√
“You Said…”
Inevitably, finality came.
Gone was everything… and the couch,
the one your parents gave us when we moved in together.
Such a comforting start.
Such a debilitating end.
“You didn’t even look as the storage van truck drove off,
the driver waving his ‘Have-a-nice-day’ hand,” she said.
“Yeah. I know. I’m sorry, honey. You miss the birdcage, don’t you?
At least a Manhattan Mourning Dove can make a new home easy.”
“I’m okay. At least I’m okay with the page we’ve turned,” you said, trying in vain to put on a smile.
“Yeah… well… let’s enjoy our last day, eh?
Beer?”
“Sure.”
We walk our two empty rooms, twice, drinking faster than usual, realizing how naked life has become. You gaze out the windows, pondering the plight of other curtain-less, blind-less, shade-less, windows across the airshaft between apartments… those others with moratorium time expired too, taking their last look… at us.
“Time to make it for the train. Two suitcases each. Not bad. At least we won’t be taking up a lot of space. You sure your folks are okay with this?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Train stations don’t change, do they?”
“Uh-uh.”
-*-
“Whoa! Damn one step into Suffolk County and I’m sweatin’ like a...”
“Don’t say it. Not far to walk now,” you said.
“Two blocks from the train stop, right?”
“Uh-huh,” you said.
“Jesus… what happened to this place… the neighborhood? Boarded up houses. Trashed yards. Lawns covered in weeds.”
“Some got little blue flowers poking up through the weeds, notice?” you said.
“Yeah. Little blue flowers.” You could always find something good to think, no matter what.
“Lot of weeds, though. Weeds everywhere, all in the interest of a political agenda that doesn’t give a fuck about anything but the buck. Makes you wonder.”
“What’s to wonder about?”
“Just… I wonder if the party’s God is takin’ it all in. You’d think the omniscient one would lift a finger, any finger, and make us, and all those… you know…other’s getting their notice, really feel “noticed?”
“Bad pun, Lawrence.”
“None intended. Too dire to risk a pun, wouldn’t you say?” “Just another block to mom’s place, right?
“Right.” you said.
Suitcases heavy?”
“I got it. Okay for now,” you said. Takin’ a breath, you smiled at the gutter and it’s carcass. “Hey, at least we’re not roadkill,” you said.”
“You’re right about that. Not yet. Give him 4 more years and we might not get off so easy”.
You giggled again as your mother swung open the front door, waving like it was D Day or something. Damn… funny how your smile makes everything seem… seem a little less ugly.
Waving back at Mom, you said, “Oh, Lawrence. Eviction is eviction. Period.” Pushing open the gate, you greeted your mother like there was not a worry in the world. “Hi Mom. Love the dress. You look wonderful,” you said.
“Oh, it’s such a beautiful day, darling,” replied your mother. “Such a beautiful day.”
“Yeah, you’re right, Mom. It is a beautiful day,” you said.
-*-
“I tried to keep count, honey. All those things you said. So many words I remember. But it’s getting a little harder now. You passed away… so long ago. Least you stuck around long enough to see grass turn green again and that son of a bitch exit the White House.”
“Uh… Lawrence, it’s time for your pills.”
I glance up. Nurse Collins smiles a lot too, but not like you. I can still see your smiles… but that’s getting a little harder too. “Cataracts aren’t for sissies. Are they nurse?”
“Are they what, Lawrence?”
“You’ve always got a smile for me, nurse. Thank you.”
And with that, I remembered when you used to smile with, “Drink your beer slower, Lawrence. No need to hurry,” you said.
Yeah. No need to hurry. Time will catch up sooner, than later. “I love you, as always, dear. Do you hear me?”
Some flash fiction addressing how time has run out for many a renter. How does eviction effect the mass minority? Even the “You said” group. What’s ahead? doG help us. Health, Blondie-comb-over. Health, you creature from somewhere we can only search for in some psycho-indigent atmosphere way the f*** out there. (Image from pinterest)
But I did find two faults. Even though it was only two people, I had difficulty discerning who was talking with only the conversation to guide me and no people talking. And it does seem to focus on the current president without saying, and I don't think Trump really can do anything positive to the economy or can do anything about laws affecting tenants that are long-standing. The Congress would have change the law to improve the lot of tenants.
I have been a landlord since 1980 when I started renting my home in Atlanta after losing my position there and becoming a short-term professor in my home state of Wisconsin. When summer came, they let me go for reasons I don't know and I couldn't return to my house because it was under lease. So I moved in with my parents for the summer. While my mother welcomed me, my father was not at all happy with my being there.
It is interesting that the lowest people on the economic brackets, hourly wage earners and renters, are faced with being pushed out into the street, while landlords have the power of eviction, after a brief reprieve for the tenants of a month or two, and can collect their rent even though the renters have no income.
My partner's business rents a small space in a strip shopping center. During the pandemic, she has been required to close her shop, earning no income. But, her landlord insists on full rent, regardless if she is open or not. My partner will survive the pandemic, partly because she made masks for free that many gave her money for. Other shops, without rent relief of some sort, will close and never come back.
Ron