Unfinished Symphony




by Jeffrey Allen White


Chapter 1

Ken was running late for his rehearsal. It was almost two o’clock and he was still blocks away. In the middle of a traffic jam that ran several blocks in all directions. It was Manhattan, after all. Nothing new here. He knew he should have left earlier but the kids all needed a lunch, as they were not serving hot lunches today.

The light turned its Kelly screaming green and Ken proceeded through the tangled intersection. His cello, which he had since high school was in its case slung over his back. His parents bought it for him on his sixteenth birthday. He always swore he would buy a case with wheels one day. In fact, he almost did last year but then his wife Katie died and he had to take time off and the money ran out.

The light changed just as he stepped onto the curb. A silver Cutlass Supreme nearly ran him over. The driver blasted his horn at Ken and gave him the finger, a common New York salutation.

“Watch out, you idiot!” Ken turned and set the cello down for a moment to catch his breath. The traffic was more than horrible today. He should have taken the subway but then he risked having his cello banged around by the mob of dispassionate commuters.

Turning down fifty-seventh, Ken noticed a young girl walking with her violin. Maybe she was off to her lessons. She appeared to be the twin’s age, nine or maybe ten. Ken smiled. He loved to see young kids interested in music. He smiled at the young prodigy as he passed. She stuck out her tongue and sneered. “Back off buster or I’ll deck you with this”. She raised her case as if threatened and walked on by.

“She’ll make a great musician. I hope her teacher has a rotten headache today.” Ken turned the corner and saw a street clock. Its brass hands turned green with age and its glass crackled with maturity. “Oh damn. I’m late.” He picked up his speed, almost knocking over a T-shirt sales representative and his products. “Sorry,” he said turning as he did.

Up ahead they were working on the intersection and half the street was closed. The side he needed to go on. “Damn” Ken sprinted across the street in the middle risking another jaywalking ticket. He could hear his daughter Kimberly chastising him about being preoccupied and reckless.

She was fourteen and now the woman of the house. She looked a lot like her mother. Long blond hair that had a bounce in it. Like a Breck Girl in the ads. She even walked like Katie. In addition, until last year she played the violin like her mother. Then she decided to grow fingernails. With Katie gone, Ken did not want to put pressure on her to continue as he always dreamed she would. He always hoped his children would love music.

Music was important to him. It always has been. Since he was five years old, he had been taking lessons on piano and then the cello when he was twelve. He fell in love with the mellow sounds it made, practicing hours on end. Ken became quite good by his late teens and it was an easy choice to go for a musical degree. Music was his life.

Ken navigated the intersection with ease and quickly made the light. He could see the entrance to the studio now. Also arriving up ahead was Mac McEvry, a bass player. Ken worked with him since their college days. “At least I am not the only one late.” Ken said as he caught up with him.

“I missed my connection and took a later train.” Mac McEvry lived in Connecticut and commuted. Mac and his wife, Leslie were good friends and they were always preaching how great it was to live in the country. So peaceful and tranquil. Good for the mind and soul.

“I was Mr. Mom this morning and made sandwiches for everyone.” Ken held the door opened for Mac as his case was much larger than his but at least it had wheels.

We gave you the name of a house cleaner to come in a few days each week. She worked for us when we lived here.” Mac and Leslie had her in two days a week until they moved to Connecticut. Then Leslie quit working to stay home with the kids. Leslie was a secretary for a law firm and she hated it. Going to Connecticut was her way out.

As soon as they turned the hallway, they could hear the orchestra playing Beethoven’s Sonata in E. “Man, I love that piece.” Mac lamented as they hurried.

They entered the hall and marched up to the stage. The orchestra was about half way into the second movement. The conductor, Michael David Sheldon was in full form, his baton extended into the air as if it were a knife slicing it. Ken thought he needed to work on his aggression, as he was more threatening than artistic.

Ken opened his case and got his cello out, Mac followed suit. They were both experts at getting set up. Ken took the music he had folded in his jeans out and walked to his seat. Second chair cello for the New York Symphony at the Mendelssohn Hall. He had been a member for the last five years. It was not only an honor to be in it but they paid very well.

The conductor caught sight of Ken and stopped the orchestra abruptly, cutting them off in mid measure. He put down his baton and spoke to them. “How nice of you to join us gentlemen. I thank you, the orchestra thanks you, the City of New York thanks you and above all else, Herr Beethoven thanks you!” The orchestra members chuckled. The maestro was not pleased.

“I am sorry. I had a small crisis at home.” Ken humbly explained.

“Mr. Bell. It is amazing how everyone else here was able to avoid such crisis in their lives.” He motioned his arm over the ensemble, and then picked up his baton. His attention turned to Mac. “Perhaps the move to the country has slowed your tempo. Please try to be on time. They do have clocks in Connecticut. Perhaps a sundial?” The ensemble chuckled again.

Mac looked over at Ken and they both wished they were on time. Ken hated being singled out. It felt like High School. He smiled remembering, he was always late for rehearsals then also.

The conductor gave the downbeat and the orchestra propelled to another time and place. The music had a life of its’ own. It had its vicissitudes and then it built to a huge crescendo and the conductor stopped them. “We will have a ten-minute break. Please people, ten minutes only.” The conductor stepped down off the platform and went to the exit to have a quick smoke. Several members joined him. The smell of matches, sulfur and tobacco filled the air.

Ken’s stand partner was Carl Jeffries. He was with the symphony for fifteen years. He was first chair for cello and Ken was second. Ken always felt like a runner up in a beauty pageant. “If the winner cannot serve her royal duties as the queen the runner up will take her place.”

“He is in a good mood, in spite of your late arrival. I think he got lucky with the bassoonist.” Carl smiled.

Ken turned to see the bassoonist taking her break by doing a crossword puzzle. She was quite pretty for a woman her age. She was in her fifties he guessed. She got this job after the last bassoonist moved to Colorado. She beat out many others and they all thought she slept with the maestro to get her job.

“Ken, here is the name and number of my cousin. The one I told you about. She just moved here to the city and you and she might just hit it off.” Carl handed him a paper with a name and phone number on it.

“Thanks, Carl.” Ken perused the paper. “But I don’t really know about this Carl. I am not much of a date. It has been years.”

“Well as long as you think about it. She is nice and I think you two would hit it off. In addition, you should really try to get here on time. You know old man Sheldon has it out for you ever since you missed that performance at the mayor’s dinner.” Carl rosined his bow and checked its tension.

“That was unavoidable. I had to take Kimberly to the dentist. She knocked out a tooth playing basketball. I had too. And that gig was last minute anyway.” Ken explained.

“I know, I know. But you had better watch yourself.” Carl waved to another member across the room. “Now I’d miss a performance for a chance with that.” Carl stared at the lovely blonde over in the flute section. “She can give me lessons anytime.”

