The Adventures of Mrs. Brooks's Family and Friends

By Katrina Criner

Miss Brooks, an Afro American woman, inherits $3 billion from her husband, Gerry, who passed away with a massive heart attack at a very early age before his daughter was born. He made his first billion at age thirty. He was a well-known architect and real-estate broker known in many different countries for his beautiful work. He taught his wife all about the businesses. She and her family moved from Chicago to California where two of the banks she owned are located. She bought a beautiful mansion. She travels out of the country a lot with her daughter and tutor until her daughter, who is now eight years old, told her mother she didn't want to anymore, so she's at home with her auntie, granny, and tutor. As you will find out in reading this book, everything that glitters is not gold. There's drug trafficking, which needs the help of the FBI, attempted murder, gambling, bullying, and attempted rape.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662488269

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The Adventures of Mrs. Brooks's Family and Friends

Katrina Criner

Copyright © 2022 Katrina Criner

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-6624-8825-2 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-8826-9 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

The Adventures of Miss Brooks's Family and Friends

The Party

The Gambling Woman

You Dig One Ditch, You Better Dig Two

Concepcion Playing House

It's a Small World

Keep Your Friends Close but Keep Your Enemies Closer

The Same Dog That Bit You Growled at Me Too

What's Good for the Goose Is Good for the Gander

Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil

Court's in Session

Opening Statement

Lizzie Goes to Jail

The Trip Home with Miss Mable

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Miss Mable's New Home

Willie's Big Surprise

The Beginning of a New Romance

Mable's New Job

The Head Is in the Lion's Mouth

A Wonderful Move for Vickey and Diana

Yes or No or Maybe So

The Big Valentine's Day Wedding of All Weddings

Miss Brooks's Homecoming

The Fourth of July Gala

The Big Family Sit-Down

It's the Day of Reckoning

Wow! Look at This, a Job Well Done

What's Done in the Dark Will Soon Come to Light!

You Thought You Had It All in the Bag, Cat's Out of the Bag

Concepcion's Dream Comes True

A New Year and a New Beginning

The End of the Bullying at KLC Elementary School

The Odious School Principal

Another Big Decision

The New Principal of KLC Elementary School

The Bowmans' First Big House Party

The Bowman's Party

Lies, Trash, and Garbage

About the Author

The Adventures of Miss Brooks's Family and Friends

Miss Brooks, an Afro American woman, inherited monies from her late husband, Mr. Gerry Brooks, who passed away just before his daughter, Concepcion, was born, leaving his wife with three billion dollars. Before passing away from a massive coronary thrombosis, he was a well-known architect and real-estate broker. He made his first billion at age thirty. He taught his wife everything she needed to know about his business and all the charities and property he owned.

Miss Brooks graduated with a master's degree in business management. Miss Brooks also graduated from the college of interior home design. She worked as an assistance designer part time with other designers until she received her accredited certificate. This is when she met her husband, Gerry. She never forgot anything she was taught by him. Now she owns a mansion in the Bel Air area of California. She lives there with her mother whose name is Dana Olivia; she lost her husband some years earlier and liked to be called Sooky, Granny, or Grandma, and she is a retired registered nurse. Miss Brooks has a sister named Molina who likes to be called Maggie and is an electrical engineer. She quit her job so she could be with her niece, Concepcion, who liked to be called CC, and her mother, Miss Brooks, who is sometimes called Brooksie. She does a lot of traveling out of the country taking care of her businesses, different charities, and real-estate properties.

Her daughter, Concepcion, used to travel with her but told her mother that she didn't want to anymore. So now she's at home with Nancy, her own private tutor, who has been with Miss Brooks and the family for many years. She has traveled with Miss Brooks to every country they visited and has also written many books. She is also known worldwide in certain teaching. Miss Brooks's mansion has a house her mother lives in, two gated houses, a large twenty-bedroom house accommodation separated from the mansion for all the help with a nice swimming pool, seating area with a nice barbecue pit and fireplace. The helps are always on call at a moment's notice. It also has a tennis court, six-car garages, two suites, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, two studies, library, theater room that seats twenty people, two family rooms one with ping-pong, billiard, card tables, televisions, and a nicely stocked bar, a gym with exercise equipment, sauna rooms, five laundry rooms, lavish living room, and a dining room that seats twenty-five people. All rooms have fireplaces, which is fifteen in all. There is also two chef's kitchens. She also has two gated houses that sits on the other side of the tennis court, each with heating, a deck, and lots of living space. There is a nearby commuter route and a diverse selection of restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. She has a wine cellar, two elevators, two basement levels, one is twenty-one feet below the ground.

