Unlikely Friends

by Sahar Abdulaziz

  “That should be fine.” Cornelia tucked a piece of loose hair behind her ear. “How long do you think it will take?”

  “An hour, if it all goes according to plan, but just in case, let’s shut it off.”

  “You do it. I need to sit down for a minute.”

  “Are you all right?” Irwin helped lower Cornelia to the seat. “You look a little disoriented.”

  “Just tired is all. I didn’t sleep well last night.” In reality, Cornelia hadn’t slept a wink. Instead, she wandered around her house, tenderly touching different mementos on her shelves, forcing her mind to recall their history, while desperate to protect the memories she still clung to before having them savagely ripped away. Cornelia glanced up at Irwin. His face was ashen with worry. She knew that the longer she kept him guessing, the madder he’d be, but finding the right time to disclose kept evading her. “Are you nervous?” she asked, wishing to change the subject. “Because I’m nervous.”

  Irwin shrugged. “I would describe myself as apprehensive more than nervous.”

  Cornelia laughed. “That’s fundamentally the same thing.”

  “That’s fundamentally a matter of opinion.”

  Before they could continue trading barbs, Bones skittered to a sliding stop. Once regaining his footing, the cat leisurely arched his back and nuzzled his face into Irwin’s leg, purring.

  “All that purring. Glad somebody’s happy,” mumbled Irwin, bending over to scratch the spoiled cat behind the ear.

  “Are you nervous?” asked Cornelia again.

  Irwin paused. “You just asked me that.”

  “Did I?” Cornelia lowered her gaze.

  Irwin shut off the burner and took a seat across from Cornelia.

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Irwin’s grim expression and sad, pleading eyes made Cornelia want to spill the entire jar of beans, but she couldn’t. Not yet. Especially not today. She laid her hand gently on his. “Listen. I do have something I want to discuss with you, and I will. I promise, but just not today.”

  Irwin stared steadily into his friend’s eyes. “Then when?”

  “Tomorrow. After we’re all done with this,” she said, her hands circling the room. “We’ll talk, and I’ll fill you in on everything, but give me today not to have to think about it. Deal?”

  Irwin gently squeezed Cornelia’s hand. “I’m your friend to the end.”

  “I know that.” Cornelia squeezed Irwin’s hand back.

  “You can tell me anything. I’m here for you.”

  “I know that too.” She blinked back a river of tears ready to slide down her cheek. “Believe me, I know.”

  Irwin leaned over and hugged Cornelia.

  After an awkward moment, she pulled away. “Okay. Enough of this mushy stuff. Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?” Cornelia swiped her keys off the table. “I’ll drive.”

  “Are you sure? You’re not looking too well.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’m fine. Mildly starving, but more than capable of driving a car. Let’s go so we can come back and gorge.”

  “You cooked enough for a small army.”

  While Cornelia played it off that she was doing okay with whatever news she had to share, Irwin moved with obvious trepidation. He turned away before Cornelia could see him cry. “Yes,” he rumbled, having to cough and clear his throat. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  Irwin grabbed the folder, and the two old friends were on their way. The whole trip took less than four minutes, minus one extraordinary long light. Irwin made a mental note to put in a complaint with the township.

  Although late in the afternoon, the streets remained packed. Most on-road parking was filled to capacity. While they waited for the light to turn, they saw Harper and Olivia already waiting in front of the building. Christopher, approximately half a block up, looked close to crossing at the light.

  The light changed, and Cornelia pulled in front of the building and put her hazards on. “Get out. I’ll find parking,” said Cornelia.

  “I’ll do it. You go inside.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m already driving. Besides, everyone’s waiting for you, not me. Now go on. Scoot.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course, I’m sure. Oh! Look, a parking space is opening up across the street,” she said, pointing. “Would you hurry up and get out so I can grab it? Come on, move it. Shake a leg.”

  Irwin disembarked quickly from the ride and closed the door. He stepped towards the three and waved the thick envelope as a greeting. The three waved back, wearing mutually confused expressions.

