlie. "We didn't know if we'd ever find her."

Charlie tried to rouse Caroline. One of Caroline's eyelids fluttered open. "Charlie? … What … doin' here?" she managed to grunt out before her eyelids closed again. Charlie reminded her of her past life, a life that included Richard, her sweet Richard. "Richard, Richard…"she muttered softly, then again passed out.

Charlie tried again, but to no avail.

"I already tried that. No go" said Whitney.

"Well, we've got to move her. It's getting' cold, another storm's coming, and, no offense Whit-baby, but your place isn't the best for someone who's sick."

"No offense taken" responded Whitney.

"Hmm, what should we do? I gotta think" said Charlie, as he made a funny face, because his brain was not accustomed to the process. "I know. We'll take her to Richard's apartment. It's close to here. My place is too far, and I gotta get back to work."

"Caroline, let's get you outta here. But first, you gotta let go of that flask" Charlie told her as he tried to take the flask away.

That roused Caroline like nothing else had so far. "No! Mine!" she nearly screamed.

"Calm down Caroline, I'm not gonna take it away. I'm just gonna put it in your coat pocket." She relaxed her grip, and Charlie took the flask. He opened it and took a whiff "Whew! I bet that's got a kick!" Charlie said as he made a face, and waved his hand in front of his nose to dissipate the fumes. He put the lid back on, and put the flask in her coat pocket.

"C'mon, Whitney, my man. Let's get her up and over to Richard's place."

"Anywhere but here" replied Whitney.

Charlie and Whitney each grabbed Caroline by a shoulder, lifted her up, and began moving her out of the alley.