Rod, again - Chapter 3, Nina's sweet treats

Nina opened her frybread shop thirty-one years ago. Her first choice for a name was “Nina’s Authentic Frybread” but she was mildly worried that someone might challenge how authentic her frybread was. The food was generally associated with Native Americans not Polish-Americans, like Nina. Instead, she named the place “Nina’s Original Frybread”. Even this was a bit of a lie since she had stolen the recipe from the mother of an old boyfriend.

The shop started and remained fairly simple. The menu was limited and hadn’t changed substantially over the years. Nina knew that much of her clientele cherished this stability. Nina’s place offered a welcome refuge from a world that was changing ever more quickly. Early on, Nina designed the artwork for the foil that almost all food items were wrapped in. It featured Nina’s smiling face next to the tag-line: “Nina’s Original Frybread - So good you’ll want more.” Nina’s dark hair flowed out beneath the lettering as if there was a slight breeze. Each ear sported an earring that looked like two small feathers. Nina felt the feathers gave her an “authentic” look without making any specific claims. Originally, they existed only in her imagination, drawn by an artist friend, but Nina later had an actual silver pair made to match. She never went out in public without them. She also kept her hair long and raven black. It was a bold look for a woman over sixty but there was seldom any doubt that she was the Nina of “Nina’s Original Frybread”.

It had taken some detective work, but Nina had finally located Rod Piston. Luckily for her, one of her regular patrons worked for the police department and was happy to help her out. As she stood in the parking lot, she was suddenly unsure what her next step should be. She’d been watching people come and go, studying their faces. She had a picture of Rod but she doubted she had ever met him. Rico told her she would have remembered the smell. She didn’t have much direct involvement with the shop’s day-to-day operations anymore. She'd knocked on the door to his apartment and felt a sense of relief when no one answered. She was about to leave when she noticed the couple coming up the sidewalk. It was difficult to be sure, but it could be him. He was with a pretty young woman. The couple had noticed her staring at them.

Nina waited until they were about to turn into the apartment complex. “Rod?” she said, “Rod Piston, is that you?”

Rod turned and looked at the woman. She seemed familiar but he couldn’t place the face. Cindy looked at her and then turned to Rod. “Rod, who is that?” she asked.

“I’m not sure," Rod replied. "She seems familiar, but I don’t know from where.”

“Well, she seems to know you. Talk to her.”

Rod looked at Nina again. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

Nina sighed and tried to look crestfallen. “Oh Rod, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me. It hasn’t been that long. Don’t you remember? Every morning, every evening. You were my best customer.”

Rod stared at her, trying to recall. He could hear Cindy asking him again about this woman but Rod was concentrating. He heard Cindy saying something about secrets and how much she hated them. Cindy was also curious as to what sort of customer he had been and about just what this woman was selling. Rod wondered that himself. He was about to respond to Cindy when he noticed the feather earrings and something clicked inside his brain. “Nina?” he said at last.

Nina smiled. “So you do remember. I thought so.”

Cindy’s voice was louder now. “Rod, do you know this woman? Who is she? Nina? Rod, why haven’t you mentioned her before? What did she mean, you we’re her best customer? Rod, I don't like this.”

Rod could hear Cindy but he couldn’t speak. Nina had opened her car door slightly and his highly honed nose had locked into a nauseating smell emanating from inside. He swallowed hard and fought the urge to vomit.

Nina decided Rod’s silence meant he wanted to hear more. The pretty young girl was upset but Nina didn’t care. She looked like a health-nut type. She was probably the reason Rod had stopped coming by in the first place. Nina decided a little friction in that relationship could only help her cause. “Rod, I can’t believe you just stopped coming by. Don’t you miss my sweet treats?”

Cindy glared at Nina and then turned to Rod. She was shouting now. “Rod! What is she talking about? Rod, say something!” Cindy paused and assessed this woman. What could she tell about her? Overweight, older with unnaturally dark black hair. Wearing a bright floral print sun dress meant for someone a few sizes smaller. Cindy came to an obvious if erroneous explanation. "Rod," she said in a quieter voice, "Is she a prostitute?”

Rod groaned and swallowed hard.

Nina remembered something Rico had told her about Rod. “If I remember right, you liked it with honey, didn’t you?”

“Ew!” shrieked Cindy, “That's so gross! Rod, you shouldn't have kept this from me, you know I don’t like secrets! ”

Cindy started sobbing and ran into the apartment. Rod tried to stop her but he could barely stand.

Nina grabbed Rod's arm, “Rod, I have a surprise for you.”

Nina reached into her car and retrieved a frybread wrapped in foil. She pulled back the foil and thrust it at Rod. Grease dripped onto the pavement between them. Rod could contain it no more. He vomited onto Nina’s feet.

Nina jumped back and looked at her feet. “Good grief, man. These are practically new flip-flops.” She shook Rod's picnic lunch off her foot and then paused and studied it for a moment. “Do you eat anything besides carrots?” she asked at last.

Rod turned and stumbled into his apartment.