Chapter Forty Four

Dave was standing amid the chaos at Harpo Studios. He had his cell phone up to one ear and his hand covering the other. His skinny elbow was sticking high in the air and came close to whacking several of the rescue workers in the head.

"Why are you watching Judge Judy? Your son is scheduled to be on THE Oprah Winfrey television show and you choose to watch Judge Judy?" Dave turned to Bob as if he was as perturbed by Dave's Mother's actions as much he is. "Oh...Oh...you TIVOed Oprah!" He starts shaking his head up and down with a sarcastic smile. "Well Mom, don't worry, I'm not going to be on now...that's right...all HELL has broken loose here...that's right...I'm afraid I'm not going to be on Oprah Mom!"

Bob's face contorted. "Don't be afraid!!" he yelled at Dave. He didn't ever want anybody to be afraid.

Dave held up one finger to Bob as an indication that he couldn't talk to him. Bob looked at his finger and yelled. "One.......that is ONE!" Dave nodded to the affirmative and held up five. Bob took a swat and missed.

Dave put his hand over the mouthpiece of the phone and said to Bob. "Nice one!"

Paramedics had Oprah bound to a board with her head strapped tightly to keep it from moving.

"Mom, Oprah fell and hit her head." Dave squeezed his eyes shut at the sound of his Mother's reaction. "Oprah took a crap on the stage and.....no....no Mom...Oprah the dog.."

"Oprah is a Boy dog!" Bob held Oprah the dog high, exposing him to the entire audience.

"And Oprah the international talk show celebrity slipped in it. She fell off the stage and landed in a box of audience gifts. We all thought she was dead for a minute but she was just unconscious."

"BOY DOG!" Bob yelled.

Back in Kentucky Louis sat motionless staring into Russell's beautiful TV. The Station that broadcast Oprah had put up a slide that said "Please stand by for more of Oprah!" Louis was standing by.

Russell had made himself busy in order to pass the time. He was on his hands and knees, his hairy gut pushing down on his t-shirt, with his arm shoved down the cushion of the Barcolounger, fishing for goodies. He pulled out more that a handful of cheese curls, a pocket knife, and a bottle cap. Then with a "Eureka!" he produced the eye he had lost over six months ago. He fell asleep, drunk in the chair, watching the Super Bowl and woke up without his eye. He never really applied the effort or brain power to track it down until now, and it was like Christmas come early. It was one of his favorites eyes.

Lisa and Louis walked out of Harpo studios and past the waiting limo. Lisa stopped and turned to Louis. "What happened in there?"

Louis smiled a wide pearly smile. "I let go."

They laughed and began walking. Lisa took Louis' hand. No one knew.