Now there's a road with a line of evergreen trees on each side as you travel along until you come to a black wrought-iron gate with letters MB in gold on the front. When you enter the other side paved in blue stone and two hundred yards from the gate to the mansion on the left is a six-door garage filled with beautiful cars. On the right is a large outdoor heated swimming pool, which is seventy-five feet long. There is a tennis court, two three-bedroom gated houses, with full bath, walk-in closets, laundry room, fireplace, living room, and dining area with large kitchens. There's lots of greenery with all kinds of flowers and lawns meticulously cared for by twenty or more groundkeepers. Toward the back, there's an outdoor living area with plenty of seating for guests, also a kitchen, a large barbecue pit, a bar, built-in television, music system, and fireplace.

In the front, there are two beautiful wrought-iron glass doors, and as you enter inside the foyer, there are marble floors with a big star inlaid in gold. There is a large glass chandelier hanging between a dual wrought-iron staircase with gorgeous leaf design embedded with marble steps.

To the right is the large living room beautifully furnished. It has solid cherrywood floors, soaring ceilings with drapes that hang from ceiling to floor that glides across the big tall bay windows on one side of the room. On the other side, there is a cherrywood carved fireplace with a beautiful mirror with beautiful pictures on each side. In a corner of the living room sits a Steinway piano. Down the hall from the living room, there's the study room and large library. Mahogany floors and bookshelves and other things brought back from all over the world from Miss Brooks's travels. From there is a sitting room and small game room, fireplace, large television, and snack bar.

From there are two French doors that leads out to a patio with a firepit and seating for guests overlooking a small pond. Inside going down the hall is a lovely powder room. From there is another room where temperature-controlled wine is kept with over one thousand bottles of imported and aged wines. On the left side of the dual wrought-iron staircase is the dining room that seats twenty-five people; it has a deep oak table with two glass chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling above. It has beautiful cherrywood-mixed-mahogany floors, ceiling-to-floor gold drapes, two sliding glass doors that flows to the outdoors living area. Inside, a breakfast room with a corner fireplace adds the character texture of brick to the space and offers access to the laundry room.

The breakfast room also flows into the kitchen where the chef has all the work space needed to entertain all the largest holiday gatherings or more formal dinner parties. There is also barstool seating at the large island. The kitchen also has a six-burner stove with double ovens, two warmers, two dishwashers, a large enclosed doubled-door refrigerated freezer, two chandeliers hanging over the gorgeous caramel-colored granite counter space, with streaks of brown veins running through it, with recess lighting, a built-in prep sink, a trash compactor made inside the island, and a large pantry for the cooks with everything they need.

There's a butler's pantry with everything he would need for serving; it even has a small bar with a sink, ice maker, and refrigerator. There's an exterior that leads to another beautiful powder room, then there's the elevator that leads to one level of the basement that will lead right to the house that Miss Brooks's mother, Olivier, lives in. She loves it there because she says that it's just big enough for her and she doesn't have to be bothered with the noise from the parties and others invading her privacy. And she and her granddaughter can have their own special time together, which is every day after her schooling and homework with her tutor. She has a nice three-bedroom house with living room, dining room, kitchen with everything she needs in it, bathroom with tub and shower, a walk-in closet, and lots of security because the whole mansion is secured inside and out.

At night, the grounds are lit inside and out; there are cameras everywhere. She only must walk a few steps to the elevator to go to the main house and doesn't have to go outside. She also has her own laundry room, lots of tables, cabinets, and lighting. Now going further, you will come to the gym and exercise room, a spa and sauna; it has a large family game room with ping-pong, billiards table, card tables, a wet bar, and a large television.