  “Greeting to all,” Irwin said. “I’m sure you’re all anxious to find out why I have called this impromptu meeting. But before we start, does everyone know one another?”

  Olivia gazed at Christopher and smiled. Christopher smiled back and nodded hello, while Harper blurted out the obvious.

  “No,” she said to Irwin, then not one to stand on protocol, exuberantly reached out her hand for a shake. “Hi, I’m Harper. This is my mother, Olivia. We’re friends of Irwin’s.”

  “Nice to meet you both. I’m Christopher. I’m, err, well, Irwin and I met—”

  “Christopher is also a friend of mine,” interrupted Irwin. “How about you all follow me?” As he walked, the keys jiggled in his hand. “There’s something I want you all to see.”

  “Where’s Cornelia?” asked Olivia.

  “Parking the car.” Irwin pointed across the street where Cornelia had her hazards blinking, indicating she was waiting for the driver to pull out to claim the spot.

  “Maybe we should wait for her?” asked Harper.

  Irwin thought about it but shook his head. “Cornelia knows where to go. She’s already instructed me to get a move on so we can all go back to my place to eat.” Everyone laughed. “Follow me, troops,” instructed Irwin.

  The march last about fifteen steps. Irwin stopped, took a deep breath, and proceeded to unlock the front door. The quartet trailed inside after him. The clean but large empty store area gleamed with high-polished floors, high wood empty bookshelves, and a desk with a cash register. A long sign leaned face forward against one of the walls.

  Harper spoke first. “This is really nice, but I don’t know what we’re looking at exactly.”

  Irwin walked to the middle of the room and let the packet drop to the floor by his feet. Arms extended out wide, he twirled around and announced, “My friends, I stand before you the proud new owner of the Burg’s newest and hopefully finest bookstore.”

  “What!” exclaimed Olivia.

  “No way!” cheered Harper.

  Christopher, all smiles, clapped. “Congratulations!”

  “What are you calling it?” asked Harper, pointing to the sign.

  “All in good time,” said Irwin. “First, I want you three to walk around. Take it all in. Get a feel for the place.”

  Harper didn’t need to be told twice. She ran her hands across the wood shelves, moved the cushioned chair catty-corner to make a nook, and peeked through the back to where the storage and kitchenette was.

  Olivia went straight to the desk, marveling at the old-fashioned cash register. “Would you just look at this old thing? I used to work on one as a kid when I work for a cleaner. Loved the sounds the big keys made.”

  Christopher pointed to the envelope. “Is that the contract?” he asked.

  Irwin nodded.

  “Are you renting the space?”

  Irwin shook his head no.

  “Then this is all yours?” asked Harper, who had been listening.

  “Correct. This entire building is mine.”

  Christopher whistled. “Nice.”

  “Lit,” agreed Harper.

  “Congratulations, Irwin! This is wonderful! I am so happy for you,” exclaimed Olivia.

  Irwin smiled.

  So far, so good.

  “Which brings me to my next point. As you all know, I am not the most perso
nable human being.”

  Harper snorted. “Understatement of the century.”

  “Harper!” admonished Olivia.

  “No, no, Olivia, Harper is absolutely correct. Which is why I have asked the three of you to accompany me here today.”

  The three glanced at one another, apparently not catching on. Irwin continued.

  “I will need three people to help me run this business. One full-time employee and two-part time.” Irwin looked at Olivia. “I would like to hire you full-time, Olivia. Whatever you are earning at your current job, I will double it.” Olivia gasped. “Christopher, I’d like to hire you part-time. Same goes as far as salary, and we will work around your college schedule.” Christopher unable to respond, remained in place, his mouth agape.

  “Harper?” said Irwin.

  “Yeah?”

  “I’d like you to be my other hire. Same goes for you regarding salary and schedule. However, there’s one string attached.”

  Harper crossed her arms and stood as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Okay…which is?”

  “You must keep a GPA of 3.5 or above and graduate with honors. Colleges are competitive, and if we are going to get you into a proper school, you’ll need good grades.”

  Harper winced. “But how—”

  Irwin stuck a finger to his lips. “Silence. I will answer all questions at the end of this tour. Follow me.”

