Who calls up a theater where they saw a production two months ago and asks for a refund? When asked why they wanted a refund the caller responded, “I just remembered I kind of didn’t like it.” Not, it was offensive. Not, the quality of the production wasn’t up to the company’s par. Not, they had a bad experience with their fellow theatergoers. They kind of didn’t like it.
Nettie offered them discount tickets to the next show, gift cards for merchandise and concession stands. Nothing would tempt them. They would only accept money. Cash, to be precise. In the end, Nettie had to say no, apologize to a litany of curses and yelling, then hang up. To top it off, they called five minutes before closing, which made her late coming home.
Suckage was officially at level royal and now she had a flat tire to boot.
There were two days until Halloween, and she needed to run to the store to pick up extra toilet paper. She liked to decorate her house to make it look like it had been toilet papered so the kids who actually did the toilet papering would leave it alone, seeing as someone had already marked it as their territory. Also, it was just fun.
But she was too tired to put the spare on after a shit day. She knew how, had done it dozens of times before, but she could not give a shit at that moment.
“This day sucks.”
“Anything I can do to make it better?”
“Josh, hi,” she said, smiling as Joshua walked over to the car. Over the past few days, he’d been much nicer to her. Though she couldn’t tell whether it was because he felt guilty for being a butthead or was genuinely sorry for how he’d acted. Either way, he waved and said good morning to her, exchanging small pleasantries without fully engaging. This was the first time he’d come over to her property since the night he helped Armie.
“Hey there.” He was dressed in the tight shorts and workout clothes again, which did little to cheer her up. “What made your day suck that you’ve given yourself a flat from kicking?”
“I didn’t kick and give it a flat.” Nettie could tell he was joking, but she just wasn’t in the mood for it. “I wish I had that amount of strength. I just had a crap day at work. You know how it is.”
He scratched the curls on top of his head. “Not really, I work from home. Website designer. I’m my own boss.”
“Well rub it in, why dontcha?” She’d meant that to sound lighthearted, but it came out bitter and frustrated. Now he was looking at her awkwardly, probably trying to think of what to say after she’d stomped on any possibility of polite conversation.
“Need help with the flat?”
Why was he still talking to her? He should have run away after hearing the tone she’d used. Nettie needed to refuel from the awful parts of her day and that did not entail playing nice neighbor with Josh.
“I have a spare. I can put it on. I just don’t feel like doing it right now.”
He put his hands on his hips and gave her a knowing look. “You know you’ll need to do it eventually.”
What, did he think she was a child? She had the right to procrastinate doing something she didn’t want to do. It was one of the many perks of being an adult.
“I know, but it’s been a bad day, and I don’t want to do it now.”
“If you do it now, you won’t have to do it later.”
She huffed, annoyed by his persistence yet enjoying the banter beyond their usual daily banalities. “Good advice, but later sounds better than now.”
“‘You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.’ Abraham Lincoln said that.”
Oh, he did not just quote at her. She grinned, armed with a good one.
“‘Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the universe.’ Albert Einstein. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go escape the responsibility of tomorrow.” She hot-stepped it toward her house, hearing a warm bath and a bottle of wine calling her name.
“Do you want me to do it for you?” he asked, following her up the walkway.
She turned at her door. “No, I do not.” He was right there, not a foot away from her. Why was he so close? He was staring at her like she was a bug and his eyes were the magnifying glass burning her up in the sun.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m fully capable of doing it myself!” She fumbled with the key, and he bent to help, but she pushed him away.
“But I’m just trying to help—”
She finally got the door open.
“I don’t want your help. I want to go inside my home without being accosted. Good night.” She slammed the door and ran upstairs to draw herself a bath. She had been awful. She had been rude. How could she have been so rude? He’d been right there, so close she could smell the fabric softener on his workout clothes. The sweet scent mixed with the piercing stare of his green eyes turned her brain into mush.
Once in her bathroom, the large tub surrounded by candles calling to her, an overwhelming and familiar pain began to rise in her gut. Guilt and anxiety thrummed through Nettie, spurring her to turn around, and run back down the stairs, then dash out the door. She gave her flat tire the finger as she passed it.
Once across the street, Nettie checked in with Mrs. Berkin to see if she needed help with anything, then asked to borrow her car as she’d done many times before.
Mrs. Berkin handed her the keys, her knowing and pitying expression souring Nettie’s mood further. It was the look someone gave an addict begging on the street for money, and she hated it.
“Stop it. I’m just running out on an errand and my car has a flat.”
“Honey, why don’t you go home, have some wine, and read a nice romance novel. Add a bath and a detachable shower nozzle and you’ve got yourself a good time.”
“Mrs. Berkin, gross.” Nettie laughed. She wasn’t actually disgusted. Mrs. Berkin had inadvertently taught Nettie how to appreciate her own body through borrowed romance novels and feminist periodicals and magazines. Without the woman, she might never have known how to ask for what she wanted in bed, though she would never in a million years confess that to Mrs. Berkin. It would only make the woman’s ego expand, and she was already confident enough. “I’ll be back in a couple hours or so.”