Ken thought she was attractive but there was no interest. Katie was only gone a year and they had been together for almost twenty, since they were in high school.

“So how is it going with you, I mean, have you been seeing anyone?” Carl still stared at the redhead.

“No. I have been busy with the kids and everything. Money is tight. I’m out of the loop.” Ken explained.

“Oh, I just remembered, that Laura, my wife’s cousin is a real music lover.” Carl reminded himself.

Ken looked at the piece of paper. “Laura? Now she has a name. “No other info?”

“Well she’s in her late twenty’s I guess and is attractive. Sort of a professional business women.” Carl really did not know much more about her than that. It was his wife’s cousin after all.

“Why does she want to go out with me? Did you tell her about me? That I have three kids and am a recluse?” Ken readied his cello.

“And spoil all the fun? No, that is for you two to discuss. I am only doing this because my wife said you would be a great couple. And she hates seeing you alone.” Ken opened his music.

The conductor signaled for the third movement, which was short at least. Ken played without even thinking. He knew this piece well and music just seemed to come easy to him. He loved music, especially classical. The great masters of music always inspired him.

Ken’s mind often drifted when he played. Especially today. Beside Kimberly, he thought of Justin and David. They were a handful. Brothers and twins at that. They were always a step ahead of him. He did not know how Katie did it. She worked part time but she managed to keep the apartment and the kids in order. Something that was definitely missing from his life now. He could not even think of dating, with the hours he worked to pay for Katie’s medical bills. It would take him another ten years just to pay them off at this rate.

He knew Katie had cancer when they met. She was very young and they had caught it early. She had chemo and wore a wig to her Junior Prom. She looked beautiful. They married the year after they graduated and Katie had her full head of blond hair back. She was very beautiful. She was intelligent and very witty. She taught violin. She was a much better teacher than he could ever be, he always thought. She had patience. A virtue he was lacking in. He had will power, which is why at thirty-five he had the body of a twenty-five year old. He always watched his weight and Katie was jealous of his eating binges and not gaining an ouch.

Katie had been cancer free for over ten years. She felt good, exercised and ate well. They both did. It came as a shock to them both. Katie had paged him to tell him to come straight home after his session. He had thought she was going to tell him the twins had gotten into a scramble at school or that she had a fight with Kimberly. However, it was neither.

When Ken came in that day, she was sitting on the sofa watching TV. The kids were out with their friends. There was no sound from the TV, just a picture and it was some home decorating show. Katie sat and stared at the mute set watching the hostess carefully pin a ribbon to a picture frame for hanging.

“Hello honey, I’m here. What’s up?” Ken set his cello down in the hall and went into the kitchen for a diet soda. Katie did not answer him. He walked back out to the living room. “Honey?”

Katie sat there saying nothing. He noticed she had been crying. “What the matter honey? Did something happen today. How were your lessons? That Schuster kid still giving you a hard time?” Ken sat beside her.

Katie fell into his arms and started crying. “Honey what is it? Look at me.” He was concerned.

Katie held him. “Hold me please. Don’t let go.” She said through her tears.

“What is it? You have to tell me if I am going to fix it.” Ken held her, trying to figure out her problem. He was always able to straighten out her problems.

“This is something you can’t fix.” Katie cried as she lay in his arms. “The doctors can’t even fix it.”

Ken’s heart skipped a beat and he felt the blood rush from his head. He swallowed hard. He knew where this was leading. “What happened today? Please tell me. Did you go to your doctor’s appointment?

Katie nodded yes and continued to cry.

Ken knew it was the cancer. It had returned. She had told him of a small lump in her breast several weeks ago. She had it tested but they always take second test weeks apart to be sure.

“They said not to worry.” Ken held her. His eyes filled with tears. He was sure it was not that bad, probably just a mistake. After all, people made mistakes.

Katie looked up at her husband of fifteen years. The man she fell in love with when she was only a freshman in high school. The boy who stood by her when she first was diagnosed with cancer. He was there all through her treatments. He took her to the proms and the senior class trip. They were voted Best Couple in their senior year. “It showed up as malignant this time. They took a biopsy of a node and it came back positive.

“But how, you always go to your check ups. How can this be? Maybe we should get a second test done.” Ken tried to make it seem not so harsh.

“No Ken, they found something in my bones this time. It is fast growing. I have cancer...again.” She was sobbing now.

Ken cried also. “Listen, we can beat this. We did it before. We can do it again.” His mind searched for ways to help her, maybe a new doctor, or diet or maybe just some medication.

“It isn’t that easy this time. Dr. Lovell says it is spread and it is in my bone marrow. That is why I was so sick this winter. I thought it was just the flu. I caught from the boys.

Katie was sick a lot this past winter. Then everyone else in the city was also. It was very cold this past year and there were a half dozen flues going around. “What did they say? Tell me everything.”

Katie sat up, wiped her eyes, and pushed back her long hair away from her face. She steadied herself next to Ken, her feet tucked up under her and his arms around her.

“The test showed the cancer to be in about several places.” Katie wiped her nose. She took a deep breath before continuing. “It is not operable.” Katie looked at her husband. “Dr. Lovell said it was very aggressive and evasive to treatment. And with a prior history of cancer, my body could not withstand the treatment that is needed.”

Ken started to speak. She put her hand on his mouth to stop him. “No. Please just hold me. For now, just hold me”

They sat there for hours not saying a word, just holding each other. The kids came home at five and they were still there.

That is how it all started again. The cancer returned the treatments, the hair loss, and the sickness. The doctors were right; Katie did not have a chance this time. She went downhill very fast. She died four months later in his arms in her own bed. The kids had been sent to Mac and Leslie’s, because they knew it would be any day. She had said her good-byes to them and they all cried and she told them she loved them.

She had lost consciousness and slipped into a deep sleep before she died. He held her hand and after a while, it went limp. She was gone.

He cried so hard he thought he would die also.

That was a year ago. The kids have adjusted pretty much. Kimberly was a teenager, but did not give him any trouble like all his friends were having. He felt blessed to have his kids. They were great. The boys cried for weeks, then they slowly to their former selves, with more energy than before it seemed.

A single tear rolled down his cheek just as they hit their final chord of the piece.

“You really get into your music Ken.” He had noticed his tear.

Ken wiped it and let him think it was the music. However, it was not always the music.


Chapter 2

The apartment was quiet when Ken got home. The boys were at the daycare until six o’clock and Kimberly said she was going to her friend’s after school to do her homework.

Ken walked into the foyer and put down his cello. He brought in the mail he had fished out of his mailbox in the lobby. Sorting through the pile of paper, he was amazed to see how much of his mail still Katie’s name had on it. It was if she was still alive and living here. He looked over to the kitchen expecting to see her walk out to greet him. A moment or two of holding his breath made him feel even more ridiculous. However, she was not there. Not anymore.

