Cookie's Case Read Online Free PDF

a front split a few feet from my astonished gaze. Though the crowd is roaring, those in the know—Dr. Mickey Mack and I—are caught between the world of entertainment and the world of deep concern for her.
    Cookie is looking around, turning at the waist from the spread eagle position with her head fixed. You feel as if she’s touching each individual there with her careful regard. Her arms are wide-open with palms up, as if assuring us all, “I’m here for you.” Yanking off her breakaway top, she reveals an extraordinary pair of breasts. They are popping out from the openings in the device’s anchoring vest. When she tears away her pants, the room roars in honor and admiration as she twirls them lasso-style.
    Suddenly, the fabric catches on the right front prong of her halo, and her pants wind up hanging over her face. We’re close enough to hear her. “Oops!” she says. Laughing at herself, she tosses them aside turning an awkward moment into sublime entertainment.
    Gracefully, she rises and continues to dance seductively up and down the catwalk with her head fixed in position the entire time. The visual is totally unnatural but, at the same time, sexy as hell. Now, in addition to the bumps and grinds, with every wisecrack she makes, the house goes nuts.
    A guy across from us takes out a cigarette, which Cookie instantly whip-snaps out of his mouth. “There’s no smoking in here, buddy,” she reminds him. He grins, and the crowd erupts further. She totally owns them and they’re adoring every minute of it.
    â€œMendel, what did I tell you?” she reprimands a scrawny accountant type with his mouth hanging open. “Didn’t I say you look better without that hedgehog on your keppie?” With a gentle flick of the whip, she relieves him of his hairpiece.
    All this, and she speaks Yiddish, too.
    The song plays out just as Cookie returns to her starting pose. As she takes a stiff bow, the applause is explosive.
    â€œIt’s good to be back, y’all. I love you guys.” She throws kisses, and once more tears fill her eyes. It’s an emotional homecoming, and she deserves every bit of the homage she’s receiving. Waving good-bye, she disappears backstage.
    I turn to Mick, shaking my head in wonder. “What the hell was that all about?”
    â€œLike I said, she’s got a big following.”
    â€œYeah, she is amazing, and so are her fans.”
    â€œWhen she did that move,” Henry says, incredulously—which isn’t his usual mode, “I thought she was going to kill herself.”
    â€œI gotta tell ya,” Mick answers, “like I said, just about any form of activity is contraindicated in her situation. But Cookie, she’s definitely one of a kind.”
    Just as things settle down, we’re distracted by a fresh round of applause. We turn and see her. She’s making her rounds on the floor, offering careful hugs and cheek kisses. I also notice Cookie’s refusal to take any of the money being pressed upon her. She’s one of a kind, all right.
    When she gets to the fellow with the toupee, they embrace extra warmly, as if too much time’s gone by.
    â€œRuth sends her love,” I’m close enough to hear him say. “She wants to know if you and Major are ever going to come over for a nice home-cooked dinner.”
    â€œYou tell her it’ll be one night soon. I got a few screws stuck in my head right about now. Did she like my turkey meatloaf recipe?”
    â€œWe both did.” She gently caresses his face as she moves past him. I wonder how my wife would react if I brought home Cookie and this Major guy. Okay, she likes learning new recipes. But still, I’m not sure it would be enough.
    Cookie makes her way to us, as Henry stands up to offer a personal round of applause. Some people merely clap, but Henry has such a commanding presence that when he puts his hands together,