The key struggled with the lock and finally opened the door. Jim shut the door behind himself and sighed. There, on the mirror by the door, was a white envelope hanging crooked. He quickly glanced around the apartment and back at the mirror.
“Just great.” Jim’s hand reached out as he walked past the mirror, and plucked the envelope. “What a perfect end to a terrific day.” He recalled the “discussion” his boss had with him earlier in the day about an unrealistic deadline and headed into the kitchen. The sound of the envelope tearing open filled the small kitchen and is followed by a soft clink as Jim dumped the front key out onto the table. A note tries to slide out with the key but is quickly jammed back inside.
Dropping the envelope into the trash, he opened the fridge slowly. The light reflects off the empty interior. “What the fuck!” The door slammed shut. Cabinet doors fly open and their bleak contents only seem to mock the downward spiral of his life. “She cleaned the place out! The BITCH!” Jim slammed the last door and is in his car before it finally came to a rest.
***
The automatic doors slid open to reveal the bountiful harvest of the produce section. He gazed around the department trying to plan his route of attack. Suddenly his eyes rested on a tired looking old man leaning heavily on his grocery cart.
The man’s immaculate clothes and rigid yet stooped posture spoke of a battle for dignity, while his gnarled arthritic hands struggled with the flimsy plastic produce bag. A bright silver cane shook from its place hanging on the cart’s handle. Countless people wandered past the old gentleman without a glance.
As Jim watched, the bag escaped the man’s hands and fluttered silently to the floor. Quickly he approached and pulled a new bag from a roll on his way.
“Excuse me sir, I hate to seem presumptuous but can I give you a hand.” He held out the open bag to the gentleman and looked into his frustrated eyes.
His hand reached out and took the bag. “Thank you son,” his voice strong and graceful. Turning, he grabbed two pears and rolled them gently into the bag. He then stepped shakily forward and reached towards the oranges. Without asking Jim pulled off another bag and held it open. The man turned his head at the movement and seeing the open bag smiled.
“Thank you again,” and he placed the orange in the new bag. Jim grabbed a nearby deserted carriage and followed the older man through the store, chatting and shopping. Occasionally he stepped up to help but mostly just was enjoying the company.
“It was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Dommic.” Jim said as he shut the trunk and turned to shake the extended hand.
“The pleasure was mine, Jim, and thank you for the help.” As they shake hands Jim noticed a sparkle in the elder man’s eyes. “Would accept a small token of appreciation?” Mr. Dommic’s hand slid into his pocket ad pulled out a small rather worn silver ring. “I found this on one of my digs many years ago. It has brought me great luck.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I couldn’t”
The old man’s laugh rang through the air as he pressed the ring into Jim’s hand. “Nonsense. It’s yours now. If you truly don’t want it, give it away, though I wish you to keep it.” With that he turned and got into his car. “May luck find you as it did me young Jim.” He called out as he drove away.
***
Jim emptied the last of the groceries and started a can of soup. As the soup heated in its pan, he sat at the kitchen table and examined the ring. It was plain silver with a faint trace of an old engraving inside. He decided to try it on and found it fit perfectly on his right ring finger. He took it off and placed it on the counter as he poured the soup into a bowl and sat at the table to eat.
He was finishing the dishes when there came a knock at the door. Tossing the dish towel into the soapy water, he turned and headed to answer it. A quick glance identified his landlady Doris on the other side of the door. He sighed deeply, and prepared for the barrage of questions sure to come. Doris was a sweet woman but a major gossip. Her 5’4” frame carried about 280lbs and Jim swore half of her bulk was used to store inane information about everyone in the building.
He opened the door with a smile and stepped to the side. “Doris what a pleasant surprise. I’m just finishing the dishes. Please won’t you come in?” She smiled and wandered into the apartment, her cheap perfume clogging his nostrils. Looking around good, she turned to Jim.
“I see she really did move out.” Jim nodded as he walked past her for the kitchen. “Want to talk about it?” She followed him into the kitchen and sat at the table watching his tight ass intently as he finished the dishes.
Jim shrugged, “Nothing really to talk about. I knew it was happening, just didn’t know it would be so sudden.” He turned to face her and noticed her glance away quickly. He took a good look at her and almost shuddered. Her rather long brown hair was done up in a bun that was beginning to unravel. The tight blouse stretched over her stomach as much as her tits, and there was a slight stain on it from lunch, he assumed. Her face was wrinkled from years of sun and smoking, and at a guess, he would say she was closer to 60 than her actual 49. He was sure there was not enough alcohol in the world to make her sexually appealing. Her plain brown eyes looked back at him through her large granny glasses, and he smiled out of politeness.
She blushed lightly and smiled back. “You had quite a few groceries earlier. Run out of food?”
Slowly he sat down opposite her, “I guess she felt the need to stock her new pantry from mine.” Her hands reached out to his and he sat back, casually pulling them away. “About all she left was a few pots and pans, the teapot, and my green tea.”