Picking up his cello behind him, he brought it into the living room and set it down by the piano in the spot that was relatively safe from flying balls, thrown schoolbooks and an occasional slide into second base. He kicked off his shoes, wiggling his cramped toes and went into the bathroom. His toes always cramped especially after a rehearsal as he tapped his toe when playing. Not a lot or even noticeable but enough to give those small toe muscles a work out and combined with walking they made them ache all the more

Ken turned on the lights. One of the kitchen lights were flickering. “I’ve got to get the super in to fix that,” he said. Looking in the mirror, he studied his face. He thought he looked older now or at least what he thought an older brother would look like but to was him just the same. He seemed to have aged this past year. Katie always said he had a baby face but now his baby face was showing more of lines that crept on everyone’s face at some time.

Ken went to the guest bathroom, turned on the water in the sink, and with a clean, dry cloth, washed his face of the city grime that hovered about the street at about head level. The cold water gave him the jolt to get moving. He was reawakened from his return to home after a long day. Looking at his watch, he noticed that the boys would be home in half an hour and he had to make dinner.

He went back into the kitchen with the broken light and opened the shade on the lone window to grab what daylight that was still available. He figured he has enough time to get their meal on the table before it became too dark. They would eat in the dinning room tonight. He looked in, saw the mound of papers and kid stuff, and decided they would have a dimly lit dinner in the kitchen. He made a beeline for the fridge and opened it, sorting through he shelves, and picking out the leftover meatloaf from yesterday and put it into the microwave to nuke.

He searched the cupboards for some canned vegetables and found some carrots. David hated carrots but Justin loved them. He thought it was funny how the twins were so alike and yet so different. “Carrots it is,” he said aloud to no one. He was just setting out the plates when the door was thrown open and Hurricanes Justin and David entered with an explosion of talk and motion.

“Hey slow down. You’re causing a jet stream.” Ken turned as Justin ran through the kitchen. David headed him off around the hall beating him to the TV.

“Hey! I get the remote. It’s my turn!” yelled Justin.

David held the remote as if a trophy. “Too slow, sucker.” He threw himself on the large sofa they all used to watch television and dug in while Justin went into the kitchen.

“Dad, David’s got the remote and it’s my turn. Make him give it back,” Justin whined to his dad and checked what was being prepared.

Ken was bringing the hot meatloaf on a platter and a bowl of steaming carrots to the table. Ken nuked them both at once and was a pro at double nuking. He was about to set the table and decided to heat up some biscuits he had gotten the day before. “David, give your brother the remote.” He popped the muffin into the microwave as he took out the required number of silverware for the three of them. He also grabbed three plates from the sink’s dish rack as no one ever put them back yesterday after washing. Nothing new.

Justin made a face at David and gave him a fake chock hold to make his point. “You just wait.”

Ken stood between the battling brothers and grabbed the remote. “I have a better idea, no one has the remote.” He tossed it in the basket on the coffee table, which held all the remotes, video games, wires and joysticks.

“Ah, Dad, no fair!” cried David as he sat at the kitchen table.

“Now let’s all get ready. You, David, get up and wash your hands and then Justin and this time... use soap.” Ken would make a point of checking them as they always tried to get out of doing whatever they were told. He never knew how hard it was to care for twins, especially boy twins. Being identical twins, it was almost impossible to tell them apart and even on a good day, he was really fifty percent correct in knowing whom he was talking to. He remembered Katie and the way she handled them and Kimberly and well just about everything. He felt so alone.

“Hi, Dad.” Kimberly came in with a rush and went straight to her room. “I’ll be right there, Dad. Got to call Maggie first.”

Ken walked past her room. “You were just with Maggie. It can’t be that important.” Ken grabbed the dirty towels left on the doorknob of the boy’s room.

“But, Dad, I have to tell her something.” Kimberly whined in her way.

She was stubborn just like him, he thought. “Well, this emergency news flash will have to wait until after we eat. Now come on”. He swung his arm around her and with his other hand; put the phone on the dresser. Kimberly went unwillingly but quietly.

“David’s making noises, Dad.” Justin had joined them at the table.

“Why can’t we just eat peacefully? I know it is hard but... try.” Ken smiled at his kids. He had hoped that this would be an uneventful night. “Afterwards, you can do your homework and then you can watch some TV...”

The boys looked up. Ken repeated himself, “After you have done your homework”. The boys went back to their eating. Ken stood eating a piece of bread with a slice of meatloaf on it while the kids served themselves on their plates. He did not want to drag a fourth chair in for the lightning round of dinner.

”Dad, Maggie wants to know if I can spend the weekend with her and her Dad on Long island.” Kimberly carefully separated her carrots away from her meatloaf and ate them one at a time, just as her mother did.

“Well, the whole weekend?” Ken was surprised. “I thought we would spend Saturday in the park and maybe on Sunday we would go to a movie or something.

“A movie, that’s great Dad.” David chirped up with his mouth full.

“Don’t be gross,” Kimberly said. “You’re such a Neanderthal.”

“Dad, Kimberly called me a bad word!” David was insistent that his father put a stop to this right away.

“Justin laughed, “She said you were a knuckle dragger.” He laughed at his brother.

“Dad, tell him to stop eating like that. It’s totally disgusting.” Kimberly moved her chair away from David.

“Now look just let’s eat quietly. Digest your food. I just thought we would all spend a nice weekend together.” Ken lamented.

“Can’t, Dad” said Justin.

“Why not?” he asked. “Do you have a date?”

“A date? Hahaha. Who would date that dork? Hahaha,” Justin howled with laughter.

“No one from this planet.” Kimberly drank her milk that Ken had poured for the three of them as he ate his sandwich.

“What do you mean, you can’t?” Ken asked again.

“Don’t you remember we have our class trip to the country for three days?” Justin reminded him.

Ken remembered. “That’s right.” He had forgotten. He could not remember everything. They were going to a nature preserve in upstate New York.

“Maggie wants me to go home with her on Friday after school.” Kimberly finished her dinner and started to clear her plate.

“I guess it’s all right.“ Ken hated to disappoint her since her mother died. He knew he was spoiling her but she never really gave him any trouble.

“And Mrs. Claremont says we leave right after lunch on Friday.” David smiled showing his two front teeth which were missing. Justin on the other hand had lost his teeth a week or so earlier and now, they were identical again. “And we have to have all our things ready when we go to school.”

“Well then, I see the whole weekend has been spoken for. Kimberly is going to Long Island to spend a weekend with her friend. Justin and David are going to nature camp upstate for three days. I say you all have a busy dance card.” Ken picked up his plate and brought it to the sink. Kimberly had already started to wash the dishes.