Around from there is the indoor heated pool; touch a button and you have instant music and the pool water changes color. The pool also has a Jacuzzi, with soothing water jets, and a laundry room. When you go down the hall to the second elevator and push the letter M button, you will be going twenty-one feet below the mansion. Down here, it is called the Mardi Gras room. It has a Bourbon Street all made to look like New Orleans; the walls are made to look like old bricks and chipped plaster.

It has a wrought-iron balcony and a nice, long bar completely stocked with everything you would want to drink. Just flip a switch and it turns into a gorgeous nightclub atmosphere. The walls are soundproof. It has his and her powder rooms. Go up three steps turn to the right and there's the theater room that seats twenty people. Now taking the elevator back to the main floor, you can notice the artful banisters and handrails of the dual staircase with its marble steps as we pass the striking stained glass of the main dual staircase landing.

The second-floor level hosts ten-foot ceilings and three bedrooms, two full baths, and one-half baths; each room enjoys its own characteristic charm and detail, including a bench seat around the turret, and elaborate details around built-in armories and large, bright spaces. The third-floor level of the dual banisters is enclosed in glass for a private feel, and the soaring ceilings reach nine feet with a glass chandelier hanging right in the middle of stained-glass skylight. This is where Miss Brooks and her sister Maggie's suites are found on each side of a wrought-iron balcony. CC's bedroom is right down the hall from her mother's suite.

Miss Brooks is a beautiful person, even-tempered; she loves being with her family and friends whenever she can. When she comes home from one of her trips, after relaxing and enjoying her family for a few weeks, she always throws a big party with lots of friends and family. Even some of her friends from other countries. Other times she's upstairs in her lavish master suite, a room highlighted by large bay windows which has incredible views as well as a separate sitting room she uses as her private office. There is also a full bath with natural light, a jetted shower with a beautiful walk-in closet, and a small kitchen, bar, fireplace, and television. Dark mahogany crown molding is found around the whole room, with cream-colored walls and red-and-gold bed linen.

Concepcion, her eight-year-old daughter, is a very smart and intelligent little lady. She learned a lot traveling with her mother and her tutor. Other than speaking English, she speaks three other languages. She plays classical piano, tennis, and knows karate, jujitsu, judo, reading, writing, math, science, and history. She's accessibly smart to have been schooled at home by her tutor, Miss Nancy. Concepcion also has somewhat of a photographic memory just like her mother. Just a little way down the hall, her bedroom is very pretty with lots of light, beautiful, ruffled curtains, a big canopy bed, fireplace, and television. Adjacent to her bedroom is her playroom, with her little dolls from all over the world, a small table and chair set, a desk, and a big doll house along with a rocking chair, bookshelves with lots of books. She also has a bath with a shower and walk-in closet of white crown molding with light rose-colored walls, and pink-and-white bed linen.

Maggie, a retired electrical engineer, is a real outgoing person, a lot of fun to be around. When she gets with her friend, Lizzie, and best friend, Josie, there's lots of laughs and joking around. Her master suite has a balcony overlooking the outdoor pool and beautiful manicured, cared-for lawns. She has a sitting area with chairs and table, drapes that hang from the nine-foot ceiling to floor, and a large four-corner post bed with dark mahogany crown molding tray ceiling and white walls. She also has a kitchen and bar, television, fireplace, bath with jetted bathtub, shower with jets, and a walk-in closet. She has a beautiful turquoise gold-and-white bed linen.

Tonight, Miss Brooks gave a lavish party with her whole family there, with all the kitchen help, maids, butlers, doorman. It had stupendous food and dining.

Well, it was getting late and past Concepcion's bedtime, so Sooky said good night to the guests and asked her granddaughter, Would you like to spend the night with Granny?

CC asked her mom who said, Of course, you never have to ask if you can be with your grandma. She gave them both a kiss and told them, Sleep well.

About an hour later, Maggie and her friends left because they said, Your sister's parties are somewhat boring with all her upper friends. Let's go somewhere we can kick up our heels and have some real fun.

So Maggie and a few of her friends stayed in one of the carriage houses and have their own party. Later in the morning after her friends left, she took a shower and called one of the maids to clean up the carriage house. She went to visit her mother and niece, had breakfast, stayed for a while, then said, Well, I guess I'll go over to the big house and see if the party is over. She asked her niece if she wanted to go.

