Happenstance

Cherry

By Parson Thru

Tue, 08 May 2018
  • 2178 reads
11 comments
 
I took the chance to spend some time in New York. My first visit, with my other half, had only been a three night jump-off to travel south by Greyhound. This time I planned to stay put and get toknow the place whilst she was away. We were keeping in touch as best we could by WhatsApp. It would be another six months before we’d see each other.
 
I was looking out for work possibilities. That meant exploring beyond Manhattan and working out the transportation system. The whole thing was a bit overwhelming. I wanted to spend some time seeing the sights, but needed to orientate myself first.
 
Like any new Metro or Underground system, the New York Subway is daunting. I took trips along the major lines, changing and getting to know the intersections a little. It was while I was riding the Subway, trying to work all this out that I met the girl. Let’s call her Maria. She was friendly and kind from the outset. She’d seen me reading the map and asked where I was headed. I don’t remember much more.
 
I suppose we must have agreed to meet up. She said she’d show me the sights and help me find my feet a little. I have to say, I was pretty grateful. And glad of a friendly face in a strange town. Glad of someone to talk to. I think we hit it off pretty well. We kind of gelled from the beginning. Also, I was pretty flattered if I’m honest.
 
We travelled all around the system in the next few days. She knew the city well and took me into some pretty cool places that I’d never have found on my own. On the third day, she asked if I wanted to meet some of her friends. I’m usually a little nervous in those situations, but at least we all spoke the same language, unlike here, though she said my Spanish might come in.
 
I met her outside a wholefood café in Brooklyn. I even managed to find my way there on time from the hostel on the edge of Greenwich Village. She grinned and said she was impressed that I’d found it. “Google Maps.” I answered. We went inside. Her friends were sitting around a table chatting. They were a nice bunch. All similar to her in their openness and friendliness. We ordered from the vegetarian menu and shared the plates. It turns out most of them have a Spanish background, including Maria.
 
One of her friends asked if I’d seen Long Island. I hadn’t. “Maria! Take him out to Long Island!” another shouted. They all chimed in. It turns out one of them has an aunt out there who they used to visit. Maria grinned. Someone checked the weather forecast for the next day. That was it. I was going to see Long Island.
 
On the Subway, Maria invited me over to her place. It was still early. I said ok. We changed trains and got off at the first stop after Manhattan Bridge. It was just few minutes walk to her street in the historic Bowery district. The neighbourhood’s a haven for Vietnamese food-lovers. Her apartment was four floors above one of the restaurants – a typical redbrick façade with external fire escapes.
 
Inside was as I’d expected. Disordered but clean: small cluttered kitchenette; coloured throws and cushions in the living room, which looked out onto a similar building opposite; bathroom somewhere off just before the bedroom, which looked out back. There were more throws on the low bed and clothes hanging on a rail. Both the living room and bedroom had bookshelves crammed full – books were slid flat into whatever gaps could be found. Ink drawings were pinned up on any free wall-space. A notepad lay open on a plain but functional desk by the living room window. Tell-tale signs of a creative mind.
 
When she’d finished showing me around and apologising for the mess, she brought an opened bottle of red wine and two small tumblers from the kitchen, holding them up like trophies. I grinned and nodded and she set the glasses down on a coffee table in front of the sofa.
 
We talked about her friends in the café. Maria asked what I thought of them. I told her they seemed nice. Welcoming and friendly. Interesting to chat with. Good fun. Just like her. She told me she’d known most of them since school. A couple were more recent arrivals. We drank the wine and she asked what my plans were. We hadn’t really talked about that. I told her there was no plan. I was on a ninety day visa.
 
I asked her about the drawings. Some were hers, others had been done by an ex. The styles were very similar: outlines of figures, drawn with a single firm, steady hand. Each one suggested movement and energy. Some of the drawings depicted single figures, others couples – there were several pairs of dancers: it seemed to be a theme. A larger drawing over the bookshelf was of a mass of figures drawn in the same style suggesting a crowd – a protest of some kind. She told me it had been a collaborative work, organised by her ex. She didn’t mention him again. I didn’t ask.
 
We talked until late – about anything and everything – time flew. She suggested setting off for Long Island early in the morning. The bottle was empty. She went into the kitchen and brought another. “I forgot the corkscrew.” she said. “It’s hanging from a hook in the kitchen. Would you mind?” I went and found the corkscrew, no trouble at all. Then she had a second thought: “Do you want to bring your things from the hostel?”
 
I told her all I had was a kit-bag with a few changes of clothes. I carried my valuables on me and was washing and wearing. She suggested we go and grab my bag and bring it back so we could get away early. She seemed on the level. The sofa seemed comfy enough. I said yes. She put the wine bottle down and we went down into the street. It turned out we were only a few blocks from the hostel.
 
I pressed the intercom and we went inside. I was rooming in a shared dorm. There were four of us. There was no one there when I turned the key and opened the door, just three rucksacks. I grabbed my kit-bag and we locked the door and headed down the stairs. There was no lift.
 
On the way out, the Chinese janitor saw me carrying my bag and asked for the room key. I told him I was only going away for one night. He gestured with his open hand. I’d paid for two weeks in advance anyway, planning to renew. I guess he thought I was leaving and taking the room key with me. I handed it over and we left.
 
Maria hooked her arm into mine and told me I didn’t need to worry anyway, as I had somewhere to stay now. That hadn’t been part of my plan.
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Comments

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Apologies for the formatting. It's not working out with OfficeLibre.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

This builds nicely.  I have a sense this won’t end well.

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Thanks Philip Sydney.  It might not end at all if I can't fix the formatting problem.  It took longer to format in the browser than it did to write!

Thank you very much for the cherries.  I do appreciate them.

Parson Thru

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Kevin,

I'm glad I came back to read this. At first I thought there wasn't going to be a story, but you've got me intruiged now. 

Looking forward to reading more.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Thanks Jenny.

I need to work out why my usual trick of stripping formatting out with Notepad isn't working.

Parson Thru

Submitted by bosch on

engaging. nothing quite as titillating as a new romance.

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Thanks bosch.

Parson Thru

Submitted by airyfairy on

Wonderful build up of atmosphere.  I too have forebodings about what might happen...

Submitted by Parson Thru on

You're not the only one!

Parson Thru

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

The formatting looks fine to me. It reads like crime of one kind or another is going to happen - hurry up with the next part please!

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Thanks insert. Copying and pasting longer text is a nightmare from OfficeLibre. It took me over an hour to sort it out. I can't even remember what permutation worked in the end. Saving as various file types, pasting in and out of Notepad, then back spacing in the browser. Tried edge and chrome. Same in both. Might need to look at options for installing Word again. Baaaaaaah!

Parson Thru