A Modern Love

by M. Glenn Aldridge

  Chapter 5

  Now there are those days when five o'clock can't come too soon. You know when the hours between 2:00pm and "I'm out of here" feels like the amount of time it takes to read "War and Peace"; twice! But this was not one of those days for David.

  In fact, David's day was blissful from the start. Up at 5:30am, as usual, for a brisk morning run, his run felt like a trip through the clouds. Not even the slightest bit of stress for David, he barely even broke a sweat. It was one of those rare mornings where the temperature and humidity were in line perfectly to create a running environment you only dream about. At least David dreamed about anyway.

  A light breakfast and into work a few minutes early. The day skipped by like the blink of an eye with nary a problem or hick up in getting the job done. David, even at his youthful age, knew better than to ignore such a fine day. He knew full well that these "perfect" easy going days rarely come about, so he cherished every minute; not sparing the smile throughout the day.

  As he exited the building and made his way to his run down old automobile he felt true joy in his heart. Searching back in his memory to try to recall a day as fine as this, he found himself sitting in his car without remembering the steps he took to get there. Deep in his own thoughts, he pondered. After some time, David did find a memory that was near to this great day. And he chose to take the time there in the parking lot to recall.

  Now David was, and is, a firm believer in the little things. That is that little things really make up the joy of life; a ripe peach, a leisurely walk with your girl, a red sunrise, a blue sky, the smell of flowers, the first day of spring, and such.

  The memory David chose to be as fine as this day was the one of his sixth birthday gift. At a time in his life before he knew of the struggles of his single mother to make ends meet he had no reason to feel guilty in any way about the funds she chose to spend on this purchase. She knew while most boys wanted a bike or a slingshot, or maybe even a BB gun, David was entranced by more intellectual and "artsy" pursuits. She knew from the way he asked questions about music and commented about the sounds that took the lead in many pieces, exactly what David would want for his birthday.

  A violin! Young David was awestruck. He was please beyond words. As David looks back now he is so thankful to his mother for bringing music into his life at such a young age. He really can't remember a time when he did not love music, or at least attempt to be part of it through play. Beginning on the violin and later taking up the piano as well, David remembered how it was a calming force in his youth. No matter what was going on, good or bad, music was a constant. For David music was an outlet for creativity, a pick me up, a calming force when upset. Music's a cure all for what ails ya, he likes to say. Yes my sixth birthday was another fine day, David thought as he turned the key and listened to the clanking of the valves of his tired machine.

  The short trip home was relaxing as well. To think about it, every trip home in Owensboro is "short" and therefore relaxing. Well easy on your schedule at least.

  Slowly making his way to The Villa had become a joyful activity for David. He was fitting in fairly well, and while he had not met too many folks yet, he was happy and found Owensboro to be a quaint and inviting little town not unlike his hometown in Virginia.

  Pulling into TheVilla's parking lot he thought to himself, could things get any better? Just look there, the rare parking spot on the front row. David didn't usually worry about how far he had to walk across a parking lot, after all he ran three or so miles each day so a few steps more weren't going to hurt him much. But hey on a day like this, if good fortune drops in your lap you take it. He pulled right into the front row spot with a smile and a slow relaxing deep breath.

  As David was just shutting the key off, he heard several loud bangs on his driver's side window. In fact he could even feel the concussion of whatever was hitting the glass. As he flinched away from the window and turned his head toward the glass to see what was going on he saw an older man with white hair emphatically banging a car key on his window with extreme force. David, for a moment anyway, was sure the glass would break; but it didn't.

  David instinctively tried to calm the situation with a gentle smile, but this only led Frank to believe this young man was being sarcastic with him. David reached down and pulled the handle on the door to slowly get out of the car. Frank stepped back in an offensive way, that is putting his body in physical attack mode, David thought.

  As David stepped to his feet and began closing the car door, Frank forcefully said, "Well aren't we the lucky one?"

  David, not understanding what the man meant, replied, "I'm sorry?"

  "As you should be young man," said Frank in a scolding manner. "You're showing the lack of manners that is making this country go to hell in a hand basket. Can I be Frank with you?"

  David softly replied, "Sure".

  "Christ son that was a rhetorical question," snapped Frank. "Look here, my names Frank Whitney, Dr. Frank Whitney, retired Professor that is and I've lived here at The Villa for quite some time."

  David let out an accidental, "Ooo Kkkk," dragging the OK out as if showing a lack of understanding.

  Frank didn't see this as proper and replied, "My you've got a smart mouth on you, don't you son?"

  David stammered to answer with a series of well, um, and ah's.

  Frank started back in, "Damn boy that was another rhetorical question, you slow or something?"

  David realizing he was in a no win situation now decided to try to change the tone of the conversation by simply introducing himself. "Hi, I'm David Kerr," David said while stretching out his hand to Frank.