  “There’s more?” asked Olivia, her eyes wet and nose turning red.

  “I think he’s recreating a Willy Wonka experience,” mumbled Harper.

  “I can hear you,” said Irwin as he led the way to the back and opened a heavy door. “The staircase is well-lit, but still, watch your step.” Irwin stopped and turned. “Olivia, will these steps be a problem?”

  “No. I’m okay. My ankles aren’t too bad today.”

  “Excellent. Then we shall proceed.” Once the group got to the next floor, there were two doors at opposite ends of the hall. Irwin opened the door for the larger of the two and waved them all inside. “This is apartment number one. Olivia, Harper, this apartment, while not as big as your current house, has two bedrooms, a decent-sized eat-in kitchen, bathroom, living room, and a small room—possibly could be used as a study.”

  Olivia gripped Harper’s hand and squeezed. “What are you saying, Irwin?”

  Irwin stood erect. “I’m saying that I’d like you two to live here.”

  Olivia blanched. “But how? A two-bedroom in this area easily goes for $1,700.00 a month. I can’t afford this.”

  “Yes, you can. This one is $500 a month, including utilities. Now, please, both of you, look around and make sure it’s satisfactory. Let me know if anything is missing or that needs to get fixed.”

  Olivia’s legs began to tremble. Still gripping Harper’s hand, a stream of tears slid unabashedly down her cheeks.

  “For real?” Harper stood frozen in place, stunned but deliriously happy.

  “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it,” barked Irwin, trying to keep his emotions in check. He didn’t want them to know how desperate he felt for them to agree. Both he and Cornelia agreed that everyone had to be onboard for this to work as planned. “Christopher. Please follow me.”

  Christopher practically skipped behind Irwin, periodically glancing back at Harper, who could do nothing but shrug.

  “This apartment is a one bedroom, and therefore your rent would be $250 a month, including utilities.”

  Christopher ran his hands through his hair. “Man, I don’t know what to say. This is incredible.”

  “Then say yes,” said Irwin encouragingly. “You can move in immediately or as soon as you wish.”

  Just then, from down the hall, Irwin and Christopher heard sobbing. Both men rushed to see what was going on. They found Harper and Olivia hugging and talking at the same time.

  Irwin and Christopher remained to the side until both women finished.

  “Well? What say you, Crane women?” bellowed Irwin with a lot more bravado than he felt. Even as the words left his mouth, he felt his heart skip a beat, only to lodge squarely in his throat, scared to death they wouldn’t accept. Fortunately for him, his reservations didn’t have long to wait.

  “Yes! Yes! Yes,” they chorused between fits of laughter, hugs, and a host of tears. The room soon filled with damp cheeks and bright smiles.

  Irwin exhaled and rubbed his hands together. “Excellent.” He turned his head. “And you, Christopher? What say you?”

  Christopher, already beaming, glanced from face to face. “Are you kidding me? I second that emotion,” he said, a smile spreading across his handsome face.

  Harper strolled around the rooms with newfound exhilaration, touching every available surface with a transformed sense of spirit. “I love these walls and floors and especially all the light coming from these amazing tall windows.” She leaned on the window ledge to peer out. “Everything is so bright and—holy shit!”

  Just as Harper yelled, the group heard a barrage of honking horns and people screaming from the street below. Together the group rushed to the window to see why.

  There, standing in the middle of one of the busiest roads on Main Street, stood Cornelia, face clutched and spinning helplessly in circles. Even from above, it was clear she was scared, not knowing where to turn or what to do next.

  “Hey, lady! Get the hell out of the road,” yelled one irate driver, half his body hanging out of his car window.

  “Move it!”

  Honk! Honk!

  Both Irwin and Harper struggled to unlock the old heavy window and pull it up.

  “Cornelia,” shouted Irwin, but she never heard him.

  “Cornelia, get out of the road,” Harper screamed hysterically. “Oh my God. There’s a truck coming!” she said, pointing frantically down the street.

