Meeting Stuck Man

The clouds kept an iridescent grey glow on everything. Why won't it pour? She wanted rain. The ground had been wet this morning, but it was just evidence of the rain that happened over night. She wanted pouring sheets of rain.

"Susie, Susie, Are you here with me?"

The man in front of her sat wide eyed and overly present. He oozed with disgusting sincerity. Overly aware and trying to be of comfort. He had fast food bags shoved in the trash can behind his desk. A hidden vice contrary to the outward persona he tries to portray. He had Tupperware on his desk with carrot sticks and red pepper with a low fat Italian dressing in it. He wore a sweater vest over a collared button up shirt. All items were different hues of brown and cream. The classic uniform of a stereotypical therapist. A person pictured in the mind when a person thought of a therapist. She liked this about him. It felt reassuring. Responsible. He still had a devotion to playing his roll. It felt nice to see someone try. He wasn't over weight so he could hide his vice. He talked of riding bikes, so he must exercise enough for it to not show.  Dedication to his image in life, a way to succeed with people she thought. He had to have written a book. She might need to look into that.

It wasnt his fault. It wasn't even hers for being difficult. If he had conducted a simple character analysis he would see that typical or usual therapeutic practices were not best for her. These methods probably would not work past the good intentions they carried. She was a high achiever who had not achieved. She had a hard time not portraying normalcy in any scenario. Normalcy had been ingrained, hard wired into her. Worse, she had a tendancy of holding it together until she couldn't and then crumbling when the facade was disrupted and normalcy couldn't be acheived. It was her cycle. A comfortable wheel that turned and spun out all that entered her wheel. She knew, why didn't he?

Therapy became a game of fulfilling the tasks perfectly. Making the therapist feel like progress was being made. She didn't like to burst others bubbles. He worked hard. She didn't want others to feel like her. How horrible that would be. However, it kept real progress from being made in his office. The most helpful strides had been made on her own after reading a book called the science of storytelling by Will Stor.  By real strides she meant she read it and for a moment had some true personality changing insights that she may consider one day.

"Yes I'm here. Where else would I be.", she said as cutely and playful as she could, as to not hurt his feelings.

He was trying to pinpoint the source of her behaviors that seemed so contrary to her outward appearance and have her acknowledge the areas she is working on. Her Goals, etc. She probably should have told him that the only way she could get through the day with people was to view them as characters. Character analysis made people acceptable to her. She was aware life was not a play, nor a storybook (although she lived in a city as close to a storybook as possible), but making people characters made them harmless. Rudeness, overly politeness, carelessness, etc could all be written off as character intricacies. Character intricacies were easier to take instead of human flaws or behaviors targeted towards others. It stripped people of any kind of power. The problem is, it also did this with life. The two went hand in hand. She should have told him it all seemed somewhat pointless. She didn't though. She allowed the routine to continue in sync. While he spoke massaging his own therapeutic ego she sat looking at him as interested as possible wondering to herself when she had become like this. The only pinpoint that consumed her time. She hadn't always been like this. It was too easy to blame life. Pinpointing, damn, he had her pinpointing now.

Pinpointing. He was acknowledging her mothers death. He was acknowledging her failed relationships. Her abortion. Her drinking. Her medical history of anxiety documented with fainting in public forums. Her marriage to a man that made her want to leave the room everytime he entered. Her shame from his affair and her poorly timed one. The love they have, but often don't show. Her high intelligence, but lack of know how. Her high achieving in schools, but inability to pick a job environment she felt comfortable in. He was hinting at childhood trauma which she had never mentioned or acknowledged or even considered. Pinpoints of explanation. Not supposed to be apologies, but somehow feeling like it. It seemed counter to appreciating who a person is to have to explain away a part of who they are. But, it was just his character, not his fault. Just as these were outcomes of her characters encounters in the world and experience with self.

The glaring problem, at least obvious to her was no character was particularly interesting, including her own. On top of this fact, movies were becoming less interesting for the same reason. When everything becomes character analysis and character driven it all becomes too formulaic. It all became tiresome. Plots are chance and characters form them. Every action can be explained as a character trait, nothing more. No one is entirely responsible for who they are or the plot they are living. It's an outcome of character.