  Frank ignored the offer of a handshake. "To hell with the pleasantries, son, let's git down ta buidness," said Frank with a slight snarl on his face. David thought Frank didn't really look mean; in fact he looked more like Elmer Fudd when that wascally wabbit got away. Yes, Frank's mannerisms were more comical in nature, and even likeable, despite the underlying anger.

  "What can I help you with, Frank," said David in as polite a tone as he could muster.

  Frank immediately noticed David's omission of Dr. Whitney and what he saw as the deliberate youthful insult of calling him by his first name. This, of course, only led to more ranting by Frank. "Oh don't get me in the red now, don't make me go to a dark place witcha," said Frank with an odd smile now and incessantly wringing his hands.

  David was completely at a loss. He had no idea what this fellow wanted so he chose just to stand there and listen. Stand there with a perplexed look on his face, that is.

  "You know exactly what you've done boy and I don't expect to see it again," said Frank now with his hands on his hips like a first grade teacher scolding a child in a schoolyard.

  "Well, I'm sorry but I'm not sure what you mean, Frank," said David again as politely as he could.

  "Oh, gonna play dumb then huh," snapped back Frank.

  "Well I, ah ?" David tried to reply but was cut off by Frank before he could finish his sentence.

  "Ok David," said Frank with a high pitched tone on the name, as if mocking him. "You know you put your little trash pile in my parking space," continued Frank while pointing his car key to his automobile parked all the way across the parking lot. "You kids these days; you just don't respect your elders anymore. "It's nothing but rudeness to make me walk while young David parks in my spot on the front row."

  David searching for an opportunity to simply apologize and end this fiasco of a conversation; and with pure goodwill in his heart, said "Oh, I didn't realize there were assigned spots for The Villa's tenants". Of course Frank mistook David's honest statement for sarcasm, especially being that there are no assigned parking places for anyone.

  "Ok young man, just because there's no law written about assigned parking spaces doesn't mean you should be rude about it, and take my space. Do you know how long I've lived here, and how long I've been using that parking space," asked
Frank as if he were implying he had earned his tenure as a Professor and now as a tenant of The Villa?

  "Well I ?" David started to say, but was cut off by Frank.

  "Would you stop interrupting me boy, I'm gonna buy you a dictionary for Christmas so you can look up the word rhetorical," said Frank with a condescending little laugh. "Well I've lived here for quite some time and everyone knows that's my parking space, and now so do you, so in the future make sure you don't park in it".

  "Understood," said David in a military way just trying to end this fruitless discussion.

  "Well OK then," said Frank in a relieved tone. "Ok then, well welcome to The Villa then, and as a welcoming gift you can leave your car in my spot this time but don't park there again," Frank said this as if he were hanging a gold medal around David's neck, as if it were the best prize anyone could receive.

  "Thanks," said David in a noncommittal way, almost if asking a question.

  At this point David thought, and more so hoped, that he could simply slink back to his apartment with his tail between his legs, knowing that he did wrong (he guessed), but happy to be through with it all. David was wrong.

  "Oh, now that we know each other," said Frank as if the parking spot conversation had created a friendship bond between them that would never be broken. "I could have sworn I saw you at the pool the other day with that girly girl, Amy; Am I mistaken?"

  "No," said David, not in the least bit interested in what direction this conversation would be taking.

  "Well let me tell you David, that girl's a T-R-A-M-P," spouted off Frank with an obnoxious grin while spelling out each letter of the word tramp. "I'll tell you what; you'd serve yourself well to steer clear of that little minks. She's, oh how do you young people say, been around the block; has a lot of boys she calls friends; um, or do you kids call girls like that just plain loose," said Frank without the slightest bit of couth to him.

  David's initial thought was this amount of rudeness seemed a bit odd from such a highly educated man, but then came to his senses and remembered socio-economic classes don't have a hold on polite behavior or manners.

  "Well I barely know Amy, but she seemed like a fairly nice girl," said David, quickly realizing he'd just contradicted Frank. He began to look around for a place to find cover when Frank unleashed his wrath for disagreeing with him.

  "Oh already under her spell I see, and sticking up for her" replied Frank with a mixed look; one of both humor and concern.

  "No, no, I just try not to judge so quickly," said David.

  "So you find me judgmental young David?" Frank then paused to see if David had a comeback.

  "Well at least you've learned what a rhetorical question is now, so maybe you can learn to stay away from trouble," said Frank in what he thought was the perfect sardonic manner. Frank could tell that David was a bit precocious and enjoyed the near peer or even playing field he'd created in his mind. David on the other hand believed after work time was for relaxation, not play time. But David, being ever the polite one ?

  Frank continued by putting a hand on David's shoulder. David thought as a joke; this guy moves pretty fast, he hasn't even bought me dinner yet.

  "David, now this is not rhetorical, have you dated many girls?"