“Hurry up David; I want to get these done before American Idol comes on.” Kimberly glared at her brother. Justin had brought his plate and glass over and was now on his way to the bedroom to start his homework reluctantly. He had to write five sentences. That was all. However, you would think it was a novel length essay.

Ken looked at his growing children. He thought they were growing too fast. They were certainly going off on their own more and more. He wanted to be there for them but they all had other plans. “It seems that I have the whole weekend to myself then.” Ken put away the leftovers.

“Oh, Dad, you can just sleep all weekend. It will be quiet here then.” Kimberly was right. It would be quiet. Too quiet for him.

The boys were now horsing around in their bedroom and the thought of homework was far from their minds. There were more important things to do like beat up on each other with their pillows. Kimberly finished the dishes and headed for the phone and Maggie. Ken went into the living room and sat down on the sofa.

Glancing around the room, he looked at all the furniture, pieces acquired over the years from relatives, friends and thrift stores . Katie had a knack of making things look great. Ken spied his cello near the piano. That was Katie’s piano. He had bought it for her one summer when they were in college. It was a great deal from the school music department when they remodeled.

Ken got up and went to his cello. He had stuck his music and some papers in the pocket in back and retrieved them.

Browsing through the pile of papers, he separated the music from the newspaper and found the piece of paper that Carl gave him. He opened it and sat on the chair. He examined it and thought how absurd it would be for him to call up this strange women and ask her out. He said to himself, “Why not.” He did not have any plans this weekend. The kids were all on their own agenda.

Ken took a deep breath, reached over to the phone, and picked it up to dial out. “Dad, is that you? I am on the phone!” Kimberly gave her father the dreaded teenage mortified voice. The one she would make when she thought he had crossed the path of a teenager with a sacred mission.

“Sorry honey.” Ken hung up the phone. He was thinking about getting her a cell phone but he was waiting for a sale. He put the paper down and his feet up on the coffee table. Ken found the remote and turned on the TV. The piece of paper with the name and phone number had fallen off the table and into the magazine rack unnoticed by Ken.


Chapter 3

The next morning, the kids awoke as usual and they all ate their breakfast and were waiting for Ken to drive them to their schools. The boys were at St. Mark’s, a private catholic school and Kimberly was at PS seventy-four, a public school. She had been in St. Mark’s but begged him to go to a public school.

He had not slept well. He thought of Katie all night. In addition, how he gave a name and number by Carl to call some stranger for a date. Ken could not think of himself ever dating again. After all, he had promised to love honor and cherish his wife forever.

The kids ran down to the elevator while Ken drank the last of his morning coffee. He needed it. He had not slept very well. As he walked to the door, he thought of the piece of paper with Laura’s number on it. He walked back to the sofa and searched the end table for it. He could not find it. Ken was sure he left it here last night. After several minutes, he went out the door locking it behind him.

In the elevator, Ken thought how silly it was of him anyway and it was probably for the best, that he lost the number. He could not date her. He could not date anyone. Ken told himself he was over the hill and that was that. The door opened.

“Oh Dad, wait! I forgot something!” It was Kimberly, ready to jump in as the doors parted.

“What? What did you forget?” Ken was use to this routine but hoped it would be nothing more than closing her bedroom door so the boys would not get into her things if they got home before her.

“No, a magazine. I need one for today for school. We have current events and we have to bring in a story from a magazine.” Kimberly was insistent.

“Can’t we just buy one here at the newsstand outside?” Ken was sure this would solve the problem.

Kimberly turned to see the newsstand. “Oh yeah, right. OK Dad.” They walked to the newsstand and Kimberly started to browse throughout the myriad of magazines. Ken reached into his pocket to get his wallet.

“Oh shit,” he said hoping that Kimberly did not hear him say that. “I forgot my wallet upstairs.

“I need a magazine Dad, let me run upstairs. I’ll be right down.” Kimberly ran back to the elevator.

“No, Kimberly, go wait with the boys. I will grab some and be right back.” Ken turned her around and pointed to the boys who were now trying to open a parking meter with their house key. “Go.” he said.

Kimberly obliged. She thought she would die if any of her friends saw her with those two monsters. Ken pressed his floor again and ascended to his apartment. The door opened and he made a quick sprint to his place, opening the door with a quick twist of the wrist and key.

Ken went to the magazine rack and pulled out several issues. “This should be plenty for her”. He made the elevator just as the doors were about to shut. He had remembered to take his wallet before locking his door.

In the elevator, Ken looked through the magazines. Time, Good housekeeping, Omni, his favorite and there between Omni and a torn issue of Mad magazine was the piece of paper with Mac and Leslie’s cousin name on it. It was Laura, Laura Benson.

Ken picked it up and remembered he had it on the sofa last night. “Must have fallen out into the rack”. He folded the paper and put it in his teeth while he grabbed his wallet to put it there. “Maybe I was too quick in signing myself off.” Ken reached the lobby and the door opened.

“Dad, look what Justin did.” David was crying.

“I didn’t do anything, nuke puke.” Justin disclaimed his brother’s statement.

“Dad, how could you leave me with these two? I mean they don’t listen to me.” Kimberly was right. The boys took advantage of her every chance they had.

It seemed to be their only mission in life. “They’re your brother’s and they love you and you love them, even if you don’t admit it”. Ken assured her.

“They’re just a rash on my life, that’s all.” Kimberly went to the parking garage as the boys raced past her to their car.

Ken wished that Kimberly would be closer to the boys. However, he guessed five years different was a vast distance between them. He knew it would bridge closer as they grew. Ken looked up. “If only he could outlast them while they grew up.

Justin reached the car first with David hot on his heels. Kimberly had stood at the front passenger side waiting for Ken to open the doors.

“OK Kids, enter as your own risk. And buckle up.” Ken started the car and drove out into the busy streets of Manhattan.

He loved the city. He was born here In addition, it was exciting. He and Katie had met and fell in love here. They got married here in the little church over on third and seventy-ninth. They had the kids here. Kimberly at St. John’s and the twins at Mercy General. His music career was here. He had so many memories here.

Ken had started to write a piece of music years ago and every now and then, he took it out and added more to it. He had not worked on it since Katie died.

Ken drove Kimberly to her school kissing her as she left for her classes. “Bye Dad. I am sorry about yelling at you about them”. She nodded towards the boys.

“It’s all right. Have a great day. See you when you get home.” Ken waved to her as she walked into the crowd of teens waiting for the bell to ring.

Next stop was the boys. He would drop them off and get back home in time to make a couple of calls before he had to go food shopping.

At the boy’s school, He stopped in the marked spot for dropping off children. Sister Mary Alice was standing there as he arrived.

“Good morning Mr. Bell. Good to see you.” Sister Mary Alice was the principal of St. Mark School.

