Author Notes: …Poor Red…..wait….poor Casey! (Are you still scratching your head and wondering what the hell Casey Kelso is doing in a Red Forman story? Read on…)
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Chapter 06 – Who Are You?
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Jackie was sharing the newspaper with Mr. Forman while Kitty was cheering and making bank in her poker game. Red would look over each time she cheered at winning a hand. "Why does that damn thing make her so happy? I never got happy watching the television."
Jackie handed Red the comics. "Oh, I think it's because she chats while playing the game."
"She could chat with me." He said irritably. Jackie smiled, "I think they chat about recipes and lady stuff. You wouldn't be interested."
"Lady stuff you say? Bah….let her do that that with other ladies. Say, Laurie, can you get Eric down here? I need to go out to the garage." Jackie let the name slip go unnoticed.
"Mr. Forman, Eric's on a date. Can I help you out there?"
Red looked at her. "Who are you?" There was no recognition in his eyes. He had forgotten who Jackie was. Remaining calm, Jackie grabbed Kitty's hand mirror and a photograph and sat next to him on the bed. She held the mirror so he could see both their reflections. "I'm Jackie Burkhart. Remember Jack's daughter?"
Red looked at her and then at the photo of himself with Jackie, working on the Vista Cruiser together. "Oh, I know you. You're that friend of Eric's that I actually like."
Kitty turned around, alarm on her face. Jackie smiled, "We got it Mrs. Forman. I think he's just tired plus I forget to get his reading glasses."
Red looked at Kitty. "What she said." Ben happened to wander in the bedroom, pulling his ear buds out of his head, "Grandma, what's for dinner?"
Red sat up, "Eric, I thought you were on a date! What happened to Donna? Did you two have a fight?"
Benjamin rolled his eyes, "Grandpa – it's me Ben. Eric's my dad – remember?" Ben climbed up on the bed and sat next to his grandfather. Red's eyes flashed recognition, "Ben. You're a good egg son. When are you going to stop looking like a girl?"
Ben laughed and pushed his hair back into a mini ponytail. "Soon Grandpa. Do you think you can get Grandma to make some dinner?"
Jackie smiled, "I'll get dinner. Mrs. Forman is on a winning streak." Three voices shouted, "No!" Startled, Jackie looked up to see Kitty turning off her monitor. "Thank you for the offer dear but well….."
Red spoke up, "You are a terrible cook."
Sadly, Ben nodded his head. "Remember Aunt Jackie, you don't want us to lie to you." The expression on his young face made her smile.
She put her hands on her slim hips, "Well, you don't have to be mean about it. I was going to get take out from Boston Market. I thought some chicken pot pies sounded good….but since you want Mrs. Forman to ….."
Ben jumped up, "I'll go with you!" Red grinned, "I want some of that cornbread." Kitty smiled her thanks and said, "I'd like one of those big salads." Jackie looked over her shoulder and smirked, "That's what I thought!"
-o-
Casey stood at the Western Union office and to his dismay; the 14 people in front of him were taking forever. Glo was packing their meager belongings and lamenting how this was the longest time, all of two years that they got to stay in one place and have a somewhat normal life. Casey silently thanked the heavens that he had a gullible little brother who would send him cash.
He got to the counter and showed his fake Canadian ID and the clerk said, "Please answer the secret question. What material makes the best kind of suit?"
Casey rolled his eyes, "Firecrackers" That had to be Michael's favorite word in the world. He watched as the clerk pulled a stack of twenties out of the drawer and laid five on the counter. Casey almost crapped his pants. "$100? That's it?"
The clerk looked at the MTCN tracking number. "Yes sir. That's all that was wired." Casey swore under his breath. Usually his little brother could cough up 500 or a thousand but only one hundred dollars? He couldn't go anywhere with that chicken scratch! Casey sighed and prepared himself to tell his wife the bad news.
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An email from BenDoingNuttin arrived in Jackie's inbox and she chuckled. Ben Forman was always sending her crazy jokes and pictures. She clicked on the folder and was surprised to see no attachment.
Aunt Jackie
I'm thinking about going to Panama to see my mom. Dad said it was okay but to call the Consulate and all that crap (I don't think he wants me to go) but I was wondering if you thought it was a dumb idea.
I'll be back before the party but I just wanted to know what you thought. You used to know my mom. Is it a dumb idea?
Ben
Jackie smiled and hit the reply button. Benjamin was such a good kid it was ridiculous that Donna hadn't kept in touch with him all these years. She wrote:
My dearest Benjy
I know you hate when I call you that. I don't think it's a dumb idea at all. Unless something happened to Donna, your mom, she should always be in contact with you. Definitely go visit but if you forget Father's Day…well, it's your butt and grandpa's foot.
Love you honey,
Good night.
Jackie yawned, sent the email and closed her laptop. The countdown to the party was only three weeks away and Steven was coming. A little thrill ran down her back as she imagined him riding into Point Place in a long white limousine wearing a black leather duster coat, boots, dark pants and a ruffled shirt. A ruffled shirt? Okay, that worked! Give Steven a little cowboy flair and oh….a black cowboy hat hanging low on his brow. Sexy. Yum.
Her phone rang startling her out of the little fantasy. "Hello?"
"Did I wake you?"
Jackie nearly gasped. Did this man have ESP? "Ummm….no. I was just getting ready for bed."
Steven replied, "Really."
Now how could that word just sound so sexy? She switched the phone to her other ear. "Yes really. Why are you calling me so late? You're not changing your mind are you?"
"No. I'll be there. I can't wait to see what you look like."
"Me? I'm a nobody and you're some big…a big shot executive producer." Jackie stammered. She heard his chuckle over the phone line, "I'm the same guy you used to know…just a little wiser and a lot older."
Jackie felt breathless. His voice…the tone and inflection were reminiscent of nights spent talking and lying in his arms on his cot or on the tiny sofa in the Forman's basement. All the years in between were fading away like grains of sand in the wind. She was a teenager again and sitting on his lap just listening to him breathe. He'd chuckle at the television and she could feel it reverberate through her body. His aftershave was subtle but something she'd never forget.
"I've been working on a little something for the party. Does Eric still collect Star Wars crap?"
"Well that's a no-brainer. Of course. Can I ask why?"
"Nope." He said smugly. Jackie thought, "That damn Zen".
She replied, "Well, at least Eric grew up and isn't fixated on Luke Skywalker like he was years ago. Wait, I think he has a club afterschool that meets to talk about Obi-Wan-Isdom."
"What?"
"The wisdom of Ben Kenobi. That was how Benjamin got his name. Steven…wait until you meet this kid. He's like a cool Eric Forman should have been."
He laughed, "Some how cool and Forman in the same sentence makes me want to curl up in the fetal position."
It was Jackie's turn to laugh. "Think what you want, he's a great vice principal and I wish we had gone to Point Place Junior High with someone like him."
"God that was the worst school ever. How could anyone make a crap sandwich better?"
"Put a little tomato and lettuce on it – I guess." She answered and was rewarded with a big laugh. "Doll face, I really miss you. Can't wait until June."
Jackie smiled in the dark, "Me too. Good night Steven."
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