Woman with a Curve

By Shahzad Rizvi

Two small-town girls, lifelong friends, make it to the top in Washington, D.C., each in her own way. Gentle, conscientious Minnie finds love, while ambitious, scheming Maxie's relentless pursuit of wealth and power attracts two powerful men: a grasping Senator and the handsome, vapid President. A satirical look at politics, power, and sex in the nation's capital, from a keen Washington observer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shahzad Rizvi
• Release date: Jan 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781452420820

Shahzad Rizvi

Shahzad Rizvi was born and raised in a princely state in India. He now lives and works in the Washington area with his family. He enjoys travel, reading, and learning languages, but his greatest passion is storytelling.

Book preview

WOMAN WITH A CURVE

or

Human Frailty

By Shahzad Rizvi

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012, Shahzad Rizvi

This book is also available in print at most online retailers.

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Dedicated to my beloved wife, Becky, who is my muse,

as well as my guide, friend, and philosopher

Chapter One

When Maxie Little first saw the Capitol, visions of dollar bills with lots of zeroes began to dance before her eyes. It was an ambition finally coming true. It was a late spring afternoon, and the slanted rays of the sun lit the shiny dome like the backdrop for a new drama about to unfold in the nation’s capital. In her opinion, the goings-on in Washington far surpassed Greek tragedies or Shakespearean comedies. Just as one drama would end—and hadn’t it been the mother of all dramas?—another would inevitably begin, filled with even more complexity and intrigue.

Maxie was finally seeing the physical embodiment of the Body she had been dreaming of for years. Without the shadow of a doubt, she could recall when she had her first dream about Congress. She was a young teenager, her body growing and developing, the girl giving way to the woman she was to become. Maxie had fallen asleep that night feeling unfamiliar sensations. Her dream began with a destructive tornado tearing through Washington, swirling over the monuments and the Capitol. In her dream, Congressmen and senators peered out at the storm, assembled in a chamber, and passed a bill to forever ban tornadoes over the capitol. As the gavel came down, the storm instantly ceased and calm was restored. Maxie woke up abuzz with physical excitement. She was experiencing her first love.

It may have been a coincidence that she dreamed of Congress and Congressional power just as she had her first sexual stirrings, but it planted a seed that was to germinate. As an adult, Maxie found everything about the institution fascinating and compelling.

For her, power and money—in that order—were the most important things in life. She always believed that if you had power, money would run after you and present itself, as well. While other young people watched soap operas and sitcoms, she watched TV to find out where she could find power and money. Finally, she came to the conclusion that the answer could be found in Congress. If it could say No to the President of the United States, the most powerful person in the world, then it had to have tremendous might. There was no question that Congress was about money, too. What better evidence than Congress giving tens of billions of dollars to this department or that, or spending trillions on foreign wars?

The teenaged Maxie couldn’t help noticing that some local guy with a big mouth and Barnum & Bailey showmanship could be an ordinary Joe Blow one day, and the next, after being elected to the Congress, could operate on a completely different scale. He could bring tons of money from Washington for roads and dams and things. And when he left Congress, money always seemed to be coming out of his ears. It was a pattern she noticed again and again.

Minnie was continuously talking while she drove, but Maxie wasn’t listening. She was thinking about all the money in the hands of the Congressmen in that shiny building. No wonder the security is so tight that we can’t even get close. So, at Maxie’s request, Minnie just drove around, letting her see her dream palace from all angles.

Maxie Little and Minnie LeGrand had been neighbors, childhood playmates, and friends, as well as rivals at times. They’d had many ups and downs as children, but they’d always made up after fights. As maturity set in, they realized that these conflicts were totally useless. After all, they never fought for the same things. They were utterly different from each other and wanted totally different kinds of things in life. Finally, they vowed that they would never fight, but instead be supportive of each other.

Maxie had always thought that a salary was no way to make money but, while she was dreaming of Congress—fantasizing about young and dashing congressmen, smartly dressed in designer suits with bulging bank accounts—Minnie was managing a little convenience store attached to the gas station on Exit 11—Tuckerville, off Interstate Highway 1111. Since this highway led directly to Washington D.C., there was a lot of traffic on it and many travelers got off on Exit 11 for gas and a pit stop.

One day, as Minnie’s shift was about to end, a gentleman ran in and urgently looked around. He then grabbed a lemonade bottle from the refrigerator case and came over to pay for it, looking distraught and unhappy. Minnie looked at his face and said, Sorry about the bathroom, Sir.

In response, he shook his head and said, I’m in a hurry. I have to go. Ever cheerful, Minnie quickly rang up the lemonade and handed him his change. The man rushed out. She wondered when the heck the plumber was going to show up; he’d been called in for the emergency. There was no other facility on this desolate exit and she wondered what the man would do now.