CC said, No, I want to spend more time with Grandma.

Maggie said, okay, kissed them both, thanked her mother for breakfast, and left to go home to the mansion. When she walked in, she called her sister, Miss Brooks, to let her know she was home.

Her sister told her, I was just thinking about you. I'm upstairs. Come on up. Let's have some girl talk together.

Maggie told her, Okay, I'll be up in a minute. She walked over to the bar, poured herself a glass of wine, got on the elevator, and rode up to her sister's suite. As soon as she walked in, Maggie gave her sister a kiss on her cheek and started laughing and told her, I thought you would be hungover.

Her sister said, I didn't drink to get intoxicated. I drank to be sociable with my guests. Because when you let yourself get drunk, you're not going to have any fun. You just end up making a fool out of yourself.

Maggie told her sister, That is so true.

Then Miss Brooks asked her sister, Where did you and your friends disappeared to?

Maggie said, A few of my friends and I stayed at one of the gated houses. They left sometime in the wee hour of the morning. After getting some much-needed rest, I got up, showered, and got dress, asked our maid, Cathy, to clean up for me, then I went and had breakfast with mama and CC.

Miss Brooks asked, And how are both?

Maggie said, Oh, they're fine. I asked Concepcion if she wanted to come home. She said no. She wanted to stay with her grandma a little longer. I told her okay and left.

Miss Brooks told her sister, I also wanted you to come up to let you know I transferred monies to you and Mama's accounts. She laughed and said, Don't spend it all in one place. I saw the new gown and mink coat you had on last night, looking like a movie star.

Maggie said, Well, I thank you, sister dear, now. Tell me, if you don't mind, how much did you transfer to our accounts?

Her sister answered, No, I don't mind. You know that I love my family, and there's nothing I wouldn't do for my family. I transferred one hundred fifty thousand in yours and ninety thousand to Mama's. Now when we go shopping, ask Concepcion what she wants you to buy her. She has enough toys and clothes. I don't know what she'll say, just make sure whatever it is it's within reason.

I know, tell her you want to buy her a new computer because the one she has now is old and outdated. She'll go for that, I'm sure. Because you know you and Mama spoils her when you take her shopping.

Miss Brooks said, Well, that takes care of that. Oh, another thing, be sure it has all the safety locks on it so she can only go to certain websites. You know, Maggie, she really needs more friends other than just the help's children. Do you think she's unhappy about anything?

Maggie said, Don't worry, sis, she's fine. She tells me just about everything, and I hope it stays that way.

I know, but I miss her so much when I'm not here.

Maggie told her sister, That's why I quit working to make sure she doesn't want for anything.

Thanks, sis. You know I love all of you so much. Now I understand how Gerry must have felt when he had to leave and go out of the country to take care of all the businesses at hand, God rest his soul.

Maggie told her sister, I'm sure Mama and CC feels your love as I do. Miss Brooks started to cry. Maggie held her sister and told her, You've come a long way after you took over the business and charities and all the other properties you take care of. One thing about it, Gerry taught you very well. You paid attention and learned everything he taught you very well. So be proud of yourself because I know your family are. Now cheer up.

I'm going to call Josie and Lizzie so they can come over, and we're all going down to Mardi Gras.

Maggie told her sister, I could go for a good laugh and maybe a cocktail.

Josie and Lizzie came over, and they all went down on the elevator down to Bourbon Street twenty-one feet underground. They just sat at the bar, and Josie started off the fun.

She said, On my way coming over, I saw some kids jumping rope and singing ‘Shelly Templar went to France to teach the girls the Watusi dance. First on heels then on toes, the chick fell down and broke her nose.'

They all laughed. Maggie said, Josie, you know you can lie.

Josie said, I ain't lying. The clumsy chick was dancing on her toes. She fell and broke her dam nose. That's what they were saying while they were jumping rope.

By now, they are feeling good, called a few more friends to come over. Before they know it, there were twenty people keeping the bartender very busy.

Maggie told Johnny, the bartender, Call the chef and ask if he would please cook up something for my guest.

The cook asked Johnny if he knew what she wanted to serve her guest.

Maggie said ‘Johnny, tell cook to fix a batch of spicy and honey wings and a nice salad.'

