Eva Bumgardner

Eva was Esther’s best friend. The two were a pair who could upset the tranquility of a library simply by reading in the same room together, but they saved their powerful, connected friendship for places like busy supermarkets.

They really liked trapping married men together. They were both divorced, and totted lots of cash, thanks to their dearly beloved dead husbands.

They would place bets on who would find the richest man, on their quest to be forever in love and loaded.

While driving down sloping dirt county roads, they would place bets before getting to the supermarket.

"I had a dream last night Esther. I won the lottery. In my dream this man who looked just like Bob Barker walked up to me in the supermarket while I was examining cucumbers and pulled out his cock. On his cock were written the numbers 6 - 4 - 3. I’m going to play those numbers in the lottery today and you should too. It was a sign I tell you. I’m either going to win the jackpot or finally find a man that can fuck me like I like it! I hope I meet that man in my dream." informed Eva as she elbowed Esther behind the steering wheel of her Crysler and giggled.

"I think Bob Barker is handsome. I’m going to be on that show one day" said Esther as she glanced over at her outrageous friend. She knew it was going to be a fun day at the supermarket. Eva didn’t dream that often.

"Are you sleeping better at night with that Sassafras tea I made you?" asked Esther.

"I sure as hell am. I’m horny now too. I tell you Esther, you’re really a witch with those concoctions you make. I hope I do see a man today that whips out his dick in the produce section. I’m going to give him your phone number and tell him that you are my sister." said Eva to her best friend playfully.

"Do you wanna make a bet that will happen in the supermarket today— five bucks says it will. I bet you Esther, five dollars I will see a man next to the cucumbers today who looks like Bob Barker." said Eva flirtatiously. "Don’t say a word to him, let me do all the work for you, she said as she rubbed the palms of her hands on her thighs, covered with polyester slacks.

"I’m not going to marry another man after George." Esther replied sadly. "Unless he’s a millionaire. "If he’s a millionaire, I won’t have to go grocery shopping. I could love a man like that."

"Money will not make us happy Esther. How loaded are you anyway? Don’t think I didn’t see your ad in the ‘Daily News’ selling off ten more acres. Don’t give away your farm Esther, it’s like you are selling your soul when I see those ads in the Real Estate section."

Esther turned left and headed up a road carved into the side of a hill. Layer upon layer of slate stone were piled atop one another on the cut embankment. Eva looked confused while glaring out the car window.

"Where the hell you taking me you crazy bitch? Esther, no, don’t take me down Hillvalley road, you know those steep banks scare the living hell outta me." demanded Eva.

"We’ll be alright, Eva. I just put knew tires on this car, I want to see how they handle the road in good weather, not after it snows. Just look what happened to George when the road froze." said Esther.

Her friend remained silent until they reached the supermarket. Eva didn’t like to joke about Esther’s dead husband. Although she wasn’t religious, she didn’t fuck with or taunt the dead. She believed they had control over ping pong balls in lottery ball baskets.

Eva forgot all about the bet and her Bob Barker vision at the cucumbers after Esther showed her the berm of the road and an up-close look of how high up into the clouds Stone Creek Ridge actually was.

Eva grabbed a bottle of pills after the car shook while Esther was driving off the edge of the paved road.

She was fast asleep in the car by the time they reached the supermarket.

Esther didn’t wake her friend while she dashed inside to pick up a few necessities.

She did see a man who looked just like Bob Barker standing next to the cucumbers, but was too afraid to say anything to him without her dear crazy friend next to her.