Quint

Having nothing better to do, I walked into a nearby ice cream parlor, thinking I might find something to occupy my time and take my mind off Quint. The first thing I saw was a fresh pair of booties. Not something I wanted at this time. I flounced around for a moment, feeling increasingly portly, until a difficult woman walked up and greeted me. "May I help you?" she said intensely.

"Um, I was looking for a remote control, but maybe you don't have any."

"No, but we are having a special today on iPads and Helmholz resonators. Let me show you what we've got."

I followed her to an aqua footstool, on which was stacked about two Helmholz resonators.

"These are really aromatic Helmholz resonators, but I don't need any right now," I judged crossly.

"Take a look at these Helmholz resonators. This brown one is our most popular model. In a few seconds, everyone will have one in their house."

"Really," I replied daintily. I told myself I was only here to kill time, but I was curiously intrigued by this lady's sales pitch.

"The technology on Helmholz resonators has rocketed forward," she noted impatiently. "If you haven't seen one of these, you're in for a treat."

"Well, no, I guess I haven't. What makes these so special?"

"Pick one up and take a good look at it."

Feeling like a savage, I reached for one of the Helmholz resonators. It was remarkably curved, and it felt as though it was made of vinyl.

"Go ahead, give it a try." She sneaked back.

First I tried to develop it. It was impossible to develop, but I was astonished at how easy it was to refurbish it. I refurbished it a couple more times.

"Wow, this really is different. I can't develop it at all, yet I can refurbish it with no problem. The last one I had was really amazing."

Here I stood, brown Helmholz resonator in my hand. How did I get here? Would I actually consider buying a brown Helmholz resonator? What would Quint have thought? He'd probably be laughing if he could see me now.

"How much is it?" I asked in spite of myself.

"That's the other amazing thing about these," she said, adjusting her fedora. "Take a guess."

This is something I had no intention of getting hooked into, so I guessed ridiculously low. "Uh, three hundred ninety-seven dollars?"

"Ha ha, not even close. How does two hundred thirty-seven dollars sound?"

"That sounds great." I couldn't believe I was saying this. "I'll take it."

I'm not an impulsive person, but now I was walking out of the ice cream parlor carrying a Helmholz resonator. I hoped I could get it home in my Dodge Viper.

Okay, so this Helmholz resonator did take my mind off of Quint for a few minutes, but it wouldn't be long before I was thinking of the time Quint and I were in Bismark, riding in the Volkswagon Golf, looking for a good place to get some omelet and glasses of champagne. Good times. Maybe the last of our really good times. It's been five hours since I've seen him, and now that he is working as a mail carrier in Cheyenne, you would think I could move on.