Free Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise by Joyce Magnin Page B

previous pun fest.
    Rose nodded and I assumed I wasn't the first to think of it.
    Ginger Rodgers was on the thumb right next to Marlabeth Pilkey.
    "Tell me about Ginger," I said.
    "What's to tell? She was born that way. God made her little is all."
    "I know but why is she here in Paradise?"
    "Where else? What better place for her? Here she's accepted just as she is. She sews quilts and does amazing needle art stuff she sells at flea markets. Loads her car up twice every spring and makes enough to live on for the year."
    "Good deal," I said.
    "She's happy, Charlotte."
    That was when Asa strolled by. "I've been looking for you, Charlotte."
    "Me? How come?"
    "You coming down or should I come up?"
    Rose and I exchanged looks. "You have pie at your place?" she asked.
    "Cherry."
    "We'll come down," Rose called. "Charlotte has pie at her place."
    We sauntered over to my house like three best friends. I couldn't remember the last time I had found myself in such good company. The thought occurred to me to say something about the odd bit of joy that crept into my heart, but I winced it away on account of it might have come out sounding silly.
    Lucky squeezed by me and into the trailer. For some reason that silly pooch always wanted to be the first one inside.
    Asa helped himself to a ginger ale, while Rose started coffee.
    "I think I found you a couple more players," Asa said.
    "Really. Who?"
    "The Frost sisters."
    Rose put her hand on Asa's shoulders. "Really? The Frost sisters? Did you speak with them?"
    "Sure did," Asa said. "They say they never got a flyer but would be happy to come out and play." Then he smiled and said, "Well, okay. I had to do some arm-twisting and they agreed to give it a try, but if they don't like it they're going to quit."
    I sat next to Rose at the kitchen table. I sank into the thick polka dot cushions I had tied on to the chair. "Frost sisters? You mean the women who own the trailer I thought I was buying?"
    "That's right," Asa said. "Edwina and Thomasina. They live on the other side of the woods. Lived there their whole lives. Never married. I'd say they're in their late thirties, healthy as oxen and just as strong. They own about forty acres out there. Fergus had been trying to get his grubby paws on that land—"
    "But they won't sell," Rose said.
    "Sisters, huh. Wonder if they'd be good at left and right field. Bookends."
    Rose laughed. "I can't wait to see the whole team assembled in one place."
    "Speaking of which," Asa said. "Where exactly do you think you'll practice? Fergus will never go for it anywhere in the park. And there really isn't much room."
    "That is a pickle," Rose said. "Here we were so excited about the team we didn't even think about having a place to practice and play games." She paused and sipped coffee. "God will provide."
    Asa snapped his fingers. "I wonder. I just wonder."
    "What?" I said. "You have an idea?"
    "Not sure. I'll let you know." He swigged the last of his ginger ale and scooted out the door. "I'll let you know," he called as the door slammed behind him and Lucky startled from a deep nap.
    "Now where do you suppose he's off to?" I asked.
    Rose shook her head. "Don't know, but he's a scrounger from way back. He might just have something up his sleeve."
    My telephone rang.
    "Hello?"
    Nothing. Just a small breath on the other end.
    "Don't tell me—people still making obscene phone calls?" I was just about to hang up when I heard a quiet female voice say, "Can you meet me at six behind my trailer?"
    "Suzy? Is this Suzy?"
    But she hung up without letting me know for certain.
    "Really?" Rose said. Her voice rose an octave. "Was that Suzy?"
    "I'm not sure. I think it was her. She said to meet her out back of her trailer at six o'clock this evening."
    I watched Rose's eyes grow large. "Are you going to meet her?"
    "I should. Don't you think, Rose? Don't you think I should meet her?"
    She nodded, smiled, and flicked a crumb off the table. "Yes, Charlotte. I think you should.