Family Business

On Prescription

Thursday March 15th 2018 1pm Mercer Street Medical Centre
Gretchen hates her porter job, she hates working full stop however she has a mission. She scans the canteen and in the far corner she spots Pamela sitting on her own, wearing a purple cardigan and light blue collared blouse. Gretchen confidently marches towards Pamela holding her food tray. "May I join you?" Gretchen asks. Pamela looks up, and extends out her hand to the opposite chair "Sure".

Gretchen places her tray holding a bowl of pasta as well as a bottle of water and portion of Key Lime Pie.
"I'm Gretchen, pleased to meet you as she extends out her right hand".

Pamela shakes her hand "I'm Pamela".

Gretchen begins to stir her pasta "I've seen you sitting alone and I thought you can't claim to be a good Christian unless you act like a good Christian".

Pamela's eyes widen as she places down her soup spoon "At last someone of the Gospels. OH there are Christians in here but let me tell you, they are not here to help the needy but here to serve the rich and fatten upon profits".

Gretchen bit her lower lip holding back a smile. "Oh that reminds me of my cousin, a greedy merciless businesswoman, that's grown rich and fat off the backs of the poor, a horrendous woman!".

Pamela shakes her head side by side in disgust "Oh she will be judged!".

Gretchen disguises a smile behind a spoonful of pasta "You probably heard of her, she is prominent in New Jersey. Prudence Sternwood, a rampaging bully if there was ever one!"

Pamela cusps her hand over her mouth in shock "Prudence Sternwood!! I do know her, I bullied her in High school, something I am ashamed of, ignorance of youth is no excuse for un-Christian behaviour.

"Well that's nothing compared to how she treats her own family" lies Gretchen. It was from this meeting she began to manipulate Pamela.

Saturday May 25th 2019 10am, The Happy Coffee Pot Cafe Broadway Jersey City
Pamela parked up her 2017 Dodge caravan. In the rear of her car supplies for her churches food collection. She didn't have much time. She locks up her car and enters the cafe. Sitting at the table is Gretchen, Richie and short man she never saw before with a black tight beard and hair. He seems slimy to her and gives her the jitters.

Gretchen waves her over as Richie begins to pour her a cup of coffee. She pulls out a red kitchen chair beside Gretchen and sits opposite the stranger, who extends out his hand "I'm David, nice to meet you". Pamela weekly shakes it, I'm Pamela".

A hungover waitress in her mid twenties places four menus on the table. "We thought we'd hold off on breakfast until you arrived" states Richie as he watches Pamela pull out the cell phone from her faded denim handbag, which she places on the table

"I have eaten thanks and I've to go to the churches food drive, so I don't have much time".

Richie opens up the phone, his face beams as he looks through the photos she took "Great work Pamela". He then passes the phone to Gretchen.

"Well I should hope so, let me show you something else".

Gretchen passes the phone over to David "Are these good enough Dave?".

Gretchen bursts into laughter at the abusive social media post towards Prudence. Richie was less impressed for him it was another trail leading towards them.

Pamela takes back her phone from Richie. "Now I've got what you needed so I pray that you can use it to blackmail her and stop her from robbing your heritance, just know I'd like to know about your promised donation to our weekly food drive.".

"Oh Pamela" pleads Gretchen, since I had to leave the medical centre, I have struggled to find another job and we're living pay cheque to pay cheque".

Richie intercedes "I have a big job coming soon and I promise as soon as I get that job I'm donating the first cheque to your food drive".

Gretchen gently places her left hand on Pamela's right wrist "As soon as we get our inheritance, a big chunk is coming to you. We're looking forward to the use of the Churches holiday home, we really need that break are we still good for it?"

Pamela falls for Gretchen's fake pitiful expression "Of Course, though Pastor John would like to see you at Church, I really wish you would come!!"


Gretchen shifted uncomfortably in her seat "I'm in a bad place at the moment Pamela, I'm just not up to meeting many people at present, this is a horribly dark time for me". Her attempts to fake tears failed.

Pamela stands up and places her left palm on Gretchen's shoulders "I have to go now, but please your not alone, I am there for you".

Gretchen thanks her and watches her as she walks out of the cafe "what a nutjob", she turns to David "Well Dave, can you get the stuff!"

He gives a thumbs up "I can have them by Monday, have you the money?".

Richie hands him a brown envelope which he takes a look inside, "It all better be here or the deal is off!".

Richie is distracted by a beep on his cell phone "Of course it is, his tone annoyed". His attention is now drawn to his cell phone, it's a text message from his neighbour Will "Hey Rich, everything OK?, cops been over looking for you both". In his mind he curses Gretchen for her stupid visit to Prudence's office and for Pamela's stupid social media post which no doubt they will be blamed for".