The next day arrived before I knew it. I was able to call Skeeter in the morning and check in to see if he was still available to help me shop for a ring Patti like we talked about.
"Hi, Doug. Thanks for the reminder. I'm still open. Want to come over or your house or meet somewhere?"
"You can come over, Skeeter. It gives us time to spend together."
"Exactly," he agreed.
"You can come over whenever you're ready," I replied.
"Thanks, Doug. I don't need to call, right?"
"No. You can still just show up. I should be around the house when you come."
"I'll see then, Doug. Good luck with your journals."
"I think I'll need it, Skeeter. If I don't find anything, that's fine with me. Just playing for ideas right now."
"Why don't you try drawing another Quailman and see where it goes?" Skeeter asked.
"You have a good idea, Skeeter. I'll see what I can do, even if it means not turning Quailman into a novel."
Skeeter laughed after I said that.
"Very funny, Doug. I'll be over soon."
"See you then, Skeeter."
I heard him laughing when we ended the conversation.
Skeeter is a character, let me tell you.
About an hour or two later, Skeeter showed up, but like I told him, I was hanging out with those old journals.
Actually, he showed up within two hours, and not one, but was close to one.
I heard the doorbell ring sometime after 11. I got up from my office in the house since I keep my journals there. They are better off in the office rather than other places in the house, and that includes my bedroom.
I opened the door for Skeeter.
"Are you ready to leave, Doug?"
"In a minute. Let me put these journals away first," I told him.
"Want me to help?" Skeeter asked.
"Thank you, but I got it."
"I'll just stay here then."
He didn't have to wait for very long because I mostly put them on the desk.
"I'm ready now, Skeeter. Want me to drive, or do you?" I asked, seeing his car.
"I can do it. I don't have it locked, so help yourself."
"Thanks, Skeeter."
I went to find my wallet and house key. I didn't want to leave without them or I'd be in trouble, which I didn't want.
"Let's go see what we can find for Patti," I told Skeeter as I locked the house.
"Good thing you have your stuff with you, Doug. This is your money and not mine."
We didn't have to talk about work, and there was no reason to. I am in no hurry to find a job. I haven't had one for quite a while, and I'm fine with that.
"Then that means you'll have to call Patti after this."
"You're right, Skeeter. But it has to be the perfect ring for her."
"We'll have to look around, even if it means all day."
"I don't think we'll spend all day."
I didn't want to, either.
"Have you found anything in those old journals you kept?" Skeeter asked.
"No, Skeeter. I will keep looking, but I'm not giving up."
"Good idea, Doug. I heard from Roger."
"Again? He likes to get us involved in the trouble he gets."
"I know. He sounded like he had something in mind, but I didn't want to listen to what he had to say this time. I know he wants us for sure," Skeeter agreed.
"Always has and always will, Skeeter. He won't change that."
"Of course not, Doug."
"Did he say what it was this time?"
"No, because I hung up before he could say anything."
"Good thinking, Skeeter. We should keep doing that in the future," I said.
He agreed with me.
We decided to visit only one jewelry store, since that was the only time we had for today. It was the first one we drove by to check out and see what Patti would be surprised with to be Mrs. Douglas Funnie.
"How do you think she'll react, Doug?" Skeeter asked as we got out of the car when he found a spot.
"I keep asking myself the same question, Skeeter. If she was here right now, she would be," I replied.
"I think so too. I don't want to get married. I always pictured you and Patti as the perfect couple, but I don't think Roger plans to get married either."
"He's not that type, Skeeter. Why would he want to be married?"
He didn't answer my question.
Speaking of Roger, we ran into him on our way to the jewelry store.
"Hey, Funnie. Hey, Valentine."
We looked behind us, and there was Roger.
"What are you doing here, Roger?" I asked him.
"Just walking around town. Why did you hang up on me when we were trying to talk on the phone, Valentine?"
"I wasn't interested in hearing what you were about to say, Roger. I have better things to do with Doug."
"Like what?"
"None of your business," I told him.
"You're telling him, Doug."
"Mind if I come along?"
"Sorry, Roger, we didn't invite you," I replied.
"You don't have to know every little thing on what Doug and I do. You know Doug and I aren't interested in what you do with your gang. You don't need to follow us on this trip."
"Good going, Skeeter."
"Thanks, Doug. Let's get out of here."
Even until today, Roger still wore his black jacket. He never leaves anywhere without it.
"Have it your way, guys. I will see you next time and the three of us can get together then."
"In your dreams, Roger," Skeeter told him as we walked away from Roger.
Good thing he didn't follow us, and we were happy to see that.
"If we don't find anything at this store, Skeeter, we can always look at the others."
"But not in one day."
"No," I agreed.
At least Roger didn't follow us to the jewelry store. Why would he want to hang out on a special trip to the jewelry store like I am right now?
Skeeter and I looked to see if the jewelry store was open for us to come in and have a look, and it was, and we walked in.
"Let's go see what they have for Patti," Skeeter said.
"I hope there's something for her here, but if they don't, we can always try another store at a different time."
"Good idea, Doug."
We began browsing without saying anything for a while.
So far from what we've seen, they look like there's nothing Patti would like, but we kept looking for a while longer.
"The prices are expensive," I said, looking at the rings.
"You're right. I don't think she would want an expensive ring," Skeeter said.
"Of course she doesn't. Let's get out of here," I said.
"Are there anymore stores do you need to look at today?"
"I don't think so," I answered.
I looked at my watch. We weren't getting very far for Patti today, so we decided to give up.
Before we were leaving, the manager saw us.
"Can I do anything for you gentlemen?" he asked.
"We're just looking around, thank you," I answered.
"Just let me know."
"We will," Skeeter said.
It was a good thing we didn't leave when the manager saw us.
"What are you gentlemen looking for today?" he asked.
"I'm looking for a ring a friend of mine would like," I told him.
"What kind of ring would she like?" he asked.
"There's this one girl I always liked, and I want to propose to her. I should have done this years ago."
"Have you proposed to her before?"
"Np, sir."
"Are you sure that you don't want me to help you find the right ring?"
"No, sir. I'm not looking for the prices you have," I told him.
"That's all right. Maybe you'll come back again when you change your mind."
"I might just do that."
"Have a nice day, gentlemen."
"You too," Skeeter said as we left.
Once we slammed the door behind us, Skeeter asked, "Do you want to go to another store or wait for another time?"
"Another time, Skeeter. He might have something different when if I decide to come back."
"Good point, Doug. I have something to do."
"What?"
"Grocery shopping."
"I don't think I need to hang out for that," I told him.
"Of course not, Doug. I can take you back home and I head over there."
"Sounds good to me. We can go to my house now."
"Are you sure, Doug?"
"Yes, Skeeter. Good thing I didn't spend my money for one special trip to the jewelry store."
"Good thing you didn't give the manager Patti's name."
"He doesn't care what her name is."
"You're right, Skeeter."
"Are you still going through your journals later today and decide on something?"
"I might, but I don't know yet."
We turned the radio on to a country music station. Skeeter likes country music. Ever since we quit being fans of the band we liked in the fifth grade, we moved to different types of music.
I've always liked rock 'n' roll, and now I'm getting into a little bit of rhythm and blues. Some of it is good.
We didn't say much once he turned to his favorite country music station.
"Mind if we listen to country?"
"Sure, we can do that," I answered.
Then he drove away from the jewelry store.
I only lived about twenty minutes away from the jewelry store, so it didn't take very long to take me back to the house.
"Here you go, Doug. Talk with you another time."
"Thanks for the ride, Skeeter. I'll let you know when I find something."