Now ...... What?

 I puzzled over the small, bronze-colored "NOW" disk that I got - I assumed - from Doyle for a few days but I had appointments to keep and errands to run. I decided to put it into the fob pocket on my jeans and carry it with me. I don't know why but I figured why not?

Thursday, October 29th, I had an appointment at my ENT's office for a Hearing Test. I knew what the outcome would be - I have a partial loss in my left ear so I overcompensate with my right. I went anyway. You never know. It was raining on and off, heavily at times, but I got a good spot in the back lot close to the door. On my way in, I noticed these window ornaments on both sides - 

Frogs. Perfect decorations for the weather. I got the expected results and, since I was in Edison and close by, I swung by Stop N Shop. They had the Shepard's Pie that I like so it was worth the detour.

Saturday the 31st was Halloween. It was sunny out, but pretty cold. On my way to my car I picked up this little beauty from off the curb.

How it got there and why it was with a rose I don't know but I think they look pretty cool together and, after all, it was Halloween. 

Sunday was the 1st of November and it was raining again. I was up early so I went to the 7:30 Mass. Afterwards, I stopped at Shoprite to get the paper and some other stuff. When I got back into my car, the lights on the white SUV across from me came on then blinked several times. 

I waited. Someone got out and walked over to me.

Wells.

He had a mask on but no hat and the rain was running down both sides of his face. He didn't seem to notice. I pulled up my mask and opened the window enough so we could hear each other.

"Wells! Good to see you. Looks like you've survived the Covid virus."

"Thank you, Mr. O'Neill. It was a rough couple of weeks but I've tested negative every day for the last week."

"Every day?"

"Yes. Department Regulations. Everyone gets tested daily."

"Even Jones?"

"Mr. Jones does not confide in me about his daily routine. He has, however, instructed me to tell you that he's glad to know that you are doing better and would like to know what you plan on doing ... now."

I was sort of expecting something like this but Wells' emphasis on "now" caught me off-guard. I could feel the brass coin in my pocket. I had to say something. 

"He'll be the first to know."

Then I grinned at him and shut the window. Wells didn't react but stared at me for a minute or two. Then he nodded, turned around, and walked back to his car.

Why did he say it like that? Was he trying to tell me something? Was I reading too much into this? I don't know and I wasn't gonna figure it out sitting here in the car. I drove home, ate breakfast, and read the Sunday paper.

The days were pretty similar for the next couple of weeks. I had no appointments to go to but I continued to go out every morning. The weather was still unsettled with rain on and off, mostly in the mornings. I was usually out in it and would get back as it cleared up.

The township continued on with it's business as usual regardless. From street sweeping - 

- to watering the plants on Main Street -

People continued to disregard the rules, walking around without masks - 

- or wearing them below their mouths like the guy I saw collecting for some charity by Wegmans - 

Wednesday the 18th, I had a follow-up at 9:30 with my Dermatologist. While I was warming up my car I saw this guy

Another one of those strange people that every neighborhood has. I could see a weird kind of mask hanging from around his neck. At least, I thought it was a mask. 

The doctor took one look at the spot on my face where he'd removed a cancerous growth and said it was infected - which is what I suspected. He sent a scrip for an antibiotic to my Pharmacist and scheduled another follow -up in 3 weeks.

Tuesday the 24rd started out with a bright, sunny morning. It was a personal Anniversary for me - the 12th year since I'd received my new heart - the heart that got me into this whole situation. I got some congratulatory calls/emails/texts which were appreciated but there was no plan for a celebration. Wanting to do something, I got in my car and just drove around. I wound up at my local Church and decided to stop in. 

I felt good driving home.

Thursday the 26th was Thanksgiving Day. Usually I travel with my NJ family to get together with our NY family somewhere. Not this year. We kept it local and we kept it small. And it was good.

Today is Saturday and I slept in slightly. I was still out by 8:30 and stopped at my local Dunkin's as usual. There were 2 older guys sitting maskless at a small table outside, chatting and drinking coffee. I picked up my iced coffee and bought a Coffee Roll to eat in the car. When I came out, I could clearly hear the 2 guys talking about the new Rain Garden being built by the Main Library.