"Today was a great session, Thank you.", she heard herself saying. I agree with most of what you are saying. I will work on some of it. Always the people pleaser, she shook his hand before leaving expressing hope in her progress. Her mom would have known she was lying. This guy, he was just doing his job. Clueless. Months of clueless. Everyone is just an example of their minds journey in life, and so what?. Some have the means to change it and others don't. The one's that have, look at those who say they cant as lazy or inept in some way and those who feel they cant look at those who did as lucky or with better circumstances. All are explanations of self, self preservation for being. Not that it just is or a fault of character. If it is a fault of character what do people expect that person to do? It all was hopelessly boring. Even her boredom was boring and could be picked apart if she had chose to share it. That is people, that is humans, that is all people are left out of the boredom. That is sharing. He had suggested she learn something new. Maybe, she had thought. Maybe. She was part of the lazy side, couldn't he tell.

She left the office that had smelled of papers and old potpourri. The potpourri that had been purchased years before and allowed to exist for look instead of purpose now. The office had dark wood accent book shelving and desks, but was not dark. It felt like a place where real thinking and progress could be made. It was comfortable, smartly lit, and well organized. Progress, next week would start online instead of in person. It felt like a graduation of some sort.

"Yes, next week, online session next time. Yes that will work. I will receive a code to login, right?"

"Yes"

"Thank you.", with that she stepped back out into the world. Released back onto a page.

It was only a few steps before she tripped on an uneven portion of the sidewalk. A root, from a nearby Ficus tree, had forced it's way under the sidewalk corrupting it's surface. Her right foot had caught the corner, a calculation her brain had not compensated for. She tripped, falling forward spilling the majority of her purses contents with her.

"What a morning!", she exclaimed.

"Love a brisk walk in the morning", she mumbled sarcastically to herself.

She bagan collecting all her items, corralling and stuffing them back into her bag. She didn't bother standing up yet she crawled along the sidewalk like a degenerate. It was actually quite disgusting if she had bothered to think about it, but her frustration and depression made her unwilling to stand up and bend down for every item. It was easier this way. Who knew how much spit or shit ridden shoes had walked the sidewalk. It seemed easier to just stay down and forage for them. While down there she could have sworn she heard something. The smallest vibrations of a mans voice asking for help. She put her ear to the sidewalk as a mother and son walked by. The mother, rightfully, looked alarmed. The mother went into mama bear mode, giving Susie a stare that says don't come near us. Susie couldn't be bothered. The amount of times she got a strange look in a day, a week, a month happened so regularly she started to be comforted by it. A man was next to walk by. She spoke to him in passing.

"Do you hear that?" Come put your ear down. There is a man down there.", she said frantically. In a way that came off a little manic.

The man looked sadly at her and handed her a $5 bill with a card for a foundation to help homeless addicts. Susie looked down at her clothes and checked her appearance in a compact mirror she had in her purse. She had forgotten about it, until finding it in the contents that spilled out. She clicked the button and it popped open. She saw in the reflection rosey cheeks, pale skin, brown oily hair and soft lips. She used a really great chapstick that kept her lips exceptionally smooth and hydrated. Sure, she didn't have make up on, but far from looking like a addict or homeless. She snapped the mirror closed with disgust.

"Hurtful and unhelpful", she yelled after the man. She pocketed the five for the insult though.

"There really is a man down here. I'm not cr-azy", (That last part said like Bill Murray at the end of 'Scrooged'). Sounding more like she was a little bit crazy. She heard it and felt the slight bit embarrassed.

There it was a again. This time a creaking sound and then a tired mans voice saying help. He had to be yelling, but it came through like a pin drop in a room. A mouse screaming. You had to be listening for it.
She yelled into her cupped hands on the sidewalk. Hoping it would work like a cup and string telephone everyone made as children.

"I hear you. I will help get you out."

Then silence. She smacked the sidewalk as if that would reach the man through ripples of vibrations. She pictured herself as an ape discovering something unknown. She tried to civilize her actions just a bit. More Planet of the Apes and less Zoo ape.

"Oh Thank God", she heard the voice say.

Poor guy she thought. He gets stuck underground, probably in a pipe and then to have to settle on her being his rescuer. She wasn't exactly sure how to handle a situation like this, except to call 911.