Across the seat he said, “Morning to you Sister. I hope the boys are behaving more now after our little meeting and chat last week.” Ken smiled, he was called into the school after Justin and David had caused a stir when they switched identities
Moreover, refused to fess up.

“I am sure it will never happen again,” she returned.

Ken was positive it would never happen again. He told the sister there was a small dot behind Justin’s ear. David did not have one. He never told the boys how he could tell them apart. He saved this news for a day
like last week.

“Well boys, have a great day and... behave.” Ken gave them a stern and waved to them as they slammed the door and raced past the sister and into the school.

` Sister Mary Alice smiled and shook her head. “The Lord works in mysterious ways, Mr. Bell. Sometimes I think the Good Lord has a sense of humor.” She turned and entered the school.

Ken drove out into traffic and headed back for his apartment. It was a good day. He had to make several calls and get a couple of gigs arranged and then he thought he might give Carl’s cousin a ring. Well maybe.

He parked his car in his numbered slot in the garage and walked across the street to his building. It cost him more to part it than for gas and upkeep. He grabbed the paper from the newsstand tossing the man a buck for it.

Ken glanced through the paper while he waited for the elevator. “Same old news in the city. More crime, more shootings, muggings and more mayhem. Probably not the best place to raise kids.” Maybe Mac was right, he should think of moving out to the country. After all Mac could handle the commuting. Then where else could he live with all that was around him? In addition, all the memories he had of Katie and their life together.

The door opened and took him to his floor. He arrived at his door and could hear his phone ringing. He forgot to turn on the answering machine. Quickly he opened it and made a dive for it before whoever it was could hang up. Ken flipped over the sofa and onto it grabbing the phone and landing in a stretched out pose. “Hello?” He said out of breath. There was a dial tone. They had hung up. He missed who ever it was. “Well if it is important, they will call back.” Ken went into the kitchen.
Chapter 4

Laura hung up the phone just as Ken had picked it up. She did not think he was at home after twelve rings. “Well, he’s not home.” Laura said.

“Are you sure you dialed the right number?” said Maryanne, her roommate.

“Yes I think so. Oh, I am glad really. I don’t like blind dates anyway.” Laura put the phone down and went into the kitchen thinking how odd that currently, everybody did not have an answering machine. She was in fact, relieved.

“Oh, don’t be so choosy. You have been here for what, three months and you have not been out once with a guy.” Maryanne took some juice out of the fridge.

“That’s not true I went with Leslie and Mac to dinner a couple of times.” Laura explained.

“That doesn’t count. I mean Leslie’s your cousin and Mac, well he is married to her. You really should date. Look at all the things in the city you can do?

“I know but I can do most of them all by myself. Thank you. I am a big girl now.” Laura corrected her.

“Oh yes, going to the museum, concerts and art galleries all by yourself. How much fun. Listen Laura, it is about time you started dating. You have been divorced a year already.”

Maryanne knew all about Laura. They met when Laura came about the ad for a roommate. Maryanne felt like she knew her all her life. They hit it off immediately and became fast friends. She did not mind Laura tagging along with her and her boyfriend but she thought it was about time for her to set out on her own.

“I just don’t think I am ready. I mean you had to dial this man’s number for me. My hands were shaking so. I am just not good at asking a man out. I never had before. How am I supposed to talk to him? Just say, Hi. My name is Laura. I have been here for three months and have not had a date since I arrived. I am also divorced because my husband ran off with his secretary and left me. Oh and by the way, I am thirty years old and still have trouble finding my way around the city.” Laura felt she was hopeless.

“You’re not thinking right, Laura, It’s the 90’s, its New York City, Manhattan. The sky is the limit here. You have your pick.” Maryanne tried to sell her pitch.

“Well, I work in an office with seven women and three men, and two of them are gay and the third man is over sixty.” Laura lamented.

“Working for a law firm as a receptionist isn’t the ideal way to meet people. I mean the guy’s that come in there are all losers. They are suing someone or someone is suing them. Right?” Maryanne asked.

“You’re right but what else can I do. I never had to work before when I was married. I do not have any experience in anything. I married Jim out of high school. He went to college and got his law degree while I was out with girlfriends and taking aerobic classes. Then after ten years, he dumps me for a women paralegal. She would offer him more intellectually.

“All those years and you never had kids?” Maryanne had flopped on the chair and folded her legs under her as she sipped her juice.

“No, Jim wanted to wait. Moreover, we waited and waited and... waited. When I finally tried to get pregnant, I could not even do that. “Laura grabbed a yogurt and sat across from Maryanne.

“I mean I really wanted children and Jim seemed to also. However, not then at least. I married him too fast. He was the handsome jock and I was the cheerleader. We were the best couple in our yearbook, “Voted most likely to…” Laura searched for the word.

“... divorce?” Maryanne jumped in. They both laughed and spend their day off just talking. The radio was on in the kitchen, and over the conversation, you could hear classical music. It always made Laura feel relaxed and safe.


Chapter 5

Ken welcomed the kid’s home from their respective carpools. He was glad he only had to pick up once every six weeks. Katie had been a part of this car pool and naturally, he just took over after she died.

“I will be gone for about an hour or so. I ordered pizza. The money and tip in on the front counter.” Ken was busy all afternoon arranging future gigs and it was well past four when he realized he had not gone to the store.

“Pizza! Hurray for Dad.” yelled Justin.

“Did you get extra pepperoni, Dad?” Kimberly quizzed him. “I love pepperoni.”

David heard this, “Well I hate pepperoni and I won’t eat it.”

“Oh yes you will. Just take off the pieces of pepperoni and give it to your brother.” Ken has been through this before.

“That’s right because David will eat just about anything.” Kimberly was sure of this after she watched him cereal with orange juice on it instead of milk. “He’s so disgusting Dad. They both are.”

The boys laughed and made faces at Kimberly who was not appreciating their cuteness.

“Well Kimberly’s in charge until I get back. Do you understand?” There was silence. “I said do you ALL understand?” Ken was firmer this time.

“Yes Dad”, they all said in unison.

The boys ran off into the living room and commandeered the remote. Kimberly made a dash for the phone to call Maggie. “Well, I will see you in a bit. Save a piece of pizza for me.”

They kids had already scattered and he was talking to the air. He grabbed his light jacket and off he went into the city night on his quest for groceries.

He took the car as he liked to shop at Albertson’s, which was about four blocks over, and he could use the service elevator to bring up his bags.

As he drove, he remembered he had not called Mac’s cousin. He made a note to call when he came home. After all, he was single and he really did not get out anymore. At least not without the kids. He had been home for them all the time and he thought they were getting tired of him. Going out might just be what he needed.

