Chapter 11
Stalled
Santa Cruz, California
March 16, 1987 (Monday)
3:00 a.m.
The rain started to come down in little droplets at first, but now Hyde had to flick his windshield wipers on in his
black 1973 Chevy Camaro Z-28 as the storm got worse. It broke his heart, as did many things, to get rid of the
El Camino. After a few tries, it was too tainted, so he bought a used Camaro. After all these years it still ran
pretty decent. He really wanted a pick-up truck, but there was those nagging thoughts in his brain that
prevented him from owning one. Instead of being on the road in Canada, thanks to ego-trips, drugs, in fighting,
and the drummer sleeping with the bassist's wife, he was now back in Santa Cruz with Sid the faithful having to
do grocery shopping after midnight when the crazies, bring them on, and the tokers who needed munchies were
out. To top it off there was some kind of paperwork mistake and he had to get another physical to be allowed
for international travel. He just had a fucking doctor's appointment not too long ago. Whatever. Now, he had to
be at the store when he really just wanted to be curled up in his bed, because there wasn't much food in the
house since he was going to be away for 2 months. He had no sleep at all last night as a little voice kept telling
him,
smile
give the quarter and smile.
don't be afraid.
Whatever that was supposed to mean he had no idea. Hyde realized he took liberties in bringing Sid inside with
him; he wasn't a service dog, yet that's exactly what he was. He wasn't going to leave him alone at night with
the windows up on a stormy night. Besides he was a well-behaved dog and he wasn't the type to run and jump
on people and bark incessantly. The dog was almost human. The store wasn't that crowded, he figured, he
could be in and out of here in 20 minutes. He did need to use a pushcart since he had to replenish all of the food
that was eaten or just thrown away. It was more for the dog than himself really. Did he want to go through the
trouble of examining oranges and then put them in a little plastic bag? It was easier to buy the orange juice in a
carton. He didn't know why he seemed on pause, but then he heard the sound of a soft and even female voice
that was trying to stop a few heads of lettuce from falling on the floor.
"Thank you," she said, looking up, "I guess I grabbed the wrong one."
She thought he had the most beautiful blue eyes.
"No problem." Hyde replied. This woman was striking in her simplicity. She had dyed blonde hair fastened in a
ponytail and bluish gray eyes. She was wearing a modern nurses uniform, with a pink sweater, white shirt, an
RN Caduceus pin, white pants, and white clogs.
"Is this your dog?" It was always on the 12th of never when a handsome man even looked her way, so she
wanted to enjoy this moment, "He's cute."
"Yeah. His name is Sid. You can pet him he won't bite. Sid say hi to the nice lady…."
"Holly," she wanted to bend down and get a lick on the cheek, she missed her dog, the only bright spot from her
childhood, but instead she rubbed the fur between his ears. "And you are?"
He hated his name, but what could he say to the nurse? He respected them more than the actual doctor's.
"Steven Hyde."
Whether out of a professional reflex action or just trying her hand at flirting at 3 in the morning in the grocery
store she extended her hand, half-surprised that he shook it with a firm, solid handshake. Her happy hour rum
and cokes wearing off, but hell even the dog seemed to nod in agreement.
"Nice to meet you." Holly felt that she sounded like the professionalism and courtesy chapter from one of her
textbooks.
Tomorrow was St. Patrick's Day, but it seemed stupid to bring it up, so she just continued to push her cart,
surely they'd be going in different directions and then she could go back home to her lonely, yet safe,
apartment.
Did he have to stop at the deli counter as well? She figured getting a deal on Swiss cheese was not worth a
broken heart over to get, so she turned her cart around when this mysterious Steven Hyde person was telling
his order to the older graying gentleman behind the counter.
She's afraid too.
Hyde swatted at his shoulder that mosquito was driving him batty.
I'm still here. Nah-nah-nah-nah.
The butcher had a fondness for dogs so he gave Hyde an unsealed package containing 2 roast beef slices.
