Chapter 4 - The Great Purification
Master Aurelius,
sensing that his "seed money" was walking out the door,
decided to make one last stand.
"You are stealing from the divine!"
he shouted,
stepping in front of Holden.
"The universe will punish this transgression!
Your womb will be blocked!
Your abundance will wither!"
Holden didn't even blink.
He raised the drain auger,
the heavy metal tip pointing directly at the Master’s chest.
"If you don't move,"
Holden said,
"I’m going to show you how a real plumber handles a blockage."
The Master’s eyes darted to the auger,
then to Holden’s furious face,
and then to the door.
His spiritual dignity evaporated in a second.
He turned and fled toward the balcony,
tripping over his own silk robe.
"This is not over!"
he yelled,
though he was already halfway out the door.
"I will send you a bill for the sage!"
Evelyn was still on the floor,
sobbing without a single tear falling from her eyes.
"How could you do this to me?"
she wailed.
"I’m your mother!
I gave you life!"
"And you gave me a $40,000 bill for a fairy tale,"
Holden replied.
He looked around the room,
at the candles,
the silk cushions,
and the expensive catering trays filled with lobster and caviar.
"Nice dinner,
Mom,"
he said,
gesturing to the food.
"I hope it was worth it,
because it’s the last luxury meal we’re ever paying for."
"But I have a mortgage!"
she screamed,
her voice losing its melodic tone.
"I have my treatments!
My knee is acting up again!"
Holden walked over to the golden chair and sat down,
his rubber boots squeaking loudly.
"Funny you mentioned that,"
he said,
pulling out his phone.
"Nora,
didn't you say the building manager was worried about the sewer?"
I caught on immediately.
"Oh yes,"
I said,
picking up a bucket.
"He said that if there wasn't a leak,
it must be a backflow issue in the pipes themselves."
"He suggested we flush the system with industrial-strength cleaner."
I opened the bottle of bleach and began to pour it into the ornate fountain
that sat in the corner of her living room.
The smell of chlorine immediately overpowered the lavender and sage.
"Stop it!"
Evelyn shrieked,
covering her nose.
"That fountain is Italian marble!"
"It needs to be purified,
Evelyn,"
Holden said,
his voice devoid of mercy.
"Just like our lives."
He stood up,
the money safe in his pocket,
and looked at me.
"Are we done here,
Nora?"
"Almost,"
I said.
I walked over to the catering table and picked up a plate of lobster.
"I told you she could feed us dinner too."
I handed him the plate,
and we walked toward the door.
Evelyn followed us into the hallway,
screaming insults that would have made a sailor blush.
Her "spiritual" vocabulary had been replaced by something much more gutteral.
We didn't look back.
We got into the elevator,
the smell of bleach and lobster following us down.
As the doors closed,
I looked at Holden.
He was still wearing the fishing boots.
May you like
He was still holding the auger.
But he looked taller than he had in years.