I bought a few things at a few places then stopped at ShopRite to finish up. I even found something else to give to my Granddaughter for Christmas. Feeling good about that, I got back to my car and decided to check out that Rain Garden I'd heard about, made the turn towards the Library, and parked in their Lot. 

To be honest, there isn't much there yet, just a dredged out section of the slope leading down to the High School Parking Lot. It's covered by some kind of netting which, I think, is supposed to keep the seeds from washing away. What is there is an interesting Butterfly Statue that I wanted to get a closer look at. I turned the car off, got out, and made my way down the slope. It was slow going because of the slippery, muddy ground.

It's very colorful and covered by what appears to be recyclable material. Very apropos I thought. As I was turning to walk back up, a voice called out from the Lot.

"Be careful where you're walking, Mr. O'Neill. It looks pretty tricky."

I looked up and saw an older man standing by my car. He was one of those guys I'd seen at Dunkin's earlier. He seemed a bit nervous.

"Do I know you?" I called back.

"No. But we have a mutual friend who asked me to look out for you."

"Who?"

"Doyle."

"Doyle? You know Doyle?"

"Yeah. We used to work together. That was a long time ago."

I had reached the Lot by now and saw that he was pretty imposing looking though definitely older then me.

"You worked with Doyle in the DHS?"

"No. I retired before that happened. I knew him when we were Feds together." He paused, lowered his head, nodded to himself, and spoke again.

"He sent me a package with a letter asking me to keep track of you and make sure you were alright."

"I don't understand. A package? Keep track of me?"

He smiled. "Yeah. He sent me a hand-held unit so I could monitor your implant. That Tracker thing. I figured why not. It wasn't like I had to interfere with whatever you do. Looks like I was wrong."

"You were one of those guys outside of Dunkin's this morning, weren't you? That wasn't just a coincidence, was it?"

"No. I was pretty sure you'd be there, if not today then tomorrow or the next day. I was willing to go back until you showed up." 

"Why?'

'Doyle called me Friday and wanted me to give you a message." He paused again, looking skeptical.

"What? what was the message?"

"Well, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me but he specifically said "Tell him I didn't send anything. I didn't send 'NOW'. Does that make any sense to you?"

It was my turn to pause and I leaned against my car, pulling the brass coin from my pocket. He'd said "I didn't send 'NOW'." But who did? And Why?  Too many questions and no answers. I looked back at the man. 

"No, it doesn't make sense but I understand what he's referring to. Thanks Mr. .. I'm sorry, I don't know your name."

"You can call me Murph. Everybody does." He said with a smile.

I smiled back. "OK then. Thanks, Murph. So - what happens now?"

"I continue to keep my eye on the monitor, I owe Doyle that much. And I'll try to stay out of your way."

"Thanks. Is there a way for you to get in touch with Doyle?"

"No. It looks like he used a drop phone. I'm in the dark there."

'How about a way for me to get in touch with you?"

Hw thought that over for a bit. "I think, for now, I'll keep my distance. I don't like getting involved with things I don't know anything about. Fact is, I'm not too happy about being here now but, like I said, I owe Doyle."

He sort of shook himself as if he were cold, adjusted his cap, mask, and coat and looked towards the High School. He waved and I heard a car start up. That's when I noticed that mine was the only one in this Lot.

"Time for me to go, Mr. O'Neill. Take care of yourself." 

"Denny. Call me Denny."

"Denny it is then." He said with a quick laugh. 'See you when I see you." He tipped his cap slightly, turned, and walked down to the waiting car.

I watched him as he got in and drove away. It was starting to cloud over. An apt simile for what was happening to me, I thought. I looked at the coin, turning it over and over in my hand. I believed what Murph said. Doyle didn't send this. But if he didn't, then who did? And how did he know about it? And was Wells' reference to the word "now" the other day some kind of hint. Did he know what this was all about? I didn't know and I didn't know how to find out.

All I can think about is NOW ... What?