[In Chapter 17, Mike and Dan take a day off from work to repair the kitchen window that was broken by the two mountain men. They spent the day drinking coffee at Angel Falls, reading "What's Up", shopping at West Hill Hardware Store and finally going to Weathervane Playhouse to see "Lips Together, Teeth Apart."]
"This has been a good day," said Mike as they opened the front door to their home. "I was scared to stay home after Clarence and Vince broke in here."
"You're safe, now. I'm here," said Dan. "But, this piece of cardboard we stuck over the broken kitchen window won't win the Martha Stewart Award for good housekeeping."
"I didn't know Martha Stewart gave an award for anything."
"She probably doesn't. But, if she saw the kitchen window, she would make a note not to give us an award," laughed Dan.
"She would probably come in and repair the window for us," said Mike continuing their fantasy.
"Let's call a repairman. Akron's winters are too cold for a piece of cardboard to provide the protection we need from the elements. And, frankly, you and I don't know what to do."
"Yes, we do. Let's go to bed. Tomorrow, I'll call a repair guy," said Mike. And with that they turned out the lights and went to bed.
During the night one of those winter storms that seems to surprise everyone in Akron these days blew across the city and blew that piece of cardboard onto the floor. However, the next morning, Mike couldn't see the cardboard. It was covered with snow. In fact, most of the kitchen floor had an inch or two of snow on it.
Mike went through their list of repair people. The list went on for a page or more --- Jeff the Plumber, Dick the phone man, finally, he called Connie, who cleaned their house once a week. She agreed to come to the house and try to solve the snow-fall-in-the-kitchen problem.
Two hours later, Connie had cleaned the house and the repairguy had gotten the kitchen window and all seemed at peace with the world.
Mike drove out West Market to shop at WestPoint Market. He planned a great dinner for Dan, tonight. Mike thought about several of the psychologists in the city -- maybe they needed help. Maybe he needed help to get past his fear, an irrational fear, of being alone.
"Shopping at West Point Market is always a pleasure," thought Mike, as he paid for his purchases. "Tonight, steak and all the trimmings and a bottle of good wine. That should help us get back onto an even, loving place in our life," he thought.
At their home in Highland Square, the phone rang. But, neither Mike nor Dan was there to answer it. The answering machine whirred on and a woman from the Summit County Courthouse asked both of them to call. Something about testifying against two men who broke into their house.
When Mike heard the message an hour later, he knew they couldn't testify against Clarence and Vince. They might have raped Dan and broken into Dan and Mike's home, but Dan had shot both of them. Dan might go to prison, too. Mike picked up the phone and called the courthouse and said, "No, we won't testify against them."
"We'll have to let them go if we have no charges against them," said the woman.
Mike hung up the telephone without speaking. He turned on WCLV radio. "Good music," he said, "and they don't beg for money." He realized he was talking to himself.
The doorbell rang and Mike froze. He couldn't move at first. He scooted his feet toward the front door and peeped out the window. It was Dan.
"I'm glad to see you," said Mike. "I've been lonesome for you all day."
Dan hugged Mike and said, "Wait until I tell you about the telephone call I got today." [They didn't get the Martha Stewart Award. But, what about the justice award? Or did Ameritech call to give them an award? For the answer to these and other exciting questions, read the next "Tales of Akron," in the next issue of "What's Up."]
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