This story is true mostly. The names have been changed, of course, and the narrative has been condensed for dramatic purposes. Thanks, Peter.
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I'm a drifter.
That doesn't mean I roam from town to town like that guy in the old song by Dion. It means, I guess, I'm a free spirit.
I 've had some college. Dropped out.
Worked for a while at a good job editing books in the city. Quit.
Had a really wonderful car. It was sunshine yellow. Made a real statement. Sold it.
And women, sure. I've had them too with about the same history of longevity.
I'm not a bad person, although I've done a few things I'm not proud of. Who hasn't? I'm more like the guy that your mom (if you're a woman) told you to stay away from. She'd be right. There's nothing about me worth investing in, and that's a fact.
These days I'm renting an upstairs room in a nice house in an "Ozzie and Harriet" kind of neighborhood that is so completely NOT me. But I like it. The people downstairs moved out a few months back so I really have the whole house to myself. A gardener mows the lawn and picks up the leaves. If something breaks, I have a number to call and they come out to fix it. I pretty much keep to myself while working -- for the time being -- at a junior college library in the reference section.
Which is why I was surprised when my next door neighbor, Scarlett, knocked on my door one afternoon after I got home. I had just popped a brew, put on some sandals and sat down to watch a rerun of NCIS on the downstairs television (It's a widescreen; I've just got a small portable in my little upstairs room).
I never had much to say to Scarlett except to wave. She must be in her mid-50s and I helped her pick up some tree debris after a nasty blow we had earlier this year.
Scarlett is pleasant enough. She's kind of heavy and not very attractive but smart. I thought she was flirting with me once or twice but was never really sure. I usually like to flirt but I didn't want to encourage her.
Anyway, here she was, not looking flirty at all. She actually looked a little harried and worried.
"Peter," she said, "I need a favor."
We drifter types don't like those words. We're not much into favors, being self-centered and all. I was leery, but forced myself to croak "I'll try."
"It's my mom," Scarlett said. "I have to leave town soon, today as a matter of fact. A dear friend is sick and she has absolutely no one to help her ." She paused.
"Okay..." I offered. "Your mom?"
"I guess you haven't lived here long enough but I live with my mom. She does pretty well for herself but I worry about her when I'm gone. She's got plenty of food but I want to make sure there's someone I can trust who can . . . help her if she falls or something."
If I was the best she could do, then I knew she was in trouble. Someone I can trust? I looked over my shoulder. Nope. She must be talking to me.
"Well," I stumbled. "Does she have any, you know, health issues? How old is she?"
Scarlett smiled. "No, she's healthy as a horse, although she uses a walker around the house and whenever we go out. She just celebrated her 84th birthday last month."
And I never even got an invitation, I thought. "What's her name? What does she want me to call her?"
"Just call her Helen," Scarlett said. "I set up one of those 'I've fallen and I can't get up' services' so if she has an emergency, she calls a central office. They'll call you."
"What if I'm at work?" I asked.
"Then they'll send a rescue truck out but that can be expensive," Scarlett said. "I see you're around most nights and hope you can be available if there's some kind of problem."
I shrugged. "Okay."
Scarlett brightened. "I've got to get going but I'll pay you whatever you think is fair . . ."
"Not necessary," I said, feeling magnanimous.
"Great," said Scarlett walking away. "I'll be back in two weeks. If you don't mind, check on her a couple of times even if you hear nothing. You're a doll."
Then chubby old Scarlett was gone. There may have been a time in her life when she could call a man "a doll" and he would get all quivery. Those days were long gone and the idea of being her "doll" did not do it for me.
I decided I better at least meet this woman while I was thinking about it. I knocked on her door.
"Who is it?" said an elderly voice.
"Hi, Helen," I said. "It's your neighbor, Peter. I just spoke with Scarlett about . . . making sure you had everything you need while she's gone."
The door opened and there was Helen. I remembered now seeing her a couple of times in recent weeks slowly getting into the car while Scarlett held the door open. She had an old face -- not unattractive -- and wore a long floral-colored shift with pretty pink slippers. She smiled upon seeing me. Nice.
"I know you," she said, leaning against her walker. "You're the young man who moved into the Stacker house some time back." Helen eyed me carefully. I was afraid she could read what kind of person I was so I felt a little uncomfortable.
"Well, it's nice to meet you at last," she reached over and shook my hand. She had delicate fingers and the gentlest shake you could imagine, as though I were an injured bird. "Thank you very much."
Then she closed the door. It wasn't an ugly or even abrupt gesture. It was just unexpected, as though she were saying, our business is done now, goodbye!