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Never Say Never The door slammed on the angry words and he walked away. With a quickening pace his stride lengthened, became a run, and each footfall spoke to him from the rain soaked pavement. Free! Free! Free! Free! Raymond caught a glimpse of himself in the storefront windows sliding by and was surprised to see an ear-to-ear grin. “Witch,” he mouthed to the memory of the woman left behind. “You’re a witch,” he shouted, only because he refused to say “bitch.” The grin was still with him as he reached his apartment building and bound up the front steps. It didn’t even fade as he discovered he’d forgotten his key again and randomly pushed the buttons of his neighbor’s apartments. 3-A was the first to respond. J. McClarren the mailbox read and though he’d never met her, she had often been his angel of mercy, buzzing him in to his home. He raced up the steps and passing 3-A he shouted through the door, “Thanks again for letting me in.” There was no response and he continued up the stairwell accompanied by the smell of tuna and noodles. “No, I’ve not forgotten,” Jeanine spoke into the phone. “It’s just that I’ve got to have a bite to eat before I come over. It was such a day at work and I’m exhausted and famished. I’ll feel better as soon as I get some food in my stomach. It always works miracles. ‘A little tuna and noodles,’ my mother used to say, ‘and you can cast a spell on a fence post.’ How am I supposed to know what it means? Right. Yes, I’ve got the address. Three Sister’s Inn, 333 Coventry Lane. Right. Wear something black. Right. See you soon.” She took her plate to the fire escape and watched the rising moon appear over the city skyline. It was nearly full, and she realized with a start that the next day was the vernal equinox. Though not superstitious, an ominous shiver passed through her as she pictured her mother standing in the kitchen brewing a drink for her father. “Honey, you’ve got to remember something,” the spirit of her mother spoke. “If you forget everything else I’ve ever tried to teach you, don’t ever forget this. ‘The way to a man’s heart is through his spirit. But the spirit won’t listen unless the stomach is full.’ Now, I know your father and I haven’t always seen eye to eye, and that’s OK. And I know we haven’t always had everything you might have wanted, but that’s OK, too. Because what we do have is better than all the money and all the peace that can be had. What we have is . . .” her mother stopped short, interrupted by a shout from the living room. “What’s for dinner?” “Tuna and noodles,” was the reply and since that particular conversation was never continued, Jeanine always remembers that the most important thing in the world was tuna and noodles, and that’s what she cooked whenever she needed comfort food. Raymond stood at the open window, admiring the full moon, and made a monumental decision. Romantic love was something he could live without. Women were trouble. Double trouble – hard to get, hard to keep. Never again would he allow himself to be bewitched by a lovely smile, a warm embrace, or a soft enchanting voice. With the succulent odors of tuna and noodles, his favorite dish of childhood, wafting in on the evening breeze, he decided he was famished and must get something to eat, and soon. He checked the refrigerator, the freezer, and the cupboards and decided there was nothing worthy of being eaten in his whole apartment. Without a clear mission, he grabbed his coat, left the apartment, and blindly raced down the stairs. He never saw the darkly clad figure on the floor below and the collision sent them both sprawling, he falling down the next flight into darkness. “Where am I,” Raymond moaned. Jeanine rushed to his side and removed the moist washcloth from his eyes and tenderly wiped his forehead. “Just lie still. You’ve had a bad fall. You’re going to be Ok, but for now you need to rest,” she cooed. “Who are you?” he pleaded. “I’m your friend,” she smiled. “Oh,” he said, closing his eyes and losing consciousness once more. “Look, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the meeting. Something was going down that couldn’t be avoided. Tell your sisters I’m sorry but I might be tied up for quite a spell. Thanks for understanding. See you soon.” Jeanine softly hung up the phone to see Raymond staring at her. He started to speak but stopped when she smiled, kneeled beside him and gently raised her fingers to his lips. The moonlight fell across them and in that moment Raymond lost the race once more. In that moment he succumbed to the pleasures of being served and knew he would gladly serve in return. Free no more, in love again, bewitched by those lovely fingers that softly caressed his fevered brow. Jeanine smiled and knew how right her mother had been. Honorable Mention Fall 2002 24 Hour Short Story Contest
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