Diary of a High School Rebel: Day 10, Part 1
It was already 8 p.m. when we escaped the confines of the school for the downtown Brigiton.
Alas, the ever-present Cooning was as vigilant as ever, and we had to wait until next morning to see whatever kind of excitement the downtown had to offer.
8 a.m.
There were so many places to visit! I didn't know where to look first.
A group of garbage can lid-wielding macho-men tried making advances at us as soon as we entered the town.
Too much bravado, not enough class.
At Two Peeks Diner, Henry Picolo was hard at work. I thought maybe we could get some information about accidents in Brigiton out of him.
"Any accidents?"
> "Your wife's shift?"
"When does your wife come in to fill the automat slots? We want her recipe for piroshki."
"Roslyn relieves me at 4:00 pm."
> "Any accidents?"
"Henry, have you had any weird accidents here?"
"Sure have!" He answers proudly. "We're no different than anyone else in town."
"What kind of accidents?"
"With my big friend, Palooka the Pooka, the weirder the better! The postman and Earl Potts both had troubles yesterday."
> "You have a pooka for a friend?"
"What happened to the postman?"
"What happened to Banker..."
"You have a pooka for a friend?"
"He introduced himself the day I received my new mop. The handle snapped, and I hit face to floor. Been seeing him ever since."
"What happened to the postman?"
"What happened to Banker..."
> "Where did you purchase the mop?"
"Where did you purchase the mop?"
"Weehawken's restaurant supply section. Same quick service. Same fine products!"
> "What happened to the postman?"
"What happened to Banker..."
"What happened to the postman?"
"Nothing."
"I thought you said the postman had an accident!"
"He should have! My pooka friend wired up the mail slot to the coffee maker, but the postman didn't react one jolt!"
> "What happened to Banker..."
"What happened to Banker Potts?"
"Oh, that was awful, poor Earl. Palooka busted the new ice bin across the counter and down his pants!"
The man was clearly delusional, but at least now we knew an accident had taken place, and it was again tied to the Weehawken catalogue.
9 a.m.
We decided to visit the City Hall next, to learn something about Maximillian's fate.
> "Can we visit the courtroom?"
"We want to see the Mayor!"
"Goodbye."
"Can we visit the courtroom?"
"I believe Judge Basscreek has time to see visitors."
The judge, however, wasn't exactly cooperative.
Basscreek thought himself justice incarnate, and he wasn't about to set Maximillian free. We need to foil his plans somehow.
On our way out of the City Hall, we stumbled on Jimmy Finn. Gosh, that smell! I couldn't stand dealing with him myself; luckily, Helen volunteered to expose him and drive him away.
Turned out he was, literally, a trash man.
Pissing him off was fun. Getting rid of him was a plus. Too bad the smell lingered on.
10 a.m.
Remembering the promise we made to Miriam, we decided to pay a visit to Timothy Richards at the Drug Store.
"Bad sneeze."
> "How's business?"
"How's business?"
"I manage to make ends meet, barely. I'd have more customers if I were older or married. You know, more established."
"Bad sneeze."
"What if Miriam..."
> "Any accidents?"
"Have you witnessed any accidents lately?"
"No. Mother and I hardly go out. I have to tend her while she recuperates."
> "Bad sneeze."
"What if Miriam..."
"That sneeze sounds bad. Ask Dr. Dielater to check it."
"The hospital refuses to admit me or mother. Do not ask why."
> "We'll ask at the hospital."
"What if Miriam..."
"We'll ask at the hospital."
"Don't waste your time with that blind fool of a doctor!"
> "What if Miriam..."
"If we told you Miriam Tin sorta, kinda likes you, what would you say?"
"GAAHK!" He chokes on a glob of mucus. "AAGGKK!!" Swallows. "That would be wonderful!"
"To win Miriam..."
> "Your mother problem."
"What isn't wonderful, according to Miriam, is how you let your mother treat you."
"What can I do? Mother needs my help. If I hadn't become a druggist, she would have slipped away years ago."
Timothy was obviously a hopeless case, but we decided to check on Dr. Dielater anyway, just in case.
11 a.m.
Dr. Dielater received us at the Brigiton Hospital.
> "Opinion of accidents?"
"Maximillian?"
"Timothy Richards."
"What do you think about the accidents happening in Brigiton?"
"I think people should be more careful."
> "Maximillian?"
"Timothy Richards."
"Did you examine Maximillian at the jail?"
"Yes. I found him in good health, but in poor spirits."
> "Timothy Richards."
"Why isn't Timothy Richards allowed within 100 yards of the hospital?"
"There's nothing wrong with him or his mother, and there will never be!"
Nothing wrong, huh? What about those pills or the sneeze, I wondered.
> "What are those pills he takes?"
"What exactly are their..."
"What are those pills he takes?"
"He compounds them from mostly innocuous herbal remedies: chamomile, kava, and cannabis."
> "What exactly are their..."
"What exactly are their complaints?"
"He swears he has catalepsy and she, narcoleptic blood poisoning."
"Does he also medicate--"
> "His disease."
"I see. He blames a disease for the stress his mother heaps on him."
"And Mrs. Richards's lethargy is due to her son's servility."
That certainly was one-of-a-kind family.
We thanked the doctor and hurried back to Timothy.
12 p.m.
This time, to cure Timothy of his "disease", I resolved to press the matter.
It wasn't hard to trick him by playing deviously.
Persuaded to cooperate with us, Timothy let us in onto his alchemical preparations.
In order to not let Timothy break from my spell, I had to go on tricking him, several times in a row, overseeing each step he was taking.
We didn't really know what exactly we were doing; we could only hope our presence would keep Timothy determined and firm.
The whole business was extremely delicate.
Keeping up the game, however, was very satisfying; I felt like I was in my own element.
- (If we lost, no matter at what step, Timothy would show us out immediately.)
Finally, the end was in sight.
Now he would be able to withstand the pressure better, and breathe more freely.
It was time to hook him up with Miriam.