Tenement Funster

Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby...

Roger wore a smile the entire journey home.  After organizing some new stock that arrived for the shop, Roger stopped at the market to get some groceries before walking to the mews house.  After putting away the food, he removed his work clothes and carefully hung them up.  Roger pulled on a new satin robe and went to the kitchen to start dinner.

The radio was switched on and Roger placed the frozen meatballs in the oven to cook. He was filling a pot with water to boil for pasta when there was a knock on the door.  He walked over and opened it.  Curious who was calling this time of day.  It was a young woman with long strawberry blond hair.  She was wearing a pair of corduroy coveralls and holding a plastic cup.  

"Hi!"  Roger said to be friendly.  

"Hello..."  the woman responded.  "You must be Roger!"  she remarked. 

"How do you know my name?"  the blond questioned.  The young woman smiled.

"Brian told me..."  she replied.  Roger did not recall Brian mentioning a young woman and his curiosity grew.  

"And how do you know Brian?"  Roger asked in a polite manner.  

"I live next door and we met that morning you were leaving town for business..."  the woman explained.  She stuck her hand out to him.  "I'm Bea...well...Beatrice...Beatrice Caldwell..."  she stated.  Roger shook her hand and felt some relief at knowing who she was.

"Nice to meet you...I didn't know we had a neighbor..."  Roger remarked.  She nodded.

"I was away when you moved in...visiting family..."  she explained.  "I would have come over to welcome you if I'd been here...but I only returned the night before you went on your trip..."  she added.  Roger nodded understanding.  He was preparing to ask her if she lived alone and then saw a young girl running over to the stairs and climbing them as Bea turned to see her.

"Who is this?"  Roger asked as the girl came up and stood next to Bea.  Wrapping her arm around the woman's legs and peering up at Roger.  

"This is my daughter...Lucy..."  Bea advised.  "It's just the two of us next door..."  she clarified.  Roger looked at the young girl.  She looked like her mother and had the same strawberry blond hair.  Wearing it in a pony tail.  

"Hi Lucy....I'm Roger..."  he said in a gentle manner.  

"Are you a girl?"  Lucy asked him plainly.  Roger smirked and Bea shook her head.

"Lucy...Roger's a boy...a man..."  she explained.  Roger imagined him standing here in a satin robe with his long billowy blond hair had caused the confusion.  He knew how feminine he looked and could appreciate the child's mistake.

"It's okay..."  Roger assured them both.  "It's not the first time it's happened..."  he remarked and Bea smiled at him.  She seemed to remember why she had come and held up the plastic cup.

"Sorry...I just remembered why I popped over!"  she exclaimed.  "I was wondering if you had any milk?"  she asked.  "I accidently spilled the last of mine and need some for dinner..."  she explained.  Roger smiled at her.

"I just bought some...you're in luck..."  he replied and gestured for them to step inside.  "Come on in and I'll get you some..."  he suggested.  Bea and Lucy walked in and looked around as Roger took the cup from her and headed for the refrigerator.

"You've got a lovely place..."  Bea told him.  Roger nodded as he opened the refrigerator.

"We like it...lots of room compared to our previous digs..."  he remarked.  He filled the cup and walked back to them.   "Here you go!"  he told her and she took the milk from him.