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Jodie liked her apartment. She had a beautiful view to the south. A nearby
tree was home to two squirrels. She liked to watch them. So did her cat. Mrs.
Neely owned the apartment building. She was an old lady who spoke with a thick
Norwegian accent.
Jodie and Mrs. Neely got along very well. Mrs. Neely said that Jodie
reminded her of her daughter, who had died in a car crash years ago. Mrs. Neely
was a widow. She kept busy by volunteering at the local library and senior
center. An excellent baker, she often brought bread and pastries to Jodie.
“You’re trying to make me fat,” laughed Jodie one day. “How will I ever
find a boyfriend?”
“I still can’t believe that Prince Charming hasn’t found you,” said Mrs.
Neely. “Maybe you’re just too pretty and too smart for the young men around
here.”
Jodie was going to graduate school at night. She had a day job as a
teacher’s assistant in the fourth grade. She loved teaching kids. The principal
had already told her that a full-time teaching job was hers after she got her
master's degree.
“Aren’t there any nice boys in your graduate classes, Jodie?” Mrs. Neely
asked.
“There are some,” said Jodie. “But they’re either married, or have a
girlfriend, or are too focused on getting their degree. And don’t forget, I have
to concentrate on graduating, so I really shouldn’t be dating anyway.”
“Well, that’s just a shame,” said Mrs. Neely. “You’re too pretty to be
alone. But don’t worry. You keep doing your homework, and I’ll be on the lookout
for you.” She winked at Jodie. Jodie smiled. She loved Mrs. Neely.
Mrs. Neely died not long after that conversation. She had a stroke while
mixing some batter for cookies. An ambulance took her to the hospital, where she
died a day later.
Her son Ned was Mrs. Neely’s sole heir. Ned had been married and divorced
three times. None of his wives had anything nice to say about him. Ned didn’t
care. He was looking for Wife Number Four.
Ned introduced himself to Jodie right after Mrs. Neely’s funeral on
Saturday. He knew about Jodie because Mrs. Neely had told him about her. Ned
said he was afraid that he might have to double her rent. Also, no pets were
allowed in the building. “You’ll have to take your cat to the pound,” he
said.
“In that case,” she said, “I’m moving out.”
“I was joking, of course. You’re very pretty,” said Ned.
“Thank you,” said Jodie.
“Come to dinner with me at Chez Maison tonight and we can discuss your
apartment and your cat.” Ned had an air of confidence that Jodie found mildly
attractive.
“That might be nice,” she found herself saying. Ned told her he would pick
her up at 8 and left. Jodie wondered if she was doing the right thing. She
didn’t even know this guy. Oh well, she thought, it would be nice to eat at a
fancy restaurant for a change.
She picked up some cat food on her way home. |
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发表于 2016-7-10 09:21:20