Now that was just one of the cooks who works in the kitchen down there in the Mardi Gras room; his name is Big Dan, the other is David.

All the help seemed to like Miss Brooks and her family and didn't mind doing whatever was asked of them.

Concepcion told her granny, I'm going home. Is there anything you want me to do before I leave?

Her grandma told her, Yes, just give me a call when you get there.

Okay, said CC.

Granny gave her a kiss and said, Good night.

She took the elevator up to her mother's suite; she wasn't there, of course. She called her grandma, and then she called her mother to let her know she was home. Her mother told her that she and her auntie were downstairs with a few friends and asked if she wanted anything.

Concepcion told her mother, No, I'll be in my room playing.

Her mother told her daughter, I love you. I'll be up to tuck you in and read you a story.

Her daughter said, Mom, you don't have to. I'm a big girl.

Her mother said, Okay, my big girl. I'll see you in the morning. Oh, CC, did you want to tell your auntie anything?

She said, Yes, would you put her on please?

Miss Brooks gave the phone to Maggie and told her it was Concepcion. She took the phone and said, Hi, bey, what's up? Are you okay?

Yes, I'm okay. I just wanted to let you and Mom know I was home from Granny and playing in my room.

Her auntie asked her if she wanted her to come up. She told her the same thing she told her mother, that she was a big girl. Maggie told her Okay, Miss Big Girl. I'll see you in the morning and gave the phone back to her sister.

Concepcion knew her bedtime, so she put the dolls she wanted to sleep with in her bed, went to the bathroom, brushed her teeth, put on her nightgown, and turned off the big lights. She put on the night-light beside her bed. Fifteen or twenty minutes later, she was fast asleep.

Meanwhile, downstairs, it was 3:00 a.m. Everyone was gone, so Maggie and her sister said good night to Johnny, the bartender, and Dan, the cook, got on the elevator, rode upstairs checked on Concepcion, then told each other, See you later, then went to their suites.

The next morning, Cook Alice called Miss Brooks and Maggie and asked, Would you like to have your breakfast upstairs, or will you be coming down to have breakfast with Concepcion?

They came down about nine and told Alice what they wanted for breakfast. They both gave Miss Big Girl (CC) a kiss. They all had breakfast together.

Maggie asked Concepcion, How is Mama doing?

CC said, I think she wants to go shopping, and if you go, I want to go.

Miss Brooks said, I think that's a good idea. I'll call Mama and ask her to get ready and call Willie so I know when to send a car to pick her up. She told her daughter, CC, when you finish your breakfast, go up and get dressed. I'll be up as soon as I'm finish with breakfast.

Concepcion said, No, Mom, I'm a big girl. I can do it by myself. If I need any help, the maid, Jenny, is making my bed right now, she'll help. Okay, Mom?

Sure, Miss Big Girl, her mother told her.

Maggie looked at Concepcion and gave her a wink and a thumbs-up. When she left, Maggie asked her sister, When we were eight years old, remember when we told Mama we were big girls and remember how Mama gave us space but if we needed her, she was always there? Well, we must let her grow up, but be there when she needs our help.

Try not to worry, sis, she'll be all right. She knows we have her back.

Well, I better call Mama, and we better get dressed too.

The chauffeur brought the car around to the front of the mansion and picked up the family. Off to the mall they went.

Maggie asked Concepcion, Do you know what you want us to buy you?

She told her auntie, I have no idea.

Maggie said, Your mother and I thought maybe a new computer would be nice.

CC asked, Mama, Auntie, do you mean it?

They both looked at one another and at the same time said, Yes, we mean it.

Concepcion turned to her grandmother and said, Oh, boy, Granny, did you hear that, you hear that, Granny? A brand-new computer. She asked, Are we going to get it today?

Yes, said Maggie, as soon as we can get back there where they are.

Miss Brooks said, Maggie, you two go ahead. I'll be helping Mama with her shopping.

* * *

As soon as they had finished shopping and the chauffeur had put everything in the car, Concepcion was in a hurry to get home so she could play on her computer. Miss Brooks didn't buy anything because she didn't need anything. Her mother did grocery shopping. She's old-school. She likes to do her own shopping. Maggie didn't buy herself anything but did get something for her friends, Josie and Lizzie, nothing too expensive, just one pair of earrings for both.