She came out a few minutes later after finishing her shift and spotted her customer in his car by the pump. The door was open and he was seated sideways on the driver’s seat, his feet out on the pavement and his head between his knees. He had just vomited. He was the picture of distress. She walked up and did what she’d never done before with a stranger; she told him, Come with me, quick. I live just across the street. He nodded and followed her in his car.

At her apartment, he rushed into her bathroom and vomited again. Apparently, he had diarrhea, too. She could hear and smell it all over the little efficiency. She called out through the door, You need to be seen by a doctor. I can drive you to the emergency room.

I’m in no shape to go anywhere, he replied. Besides, they’ll ask me a million questions and keep me waiting forever, while they do their stupid paperwork. After a long time, he called out again, Miss, would you mind terribly if I come out just wearing my undershirt and your towel wrapped around me? I’m afraid I made a mess of my clothes.

Of course I wouldn’t mind, she replied, I used to work in a nursing home. I had to dress and undress men all the time.

He gave a feeble laugh and said, I hope I’m not that decrepit. He went on, I bet it’s food poisoning.

What did you eat? she asked.

Raw oysters, a few stops back. I think they did a number on me.

Minnie suggested, Why don’t you lie down and I’ll wash and dry your clothes? This building has washing machines in the basement. Maybe then you can go to the walk-in clinic and be seen. They’re pretty quick.

Yes, I can do that. I’m already feeling a little better.

Do you want to call your family, your wife or whatever, and let them know what’s up? You know…if they’re expecting you.

No, I live alone and no one is expecting me. Minnie watched him matter-of-factly, as he emerged from the bathroom in a towel and handed her his wet clothes. He had apparently rinsed them out.

* * * *

After the man had taken the medicine prescribed by the walk-in clinic, he went back to Minnie’s and fell asleep on the couch. When he awoke, it was early morning. Minnie said, Good morning! You went out like a light last night. How are you feeling this morning?

I’m sorry, yesterday I was so out of it that I didn’t even introduce myself. I’m Robert Clark. You can call me Bob.

You really were in bad shape. How do you feel now? By the way, I’m Minnie…Minnie LeGrand.

I feel much better. Yesterday, I felt like I was going to die. If I hadn’t run into you and you hadn’t taken pity on me, I don’t know what I would’ve done.

It was nothing, Bob. I was happy to help a person in trouble.

Minnie, listen, I have a proposition to make to you; you don’t have to answer me right this minute. I’m a businessman in Washington D.C. I need someone like you to run my office, someone I can trust, someone I can depend on. Would you be interested in taking a job with me?

I don’t know the first thing about running an office, Bob.

Nobody does, Minnie. People learn on the job. I’m looking for certain qualities in the person I want and you seem to have them.

But I wouldn’t want to disappoint you. What if you move me to Washington and put your trust in me, and it doesn’t work out?

If this job doesn’t work out, I’ll find something else for you. Are you interested? I’ll pay double whatever salary you’re making now.

That sounds like a good offer...

Then, do we have a deal? He stretched his hand towards her. Smiling shyly, she gave him her hand, uncertainly. He handed her his card and said, Call me, any time, day or night—on my cell phone. Then he was gone.

* * * *

When Minnie mentioned Bob’s offer to Maxie, she shouted, Girl, are you crazy? The man dumped a job in Washington D.C. in your lap and you’re pussy-footing around? If he’d offered me the job, I would have gone with him that minute. But I never meet guys like that. You’re always running into them and not even taking advantage of it. You dumbbell! Now pick up the phone and call him. When Minnie wouldn’t oblige, Maxie gave her a playful swat. She picked up the card from Minnie’s kitchen counter and called the number on Minnie’s cell phone. When a man’s voice said, Hello, she handed the phone to her friend.

This is Minnie, she said, rolling her eyes at Maxie, who was eagerly leaning over, trying to hear the conversation. I’ll take the job as your office manager. But I hope you understand that I’ll need a lot of training.

Oh, hi Minnie! That’s great. And you can move into one of the apartments I own here. It’ll be rent free. When can you come up and start the work?

In a month.

I see.

Maxie gave her a jab in the ribs. Two weeks?

That would be better, Bob said. Send me an e-mail and I’ll send you all the details. I’m in a hurry right now. I’ll talk to you later. Bye. After the call ended, Minnie was pensive, but Maxie was dancing all over the room.

Chapter Two

Sharpie Roach had never been like the other kids. It seemed that he’d been born with certain traits that remained part of his character and he never outgrew them. Even as a baby, he knew