The Art Of Us

22 • All I Have To Offer

Fred finally turned off his computer when Alice came walking in his office, with a take-out bag in her hand. He smiled brightly upon seeing his friend. The last few weeks had been tough, so seeing a warm familiar face was all he needed.

"It's nice if you to come have lunch with me. Sorry that I've been so busy." He excused himself a little ashamed.

Of course he had always time for her, nothing was too much when it came to Alice, but he wished he saw her a little bit more often.

"Well, a town doesn't lead itself now, does it?" Alice smiled. She would never hold it against him for not having time, when his job came with a lot of pressure.

"I promise to make more time for you soon." He gave her a warm smile.

"How are you, Alice? Really." Fred had to ask, especially since the last few months had been crazy.

"I mean, we haven't really talked about the Hal thing. Are you going to report him?" Fred was almost afraid to ask, but he wondered if she has thought through any kind of plan to stand up against a vile man like Hal.

"I am, even though I am not sure if it will work. It doesn't feel like enough." Alice put down her fries again. The thought of him made her appetite vanish.

"Busting his ass to the cops still isn't going to change anything, you know? The problem is way bigger than just Hal."

"I wish I could make a real change. But that's just a fantasy, I guess. Being a woman just sucks at times." Alice tried to play it cool, but Fred knew her well enough to see that she was suffering.

"Alice, if you really want to do something, you should go for it. You know I've got your back, together we can make more possible than you think." He encouraged her, hoping that she'd know that he would support her in anything. He was ready for the fight, just as he promised.

"But what then? I can't change the world, Fred." Alice looked defeated.

"Start smaller. Like with this town. What is that you want?" Fred asked, which was the first time she could actually put into words what she wanted to achieve.

"For women to know that they are not alone, like I thought I was. I believed I could handle it on my own, but it was lonely. Very lonely." She said quietly.

If she could make the difference for just one woman, she'd be more than happy. It would never feel like enough, but in a fight as hard as this one she needed to take baby steps.

"Create a support group, talk to principal Wheaterbee to get a mandatory class on sexual harassment and consent. Educate teenagers." Fred proposed. It could be a start.

"That's actually a great idea. Make a change in the younger generation." Alice's eyes started to beam with hope again.

"Exactly." Fred smiled at her.

"And you will help me with that?" She asked, needing him more than anything.

"Always. Whatever you need, I'll be there as much as I can." He took her hand and squeezed it comfortingly. Alice smiled back, feeling more and more grateful every single day that she had a friend like Fred.

Her phone rang, telling her that she had a message. She took a quick glance, believing it could wait until she saw that it was her bank. Her eyes grew wide, and she took her hand back to grab her phone.

"What is it?" Fred asked worried, sensing that something was off.

"I have to go." Alice's eyes were glued to her phone and she stood up instantly, ready to make her way out of City Hall.