Cherry - part 19

Cathy

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The bus is crowded and she's more than tired. She just sent an application for the home nursing school. It was a hell of a ride out there. And now what? In two months she might be starting at the school. Is she going to quit her job at the store? She throws out the thought and look outside the window. Nothing and everything passes her by.

And then her cell phone rings. She picks it out from her pocket. It's Cherry.

“Hi.” She answers. Is she psychic?

“How are you?”

“Just delivered the application for the school. You?”

“I had dinner with Percival last night. How do you think I am?” Cherry's voice faded in and out.

“Oh, poor girl. You must be freaked. I'll take the next bus to your place.”
“No need, I'll send Richard to pick you up. At the station?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Don't mention it. I just have to speak to you now.”

“I can hear that.”

And she hangs up. Gossip. That's her hobby, she thinks. Knowing everything about everybody, that's how you get a good conversation started.

Richard is not tall, has pretty big eyes and dark hair. He must be around forty. It is the first time Cathy sees Richard. They shake hands.

“I understand Miss Cherry needs you right away?” His voice is soothing.

“Yeah, it's a girl thing.”

The ride is short and she is mute while he is driving. Cherry is waiting on the front porch when they arrive.

“Tell me about it.” Cathy says, as soon as she gives Cherry a hug. They start walking towards Cherry's room, while she breathes heavily. They place themselves on the couch in her living room.

“He is so sweet.” Cherry says, and it is as if that sentence closes the entire conversation for a while. She doesn't know what to say, just as much as Cathy doesn't know what to say.

Cathy looks around the room. Her apartment is smaller than Cherry's rooms combined. She is ashamed now, as she looks at Cherry and her innocent, blank eyes, her way too pink room, and she is about to tell her about feelings she has for a boy she already knows in the most intimate ways.

“I don't know what to do, Cathy?” Cherry's arms swing back and forth over the couch. She sighs and looks at her.

“You're in love with him. What more is there to it?” She doesn't really feel that helpful by giving that answer.

“Should I tell him?” Cherry's voice is flat now, and she sounds like she just took some Valium. Cathy wonders if she'll fall asleep randomly mid-sentence.

“Why not? He's as insecure as you. I should know, otherwise he wouldn't have asked for my services.” As soon as she says it out loud, the air in the room suddenly feels colder.

“I shouldn't be talking to you about this, should I?” Cherry mumbles and sighs.

“It's just... I didn't know who else to talk to.” Her elaboration makes Cathy feel better. When she heard Cherry's voice on the phone, she immediately wanted to help her. Now her insides are all cold.

“It's okay. I want to help, I just don't know how to do that.”

They both smile at each other, but Cathy feels more vulnerable than she had ever felt before.