She heard, "Hard...Breathe, Tired, Not Good.", or Not hurt. It was hard to tell exactly. His yells were whispers to the city existing above. Soon the buss would be by and no one would hear. She located her cell phone in her bag. She dialed 911. She explained the whole insane sequence of events. She swore that there is a man bellow the sidewalk. Once the operator felt certain it was not a hoax, she reassured her that a response team was on the way.

Susie for the first time in 15min or so stood up and brushed herself off. Thank goodness she had worn pants and not a skirt on this occasion. She wore straight leg jeans with a grey colored wash and a burgundy stretched out, loose fiited, light weight T-shirt. She took out the compact mirror once more. She held it further away  to view her hair. There were a couple twigs and some random paper parts in her hair. Now she felt more endearing towards the man who had given her the card for the foundation. He actually was quite kind. He was trying to help clean up the streets. He went out on a limb to help her. How ungrateful she had been to his small act of kindness. This is what is wrong with the world she thought to herself. So many misunderstandings. What kind of character goes around handing out charity cards wrapped in $5. He had to be either rich or have a personal experience with an addict. She didn't have long to ponder this for the response team had a very impressive response time. They were at the scene just a few minutes after her call. Everything became action, motion and commotion. So many response members bustled about her that they all began to blur and it was hard to see any differences in the individual underneath the uniform.

"Miss, are you the one that called."

"Yes, my name is Susie. There is a man under this sidewalk somewhere. I heard him. He said he was getting tired and that he is stuck. I yelled down through the sidewalk.", she began to show them.

"People are here to help you. Fire department is here.", she yelled into the sidewalk.

Silence.

"Wait, he is down there. He will respond, but it takes a moment. Maybe takes a lot of energy", Susie nervously explains to the firefighter. She was sure they didn't believe her.

Silence.

"I hope he didn't pass out", Susie adds.

Just as she was sure they were beginning to doubt the authenticity of the situation, stuck man responded. She felt her shoulders push down and back as her posture relaxed. She held her head a little higher with the proof of the situation she had discovered and was remedying.

"Help Me Please."

"Okay, I heard", One of the men says. This man had deep thinking wrinkles. These were signs of his hard work. His many squints caused from the sunlight and high heats of fires, now taking a toll on the center of his forhead she thought. She had to commend him, and all of them for doing this job day end and day out.

Another firefighter radioed in with more requests and codes.  She had never heard of most of the codes. He was a shorter, stockier man than the rest of the men. She noticed as he stopped infront of her. This allowed her brain to focus on the individual out of the chaos.

A city planner who happened to be in the area came over and began supplying the firefighters with information pertaining to the system of pipes under the sidewalk in the area. He soon called another city engineer. The whole process was fascinating to watch unravel.

She felt herself being pushed to the sidelines. She would accept that her help was over, but she refused to leave until she knew 'stuck man' was rescued.  What did he look like. What is the character of a man who gets trapped in a pipe? How did this happen? Was it his fault? So many questions kept popping into her thoughts. Along with one she couldn't help, but she was trying ignore. Trying to pretend to herself it wasn't there. She kept thinking, What an Idiot. What moron gets trapped like this?!

She overheard them discussing cutting the sidewalk to have direct access to the man and the pipe the man is in. It would be faster than trying to go in the pipe system and extract him that way. She didn't understand the system of pipes and so didn't understand how this would be the better way, but she figured they must be right. Good she thought, then they could redo the sidewalk so people wouldn't trip.  She felt ashamed at this last thought, but it didn't make it any less true. The city was cheap and slow to do smart repairs. Most things were fixed fast and cheaply and then needed more costly repairs later.

The team was using gadgets she had never seen before. Gadgets that could locate a person with acute accuracy underground. Thermal and other.

Hours go by. Jackhammer like tools and saws appear on the scene. The screetching of a saw used to cut into the pipe sends shivers threw her body. Small sparks fling from the area like sparklers on fourth of July.