Well, a few weeks has passed, and Miss Brooks must take a trip to the Middle East. She told her daughter, Now, we can see each other on your computer. You can keep in touch with me every day.

Her daughter said, Oh, boy, that will be like you never left.

Her mother says, It's already setup to say you have a message. When you click on that icon, it will open to me.

Concepcion said, Wow! That's awesome. Thanks, Mom.

Your aunt Maggie can use her cell phone, same thing.

Thanks, Mom. I love you so much.

Miss Brooks told her daughter, I love you more. Now you have another hour before bedtime.

Okay, Mom, she answered.

The next day, all the family had breakfast together, even Granny came to see her daughter off. After breakfast, Miss Brooks called the chauffeur. Willie asked if he would bring the Lincoln around and take her bags and other belongings and put them in the car. She could have her own private jet and pilot, but she decided against that because she likes to meet new people when flying, and she is very well-known.

She turned and kissed them all and told her daughter, Don't forget to keep your computer on so I can talk and see you every day.

Concepcion told her mother, You know I will. It will be great to be able to see you while we're talking.

Her mother told her, Don't forget to keep up with your studies and do what your aunt Maggie and granny tell you to do.

Concepcion told her mother, Mom, remember I'm a big girl now. I always do what I'm told if it's right, and I know Auntie and Grandma wouldn't tell me anything wrong.

Miss Brooks said, Well, on that little note, I'm out of here. She got in the car and off to the airport so she could make her flight on time.

The Party

Well, a week has passed. Maggie and her friends were ready to get their party on. She called her mother, Sooky, and told her she's going to have a few friends over and that Concepcion will be with her.

Sooky told her, If you and your friends are going to be doing a lot of drinking, you tell Concepcion to come spend the night with Grandma.

Maggie told her mother, Okay, will do, if needed. She then told her mother, I love you, Mom, thanks.

Now Concepcion, for an eight-year-old is extremely smart. When Maggie has her parties, she lets Concepcion play makeups and dresses up in her room and tells her always to keep her cell phone on her. The party started at eight o'clock in the evening, and Concepcion was playing in her auntie's room like always when about ten o'clock, one of Maggie's friends came into the room and said, I was looking for Maggie. I thought she would be up here.

Concepcion knew he was lying because the party was down in the Mardi Gras room. So Concepcion said, Maybe, she's in the bathroom. I'll go get her.

She ran into the bathroom. He ran after her but fell. She locked the door and called her auntie and told her what happened.

Her auntie told her, I'll be right there. Stay in the bathroom.

She said Okay, Auntie and hung up.

Maggie rode the elevator up to her suite. She saw her friend still lying half drunk on the floor. When she called to Concepcion, she came out of the bathroom. Maggie told her, Go to Granny's house.

Concepcion left. Maggie then turned to the man whose name is Fred with her gun in her hand. She slapped him upside the head and asked him, What the hell are you doing in my suite when the party is twenty-one feet down? She hit him again with her gun and told him, Don't lie to me.

She said, Don't say another word. She called downstairs to Josie and told her what happened.

Josie said, What do you want me to do, sis? I got your back.

Maggie told her, Don't tell Lizzie what happened. Just tell her you'll be right back and to keep the party going. You come on up but have two of our closest men friends to wait for us on the first floor. I have a plan.

Josie said, I'm on my way.

She rode up, walked into the suite, looked at Fred, and asked him, How could you? She's only eight years old. Well, your ass is grass now.

Maggie, Josie, and Fred got on the elevator and rode to the first floor where there two friends were. She told them what he tried to do to her niece. She then told them, I want you to take him out on the road, give him a good, old-fashioned ass whipping, but don't kill him. You tell him I'm not going to press charges, but if he tells anyone about this, truly he's a dead ass. Cover yourselves in plastic, wear gloves, and when you finish, get rid of everything then come back to the party and come straight to me. They said okay and left.

Concepcion rode the elevator down to the first basement level that goes straight to her grandmother's house. When her grandmother opened the door after her granddaughter rang the bell, she asked, What was wrong?

