can a frustrated single mom and failed big city journalist save her family and salvage her career by returning to a town run by a gang of bungling thugs?


“The Resurrection of Puerto Cielo” is a novella published in serial form, 43 posts.




5


Sitting alone at her desk in the Puerto Cielo Star office, twisting strands of graying hair in her fingers, Lucy Diaz fretted.

“Yes, Martha, I understand. No, I’m not sure when the next edition is coming out.”

The small woman placed the phone down and stared at the pile of papers, mostly bills, with no money in the bank to pay them. What was she to do?

When Sophia had died, Lucy had come to help her brother Sam. But she didn’t know anything about running a newspaper; she was a retired schoolteacher.

It had always been Sam and Sophie’s paper, a perfect partnership. Sophie, a warm, smart, people person, ran the business side. Sam did the layout and journalism. The pair and their paper had become the mainspring of the Puerto Cielo community.

Sophie’s death had been so unexpected. In shock, Sam carried on mostly by habit. But, with the anniversary of his wife’s death looming, he’d gone on a drinking binge. She hadn’t seen Sam in days. For the first time in memory, a new edition of the Star had not hit the streets last week. Now subscriptions were dropping and advertisers panicking.

Streaming through the open doorway from the inner courtyard, Lucy felt the sunlight warming her face. Hearing birds cheeping and seeing butterflies fluttering amidst the jungle of plants, she smiled. Sophia had so loved her garden sanctuary.

Swiveling about in her chair, Lucy admired the wall behind her.

A field of dazzling, vibrant sunflowers, painted against an azure sky that reached to the ceiling, stretched the entire length of the room from the courtyard to the front entry. Sophia’s “happy wall,” where she, and later Esperanza, painted bright blossoms whenever they needed to lighten their day.

Right now, Lucy could use some uplifting. She looked across at the closed editor’s door.

Where was Sam?

A bell tinkled. The front door opened. A tiny chihuahua scampered in, followed by three bleary eyed travelers.

***

“Eduardo,”  the voice echoed through the sleepy neighborhood, “remember the fish!”

“Si, Mama.”

He smiled. How does such a small woman make such big noise?

Only his mother called him Eduardo.mMost called him Sheriff Eddie. He looked down at his battered patrol car, dents and scrapes still glistening from last night’s rain. Thousands of miles beyond its warranty, the town council wasn’t going to replace the wreck anytime soon. Nor would they be granting his yearly request for a raise.

No matter, thought Eddie, taking in his quiet neighborhood of many colored houses. He loved Puerto Cielo, loved its people, loved his job. It was everything he’d ever dreamed of.

Well, almost everything

His mother, who some called domineering, had decided that her lifelong care was Eddie’s responsibility. This after his older brothers and sisters fled town to pursue their own lives. He hadn’t minded the arrangement at first, but then noticed that the women who found him attractive would suddenly disappear. He learned that his mother was quick to make it clear to any would be mate that marriage to Eduardo was a package deal and this package included Mama.

And Mama was going to run the house.

Her intimidation caused some upset, but Eddie quickly let it go. What he loved most was his job and family life didn’t suit him.

He removed his battered felt cowboy hat, faded to no discernible color. It was the only concession his mother allowed with his spotless, neatly ironed uniform. 

Taking a last look around, he snugged the hat atop a mass of graying hair, then slid his well fed frame into the car

Back to work.

***

“Gas! Gas!”

The rooftop speaker blared as the tank truck slowly rolled up Main Street. An old woman gestured from the sidewalk and the truck stopped. Two men tumbled out of the cab, grabbed a ladder and set it against a building. One man scrambled to the roof, scattering a row of cawing crows watching from a nearby power pole, and pulled the gas line after him. The other man started a pump and sent liquid propane flowing to a rooftop tank. The passing patrol car honked and he smiled at Sheriff Eddie.

Eddie’s town was waking up.

“Sheriff, you there?” the radio crackled.. 

Eddie thumbed his microphone, “Roger that, Gloria.”

“Your mom says don’t forget the fish.”

“Copy that,” he replied. Eddie smiled, remembering why his cell phone was always off. Otherwise, his mother would pester him all day long.

He drove past the garbage truck. Nothing fancy like the big city, just a flatbed with three guys on the back. One guy jumped down and hoisted garbage up, the other two dumped bins out and sorted refuse. Anything remotely useful was tossed into the rack atop the cab. A one wheeled bicycle rode there now.

Eddie waved at the driver.

The Bernies were already at their post, bottles in hand. Eddie had heard the radio call out for domestic violence at the mayor’s house and knew they’d pranked Castillo again. Everyone knew what was going on. Everyone except Castillo. But as being the mayor’s cousin was the only reason Castillo had his job, Eddie stayed out of it.

The brothers tipped their caps and Eddie saluted, chuckling, “Keep up the good work boys.”

He noticed the beater car in front of the  Star office and saw the entry door open. Out came Lucy pushing a haggard trio in front of her. Espy’s back with her kids, Eddie thought, haven’t seen her since the funeral. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Sam lately and the Star didn’t come out last week.

A covey of  billowing black dresses floated out of the Catholic church  and down the steps. Eddie stopped and watched as the old ladies, some holding up parasols, some drawing lace shawls over their white haired heads, crossed the street to Mama G’s. He tipped his cap. Several venerable faces bobbed in response.

He smiled. These were the ladies of the circle. Few realized that these harmless looking old women in black ran the town.

Eddie cruised on, pausing at the bottom of Main Street to take in the gulf view across Beach Drive. Under the shade of palm trees, sitting beside their colorful boats, fishermen mended their nets. He sighed, taking a deep breath of fresh sea air. My town, my people, he thought, I don’t want anything to change.

Turning right past city park, he saw passengers jumping from taxis, joining the crowd bustling through the imposing gateway to the public market. Yes, he reminded himself, don’t forget the fish.

Clunk!

Eddie winced. A wheel had dropped into a pothole. No chance there’d be any repairs until the week before the election.Then the mayor and his cronies would have city employees out in force fixing things up, assuring the public that their tax dollars were being well spent.

Eddie slowed, watching two men get out of a black SUV and stroll into Diego’s appliance store.

He knew what was going on. Store owners were complaining. They were being hit up by the local thugs for protection money. 

And what was Sheriff Eddie going to do about it? 

The patrol car drove by.

***

To be continued-

Copyright 2024 Tio Stib