The man must be dehydrated. How long has he been down there?, she wonders. Who will pay for all of this? Will the man be responsible, if he doesn't have a good reason for being down there. At least now he has probably had enough time to come up with a good reason for how and why he is stuck in the pipe. She decided she would stay for as long as it took. She knew her husband would be annoyed at all the things she wasn't getting done, but he was always annoyed with her so she reasoned with herself, very unscientifically, what the difference would be.

One of the firemen was hoisting up what looked like a flathead screw driver for a giant. He wielded it in a downward stabbing motion and then wiggled it back and forth in an area of the pipe that had been cut before beginning the process again. It was being used to pry open the pipe. To create a gap. The team members worked together, perfectly assisting eachother, as if it were a choreographed routine.

Stuck man, as she has came to call him, had gone silent for quite some time now. All she could do was watch. She looked from the spectacle back to her purse, the impetus for the whole situation. Her plain fake black leather purse which was now scuffed from falling on the sidewalk. It wasn't even a month old. Now she would have to use it scuffed until she needed a new one. Pigeons and crows gathered, appricating on the electrical wires and telephone posts. They seemed aware and appreciative of having the best view of the entertainment. She was still allowed to reside at the inner edge of the circle encircling the scene. Being 5'7 and a half she couldn't see much over the firefighters, police and other emergency responders.  Most the work was taking place below the street at this point, making it impossible for anyone to see. Every 10 minutes or so she would pace the scene to get a better glimpse. She saw a drone overhead.

Finally after about a half a day, the man was exhumed from the pipe. He had bruises and cuts and some pruning. He looked a shade paler than he normally should be. His eyes squinted hard trying to adjust to the light. He tried to shade them with his hand until someone gave him sun glasses. He was very disoriented. Maybe she should hand him the card wrapped in the $5. This gave her a devilish amusement she wasn't proud of. Maybe next time.

Stuck man wore a t-shirt and pajama pants. The pajama pants were light sweatpants that tapered near the ankles. The pants are a navy blue with a white embroidered sailboat at the top with a white draw string. The man had a charming face and looked about her age, 40-ish. He looked too normal to have found himself in a pipe. After he's dislodged the response team takes his vitals and readys to take him to the hospital.

"You, you are the one that found him?, she heard a voice say.

"Yes."

"Okay, you come with me. Fast, we need to go."

Before she could ask where, she was following the response team member. She entered a cop car and off they went. Lights blaring with each flash and siren. Whizzing off, trailing the ambulance. All the sirens made each thought feel incoherent and panicked. She still wasn't sure why she was needed or following the stranger to the hospital, nor why she was happy to be doing so. The cop made small talk that was forgotten almost as fast as the answers passed between them. She doubted he was actually even listening. He never turned to glance at her. Not once.

Soon they were parked and walking into the emergency room. She feels like a little girl again jumping and leaping forward to keep up with her fathers strides. Why were they rushing? Stuck man was in the hospital, they knew where he is. Hospitals were never that fast at admittance and release. Everyone had at least a couple hours to do what needed to get done. Despite this, she rushed to keep up. Finally they could stop when they reached a room. He had been moved out of the emergency and already given a room in the hospital. This hospital had to be the most efficient she'd ever been to. Room #302. The cop motions to her, indicating in here. The cop holds the door as they enter. She didn't love hospitals. She had seen her mom in the hospital. They had helped her. It always smelled of sanitizing chemicals and bodily fluids or functions. A weird combo she never missed. People were either too nice or too unhelpful while you are too underprepared for what is happening. At least in the terminal wing. That is what she equated with hospitals.
She peeked in the room. A man is sitting in a hospital bed eating Jell-O from what she could see. It could be 'stuck-man'. The color has flooded his face again and he doesn't look the least bit affected by the ordeal.

"Hello, come in, come in. Is this the woman who saved me? The one who heard me?".

He spoke as if inviting old friends into his home, instead of a hospital room. He had taken a break from eating his orange Jell-O. Which he wobbled, it seemed for fun, before eating. He had been eating it in the most delighted way she had ever seen a grown man eat Jell-O. He waved us in.

"I would stand up to hug you, but they have me hooked up. IV and god knows what else. Come here.", he motioned for her to come over and give him a hug.

Normally she would have felt this was inappropriate, but there was something in the way he was orchestrating it all that amused her and seemed genuine. He seemed to be on a high from being saved and still alive and well. She went over and bent down to hug him.