Ken pulled into the parking lot for Albertson’s. He parked his car between a van and a little red MG. He looked twice at the car. He thought it was a sporty little vehicle and admired it.

As he wheeled his cart up and down the aisles, Ken kept thinking of actually dating. The reasons for and against were coming at him from all angles. By the time, he got to the frozen aisle his head was ready to burst. “Maybe I should just forget about dating this girl.” He said to himself.

He did not notice the woman standing next to him. She smiled as she realized he was speaking to himself.

“After all, why should I date this girl? I mean I have two young boys at home waiting for me. It’s not like I can just let them go out and leave.” Ken had not noticed the woman yet. Her ears picked up this solo conversation.

“Well Justin, he’s such a handful. He wears me out.” Ken continued. The woman’s mouth dropped open.

“And David, he’s so sweet. He needs me.” The woman was reading something else into his conversation. “And well I need him too.”

By now, the woman had concluded he was talking about not one but two male lovers. She was mortified. Here was this man in the market talking about his lovers as if it was a natural occurrence.

“And Kimberly, she gets so jealous about the boys. She hates when I spend time with them and do not involve her. But she doesn’t like to do the things us men like to do.” Ken was rationalizing his life aloud.

The woman’s face turned beat red. Here was this man, a gay man who not only had two male lovers but also a wife or girlfriend who he was cheating on.

Ken picked up a bag of frozen French fries and tossed them into the wagon. He noticed the woman and nodded to her.

The woman was indignant, took her basket, and started past him. As she crossed the aisle, she turned and spoke. “It’s people like you who gives this city a bad name. You should be ashamed of yourself.” Moreover, with that, she stormed away and disappeared around the bend.

Ken was confused. “What was that all about? What did I do?” He looked in his basket as if to see something wrong that he did. No, nothing out of the ordinary. Just cereal, cheeses bread, milk, butter, pastas, tuna fish and some frozen French fries.

Ken thought maybe there was a boycott on tuna fish or something. He shook his head and went on to the meat aisle.

The city was changing. More and more families had moved out and all sorts of strange people were moving in. Like that woman who yelled at him. Maybe he should think of moving. The kids were getting older and they needed more and more room. The apartment they were in for the last ten years was getting a little small. He would think about this later. He had meat to buy.

In the meat aisle, he picked up some chicken, ground beef and some lunchmeat for the kids sandwiches. He had his head down and was busy searching through the selections of sausages when he bumped into that strange woman again. He had his hand on a rather large kielbasa.

“Well, you are not only a pervert; you also have a filthy mind.” She looked at him and the sausage and gave him a disgusting look. She turned and stormed away, leaving her cart and exiting out the door without her groceries.

Now Ken was very confused. What did he do? What had he said? He grabbed his wagon and made his way to the check out.

The store was busy on a Thursday night. It was around six he thought and traffic would be horrible going home those four or five blocks. He made it to check out number three and started to put his items on the runner for the girl to check out. She smiled at him and said, “Hello.”

Ken returned the greeting. “Hello, nice night for grocery shopping.” He felt stupid as soon as the words left his mouth.

The cashier smiled at him and kept looking at him as she rang up his items. The staring girl made Ken nervous. She was obviously flirting with him. He noticed she had run several items through without ringing them up. Ken smiled and averted his eyes to another line to avoid any small talk.

Over in line four, a young woman was receiving her change from the checker. She had two bags already to go and she slipped the change into her purse. Ken found himself staring at this woman. He thought she was beautiful. Tall, beautiful hair, nice smile and she had a wistful look about her. He found himself immobile as she walked past him and out the exit.

“Excuse me sir that will be sixteen-dollars and eighty-three cents.” The flirting checker’s voice beckoned him back to reality.

“Oh yes, I’m sorry.” He took out his wallet. “Here”, he said searching. “Take the twenty and keep the change.” Ken picked up his groceries, which were bagged already, and he stumbled for the exit. He wanted to catch up with that woman. The women in checkout four that made his heart skip a beat.

He fumbled through the door going out the entrance way and nearly knocking over an elderly man. “I’m very sorry sir, please forgive me.” His eyes were on the parking lot. He searched the area looking for the women.

The elderly man said something under his breath and the checkout girl looked dejected as she held the twenty-dollar bill in her hand for an order that was originally thirty-two dollars and she miskeyed them to get his attention. The man went about the store and the checkout girl went back to the next customer in line.

Ken looked around the lot to see this woman. He did not know why he was looking for her. Just a while ago, he had decided that dating anybody was not for him. What was he doing? Why was he acting like this? His heart was racing and his eyes searched all corners.

Suddenly he saw red taillights. The red MG was parked next to him. It was on the other side of the lot. He thought it must be the women he saw in the store. He ran over to his car to catch her before she left. She was three lanes over and had turned and exited out another gate even before he could reach his car.

“Damn.” Ken stood there. His breath labored from the brisk sprint with several grocery bags in his arms. One had torn open and its contents spilled onto the ground.

“Shit!” Ken looked at the mess on the ground. He had dropped the one bag that had glass in it. A jar of pickles and mayonnaise where on the ground running into a drain. His pants and shoes were spattered by the flying condiments. He looked at his pants and shook his head. He managed to walk over to his car and open the trunk. He deposited the bags into it or rather he threw them in. Ken suddenly realized he had thrown a dozen eggs in first and they were now all scrambled and running into anything that was near and dry.

“Shit!” He said again. He slammed the trunk closed and went to the door. He reached for his keys in his pocket.

Ken’s eyes widened as he now realized he had thrown his keys in with the bags and groceries into the trunk, which was now closed and locked.

Looking around the lot, he wanted to scream but as it was, he was without transportation, his pants were stained with mayonnaise and pickle juice and he missed seeing a women, the only other women he ever lusted after besides his wife.

Sitting on the concrete barrier that held cars in from going too far, he put his head in his hands and just tried to compose himself.

After several minutes, he called home to tell the kids he would be late and would be home in awhile. He would get the spare keys and walk back again to the parking lot to retrieve his car, and the now mayonnaise and pickle juice covered groceries.

“Don’t ask me why, Kimberly.” He said with measured temper. Don’t ask me why.”

Ken then walked the four or five blocks back to his apartment to finish his quest for food.


Chapter 6

Laura was on her way home from work and remembered she had to pick up some cat food. She had adopted a kitten when she first moved in with Maryanne. It was a little orange Tabby and Laura found it on the steps to her building. Mewing and looking very lost and out of place.

She had put up a sign advertising a found kitten but after two weeks with no calls, she decided to keep it herself. Laura took it to the vet and they gave the little orphan all the necessary vaccinations. Other than being a lost kitten, it was very healthy and they became fast friends. She could identify with this lost kitten in the big city.

