A/N Hobson's Honey, this story is going to start out a little slowly, but if you keep up with it the point will become clear around chapter 6 or so. Till then I'll be defining the characters and their relationships.
THE LEGACY – CHAPTER 1
Ruthie loved Fridays. Not because it was the end of the work week, but because it was 'Free Studio' day. At Chicago, the classes were either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday, always leaving Friday open to work on assignments, projects, or just some free creative time. She was currently working on some paintings that combined oil and airbrush techniques. She wasn't sure if she would get the effect she was looking for, but she was having fun trying. She was standing back and trying to decide if all her effort was doing any good at all, when Teressa popped her head in.
"Hey Camden, I'm headed down to supply, you need anything?"
Teressa was a year behind Ruthie, but despite their many differences the two girls were fast friends. Ruthie had been kind of a mentor to the younger girl, and Teressa had helped Ruth feel more at home in the Windy City.
"Yeah, Cerulean in oil, and a million dollars, I'm pretty close to tapped out already."
"You're kidding, it's not even October yet."
"Don't remind me" Ruthie said with a heavy sigh.
The younger girl left, and Ruthie went back to considering her painting. Maybe if she swept across the grain with a contrasting color she could get the effect she was looking for. She set up the airbrush and hooked it to the condenser and started with light strokes. Periodically she would step back to see if the paint was going on too heavy. Turning off the compressor, she decided to quit while she was ahead. The first thing she heard was her friend's voice.
"Now that is brilliant."
"Yeah right" Ruth replied.
"No, I'm serious; step back here and see how the light catches the hint of contrast."
With a good deal of skepticism, Ruthie stood back and looked at what she had just done. From here the airbrush had produced the exact effect she was looking for. It was subtle, just barely highlighting the texture of the oil paint, but making it stand out vividly.
"You have got that contest so in the bag" Teressa added.
"Not a chance" Ruthie replied, moving to a different angle to check the effect from there.
Teressa just shook her head. Ruthie Camden was clearly the best student at the school; even the students who were jealous as hell would admit that, but she couldn't see it, and what's more she would never believe it. Maybe that's where it comes from Teressa thought; she's holding herself up to such a high standard that she pushes herself a lot harder than the rest of us. Teressa knew that there were probably a lot of unresolved issues in the dark haired girls' life, after all Teressa knew about issues, and maybe that was what was pushing her, forcing Ruth to exceed herself. Teressa just smiled looking at the other girl, help now, analyze later.
"Were you serious about being nearly broke?"
"Yeah, unfortunately; why?"
"Well, I know a place that's hiring."
"Really"
"Yeah, it's a place called McGinty's, kind of a sports bar and grill, it's a pretty cool place, you don't have to dance or go nearly topless and the patron's keep their hands to themselves, well usually."
"What do you mean, usually?"
"The bartender is this ex-cop, and if he sees someone getting out of line, they're gone, and he usually doesn't let em back in."
"Sounds great, what about the hours?"
"It's pretty flexible, they're looking for help with lunch and the early afternoon, since all your classes are over by ten, you should be OK."
"So how do you know about this place?"
"Well, my foster mom is part owner of the place, and I've been working there for the last four years."
Ruthie was a bit surprised at this; the one thing Teressa had never talked about was her family. Ruth had known that the other girl grew up down south, but she never knew how the girl had ended up in Chicago, or where she lived now. "So who should I ask for?"
"Marissa Clark, just tell her I recommended you, and you shouldn't have any trouble." Teressa saw the dark look flitter across Ruthie's face. The California girl was almost too independent for her own good, and the idea of anything that approached charity seemed to put her on edge. "Come on Camden, I know you need help; call it pay-back for helping me get through my first three years here."
"Well it can't hurt to ask."
"Tell ya what" Teressa said "let me put in another half hour on my project and we can go over there together, I wouldn't want you getting lost or anything." Teressa never lost the opportunity to twit her friend about the times that Ruthie had gotten turned around in the city.
Ruthie just blew a very moist raspberry at her friend and turned back to her painting, "just come get me" she called "you know where to I'll be."
Forty five minutes later, the two friends were walking down Illinois towards Franklin. Ruthie loved walking around this part of the city, she loved the buildings towering over her, it was so different then Glen Oak. Teressa was trying to come up with an idea for her semester project. Ruthie was trying to be helpful, but she was nervous about possibly interviewing for a job, she had done nothing to prepare, her clothes were spattered with paint and her hair looked like her scalp had exploded. 'Boy will I make a great first impression' she thought.
"How about doing a mobile" Ruthie asked suddenly.
Teressa jumped, startled that the dark haired girl was even paying attention; "a mobile, no one does those anymore, they're way retro, and I'm supposed to be working in glass."
"So, do a glass mobile, I can bet that no one else will be doing anything like that, it'll be unique."
Teressa started to answer, then her eyes took on a distant look and Ruthie knew that her friend was visualizing her project, and liking what she saw.
They continued on in comfortable silence until they came to an old fire house. The sign over the door said 'McGinty's, but there was no hint of what the interior was like. Swallowing her fear, Ruthie followed her friend through the front door.