"You smell soooooooo good. What perfume is that? That is the best smelling perfume I have ever smelled. So, I guess I was saved by an angel."

She couldn't help it, she knew she was blushing. He was charming. He didn't say it in a creepy way. It seemed the most genuine way anyone had ever complimented her. He seemed to be thinking out loud. Definitely high on adrenaline.

"Not an angel, just a person walking out of therapy, tripping, spilling their bag and then hearing a man. You know, that old story. So, you are 'stuck man'."

"So that's how you heard me and found me. Wow. Are you okay? from tripping?"

"Yes", she felt herself blush again. His caring about her tripping was sweet and unexpected. She began trying to analyze his character.

"Good, we are at a hospital. I could get them to bring you a bed next to mine."

This made her laugh. He was funny. His genuine way made it seem more humorous to her.

"How did you end up in the pipe?"

"Yes", the cop interjected, "Are you prepared to give a statement and talk about it."

"I can wait outside", she suggested after realizing how personal her question might actually be.

"I'm prepared, but only if she stays."

He pointed at her.

"Thats fine", the cop replied.

The whole time he gave his statement he looked at her as if talking to her. He would glance down or up every so often as if trying to think of what to say.

His story didn't seem to fit the man telling it. It produced a different character than the one presented before her. It didn't add up. He was working on a car in the rain last night? The same man that thought about her tripping would be working in the rain, uncovered? He would drop a tool, follow it and get swept into a drain? It rained really hard last night. Why would he have to be working on the car then. He was in Pj's. It wasn't fitting his character. She didn't know him, but she knew this wasn't what happened.

The cop finished writing and excused himself for a moment.

Before she could stop herself she said, "You lied."

The stranger looked at her.

"My name is Kade. Although I like stuck man. What is yours?", he asks.

"Susie", she replied.

"Can I take you to dinner? As a thank you. You can tell me more about yourself and you can tell me why you think I lied."

"I'm kinda married", she heard her voice waver. "I'm married", she tried again.

"Well can I kinda take you to Dinner, a lunch or a breakfast as a nice friendly gesture and talk with you more when I am more myself. You saved me. It is the least I can do. Please Susie?. Fate brought you into my life."

Jesus fate. She started to get a full character analysis together. "Okay, I'm more a breakfast person. ", She agrees.

"Okay, breakfast it is. Can we exchange phone numbers. Here is mine.", he hands her a card.

"Here is mine", she sends a text.

"My phone is at home. I will trust I got it.", he replies.

"Oh okay, well I'm glad you are okay and I could help. I would love to hear what really happened. I think the real story is the least you could do for all the inconvenience you caused my day."

It felt like she knew him.

"maybe you are right, but it's not nearly as fun. I'd like you to know me better before I tell you."

"You shouldn't care what I think, no one else does."

"I do. You saved me."

"I heard you and did the right thing. Anyone would have done that."

"No, I dont know about that. You did it. You took the time to inconvenience yourself. Thank you! My kid will be grateful. I will call you next week."

"Okay."

Before leaving she found the cop who drove her to the hospital. He was chatting with a nurse. She wanted to leave, but instead asked if he needed anything else from her and then thanked him for the ride to the hospital. He offered her a ride home. She wanted to decline, but she knew she needed a lift and accepted his offer. She wanted to be alone and process everything that had taken place.

She felt energized. It was exciting to have a friend prospect outside of her husbands friends. It was fate. Someone that wasn't just an extension of her husband. People who were nice, but had no intention of sharing anything real with her. She couldn't wait to tell her husband about the day. Share how capable she had been.

She exited the cop car. Turned and gave a friendly wave before taking to her walkway. She heard the T.V. as she climbed the three steps to her door. The potted plants outside sat limp having sat in the direct sun too long. Minor collateral of the days excitement she decided, but she knew the feeling. The excitement caught up with her. She needed a shower and chair to collapse in. Now the thought of sharing her day with her husband seemed daunting and laborious. He would have so many questions and comments. She took a breath and pushed her key into the lock and entered.

The next week felt like a week where she watched the seasons change. Then her phone rang one afternoon on a Wednesday.