“One hour, Nettie,” Mrs. Berkin yelled at her from the porch.
“I’m an adult. I don’t have a curfew anymore.”
“Just take care of yourself, honey. Don’t work yourself ragged.”
“I’m running an errand,” Nettie muttered to herself in the car. She fully intended to go to the store, get the extra eggs and toilet paper, then come home. That was it.
Josh’s shocked expression as she closed the door in his face flashed through her mind and instead of turning toward the market, she went toward the JCA, the local Jewish Community Association. It was a large building with gyms, an Olympic-sized pool, and rooms for classes on various topics. It was a great spot for community gatherings, and they usually had so much happening that they often needed volunteers. It was a weekday, but Nettie was sure there would be something going on they needed help with. She’d pop by and offer some volunteer time. Nothing wrong with that.
Nettie grinned in delight as she pulled into the large JCA parking lot. Rabbi Schultz was parked in his usual spot. He stood behind his car, the trunk wide open and filled to the brim with Halloween decorations. He’d need help getting all that stuff inside. She felt fortified by her decision to stop here before heading to the store, relieved there was someone who might need her help.
“Hi, Rabbi Schultz.” She locked Mrs. Berkin’s car with the fob as she dashed over. “Need some help?” She didn’t wait for an answer before piling Halloween decorations into her arms.
“Well, sure. Thanks, Nettie.”
Rabbi Schultz was a kind, well-respected man in the community. Despite running a Jewish Community Association, he always propagated an open-door policy for all faiths. It was the only large public center in the neighborhood, and it was used for the Christmas parties, Easter
parties, different faiths congregating for different kinds of prayers, and of course, ubiquitous summer day camps. There was even an annual Meeting of the Faiths, where those of different cultural and religious backgrounds could come together and learn from each other. It was one of Nettie’s favorite community events, one she always made sure to volunteer for.
“What brings you to the JCA tonight?” Rabbi Schultz asked as they lugged the first bundle of orange and black streamers into the building.
“Oh, I thought I’d stop by and see if there were any workshops or classes anyone needed help with. I had a free night.” Nettie tapped the handicap access button with her foot so they wouldn’t need to struggle to get the door open.
Rabbi Schultz led the way to the right—they must be heading toward his office. “That’s kind of you, as always, Nettie. We appreciate all you do to help us.”
His words spread warmth across her heart and lungs, allowing her the first deep breath since shutting Josh out. God, she’d been a bitch. But this made it feel better, hearing Rabbi Schultz’s approval and appreciation.
They entered the rabbi’s office. It was messy, in a lived-in kind of way. Multiple calendars hung along the wall, framed by years and years of pictures depicting different events, sports teams, and celebrations. The rabbi had been a fixture in this community for as long as Nettie could remember, which was why she knew something was up when he closed the door behind them.
“Sit, Nettie, please.” He’d placed the decorations on a chair near the wall and motioned for her to do the same.
“Don’t we need to get all the other stuff?”
“It will keep.” He sat behind his desk, then folded his fingers together. He peered over his glasses at her, his brown eyes kind and welcoming. “Tell me what’s going on?”
“Did Mrs. Berkin call you? I swear that woman’s nose is going to fall off from sticking the damn thing in places it shouldn’t be. I’m fine. Nothing is going on.”
“You’re so twitchy you look like you’re about to explode. And you only race over here for unscheduled volunteer time when something is bothering you.”
“I want to help. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing at all, Nettie. But it’s okay to take care of yourself, take time for yourself.”
Nettie stood, frustrated, but she kept her voice level and cool. She didn’t want to upset the rabbi, didn’t want him to be mad at her. “I don’t need time for myself. Truly, Rabbi Schultz, I came here for a few volunteer hours. It’s been a while and—”
“You were here last week.”
She laughed, but the quality was a high, squeaky pitch. It sounded a little too much like panic. “Do you give all your volunteers this much trouble?”
“Nettie, I would like for you to go home.”
The guilt and anxiety rushed her again. She bit her lip, trying to think of something she’d said or done the past few weeks making him not want her there. She sat back in the visitor’s chair, gripping the edge of his desk.
“Rabbi, I don’t know what I did to make you mad at me—”
He held his hand up, his eyes pinched with frustration. “Stop that nonsense right now. Nettie, we love you here. I love you, and I love all the time and energy you put in to helping us. But there comes a point when you need to step back and look at why you’re doing what you’re doing, or else it doesn’t mean bupkes and only hurts you.”
She loved when he pulled out the Yiddish, but she was a little lost on his meaning. “I don’t understand.”
He sighed, taking her hands and squeezing, the wrinkly warmth of him a comfort on many levels. Along with a few others, Rabbi Schultz was a man Ophi had turned to when needing paternal guidance for her younger siblings. She’d often brought Nettie or Armie there when they were struggling with the ramifications of their neglectful parents’ passing, and the rabbi had never faltered, never let them down in his good humor and guidance.
