Final Collection

by Jesse Goodrich

CHAPTER 2

  “Hello?” Adam answered, trying to sound less coarse than he felt. “Hi Adam, Allen here,” Adam’s boss began with enough treble to suggest he had been awake early. Adam jerked himself upright then swung his feet to the floor while pulling his ivory bed-sheet from his body. Unsure what benefit not having a sheet would provide, Adam pulled the sheet back over his lap and tried to sound more alert by jumping the conversation, “Hey Allen, need another late lunch?” There was a pause and Adam felt as if he shouldn’t have pushed his boss. Previously Allen had taken Adam to lunches and discussed personal trouble at home. Silence, which stretched a few seconds into what seemed a minute, caused Adam to uncomfortably rub the dark stubble on his cheek giving him a reminder of how coarse he really felt. Allen gave up on delaying, “Ah, yeah; I wanted to ask how your birthday was this year, but I guess I was hoping you could come in today." Allen continued the pretense of ignorance, "And now that you bring it up, how about half a day and we’ll get a beer for ‘lunch’ alright?” Allen was emphasizing lunch to mean less than what it was and right in line with what Adam had suspected. Now severely disappointed, Adam put on his best face through his voice, “Sounds good, I’ll be in soon.” Hanging up the phone, Adam stretched with frustration which expelled none of the disappointment of having his day in solitude and exaggerated the exhaustion he felt. The day seemed written in pen on a chalkboard as Adam thought of the grating which lay ahead; not only did he work today, he would later endure several hours of both: conversation which would pertain to how Allen’s wife is upset about him looking at other women and Allen drinking at least two shots and four beers before requiring assistance in arriving home. It made Adam feel so awkward listening to the same conversation each time he and Allen got together outside of work, especially since he knew Mallory, Allen’s wife, from when she had tutored him in college before she and Allen were dating. Adam remained personally, rather than socially, concerned about Allen's inability to discuss both sides of the situation. Beyond knowing Mallory, Adam perceived an obligation to call her in advance. He wanted to give her notice that Allen wouldn't be home as expected, as Allen never called ahead. Adam knew that Mallory always appreciated the phone-calls because the lunches generally ran long enough to adjust the condition her husband was in, and also, by her tone and without saying it, she wished that Allen would be more considerate like him.

  The mixed disappointment and anger in Adam grew while he finished getting dressed and eating breakfast. It overwhelmed him to the point Adam decided to drive to work even though it was only a twenty minute walk. Adam, while driving by the deli, with furthering frustration realized that if he had walked, “I could have taken the time to go down that alley again.” He looked at his watch and determined by what time it was already that he was right to believe ‘earlier started, earlier finished’, whatever was down the alley would be there later or another day, Adam wanted resolution to the mystery but knew driving Allen home would be better for everyone. Watching the deli fade in the rearview mirror he took a moment to weigh the possibility of convincing Allen to go to the deli after work instead of the pub. The deli disappeared behind the corner and Adam's hopes of discovery dwindled for the moment. Adam, out of habit, checked his mirrors and wondered if anything was going to add up today. He glared forward to the road in front of him and then to the cars slowly moving in the opposite direction. Adam decided he probably wouldn’t find the courage to suggest an alternative to the pub, "What Allen wanted is usually what Allen received."

  Allen was almost waiting for Adam at reception and the pressure build up so early in the day pushed Adam into impulse, “Allen, do you mind going to the deli after work? I’m in the mood.” Allen looked over and, clearly pretending not to have seen Adam come in, gave an intentionally delayed yet definitive reply, “Deli, no, come on, let’s get you caught up so we can get you through your ‘day off’.” Adam’s grimace was lost on Allen who busied himself with explaining what was needed to be finished or started or worked on today. To Adam this meant another attempt at changing location would result in an even worse facade of alpha-dominance from Allen. Adam watched Allen glide through the office; Allen had a body type almost physically the opposite of Adam; where Adam was somewhat fit and had a physical presence, Allen’s appearance was generally unfit, though not unhealthy, and his ability to make interesting conversation made up for sometimes being overlooked as relevant outside of the workplace. At work, Allen was brilliant at directing and organizing, Adam enjoyed their work relationship and usually got along with him outside of the office where others wouldn't and didn't. Recently though, most discussions outside of work had been about Mallory, which caused Adam to feel in the middle. Still following behind Allen, Adam flexed his hands as if it were his whole body, the limited amount of good sleep he had last night made him want to stretch and almost warm up for a jog before sitting down for the rest of the day. Luckily he would sleep well tonight, “A few beers then right to sleep,” Adam predicted.

  Time lapse

  Adam picked up his coat, with Allen a few paces behind, and glanced at the picture on the wall as he usually did when leaving work. Adam had viewed the picture of two boats floating in a harbor before and had drawn the conclusion that if someone was to have taken the time to hang it, he should at least look at it once in a while. Work had been the same as any other day, only shorter; he was covering for someone who left work for a family emergency. It never bothered Adam to help; everyone in the office took care of each other, he only wished he could break away this once. He was exhausted and curious, and growing impatient. As Adam and Allen walked toward “The Double Pub”, which seemed funny to Adam as one half of the building had been closed for six months and now sold and under new development, Adam remained quiet and in reflective thought. This quiet from Adam never hindered Allen's ability to talk, he primed conversation with the latest in sports trades and predictions of what the outcome of any eventual season would bring. Adam usually nodded and seemed entertained but never committed to actually learning anything, instead, and especially now, he almost entirely ignored conversation, focusing on how far off track today had been, how beautiful Erin had seemed hidden behind the uniform, and certainly, but to a surprisingly lesser degree, what that light was. The light was so intriguing at the moment but now it almost seemed natural, as if Adam’s mind had only been tricking him; “It was nothing exciting or new, how could it be, everything had a predetermined category,” he suggested to himself while still barely keeping an ear on Allen’s ravings about how next weekend will tell the story for the whole season of such and such.

  After their first beers arrived Allen became nervous of his surroundings, leaned toward Adam, and whispered with growing excitement, “So I saw this light the other day, it blew me away!” Adjusting himself so he would seem interested but not too drawn in, Adam said nothing and waited for more. Allen whispered on, “And as this woman walked through it, hiding the Sun, I knew I had to have her.” As if he’d been stabbed in the stomach Adam jolted his upper body forward replying “What?! Now you’re just confirming your wife’s fears,” even though Adam had seen his boss leering at women for as long as he’d known him, they’d never had this conversation before, “please tell me this isn’t going where it probably is.” Allen pulled back, with a look of disgust and something that resembled a little shame, “You and I have been friends for a long time now Adam, all these conversations we’ve had in the past, you must know I do look at women, but not in the way my wife thinks.” Allen paused, looking offended and reevaluating Adam for what seemed only the second time since they’d known each other, before continuing, “I had to have her in the office, at least for an interview for one of our open positions because even if she doesn't fit our needs, I thought you would run into her and maybe hit it off. I know it’s double intentioned and it has only been about two years since," Allen stammered, "well, Sarah," Allen hurried on, "but that doesn’t mean you can’t
have a good time getting to know someone else for a while.” Pausing once more, but not long enough for Adam to respond, Allen tried to lighten the mood, “Besides, it seemed right, not only did she pre-interview remarkably for the position, but you’re one handsome bastard!” he said with a smirk rolling over his face. Adam was shocked and more than embarrassed; he wanted to apologize for thinking so little of Allen, but only came out with “I’m sorry Allen, thank you for thinking of me.” It seemed Allen understood what was really being said, simply shrugging while sliding in, “That’s what friends do, look out for each other.” clearly giving the impression that he knew Adam had his best interests in mind as well.