"Hello?"

"Hello queen of a buttercream palace?"

"What? Who is this? How do you know where I live?"

"I looked you up."

"Stuck man?"

"Kade, yes. Can I invite you on a hike through the redwoods and then to breakfast tomorrow."

"Sure.", she said although going on a hike with a stranger didn't seem like the smartest idea."Not taking me to the woods for any other reason right?"

"Hahaha, no Susie. Besides the press has been following me. Trying to get to know stuck man", he laughed at his own absurdity.

"Okay"

Okay, I'll send you the location. Meet you there at 8:30am tomorrow?", he noted.

"Okay 8:30am."

Energy entered her through the phone. His personality is contagious. The drowsy feeling she had had all day disappeared. All feeling replaced with a buzz of excitement. After tomorrow she would know the real reason Kade was down there. Each drifting thought lead her to different outfits she could wear on their hike and topics she could use to avoid awkward silences. Most social experiences had caused her dread recently, but she was genuinely looking forward to a hike with him. Although, if she was honest she was a bit out of shape compared to what she was use to. She hadn't been hiking in years. Did she even have hiking shoes?

The morning smiled with a shiny radient pregnant like glow. The temp was perfect and the weather couldn't be any better. The day seemed to be making it impossible for her to back out of the hike. She put on thick socks so her hiking shoes would fit without giving her blisters. They were given to her from a friend, so not an exact fit. She flipped her hair into a ponytail and slicked it back with sunscreen instead of gel. As she has done since college, and considered it a beauty tip. Then grabbed her baseball cap before heading out.

She saw him as she pulled into the parking area. She felt her chest relax at seeing he was already there. He wore lightweight REI hiking pants and a t-shirt with a vintage print with tree's and a sun on it. His hair was perfectly messy. If she was honest with herself he looked good, he was hot, but she was not being honest with herself. She texted her husband that she arrived and reminded herself looking was fine. Her husband often looked, she knew. She was a bit of a plain jane.

"You came! I'm glad you could make it."

"A chance to learn the true story of stuck man, I wouldn't miss it."

"Okay, but first why were you in my area?"

"I went slightly out of town for therapy. People meet everyday going to the post office. I have been having a hard time. You get it, don't you?"

"There is nothing wrong with seeking help. These days especially."

"Yes, I know, but I also don't need the town to know or talk about it or worry after me. We don't have mailboxes, we meet everyday. Everyday."

"I dont think it's as big of a deal as you think. Its actually very responsible. Good for you. I get it though. I am thankful you did. "

"So what's your reason?", she asked while following his lead in the hike.

"My reason, ,,,,Can we talk a little first before I tell you?"

"Sure"

She couldn't believe how easily it all flowed. He was knowledgeable and calming. She could tell he was kind, not just nice because he wants to appear nice, but kind. She didn't even notice they had finished the hike until he completely had stopped walking.

"You still haven't told me. How bad could it be? You won me over, I like you, I think you are smart, funny, etc etc."

"I'll tell you at breakfast, I promise.", he said.

"Okay."

"Follow me?"

"Yeah"

Why did he think bait was still needed.  Could he really be embarrassed or afraid of what she thought. She had shared about her therapy.

Her stomach was talking and looking at the menu, her eyes were bigger than her stomach, but being influenced by both. If he wasn't sitting accross from her, she would have ordered the french toast, pancakes, and eggs over easy. He was there, so she ordered the two egg breakfast with hash browns and sausage. Instead of toast she got granola. To drink, coffee and an orange juice.  He got a breakfast big stack. That was a stack of pancakes, but larger than the typical morning stack, as the name implied.

"Lots of carbs, wow. So can you tell me now?"

"Are you shaming me. I hiked. What did carbs do to you? I love carbs. Fine, I barely had any coffee, but sure I can tell you."

She smiled, "Sorry, drink your coffee. The suspense is building it up"

He took a slow sip, staring at her, winking one eye as he did. This forced a giggle out of her.

"Okay Popeye, tell me."