“There will never be anything you do that could make my love for you disappear. I will always be here for you, so will the others at the JCA.” He slowed his speech, looking her dead in the eyes. “You don’t need to run yourself to exhaustion to earn our love. You have it, unconditionally.”
“I don’t do that.” It was a lie, a blatant denial she knew was untrue. This was her hang-up, one she’d never been able to let go of. She remembered her parents coming home from a trip. She’d take their coats, put away all their clothes, and never ask for souvenirs. All she’d wanted was a smile or a nod of approval. Something suggesting they loved her. Her mom and dad would say the words, but only after she performed a task for them. She had to earn it. The memories curdled in her gut, making her wince at the pathetic picture they painted. She was her parents’ good puppy, right up until their deaths.
“You once stayed up for two days straight working on a project for the elementary school. Your brother and sister had to take you to the hospital for dehydration.”
She remembered, but still stood by her decision. “They needed those set pieces fixed. It was superimportant for the kids.”
“You did it because a parent made some snobbish comment about the paint being out of alignment on one of the panels. One comment! You’re a strong, smart woman, Nettie. Don’t let what others think of you drive you to insanity.”
“It’s not that.”
“I know.” He squeezed her hands again, his smile kind. “I know. You can’t please everyone, bubula. And you don’t need to. Do you want to tell me what happened to drive you out here tonight?”
“I was rude to my new neighbor.”
Rabbi Schultz sat back and tipped his head, considering. “You were rude?”
She rubbed her eyes, so annoyed with her behavior. “I yelled at him and slammed the door in his face.”
The rabbi’s eyebrows shot up. “You’ve never been rude to anyone in your life…aside from your siblings, but they don’t count. Who is this man?”
“Joshua. He just moved in next door.”
“Interesting.”
“What? What’s interesting? Do you know him? Did he say something about me?” Nettie stood, then waved her hands in front of her face to erase the thought. “No, I don’t care. I don’t care what he thinks of me, the big butthead.” The rabbi snorted. “He is a butthead, Rabbi. If you met him, you’d instantly think so.” She picked up her bag, then walked around his desk to give the old man a hug. “Thanks for the chat, Rabbi. I’m gonna go home.”
Rabbi Schultz was smiling, but it was one she couldn’t decipher. Was he amused or flummoxed? “You do that, Nettie. I’d like to meet this new neighbor of yours. Maybe you could show him around the JCA one day?”
That was an odd request, especially since she’d called Josh a butthead seconds ago. Maybe he wanted her to mend fences with Josh, and that was the rabbi’s way of proposing they spend time together. She’d always taken the rabbi’s advice before now, but this might be a suggestion that was too much for her to handle.
“We’ll see.” She couldn’t commit to anything where her grumpy neighbor was concerned. “I feel much better, Rabbi. Thanks again.” In fact, she didn’t feel guilty for slamming the door in Josh’s face anymore.
“Anytime, Nettie.” He walked her to the door, still looking at her with that bewildering smirk. “I’m glad we were able to chat. Why don’t you stop by your neighbor’s place and apologize? That might make you feel better.”
“I will. Good night, Rabbi.”
She’d apologize to Josh…but she’d put it off until tomorrow and then make a joke about procrastination when she did it.
Chapter Four
Josh ran what was becoming his usual route. Up Bark Street, down Main, around the high school and back again. A good four miles and by the midpoint at the high school it would be time for a break and a stretch. He stopped in front of the moderately sized football field. It was actually pretty big for such a small town. He watched the kids practice, running drills and listening to their overeager coach b
erate them to be the best. Half of the field wasn’t in use today; a stage was being erected and what looked like a corn maze was halfway to completion.
A car pulled up to the curb, and the window rolled down as Josh held on to his foot for a nice quad stretch.
“Good afternoon,” the man in the car said.
“Hi there.” Josh realized what this might look like. “I swear I’m not a pedophile. I just like to run this route, and this happens to be my midway where I need a stretch. I can go stretch somewhere else if you like.”
The man grinned. He turned off his engine, then got out. Josh felt relieved the man didn’t seem to think his resting at the field gate nefarious. The driver was almost as tall as Josh, with blond hair and blue eyes. He held out his hand. “David Goldberg, but the kids around here call me Principal David.”
“Principal David,” Josh said, shaking the man’s hand. “Call me Josh, new to town.”
“No kidding. Me too. Well, I moved here right before the start of term but yeah, that was only a few months ago.”
“How’s it going? Like being the principal?”
“Yeah, these are good kids, good families. I like the diversity of the neighborhood.”
They stood there for a second, awkwardly.
“Sorry, I really wasn’t being gross or anything. I just needed to stretch.”
“You don’t need to explain. I’ve actually seen you run this route a few times this week, and I thought I’d stop and say hello.” David stuck his hands in his coat pockets and rocked on his heels. “I like to run as well, and I’ve been looking for a training buddy.”
Josh had to grin at how uncomfortable Principal David looked. He’d pulled over because he needed a running buddy. Josh was flattered.
Trick or Treat or Kiss Me (Croft Holidays Book 1) Page 3