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When the show was over, they removed their makeup and met Frank in the teacher ' s lounge to unwind and discuss the evening festivities. They all agreed, having the Mad Scientist first was brilliant. Brad was able to prepare the children to be startled without any special lighting effects.“ How did we do?” Eddie asked.“ Over three thousand dollars,” Frank answered with a nod of approval.“ Including the bake sale?”“ No. Just the haunted house.”“ Did we have that kind of attendance?” Eddie asked, amazed.“ The kids were begging their parents for another dollar and getting in line again. It took about seventy-five seconds to see the show start to finish. After an hour we were able to increase the size of the groups of kids from ten to fifteen. The ushers were a great idea. They kept the show moving,” Frank said, looking at the exhausted actors.
Brad was the only one not showing any signs of wear as he sat in one of the chairs at the end of the table. He sat cross-legged and was slowly lifting himself off the seat using the thick padded arms of the chair like a set of parallel bars.“ I had to slow myself down,” he said, as he plopped into the chair and took a big swallow of soda. Kate and Eddie sat opposite Frank and Rodney at the ends of the old sofas.“ I’ ve been through some tough football practices. This was more like game day. I know I will be nursing some aches and pains later, but right now I’ m still running on adrenaline. Kate, my hat is off to you. I could not help imagining you constantly crouching and rising. All I had to do was walk back and forth, then five quick steps to the bars,” Rodney said.
The long gown, Kate wore left her bare feet exposed and she had removed the headpiece.“ The crouching wasn’ t difficult, but I never realized how seldom I stand on my tip-toes. I don’ t wear high heels and my calves are on fire. I’ ve never tried to look taller!” she said, flexing her long legs.“ Spin them around here. I give great calf massage,” Eddie said, patting his lap. If her legs had not been so sore she would have declined the offer. Kate placed her feet on his lap and pulled the yards of material to her knees. Eddie kneaded the cramping muscles as the conversation continued. They all had to admit what a great time they had scaring the crowd that kept coming back for more. They all had stories to share.
Eddie saw a nod and a look pass between Rodney and Frank.“ Eddie, may I ask what you do for a living?” Frank asked.“ I drive locally. I’ m a Teamster.”“ So you make about twenty dollars an hour and have a good benefits package.”“ Excellent benefits package,” Eddie smiled.“ Rodney will attest to the fact that we have the same package,” Frank said. Rodney nodded and Frank continued.“ The whole time I observed the faces of those who exited. They were having a blast being scared to death. Do you know what I do for a living?”“ You said Rodney was a property manager, so I assume you are into real estate,” Eddie said.“ Commercial real estate. The ideas used this evening were yours.”“ Brad took over his show... marvelously,” Eddie had to admit.“ True. But still your idea. He just ran with it, like a star running back for a good coach. I’ d like you to consider something. I know you would have to talk it over with your wife, so I don’ t expect an answer immediately,” Frank said calmly.“ I’ m listening.”
Frank began to explain how he had purchased a piece of property and built a small shopping center. He had the inside track on a large subdivision in the planning stages by a very prestigious builder. By the time the center was complete, the streets were paved, water, sewer, and street lights had been installed. The builder went through a divorce and the project slowed. The parties, the drugs and the legal battles that followed brought the entire project to a standstill. The money disappeared. Not a single lot was allowed to be sold. The entire subdivision was tied up in the court system with no end in sight.