Something that never would have happened in 1987 during the mainstream shopping hours when most of the
stay at home housewives did their shopping. That's when he noticed nurse Holly, she never did give her last
name was gone.
She got to see him without his sunglasses on.
"Oh fuck," Hyde whispered to himself, "Please say he didn't….."
There were people, harmless as they were, who were more annoying than an Angel slash mosquito that haunts
your thoughts. He was definitely on a munchie run, first one should always be prepared – you don't need to be
caught driving 2 miles an hour, and second, he knew that scent anywhere, plus he would try to keep him talking
for hours.
"Hey…!" He almost dropped his packages of cheese curls and jar of salsa. That sounded like a gross
combination. "How are you, Mr. Hyde?"
"Good."
"Guess who I met when I saw you last. I'll tell you! James Hetfield of Metallica in Long Beach last June!"
"That's cool, Henry."
Henry Cook who he had the fortune or misfortune of meeting in an elevator when he happened to put his face
to one on the back of the book jacket he was carrying.
It was kismet. It was fate. It meant nothing to him.
He was a harmless fanboy who he wished at that moment would go away.
Why did that pretty nurse have to leave?
He enjoyed talking to her.
"Listen, I have to finish, you know the dog…."
"Oh yeah! I have to get some more snacks…..see you, Mr. Hyde."
And he didn't get this young kid's use of the Mr. social title was he that old to a person only 7 years younger
than himself?
Seven years does not a generational divide make.
"Glad he's gone." Hyde whispered to his dog.
Can you walk faster?
You're not making my job any easier.
There were two broken jars of pickles in the next aisle, Hyde directed Sid to go into the next one. He didn't want
him to his paws cut on the glass.
Shit. They were going to meet once more, so Holly with her flushed cheeks did the side elbow trick to get the
Tampax to fall off the shelf and into her shopping cart to hide behind the lettuce and bottled water while picked
up a tube of toothpaste.
"We meet again." Hyde said.
"Small world. Gel or paste?"
"Excuse me?"
"Your toothpaste…"
"Whatever's on sale."
Spoken like a man, she presumed and thought she had to be the most stupid person alive, no wonder when
she wasn't drinking at the bar after work she stayed home and knitted.
She came. She saw. She failed.
How was it that she could start an IV, but not have the social finesse necessary to talk to a man?
Speak to her.
She's a runner like you are.
You both have your reasons…
NO!
You be quiet!
She's moving to the next aisle because you nodded.
Holly felt she was no good at personal conversation, so when she was able she went down the aisle and
backtracked to the deli to get her Swiss cheese, now he'd have the head start and leave the store before her.
All right….you two don't get it.
Your Earthly egos are driving me crazy.
See you in the parking lot then.
20 minutes later
Damn it. She wanted to cry. Her car wouldn't start and not enough money for the payphone; her auto club card
was in her other wallet.
Her hair was wet from the rain and the customer service desk was closed which was the only disadvantage to
late night/early morning shopping.
"Are you okay?" Hyde asked
He was about to leave the store when he noticed that Holly had trouble starting her 2-door Toyota sedan.
"I need to find a manager, there's a lock on this phone at the desk, and I don't have enough money to use the
payphone."
He found a quarter in his jean jacket pocket and gave it to her.
"Thank you. I'll pay you back."
He smiled, "Don't worry about it."
Hyde didn't feel right leaving her alone so he waited until she was done with her phone all.
"I need my auto club card to get a tow…."
"I can give you a ride," he hoped that wasn't too forward; maybe he should've just offered her taxi money
instead. "How far do you live from here?"
"Only 10 minutes, but I don't want to impose."
"It's not an imposition, Holly. Get your groceries out of your car. I don't mind."
She let her guard down for a moment grateful that wasn't alone in the dead of night. "Thank you, Steve."
Whew.
I wish I could say my job is done, but alas it's just beginning with you two.
Buckle Up.
Author's Note: This chapter didn't come out as I hoped. Be kind.
But after all these years Hyde deserves a break.