The first thing Ruthie noticed was all the wood. Wood paneling, wood floors, the wooden bar, it gave the place a warm, cheery atmosphere. It was also obvious that McGinty's was a sports bar from all of the memorabilia on the walls, posters, jerseys, bats and sticks. Teressa walked right up to the bar, where there was a really cute guy fixing drinks, Ruthie realized he was much too old for her, but looking was still fair game.
"Hey Brent, is she free?"
"Yeah, but she's been fighting with the supplier again, so her mood isn't the greatest; who's your friend?"
"Oh sorry; Ruthie Camden, this is Brent White, the day bartender, Brent this is my friend Camden."
Ruthie walked up and shook the man's hand "nice to meet you" then a light went on in her head "didn't you play Mitch in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' a couple of years ago?"
"Wow, you actually saw that, I didn't think anyone but my relatives saw me in that."
"Yeah, I did; it's one of my favorite plays, the production was kinda awful, but you were really good."
"Thanks, so you just visiting?"
"No" Teressa put in quickly "you were saying we needed some day help, well here she is."
Ruthie was temporarily distracted from the conversation when she noticed a ginger colored tabby weaving its way through the stools around the bar. "Did you know there's a cat in here?"
"Yeah" both Teressa and Brent answered "that's Mr. Hobson's cat, it kinda lives here."
"Cool" was all Ruthie said, because the cat had stopped and she noticed that it had a very mesmerizing gaze.
"Come on" Teressa said, snapping Ruth out of her reverie "let's go get you hired."
Ruthie followed her friend behind the bar, through a half glass door, and into an office.
"Good afternoon Teressa" a voice called out "who have you brought with you?"
"Hi Marissa, this is my friend Ruth Camden, the one I've told you about."
Ruth didn't know what to expect when she turned the corner around the partition, but the elegant black woman was not it.
"Nice to meet you Ms. Clark, Teressa's told me a lot about you." She stuck out her hand, only to realize too late that the older woman couldn't see it, she couldn't see anything. Embarrassed, she stood there, not sure what to do.
Marissa Clark gave the young woman a sweet smile "don't worry about it Ruth, I sometimes don't realize I'm blind either."
"How did you know it was Teressa and that she had someone with her?"
"Her left shoe squeaks, so when I heard that I knew it was her, and I heard two sets of steps, so I knew someone was with her."
With hearing like that and a smart mind behind it, Ruthie resolved to never even try to lie to this woman; she figured it would be a futile effort.
Marissa turned to Teressa, "so you think she could cut it during the lunch rush?"
"No doubt, so long as she doesn't have to wear spandex."
Marissa turned to face Ruthie, the question obvious on her face "spandex"?
"A place I worked at before decided that the waitresses should wear spandex cat suits, only; I said no."
"Well around here it's button downs and dockers, we supply the ties and aprons, and you can start Monday."
"That's it, you mean I'm hired."
"Unless you want to draw it out, yes."
"No, no, this is great; what do I need to fill out?"
"These two here and this one" the blind woman said, handing Ruthie the proper forms. "Fill them out and get them to me or Abby on Monday and you'll be all set. You won't have much in the way of time off, at least not at first, and just be sure to call if you can't make it in." Turning to Teressa she said "now I need to get back to this mountain of paper, so if you could show our newest employee around, I'd be most appreciative."
"No problem, come on Camden, let's meet the whole gang."
Ruthie turned as she was leaving the office "thank you Ms. Clark, I won't let you down."
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Gary had been running all day, he hated days like this where it seemed like it was a dead sprint from one disaster to the next. His only consolation was that no one was killed and that he hadn't ended up in the hospital.
The first thing he noticed was Teressa and Robin talking to a girl he didn't know. "Who's your friend Teressa?"
"This is my friend Ruth Camden from school, I've told you about her before, anyway; Marissa hired her as a lunch waitress. Camden, this is Gary Hobson, the other owner."
As they greeted one another, each had the oddest feeling that they had met before, but neither could place the face or name.
"So, you from around here Ruth?"
"Nope, Glen Oak California, and before you ask, I pull for both the Giants and the Niners."
Gary gave a little laugh "I guess my reputation precedes me. Well, we'll try to cure you of those illnesses; just don't be too loud about your loyalties."
"You complain a lot Gary, but you don't get on Toni for pulling for the Pistons and the Lions" Robin said with a laugh.
"True, but Toni might shoot me if I complain about that. And at least she doesn't like the Red Wings. It's one of those little compromises you have to make."
Gary headed on to the stairs to the loft. Robin called out "do you want something sent up?"
"Yeah, the usual Robin Thanks. Oh and Ruth, welcome to McGinty's."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"So that's my boss" Ruthie asked.
"That's him" Teressa assured her "he's great, you won't regret working here."
"I believe that already." Looking at both Robin and her friend she said "you guys have been great, but I still owe my painting another two hours of work, not to mention I need to both eat and sleep in the not so distant future; so I need to motor."
Teressa walked her to the door as Robin went back to managing the floor "you OK getting back to school?"
"Fine" Ruthie said "thanks".
"I'm glad you're working here Camden, and I'm glad you loosened up enough to let someone help you for a change."
"I'm glad too" Ruthie said, hugging her friend and then heading back to school. Now all she had to do was tell her family; that would be quite an adventure.