Lawrence Block - Dolly's Trash & Treasures

Mrs. Saugerties?

A nod.

That would be Dorothy Saugerties? And did I pronounce that correctly? Like the Hudson River town?

Another nod.

Well, Mrs. Saugerties, Im Baird Lewis, and this is my colleague, Rita Raschman. Were with Child Protective Services.

No response.

One of your neighbors called to express concern over the living conditions here, and how they might impact upon your children.

Havent got any.

I beg your pardon? According to our records, you have four children, three girls and a boy, and

Havent got neighbors. This heres mine, from the road back to the creek. Then theres state land on that side. Nearest neighbors would be a quarter mile from here.

Well, one of them

Might be more like a half mile. If it matters.

Baird, may I? Mrs. Saugerties, you do have four children, dont you?

Did.

Theyre not living here now?

Not anymore. Tricia, Calder, Maxine, and Little Debby. Moved away and left me here.

When was this, Mrs. Saugerties?

Hard for me to keep track of time.

I see.

He moved out, see, and

That would be your son, Calder?

My husband. It got so he couldnt take it, you know, so he moved out.

Does he live nearby?

Dont know where he took himself off to. But he left, and then the children.

They just left?

Here one day and gone the next.

But how could

Rita, if I may? Mrs. Saugerties, let me make sure I have the names right. Patricia, Calder, Maxine, and Deborah, is that right?

Tricia.

Thats her actual name? Good, Tricia.

And not Deborah. Little Debby.

Debby.

Little Debby. Like the cakes.

Like?

The cakes.

Its a brand of cupcake, Baird. You can find them next to the Twinkies.

My life is ever the richer for knowing that, Rita. They just left, Mrs. Saugerties?

Might be they went with their father.

I was wondering if that might be a possibility.

Because, see, they just hated it here, same as he did. On account of theres no room in the house anymore. On account of my stuff.

Your stuff. I cant help noticing theres a pile of trash on either side of the porch glider. Is that the sort of stuff you mean?

Aint trash. Smy stuff.

I see.

I like to have things, and then I like to keep em. Other people, they dont care for it.

Like your husband.

And the children. Their rooms filled up, along with everything else, and there was no place for them to play. But you know, theres the whole yard. Its our property clear back to the creek.

Yes. Do you suppose I could use your bathroom, Mrs. Saugerties?

Dont work.

I see. Well, let me just go in and get myself a glass of water.

That dont work either. Oh, I guess he didnt hear me. He wasnt really supposed to go into the house.

Im sure Baird wont disturb anything, Mrs. Saugerties.

Its just such a mess, you know. No room for a body to get around. And the animals mess in the house. I dont know why I cant keep up with their messes.

Animals?

Well, dogs and cats.

How many do you have?

I dont know. Theres different ones, and they come and they go.

Like the children.

Except all they did was go. I wish theyd come back, but I dont think they will.

Well

And there was a raccoon. Besides the dogs and cats, I mean. But I aint seen him in I dont know how long. They dont belong in a house anyhow, you know. Raccoons, I mean. Theyll make a godawful mess.

Im sure thats true. Baird, are you all right?

Yes, of course.

You look like you saw a raccoon.

I look like what?

I just said

Never mind. I have never seen the like.

I can imagine.

No, Rita, I dont think you can. How anyone can live like this is quite beyond me. No children, so we can wash our hands of it, and Ill tell you, right now mine could use washing. Well refer it, of course. And I dont envy the poor bastards at APS who draw this one. Mrs. Saugerties? I think well be going now. Uh, some other people may be in touch. Theyll be able to give you a good deal of assistance.

Help? Dont want help.

Got all I need, right here where I am. Got my stuff right where I can put my hands on it. A whole house full of my things, and the cellar and attic, too.

Oh, I know this is no way to live. Im not crazy. Im not stupid, either. I dont talk much. Better if you dont. Whats it they say? A fishd never get hisself caught if he just kept his mouth shut.

Thats unless they come with a net.

Mrs. Saugerties? How do you do, maam? My name is Thelma Weider and this is my associate, John Ruddy. And may I call you Dorothy?

I guess.

Dorothy, John and I are with Adult Protective Services of Lantenango County, and were here to provide you with some assistance, and

Dont need it.

Well, I believe youll find

Whore them two?

The tall gentleman is Mark, and his partner is Clayton. Theyre with the Sheriffs Office, and theyve come along on the chance that they might be needed, but Im sure well be able to work this out without bringing them into it. Now before we go inside

Not going inside.

Ah. Dorothy, I believe I see bedding and a pillow on the porch glider. Is that where youve been sleeping?

Nice sleeping in the fresh air.

Im sure it was comfortable this summer, but its autumn now, isnt it? The trees are starting to drop their leaves. The nights are getting cold.

Aint too bad.

And winters coming, and then it will be really cold.

Got lots of blankets.

But youve got a big house. What do you have, four or five bedrooms?

About.

And youre all by yourself here.

With my stuff.

Yes, Ive heard about your stuff. Rooms filled almost to the ceiling, isnt that what Baird and Rita told us?

What Thelmas getting at, Dorothy, is that we could help you be a lot more comfortable.

Dolly.

Im sorry, do you want a doll? I dont

What to call me. Dolly. Not Dorothy, nobody calls me Dorothy.

Ah, I see. Dolly, why dont we go inside and have a look around your house? Maybe you can point out some of your most treasured things for us.

No.

Im afraid we have a warrant, Dolly, that empowers us to enter and search the premises, and Mark and Clayton are here to guarantee your compliance. So Im going in. Would you like to come with me, or would you prefer to stay out here with Thelma?

Its embarrassing, having people go through your house and look at your things. Knowing theyre judging you, feeling the thoughts theyre thinking as sure as if they were saying them out loud.

What a pig, what a slob, how could a woman let herself go this way, how could she let her house get away from her like this? Blah blah blah. All this junk, all this rubbish, why would anyone want to live with these broken dolls and old newspapers? And look at the plates, the food still encrusted on them, rotting there. Blah blah blah. And the smell, who could stay in a house with such a smell in every room? Blah blah blah.

Someday I might read the newspapers. Theres plenty of interesting articles in them, if I ever get around to it. No reason not to hang onto them for when the time comes. Same with the books and magazines. I dont read much these days, but its something I might get back to, and when I do the books will be there for me, and the magazines, and the newspapers.

And yes, a lot of the dolls are broken, but they could be fixed. Why, theres doll hospitals that do nothing but repair broken dolls, because they recognize the importance of preserving treasured memories. Even as they are, the dolls and other toys bring back memories. I bought the Raggedy Ann for Tricia, the Storybook dolls for Maxine. And there were Barbies, so many of them, that I bought for all three of the girls. And Chatty Cathy, how Little Debby loved that doll! Of course the voice is gone, and theres no string to pull, but Cathys still there, and if you pick her up and look at her you can almost hear her little voice again, almost hear Little Debby parroting the phrases right back at her.