  David's first instinct was to point out that it was none of Frank's damn business and this was getting a bit personal, especially after starting with a stupid parking assignment. David decided to go along though as he thought it might shorten this lingering conversation.

  "Well, Frank, I suppose a few along the way," David replied trying to sound experienced but realizing he really only sounded silly.

  "Oh, well you sound like a regular Don Juan" Frank muttered with a hint of a laugh. "Then you ought to be able to tell a good girl from a bad girl, a true blue from a she'll use you, so to speak."

  "I suppose," replied David just wanting and waiting for Frank to finish his diatribe.

  "That's not much of an affirmative answer David, so I'll just assume you're asking for some help here," said Frank believing he was truly being helpful. David was feeling worn down now and decided just to give in to Frank here.

  "Let me give you some advice on Amy, and dating woman in general". David would bet the farm Frank hadn't had a date in longer than he himself had been on this earth. "Women are like a flower, if you treat them well they will stay with you a while and show you beauty and color your life. If you ignore them, or leave them out in the cold, they will wilt and die and take their beauty and grace with them and leave you empty," said Frank in an almost theatrical style, like he was performing Shakespeare on Broadway.

  "Do you believe what I say son," asked Frank. David thought it best just to agree with Frank rather than argue.

  "Yes, I see your point," agreed David.

  "Shit son you are gullible," snapped Frank. David was even more perplexed now. Frank continued. "Woman aren't flowers they're people, just like you and I only prettier and they smell better," Frank said with humor while leaning towards David as if sniffing him. "Life ain't simple, it ain't a flower, and it sure as hell isn't a fairytale, so grow up and steer clear of the gal's that'll rip your heart out, or you'll regret it."

  David actually thought this was some sound advice. A bit obvious, but sound just as well. He just didn't think judging Amy on the first impression, or from this stranger and strange old man Frank, would be prudent. He thought it worth the risk to spend a bit of time with such an attractive young thing. Not unlike most young men would think before they'd learned the true cost of such risks.

  But sometimes advice should be taken, regardless of its poor delivery. Frank didn't make up these things about Amy; he observed them and believed them. However, trying to talk sense to a young man with an eye for a girl is like trying to tie your shoe with one hand. It can be done but it is tedious and you'll probably get a cramp.

  To David's joy Frank chose to end the conversation abruptly with the statement, "You sure seem like a happy young man," and a slap on the back. As David was walking away he thought he heard Frank say "I despise happy people," under his breath.

  As David reached the courtyard he was sure he heard Frank mutter something strange from the parking lot where he'd left him. Maybe Frank thought he was being "hip" when he softly spoke, "Rock on ? you horse's ass," pronounced ars. Frank's quite a character thought David as his pace slowed across the courtyard.

  David even came to a stop and leaned against one of the two gazebos as he chose to ponder his conversation with Frank. Or his lesson from Frank, he thought, there really wasn't a lot of conversing was there? David was torn, should he heed Frank's advice or ignore his unrequested and somewhat unwanted help.

  David, being a deliberate thinker, decided to go over the pros and cons. First in Frank's favor, he may have a point. I did notice some of the signs of a negative personality in Amy, thought David. But I'll be damned if I didn't notice even more in Frank. Amy certainly seemed to know her way around a flirt. Is that what Frank meant when he alluded to her being a tramp. Frank didn't really allude, thought David; I doubt he's ever been subtle enough to do that. Maybe I should buy him a dictionary so he can look up the words subtle and allude, ha ha. OK, Frank did have a point, but how can I possibly make a decision solely off of his advice, that wouldn't be fair to Amy.

  David was thinking to himself that it wouldn't be fair to Amy, but also and more so, deep down inside he was thinking it wouldn't be fair to David. David had before him a chance at a relationship with a pretty girl vs. ignoring Frank. Not really a tough decision.

  So David quickly moved on to the cons of Frank's advice, as he slowly shuffled his feet away from the gazebo and toward the bottom step of the stairs to his apartment. Frank was a coarse and bitter old fellow, thought David. Again David made himself a bet that Frank hadn't even had a date in many, many years. The guys just soar about his unhappiness and he doesn't want to see anyone else happy either. He's lonely so he wants
to see other people in the same boat.

  Yah, David was able to dismiss Frank's advice fairly easily. The cons simply outweigh the pros here; it's that simple, thought David. I suppose there's risk, but hey life is risk.

  What David didn't want to admit to himself was that he is not a risk taker. He's a thinker and for good reason. David cares about people, he doesn't use them and he expects the same. That expectation can cause him pain if the opposite occurs, so he tries to steer clear of bad folks and keep himself safe. Amy's beauty and flirting blinded him to his own inner rules, or morals, you might say. Amy had a hold on David and it seemed that hold wouldn't be broken, at least not by Frank or by David even though he should know better.