She told her grandma what happened. Sooky called her daughter to ask her what happened.

Maggie told her mother, Everything has been taken care of. She asked her mother, Would it be okay for Concepcion to spend the night?

Her mother said, Of course, she can, but are you sure everything is okay?

She told her mother, Yes, I love you, and I will see you tomorrow. Then Maggie told her mother good night and hung up the phone.

Meanwhile, Maggie's two friends made it back to the Mardi Gras room. Maggie paid them and told them that it never happened. They told Maggie, You never have to worry about that.

The party went on. After all her guests had left, Maggie told the bartender that she was tired and she was going upstairs.

The next morning, she told her maid, If anyone wanted me, call me. I'll be at my mother's house.

Six months later, Maggie heard that Fred was in the hospital and had died from liver failure and peri-pancreatitis. Maggie said, I'm sorry to hear that. The pervert was going to end up dead, anyway, if he kept trying to mess with little children. Still she said she was sorry to hear he was dead.

The Gambling Woman

Lizzie, Maggie's friend, liked to gamble. She went to one of the casinos that Maggie used to go to named The Night Life Casino owned by a man named Artie Blake who everyone calls Mr. Blake. Lizzie went in dressed in a beautiful black sequin dress, diamond earrings, watch, and a gorgeous Mahogany mink fur coat. While gambling, she ran up a tab of IOUs for thirty thousand dollars.

When she couldn't pay her IOUs, Mr. Blake said to her, Give me that mink you're wearing, and when you pay the tab of IOUs, I'll give you your mink coat back. He took the coat to his office.

Lizzie went to her car crying and called Maggie. She told her what happened. Maggie told her, You stay in your car until I get there.

When she got there, she got in the car with Lizzie and told her, I'll help you this time, but don't call me over some dumb shit like this again. She also told her, You better be glad you came to this casino and not somewhere else because if you had, I wouldn't be able to help you.

Maggie said, When I get out of the car, go and drive around to the back of the casino and wait there until a man come out the back. She told her what he looked like. Do just what he tells you to do.

Maggie had already called her friend, one of the croupiers named Roy, who worked the floors at the club, and she used to date him, but they never let anyone know it. She asked him if he saw Lizzie's mink fur coat and if he thinks he could get it for her.

He told Maggie, I haven't seen it, but if I see it, I'll try to get it for her.

Maggie told him, She's out back.

He then told Maggie, You will have to keep Mr. Blake busy.

She said, Okay.

Roy went into Mr. Blake's office to ask him if he could go on his break. He also saw the coat lying on the couch in his office. He said, Mr. Blake, I would like to go on a break, and there is a beautiful woman out on the floor wanting to talk to you about something, and she said it was important.

Maggie had already walked in and was waiting to see her friend. She was dressed in a beautiful red tight, low-cut dress and a white fur mink coat. She looked gorgeous.

Mr. Blake and Roy walked out on the floor, and Roy said, Mr. Blake, that's her.

Then Roy and Mr. Blake went over, and Roy said, Miss Lady, this is my boss. You said you wanted to talk to him about something.

She said, Yes.

Mr. Blake said My pleasure, turned to Roy, and told him, Go on your break and don't take too long. Then he turned back to Maggie and said, How can I help you?

She asked, Can we get a table and a drink?

He said, Yes, of course, where are my manners. Come, we can sit here.

The waiter came over and brought some champagne. Maggie began telling him how she was thinking about opening her own casino. While Roy slipped into his office and got Lizzie's coat and took it out the back door and gave it to Lizzie, he told her, Maggie said take your coat and go home and don't go back out the rest of the night.

Then Roy walked down a block, turned, and went back to the casino through the front door. He went over to a few of the other tables then went to the table where Maggie and Mr. Blake were to let him know he was back from his break. He was told to go and relieve one of the other croupiers.

Maggie continued talking for about forty-five minutes more then looked at her watch and said, Well, Mr. Blake, it was a pleasure meeting you and for giving me the information I needed. But I really must go. I have another engagement I must keep.

He asked her, Miss Maggie, do you think I could see you again?

She said to him Maybe, we'll see no promises, gave him a wink, then left.

About a week later, Lizzie went back to the casino to ask Mr. Blake if she