"It's simple, but complicated. So follow me here. Have you heard of reverse auctions? Well these guys who rent me my shop recently came to me. They offered me a contract to purchase metals from them for my parts manufacturing business. These metals were found to not be as high of quality as what they were trying to sell me or from what I typically purchase. I could tell immediately and had them tested anyways to make sure. Tests came back as I suspected. I had a bad feeling, just by the way they presented it all to me, but I didnt tell them I had the metal tested. I declined a contract with them. Now they are trying to force me out of the building by raising rents etc. They say we should be able to make a deal. Instead of selling the parts with these metals at my shop they want to use them on their reverse auction site. Bidding contracts for them with suppliers. We would each get a cut. See we get money for the parts and each bid. They think it could be very lucrative. My opinion is what they are doing is border line anticompetitive and tying practices. I also just don't like them trying to have so much contol of my business and of me. I would work for them and be at their mercy for my existing shop. It seems to be walking a line of almost illegal. I nicely told them I want no part of it. I'm a simple guy. I went and spoke with a lawyer to see what he said. They heard about that and were upset about that. Now I know these ideas were not so much questions as much as orders. They are serious. Years I have been at my location, no problem. Then....", He trails off while turning to look out the window in serious thought."Well there is the story or the truth."

"They threw you into it? OMG."

"They did.", he sighed in a surprised disbelief. "Or shovedI guess".

Silence as she waited for a laugh, a gotcha, a sign it was a prank. Nothing but his genuine stare and silence.

"You could have died."

"But I didnt"

"They could have...."

"But they didn't"

"OMG, that is how it happened?", she couldn't believe. He was right, his other answer was more safe, more fun, more comforting. Her character analyzing hadn't prepared her for this.

"You need to tell the police."

"Tell them what", he laughs. "That I'm being bullied by some really bad people. That unless I cooperate I might end up in another pipe. "Or worse", he says in his most pep squeak voice of a nerd.

"Exactly", She states rationally.

"Come on, you know that's not how this works. I'm not ending up in protective services, I might move. I have to cooperate or find a new place, a new livelihood. They mean business", he laughed while trying to say it in his best nerd voice again.

"I dont accept that."

"You don't have to, I do", He added. "You don't have to care at all, you are just a friendly, wonderful human being. That I actually like. 'That I like so much', he repeated the line playing on the t.v. from meet joe black. Who saved me, but can leave and never think about this again. Who I'm choosing to confide in because you have a trustworthy face and deserve the truth having saved me and all."

"Do I need to be worried."

"No, It's not like that. It was just a warning to get a reaction and to show me something. To hurry my decision."

"Do you owe the city for any of the repairs?"

"Not exactly bc it wasn't directly my fault. Insurance. My insurance is going up though, so in a way yes." He seemed struck by the irony.

"If you told what actually happened you probably wouldn't be in any fault. You probably would have no other expense."

"Maybe, but I'm not going to do that.You aren't either, please?", he looked at her beggingly.

"Okay, I won't."

"Who are the people that rent you the building?"

"Why is that important?", he asked innocently.

She felt an empathetic or possibly sympathetic anger throughout her whole body. She wanted to get these assholes! She wanted them to die and all people like them. She then felt guilt at such horrible thoughts and was glad Kade couldn't read her mind. Then again, maybe she didnt have a great poker face bc she read regret in his expression.

"Can we not think too much about it?"

"I know you just met me, I dont think I can do that. How old is your kid, yourrrrr????"

"My son is 12yrs old."

"Does he know."

"He knows the business aspect."

"What does he think?"

"He thinks it's a shitty situation", he started laughing. "He's not wrong. He's 10, it's over his reasoning capabilities and life experiences."

She laughed too, "Doesn't make his reasoning any less true. Shit-y."

They sat sipping coffee smiling at one another knowing that it couldn't be solved right now. She let the steam waft into her nostrils. It was pleasantly nostalgic of so many breakfasts of past when her and her husband met for breakfast in college when they tried. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to sit across from someone who viewed her as an equal. Almost entirely. She turned to look out the window. The previously empty parking lot was almost full. A white car parked infront of the window, while a red sports car parked a row behind. Pedestrians squeezed between the cars walking to get to destinations. The grey glow of the previous days gone and replaced with clear crisp sunshine. Sunshine that bounced around and livened everything. This was Kade.





Sent from my Galaxy







Sent from my Galaxy