  Everyone started screaming Cornelia’s name, anxiously trying to gain her attention, but Cornelia didn’t register Harper’s pleas, nor anyone else’s for that matter. She appeared too consumed by confusion to grasp the danger barreling down straight at her.

  “What the heck is she doing?” wailed Olivia, half hanging out the window.

  “Trying to kill herself, apparently,” grumbled Irwin, banging his fist on the window pane. “Get out of the road, crazy old woman!”

  A few shocked bystanders yelled for Cornelia to move, making her more frightened and disorientated.

  “Wait! Over there. I think I see Darren.” Olivia was correct. Darren had just turned onto the main road and could be seen waiting by the light to cross. “Darren!” hollered Olivia at the top of her lungs. Irwin, Harper, and Christopher joined in, waving their arms and chanting his name.

  Irwin wedged two fingers in his lips and blew out the loudest whistle anyone had ever heard, causing Darren to look up. He saw the quartet and tentatively waved. Olivia, half hanging out of the window herself, pointed to Cornelia frantically. “Get her! Get her!” she shouted, half sobbing. Harper joined her. Christopher had already left, taking the stairs by twos to reach Cornelia before she got herself killed.

  Darren peered down the road at a large moving truck in the distance coming towards them. “Shit,” he mumbled. Without another word, Darren pushed through the crowd. “Move out of my way!” he shouted and darted out into the street. Using all his might, he tried to drag the sobbing Cornelia out of the way of the truck.

  “Don’t touch me,” she wailed, swatting Darren’s hands away. “Leave me alone, or I’ll call the police.”

  “I won’t hurt you,” pleaded Darren. “Let me get you to the side of the road, luv. Come on.”

  “Police!”

  “Ah, shit. Don’t do that, lady. I gotta enough problems with the boys in blue. Now come on. Stop fighting me.”

  Christopher met the pair halfway. “We’ve got to hurry,” he said, helping Darren to drag the fighting but mortally terrified Cornelia to safety.

  The trucker, driving way too fast and barreling down on the scene, realized far
too late about the commotion taking place ahead of him. He tried in vain at the last possible minute to floor his brake. But that only caused his truck to skid and spin, clipping the exiting Darren in the hip and sending him flying face-first onto the cement curb. The crowd screamed as Darren landed with a thud.

  Olivia shrieked, “Oh my God, Darren!” Ankles be damned. Olivia tore down the stairs at lightning speed with Harper trailing close behind. Irwin took up the rear.

  Police sirens sounded, and somebody yelled, “Call an ambulance!”

  By the time Olivia and Harper reached Darren, they found him unconscious, bloody, and bruised. A shopkeeper came out holding a blanket, while a woman claiming to be a nurse bent over Darren’s body, taking his pulse.

  “He’s breathing on his own,” she announced, more to herself than anyone else.

  Olivia sobbed.

  Harper removed her jacket and rolled it up in a ball.

  The nurse supporting Darren’s head and neck to keep him from twisting waved Harper away. “No, hon, we don’t want to move his head.” Then she spoke directly to Darren as if he could hear her. “You’re going to be just fine,” she said while checking to see that he was still breathing. To Harper, “Anybody know his name?”

  “Darren,” answered Harper and Olivia together.

  “Okay, Darren. We’re going to keep you warm. Okay, buddy?” She looked at Harper. “Can you cover him with your jacket? I’d like to keep him warm.” Harper complied.

  The veteran nurse had already checked for any major bleeding and life-threatening injuries but, as a true professional, kept those thoughts to herself.

  Olivia bent down on her knees. “I’m his wife,” she said.

  The nurse glanced up at Harper.

  “Daughter,” confirmed Harper.

  “His full name?”

  “Darren Crane,” said Olivia.

  “Age?”

  Olivia and Darren were a year apart. “Thirty-six.”

  “Any extenuating health issues or allergies I should know about?”

  Olivia hesitated. “Not that I can remember.”

  “Good enough. Okay, Darren, the ambulance will be here any minute, and we’ll get you right as rain. Don’t you worry. Just hang in there for me, buddy.” The nurse eyed Harper. “I need to keep him as still as possible.”