Mulch ado about nothing

something to do with the crime?“ Jane asked.
    “I’ve no idea. But the message was cryptic and could be a threat. ‘You’re next’ sounds ominous. Especially as it isn’t signed.“
    “You must have checked with the florist,“ Shelley said, trying to ask the question tactfully.
    It wasn’t tactful enough. “Of course,“ Mel said irritably. “He was swamped with orders for a funeral of some big-deal politician. A man came in and paid cash for the flowers and delivery. No- body remembers what he looked like. No, that’s not quite true. The florist, the clerk, and a witness all think they know his appearance and entirely disagree.“
    “But it was a man,“ Shelley said.
    Mel grinned. “According to the clerk, it could have been a woman dressed like a man. He’s young and has a vivid imagination.“
    “Get back to Julie. Do the doctors think she’s seriously hurt?“ Jane said, glancing down at her cast. She had things medical on her mind. She could have broken her leg, not just a bone in her foot.
    “Anybody who’s in a coma is in serious trouble,“ Mel said. “The sister’s husband is with her. He’s a neurologist and they were here visiting while he attended some sort of convention in the city.
    “And the sister?“
    “Geneva Jackson,“ Mel said. “Kept her own last name. She’s in some kind of business related to Julie Jackson’s, which I haven’t quite figured out yet. The sister says Julie was a microbiologist, whatever that is, and reeled off a long list of academic credits. Apparently Julie Jackson had a doctorate.“
    “She was listed that way in the brochure. Dr. Julie Jackson,“ Jane said.
    “What brochure?“
    “The township and the junior college got some kind of grant to get speakers throughout the summer,“ Shelley explained. “Adult education classes in everything from weight loss to botany and accounting. The first ten people to sign up for each class get to take them for free. Jane and I are enthusiastic but not very knowledgeable gardeners, so we signed up for that one.“
    “And Ms. Jackson was to be the speaker?“
    “‘Group leader,’ they called it,“ Shelley said with a sneer. “What’s wrong with ‘teacher,’ anyway? If we all knew as much as she presumably does, we wouldn’t be going. Teachers teach. At least they didn’t call her a ‘facilitator.’ That was all the rage for a while. So stupid.”
    Since this was obvious and one of Shelley’s frequent rants, neither Mel nor Jane replied. A long silence fell and Mel finally stirred first. “I’ve got to get back to work. Jane, are Mike or Katie going to be around to help you?“
    “I’m. around,“ Shelley said, “and I’ll help her, but only as much as she actually needs. “
    “That sounds like a threat,“ Jane said.
    “It is. And the first thing I’m going to help you with is learning to use the crutches so you can’t lollygag around being utterly helpless. You’d put on five pounds at least.”
    Mel slipped away while they bickered.

Three

    By Sunday morning, Jane had given up trying to influence the crutches. She was better off, she decided, using only one and having her left hand free to grab things when she lost her balance. This technique also allowed her to carry small objects, which she hadn’t been able to with both hands wrestling with crutches. On Sunday afternoon Shelley bought her a pair of knee-length shorts that had lots of big pockets.
    “Shelley, the last thing I need is pockets on my thighs. They already bulge and I’d look like one of those misshapen bodybuilders with the monster thighs if I put anything in the pockets.“
    “Okay by me, but where are you going to carry all the stuff that’s normally in your purse when you go out?”
    Jane thought a moment. “I could get a purse with a long strap and sling it over my shoulder.“
    “And have it flap around every time you lurch?“
    “It’s not me lurching. It’s the crutches. The crutches have a mind of their own. I can’t tell you how many times they’ve turned me left when I want to go straight ahead. Even one of them does that to me.“
    “Then just keep turning left and you’ll eventually be facing the right way,“ Shelley said with a wicked laugh. “Anything you need?“
    “A Sherpa,“ Jane said. “To fetch and carry for me. I keep dropping things and have to put the crutches down to pick the things up, then bend down and pick the crutches back up and usually drop the first thing again.