The kitten’s name was George. Maryanne thought it looked like a George and Laura agreed. So now, George had a new family. Maryanne bought it his own basket and Laura found a bowl in the store that matched their kitchen.

George was out of food. He had grown so much in the last few months; she forgot to increase her bag size when she shopped. He had his last bowl of food this morning and Laura planned to stop on the way home to get him his food.

The traffic was heavy tonight. She had had a hard day at the office. Working for four different lawyers was more than she could handle. However, she tried.

One older gentlemen lawyer, the head lawyer, a woman lawyer and two gay lawyers who were living together. This was New York City and well there is something for everybody, she thought. Although they were extremely nice to her, they expected a lot from her.

Laura was happy that she had landed a job right away. Her divorce from Jim was quick but still painful. He, of course wanted to represent them both in court to make matters simple but Laura hired her own attorney. She did not want to have anything to do with Jim after he left her for that paralegal he was working late at night with.

Laura knew something was going on but she did not want to admit it. She ignored the late nights, excuses and broken plans. Laura accepted it as being the wife of a successful attorney with a lot of business. Jim had been playing night court with that paralegal all along and after several months announced to Laura that he was moving out.

Jim confessed to his new love and left her that very night. Her world ended or it seemed to. She spent the next several weeks hiding from friends and family. Then one day she called her cousin Leslie in New York and decided maybe she should change locations and start all over.

Laura had been married ten years and was now all alone. Maybe the move to a big city would be good for her. She packed up and drove to her cousins in Connecticut, staying there only a week before she found a job in the city. A receptionist in of all things, a lawyer’s office.

Her father always told her that life had a sense of humor and to be prepared for its irony. She never realized what he meant until Jim left her and she moved to New York and went to work for her ex husbands profession.

Laura had answered an ad for a roommate with another girl and they hit it off. She had her own bedroom and bath and was close to work and well just about everything in New York.

She did not bring much with her. What she received from the divorce, she sold most of her furniture and with a cash settlement from Jim bought her a trophy of the now defunct marriage. A brand new red MG. It was totally out of character for her, she knew but when Jim saw her driving around town in her new little car, his mouth fell open. She tooted him and his new ambition and left soon after for New York.

She lost twenty pounds, got a new haircut and bought all new clothes. After all, she was in New York now and her mid west conservative look just did not fit in with her new image and life.

These last few weeks have been good, all except for work where the caseloads were stacked in the halls and the phone never seemed to stop. The four lawyers used her for almost every imaginable duty. From copying depositions to typing trial transactions, she felt she was being over burdened.

The lawyers did give her a nice raise after ninety days but the workload continued to pile up. She was glad to get out at five every night. At least they did not make her work late or weekends. Laura would never stand for that anyway.

The light turned red and she stopped her MG and idled at the light. The car next to her rolled down their window. “Hey baby. Where have you been all my life?” a man yelled from inside an aged light blue Mazda.

Laura ignored him and drove through as the light turned green. She really did not mind it. In fact, she felt more beautiful and alluring then she had in years. Her lost weight and changed appearance gave her a newfound air of self-esteem.

Up ahead, she noticed an Albertson’s on the left side. She put on her blinker and made the turn into the driveway narrowly missing a speeding taxi that missed her by inches.

Laura stopped well inside the parking lot and took a deep breath. “Welcome to New York”, she said and parked her car.

Laura managed to get a cart and proceeded to buy her George his dinner. She also picked up some salad dressing and tea bags. Maryanne was a coffee drinker but Laura drank tea. She picked up the huge box of Lipton tea bags and steered her cart to the checkout avoiding all the cookies and junk food she craved. Her new figure attested to her new sense of being. She was now in control of her own life and destiny.

The checkout line was moving fast and she was glad as not only was George at home starving probably but she was also.

She was receiving her change and noticed a man staring at her in the next checkout. She pretended not to notice. Laura thought he was very attractive and had a nice body. She left the store then and walked quickly to her car carrying her plastic bag of groceries. She saw that there was another exit in the parking lot that opened onto a side street. She decided this was a better route for her to take especially with the near miss a few minutes prior.

As she pulled out onto the street, she thought she saw that attractive man again. He was running with several bags of groceries but she looked again and he was gone.


Chapter 7

The kids were leaving for their respective weekend event. The boys on their nature camp and Kimberly spending the weekend on Long Island with friends.

Ken took them to school, kissed them good-bye, and went home to the apartment. The night before had been a disaster. Not only did he lock his keys in the car and stained his clothes and trunk, he missed meeting that woman in the grocery.

He knew that the little red MG was hers. It had to be. She pulled out as he was fumbling with his bags of groceries. If only he was a few seconds earlier and that, he did not drop everything.

He had been thinking about what Mac and Leslie and even Carl was telling him. That he should get out and meet someone. However, that meant he had to date someone. Ken felt he was betraying Katie. He also felt he was still young and God knows he needed another adult to talk to occasionally.

Ken had stopped and brought home some bagels and cream cheese from the deli on the corner. Since he was alone, he would live a little and not get the light cream cheese.

The day was warm and the sun was bright. A nice breeze off the sound. Ken stood on his balcony eating his bagel and admiring the city panorama that was one of his apartment’s selling points. Katie would make him dinner and they would eat outside. They would toast the sunset or sunrise depending on the time of day. This is where Katie told him that she was expecting again after Kimberly.

They did not think she could as she had been through a lot of chemo and radiation when she was younger. Katie thought it was a miracle she even had Kimberly. She was so happy to find out she was pregnant again and the fact that they were twins made it even better.

The boys were born without many problems that are associated with multiple births. They were very healthy and an ideal weight. They were identical. Katie felt it was God’s way of making up for her illness.

They had been happy here, the kids were great and they had settled into a nice life. Then last year their world came crashing in with the reoccurrence of Katie’s cancer. They did not seem to get out here on the balcony as much after that day. Their world became smaller and more confined.

Ken finished his bagel and tossed the paper into a can on the balcony. He went to the railing and searched the city. “Well, I guess it is just me here alone now.” He said. Ken looked down the avenue straight through to the downtown area. The sounds and the hustle of the cars and people made him envious. They all had a destination, a purpose. Ken no longer felt he had any place to go.

Three months ago, Ken started to write some music. He had this idea to write a piece and maybe have it actually published and played by a professional symphony. Perhaps even the one he was in. He could see Michael Sheldon coming to the podium now with his baton. He would give them the downbeat and an explosion of music, the likes of which were never heard before sounded forth throughout the concert hall.

He had started his piece but he lacked the discipline to finish it. He had the first few lines done. He felt they were very good but he came to a wall, a big brick wall and there did not seem to be anyway around it.

Ken walked inside the apartment and over to the piano. He looked through his music and found his unfinished work. He carried it to the sofa and examined it thumbing through the large pages of staff. Ken’s hands ran over it, he could feel the music. It was there; at least it was in his head. He had only to write it out to bring his music from his mind to the paper.

