THE LEGACY – CHAPTER 3

On Monday, Ruthie went straight from her last class to McGinty's. She had gotten a lot of strange looks that day. The girl who was rarely seen in anything other than paint spattered jeans and a T shirt was actually wearing khaki's and a button down. What's more, her hair was actually under a semblance of control and she was wearing make-up. Most speculated that either she had an interview or someone had died; the majority leaned towards the latter because they figured she would still wear jeans and a T shirt to an interview. When she got there she greeted Robin and Brent, and headed back to drop her paperwork off with Ms. Clark, she also checked the small package in her coat.

"Hello Ruth" she heard just as she came through the door.

"How do you do that" she asked the blind woman, with wonder in her voice.

"You have a very distinct and determined walk, plus I heard Brent call your name."

Ruthie stepped further into the office and placed her paperwork on the desk. "Here's everything" she said. "Oh, and I have a surprise for you."

"Really, what is it?"

"A painting that I did."

"Well, I'm flattered, but that's probably not the best present for someone like me."

"Wait until you see it" Ruthie said with a grin in her voice. "Teressa told me that you weren't born blind, but that you lost your sight at a young age, is that right."

"Yes, I was about four."

"So you at least know colors"

"True"

"Then here" Ruthie said, and placed the painting in the blind woman's hands "tell me what you see".

"But I can't see."

"Use your fingers, feel the paint."

"Alright, well this part is very smooth, but there are little points scattered here and there." She ran her hands over more of the painting. "Now there's something down here, it feels round, and different from the smooth area."

"The smooth area is black, and the points are white, what's the texture of the round object?"

"It's swirled, counterclockwise."

"Counterclockwise swirls are blue, and the most intense blue is where the pattern is most distinct, as the pattern fades the color fades."

Marissa now understood what the young girl had done; she had created a painting that Marissa could see with her hands. "Here's a diagonal slanted left."

"That's Red"

"And the clockwise swirls?"

"Yellow"

As Marissa encountered a new texture, she found out what color corresponded to it. Soon she was able to see the painting in her mind, it was a series of overlapping spheres on a black background with white dots scattered in the black. She could only remember a few gifts that had been more thoughtful. "Ruth, I'm honored, but I haven't done anything to deserve this."

"Sure you have, you're taking a chance on me, that kind of generosity deserves a reward."

"Thank you" Marissa said; she could feel the tears threatening to break out.

"You're welcome Ms. Clark" Ruthie answered. "Does Robin have the ties and aprons?"

"Yes, and Ruth" the younger woman looked up "call me Marissa please",

"I will Marissa." As Ruthie turned to go, she saw a pile of printouts on the other desk in the office. She was surprised to note that she was the subject of the one's that she could see. 'Maybe they're not taking that big a gamble if they're checking up on me' she thought as she looked for Robin.

Her shift went well, for a first day, and Brent and Robin were fun to work with. She wasn't as sure about Steve and Lily, but she could work with them. George in the kitchen reminded her a lot of her grandfather the Colonel, and she was immediately comfortable around him. And right on cue, Simon showed up at about 12:45.

He came in and stood for a moment in the entrance just looking around. 'Maybe he's looking for the strippers or poles for dancing on the bar' Ruthie thought. She walked up to him "can I help you sir?"

"I'm just here for lunch."

"Would you prefer to sit at the bar, or a booth or a table?"

"The bar's fine."

She sat her brother down, showed him the menu and ran through the specials "would you care for anything to drink?"

"What's on tap?"

"We have the usuals, but I would personally recommend the Bells'. It's a microbrew from Kalamazoo Michigan; a good and unique flavor."

Simon looked at his sister, scandalized for a moment at the thought of her drinking beer, but wisely didn't say anything as he saw her glaring right back at him.

"OK, I'll try a Bells' and a grinder" he said, handing the menu back to her.

He enjoyed his lunch, and really liked the place, even if it was different from his usual haunts. As he was leaving, he caught Ruthie's eye and lingered by the door. "Could I meet you back here tonight?"

Ruthie thought for a moment, tonight was pretty free and the place would be crowded because of Monday Night Football. "Sure, about eight."

"Sounds good" Simon said "and take care of yourself" he added as he walked out the door.

The only disappointment that Ruthie had that first shift was that she never saw her other boss. She asked Robin where he was.

"Mr. Hobson just comes and goes. Some days he's here all day, others he's never here, and then sometimes he's in and out. It's weird, but you get used to it."

"What's he doing?"

"Errands are what he always says; but I don't know, that's an awful lot of errands, even for running a place like this."

"Yeah, it is. So, how'd I do, and any suggestions for tomorrow?"

"You did fine, a good, professional appearance and you are up on the menu, you could work on being a bit warmer with the customers; you tend to come across as a little severe, but nothing major."

Ruthie smiled to herself; her first day had gone well. She was hanging her tie and apron up in the broom closet that was labeled the break room, when Brent called her over.

"What was up with the blond guy? I thought you were gonna kill him the way you were looking at him."

"That was my brother, Simon. My folks sent him to check out the place and make sure it wasn't too disreputable for their baby girl."

Brent laughed "no matter how old you are, you'll always be their baby, and they'll always try and treat you that way."

"Speaking from experience" Ruthie asked.

"I wish I wasn't, but yeah" the bartender answered.

He started to say something more, but was called away to fill and order. As she was headed out the door, he called, "see you tomorrow RC".

