Eizer and Eli - Under New Management

When Filomena says jump, well, you'd just better jump! - A TWO MINUTE READ

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This is a continuation of the previous post, “Eizer and Eli - Starting Over”, in which old Mr. Griggs hires a housekeeper. You may want to read that before reading this one. CLICK HERE

The entire story of Eizer and Eli is in the Bartle Clunes archive. Click here .

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El Dorado County, California Foothills, 1951

At the Griggs house, Filomena was finishing up the lunch dishes. Eizer and little Eli were sitting at the table playing a game of Hearts. Finn, the crow, was perched on the chair back, nibbling at Eli's ear.

“Elicito, you want more juice, mi amor?

“Si, por favor,” answered Eli, making her laugh.

Filomena

“Mister Eizer,” Filomena said, off-handedly, drying a glass on the dishtowel, and trying to sound casual, “Why you don't let me cut your hair? You look like un viejo – an old man, with all this hair.”

“Filomena, I am an old man and I can cut my own hair, gracias.”

“Yeah, but not so good. No? I do good job for you. Sientese aqui. You sit here. Mire, I cut for you one time. You don't like, I don't cut no more.” She was already beckoning with the shears in her hand.

Eizer, panicked, glanced at the back door seeking an escape route, but she stepped in front of the exit and ultimately he did as he was told.

“You not so old,” she said, snipping away, working a comb through the snarls. “And you need champu. I do for you here in the kitchen.” When she had his hair nicely trimmed, she yanked him up and moved the chair to the drainboard. He lost the will to protest and sat down again, leaning his head back into the sink. Eli looked on. Filomena washed his hair vigorously, and before he knew it, had trimmed his beard, as well.

“¡Eso si!” she said triumphantly. “¡Ahora un espejo!” She handed him a mirror. Eizer was startled. He hardly recognized himself. He looked so – so young! Filomena stood beaming. “¡Corazon de mi vida! You look like new handsome man!” she said.

Eizer Griggs

He felt like a new handsome man, five pounds lighter. “Thank you, Filomena, it will take some getting used to, but you were right. Very nice. Very nice.”

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Eli giggled until Filomena pointed at him and said, “¡Okay, Elicito! Now you!”

While the determined woman worked on the squirming Eli, she said to Eizer, “And you need new clothes, too, hombre,” she continued. “¡Mas modernas! More moderns. I don't want wash these old rags no more. You got money, you get good clothes!”

“Yah, okay,” he grumbled, as he strode out the back door, looking for something to keep him busy until the woman had gone home and there was no further risk of her stripping off his clothing.