Ken had tried to do this many times in the last three months. Each time he became more and more frustrated. He could not continue it. His mind was blocked. Maybe he did not have the music in him after all.

He tossed the music on the piano and lay down on the sofa. Ken was lost. He felt so alone. How he missed Katie. Then there were the kids. They needed him and he needed them. Ken hoped he was doing all he could for them and was afraid that they needed more, more than he could provide.

Ken’s eyes searched the ceiling, following all the little cracks and imperfections. He was looking but not looking. He thought of his music, his work, the kids, the apartment, of Mac and Leslie and then of Carl’s cousin.

Maybe it was time for him to date again. Maybe Mac and Carl were right, that he should get out. Do something for him. Ken sat up and got his wallet off the dresser in his room. He fell on the bed with his feet stretched out. His torso relaxed against the pillows. He found the piece of paper with Laura’s number on it. He should call her, he thought. However, he was afraid. He did not know what to say.

He reached for the phone and started to dial her number. After three or four numbers, he hung up. “It’s Friday afternoon, she is probably at work”. Ken realized she would not be home yet. He also realized that if he called now, he would probably get an answering machine and he would have to leave a message and therefore would not be speaking to her in person.

Ken the dialed the number figuring this would be better. He did not actually have to speak with her. Just leave a message and see if she calls back. In addition, if she did not he would not feel rejected.

The phone rang and Ken waited for the machine to pick up. On the fourth ring it did. “Hello, my name is Ken Bell, a friend of Carl’s...” There was someone on the line. It was not a machine. “Hello?” he said or rather questioned.

“Hello” the voice answered. It was a live person on the line.

“Um, this is Ken Bell a friend of Carl’s, is this Laura?” He was thrown off completely now. He had not anticipated her actually being at home on a Friday afternoon.

“Yes, this is Laura.” She answered politely.

Ken’s mouth suddenly dried out and his tongue would not work. His hands were sweaty and his face was paler than usual. “Um. Yes, this is Ken...”

“Yes, I’ve got that.” Laura answered.

“I am a friend of Carl’s,” he offered again.

“Yes, you told me that already.” She had taken the day off because she had a cold and did not feel that well. She had not expected anyone to call her.

“Oh yeah, well the reason I am calling...” What was the reason he was calling he thought? What was he doing? “I was calling you see... to... to see...” He was dead in the water. His mouth had lost its connection to his brain.

“Excuse me, could you speak up. I can’t quite hear you.” Laura was straining to hear. She was also trying to pick up the cat food she had gotten last night and put it into a large plastic container she had.

“Oh, I am sorry. I was just wondering if it were possible... or even maybe that...” Ken felt like a total dope at this point.

Laura dropped the cat food and it spilled all over the floor sending kibble bits in every direction. Little George ran from the room and hid under the bed. “Oh no!” she screamed.

Ken took this as a no for his unfinished question. “Oh, I see I am sorry to have bothered you...” Ken was talking faster now so he could get off the phone and just die there.

“No, I mean... not you...” Laura was tangled in the phone cord and kibbles were everywhere. She would crunch them with every step.

Ken was confused. “What did you say? Is this a bad time to call? I could call later...”

“No, it’s not a bad time. It is just I spilled the cat’s kibble all over and I have made quite a mess for myself.” Laura told him the truth.

“Oh, so that’s... well what I called for is to see if you would like to go out sometime.” There, he said it. He said it! However, there was only silence from the phone.

“... go out sometime? Oh, I would like that.” Laura managed to get out. She would like that but she was also afraid. It had been ten years since she had to ‘go out’.

“What was that? You said that you...” Ken was amazed.

“... would like to go out.” Laura finished his sentence.

Ken felt light-headed. Here he was asking a total stranger out over the phone. Realizing that she indeed had accepted his offer for a date, he continued. “Maybe a movie or dinner or... both. How about that? He was calmer now.

“That would be great, movie or a dinner or both.” Laura though he had a very nice voice. She hoped he was as nice looking as his voice sounded.

“Well, then we just have to decide when. What about tomorrow night? I know it is last minute but...” Ken was getting tongue tied again.

“Oh, tomorrow night? Oh, I cannot tomorrow night or really this weekend. I promised my roommate to go with her to shop for her sister’s wedding. We have it all planned.” Laura told the truth again. The only weekend she had planned in the last three months and she is not available for a date because she had something to do with her roommate.

“Well maybe another time.” Ken felt awkward and was ready to just hang up.

“That would be nice...when?” Laura asked.

Ken’s mouth dropped open. He did not expect her to ask him when. He thought that was it and they would say goodbye and the story would be over. He thought hard. “How about during the week? Are you free?” He felt stupid saying that as if she were for sale or something.

“During the week is fine as long as it is not too late.” Laura shoveled kibbles up with a small cup.

“That’s right; work the next day and all.” He tried to qualify that statement.

“I suppose any night would be fine then.” Laura hoped she was not frightening him away. She hated that she booked her weekend. She could go out any night.

Ken’s mind spun. He felt as if he would throw up. “Well, how about...Monday then?” He held his breath.

Laura thought for a moment. “Monday? Monday is fine.” Laura stepped on some more kibble.

“Then Monday it is. Can I pick you up?” He would pick her up instead of taking the subway.

“Yes, I live on fifty-fourth and second,” she said.

Ken realized she was only two blocks away. They were in the same neighborhood. “You live close to me; I am just down two streets and over one.” Ken was having a conversation now. His mouth was working again.

“Allergist, how about seven o’clock. Is that too late?” She would be home by five-fifteen, the latest.

Seven o‘clock? No, that is great. We can get dinner first or see the movie first, whatever you would like.” He was being men he thought.

“I am usually starving so let’s eat first then the movie.” Laura was busy searching her mind for what she was going to wear.

“Then it’s a date.” Did he just say that? How could he be doing this? “I mean if that is all right with you.”

“Yes, it’s a date then.” Laura smiled as she picked up another handful of cat kibble.

“I guess it is then, I can pick you up in front of your building Monday at seven o’clock.” Ken would have to clean out his car. The smell of pickle juice and mayonnaise was still very strong.

“Yes. I will wait outside. I am in the Newberry Building,” she offered.

“Yes, I know that one. I will be there at seven o’clock.” Ken looked for cleaners under the bathroom sink to start on the car.

“Well, until Monday.” she said.

“Yes, until Monday.” he said.

They both hung up the phone. Ken sat leaning on the bathroom door, his head in a daze. He had done it. He had called a woman and asked her out. To the movies and dinner. Ken put the phone down, picked up the bottles of cleaners, and went down to clean his car.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 16.01.2011

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