She waved back, a little bewildered, RC who the heck was that. Then she realized, those were her initials, no one had ever called her that before, so it took her by surprise. Wow, a nickname from someone other than family, that was neat.

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Gary had been running all morning and into the afternoon, but now he was done for the day. He still couldn't believe that those kids were going to try tight rope walking on that live power line. What kind of parent allowed that? And he was glad that Toni had been able to stop that robbery without any trouble. He always worried about having her help on saves, it just came down to the fact that he couldn't function without her in his life anymore. But she wasn't about to let him do it on his own, and he didn't want to tempt her anger if she found out he'd done something like that. Brent was looking happy, and things seemed to be running well when he went back to see Marissa. "So how was our new waitress first day?"

"Robin said that she did fine, a little stiff, but that'll come. How was your day?"

"No one hurt no one in the hospital, no one dead; I'm batting a thousand. Hey, what's that on your desk?"

Marissa turned the painting around so Gary could see it "a gift from our new waitress."

"A painting, for you; that seems a little tactless."

"That's what I thought at first, but close your eyes."

Gary did so and Marissa had him touch the painting. "There are different patterns here."

"Exactly, each color has its own pattern, so I can picture it in my mind. And something else, see those dots?"

"Yeah, like stars in the sky."

"Yeah, but if you turn it on its side, those stars become a message in Braille."

"Neat, what does it say?"

"Marissa's Pocket Universe, from RC. So what did Meredith find out about our Miss Camden?"

"Well, according to these articles, all fifty one of them, Ruth Camden is arguably the best artist under 30 in the United States; certainly she's considered one of the five best. She already has two pieces in the National Gallery and one in the Guggenheim. Some of the bolder critics mention her in the same sentence as Wyeth, Wood, Hopper and Rockwell."

Marissa just sat there with her jaw hanging open. "Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction" Gary said.

"What's she doing waiting tables?"

"Apparently she has never sold anything; those pieces on public display were given away. One collector offered her five hundred grand for one painting, and she said no."

"Why?"

"You'd probably have to ask her. Or maybe ask Teressa, she might be able to put you in the right direction."

"I just might" Marissa said "I just might."

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McGinty's was a lot different at night than in the afternoon. Ruthie was different too, back to looking a bit more usual; paint spattered jeans and an old 'Black Flag' shirt. She walked in and was surprised by the crowd; apparently this was the place to be in Chicago on a Monday night. She made her way to the bar, and saw Brent.

"Hey RC" he called "what brings you by?"

"Looking for my brother, he's supposed to meet me here."

Brent waved to the far corner "back by the juke, at a table."

"Thanks Brent" she yelled, but he stopped her before she could turn away.

"This is Crumb, the night bartender" he said, introducing an older man.

"Nice to meet you Ruth, just let me know if some hairball's hasslin' ya, I like to keep those guys in line."

"Will do" she said, "and thanks."

Ruthie made her way back to where Brent had said her brother was; then she saw him, looking kind of broody and put out. "What's the matter with you" she asked.

"All the noise and everything, it's hard to talk, let alone think."

"Maybe, but its fun."

"I'm just used to places that are a bit calmer, that's all."

"This place usually is, or so I'm told. I haven't been here enough to get everything straight."

"Do you like it?"

"Yeah, I do; there are some good people here."

"Hey RC, trying the nightlife" Teressa asked.

"No Teressa, this is my brother Simon. Simon, this is Teressa, my best friend and the person that got me this job."

"Yeah, well I owed you a few dozen from all the times you've bailed my tail out, can I get ya anything?"

"Yeah" Ruthie answered, before Simon had a chance to speak "a couple of Leinenkugle's, the dark ones."

Teressa just shook her head "it's your guts, not mine" and went to get the order.

"So you drink now?"

"Simon, I've been drinking beer since I got here, that's what college kids do. And this is Chicago, you can't eat here without drinking beer."

"So any other surprises, tattoo's, piercing's, boyfriends?"

"None of the above, I limit myself to one vice at a time thanks, what about you?"

"Just the earrings and I prefer the Leinenkugel red to the dark, for future reference."

Ruthie just paused for a second, and then laughing, hugged her brother. She had forgotten how much she missed talking to him.

Just then the beers showed up, but it wasn't Teressa that brought them. Ruthie looked up in surprise "Mr. Hobson, you didn't have to do that."

She took the beers from her boss and introduced him to Simon. "I was looking for you earlier, to thank you for taking a chance by hiring me, I appreciate it."

"That wasn't much of a risk from what Marissa and Robin tell me. They say you've got real potential."

"Thanks, they're easy to work with, and this place has great atmosphere."

"Well the atmosphere is a product of the people that are here, you have good people, you get good atmosphere. And you're good people Ruth, I wanted to thank you for what you did for Marissa, I haven't seen her this happy in years; at least not since Emmet went to Atlanta. Anyway, these are for you" he handed her an envelope and blended back into the crowd.

She opened the envelope and pulled out two tickets, they were for the Bears, Niners game at Soldier Field in three weeks, on the fifty yard line.

Simon gave a drawn out whistle "I'd say your boss likes you."

Ruthie cast one more look at the enigmatic Mr. Hobson "I'd say he does" she agreed and then turned back to her brother. "So what have you been up to the last four years, tell me everything."

Several hours and several beers later, she headed back to her dorm. She felt she had really re-connected with Simon, and it felt good. It felt as though she had been missing something so fundamental that she didn't even realize it was gone. Well whatever it was, it felt good to have it back; in fact it gave her an idea. And with a smile she headed to her studio, not her dorm.