Free Somebody Everybody Listens To by Suzanne Supplee Page A

trying to line up a gig somewhere or looking for a real job—one that would keep me in Nashville for good. But, my stupid little mishap had landed me here. I glanced at the cinder-block wall, and for a brief second considered pounding my head against it. Instead, I grabbed my songwriting journal and sat down at Shanay’s desk again.
    By the time Ricky got back, I had the first verse and chorus for a new song, no tune yet, but that would come later. “You must be starving,” Ricky said, and rubbed his sweaty face with a rag.
    â€œI am,” I confessed. It was nearly two o’clock, and I hadn’t eaten a bite since the doughnut.
    â€œHalf a mile up the road is a right good barbecue place.” He took out his wallet. “Take this twenty and go get us some lunch. Hog Heaven is the name of it. You can’t miss it ’cause there’s a giant pink pig right out front.” He handed me a crisp twenty, and I wondered if it was just for Ricky’s lunch or if I should pay for my meal with it, too. Ricky must’ve known what I was thinking because he added, “My treat.”
    Just then the door swung open, and I heard Ricky’s breath catch.
    â€œWhy, Shanay! Hey there. I didn’t expect to see you today. I thought you’s supposed to stay off your feet,” he said, sounding guilty as sin.
    Shanay didn’t even respond to Ricky’s hello. Instead, she glared. First at Ricky, then at me. “Who are you?” she demanded, and hobbled inside. Obviously, Ricky hadn’t told her he’d found a replacement for the week.
    â€œI’m Retta,” I replied. “I’m just helping out. So you can recover,” I added quickly.
    Shanay narrowed her eyes at Ricky. “You went and hired somebody behind my back? I thought I told—”
    â€œYou said the doctor told you to stay off your feet.” Ricky glanced at me and nodded toward the door. Shanay didn’t seem like the stable type, physically or mentally, so I grabbed my purse and hurried outside.
    The sun was beating down so hard I was beginning to feel like a hell hag, and the trash cans smelled putrid. Flies buzzed all around them. I kicked gravel around and tried not to breathe through my nose. The door opened, but it was only Ricky. His cheeks were red as fire, and he was sweating.
    â€œAre you all right?” I asked, wondering if I should go back inside for my guitar.
    â€œI’m fine.” He wore the exasperated look Daddy sometimes did when Mama was on him about something.
    â€œMaybe I should just pay you the money I owe,” I offered. “I don’t want to cause trouble.”
    â€œI made a deal with you, and I aim to keep it, hear? Shanay ain’t in any shape to work. She’s supposed to keep that foot elevated. I acted like she had to stay, though. Told her she could take her pain medicine and go lay down in the back, and that way if you had any questions, she’d be right there to help out. You might want to act like you don’t know something ever now and then. You know, just so she don’t feel threatened.” Ricky took out a five and handed it to me. “Get something for Shanay, too.”
    â€œOkay,” I agreed, and climbed inside Goggy’s sweltering car, drove up the road to Hog Heaven. Since it was midafternoon, the restaurant wasn’t busy. In no time, I was back with three pulled-pork specials, three large Cokes, and three peach turnovers. Ricky was clanging around under the Ford Focus again, and Shanay was, according to my best guess, one and a half sheets to the wind. Her purse was wide open on the desktop, a pint of vodka in plain view.
    I glanced at the bottle then back at Shanay.
    She pressed a finger to her lips and whispered, “I can’t take codeine.” Clearly, she didn’t want Ricky to hear. “It upsets my stomach. Vodka’s cheaper and it works just as well. Normally, I’m not much