Higher

Kindness

I was already sitting on my rickety porch chair ready to go by the time Anthony pulled up. As soon as the car was in park the back door opened Damien bounding over to where I was.

"Ms. Jeanne! I missed you. How are you? Dad said we are going to go see your car today because it broke. Did you know that I broke one of my car toys once? I wasn't able to put it back together though." 

He rattled in his sweet voice.

I smiled, barely registering the sound of Anthony leaving his car and heading to the back door where Damien had emerged from. I was too focused on the excited little boy in front of me; he truly was adorable.

"Yes, your dad is being really kind helping me today. I am happy you are coming with us." 

I told him while looking up to see what Anthony was doing.

The man was making his way towards the two with each arm holding at least five, very full, grocery bags. My face scrunched in confusion. I opened my mouth to ask what it was all for when Damien spoke up.

"Dad and I brought you a gift! Food...and snacks! And dad said you can't say no because you need them and its a gift. So saying no is rude, and he said you are too nice to do that." 

Damien spoke without a care in the world while my mouth hung open in disbelief.

"Yes, well, thank you both very much. You really didn't have too." I managed to get out while letting them into my house. 

I definitely wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth; not when I could barely afford to breathe. 

"Don't worry about it. It's just a gift, like Damien said. Don't overthink it." Anthony spoke as he set the bags on the counter.

I couldn't help but overthink it though. 

Why would a man like Anthony help a woman like me? Why was he being so kind all of a sudden? Was he expecting me to repay him? With what? I could barely keep my head above water as it was. 

Anthony noticed that she had gone into her headspace again, murmuring numbers under her breath. He wondered if that was a coping mechanism; a form of comfort for Jeanne when she felt overwhelmed. Him and Damien began to put the food away figuring she would fix it later if she didn't like where they placed things. Amongst the bags were fresh fruits, vegetables, and more meat options. By the time they had finished, Jeanne was still lost in the clouds, so Anthony gently touched her crossed arms.

"Jeanne, we put everything away. Let's get your car settled." 

He tried to say it softly, but I still startled out his hold making him frown.

When we were half way to his car I stopped, causing him to pause and look back at me. Damien continued his way to the truck hopping in not noticing the two staring at each other; one uncomfortably tense and the other curious.

"I - I can't pay you back for that, yet. I probably can't for a while. I don't know why you would do this, unless you expect payment, and I don't have money for you." 

I began to spiral before Anthony interrupted me.

"I didn't do it expecting you to pay me back, Jeanne. In any form. Like I said, don't overthink it. Let's go, the mechanic is waiting for us." 

Anthony ended the conversation, before heading towards the driver's side of his truck.

25 minutes later, Damien, once again, jumped out of the truck as soon as it was in park and ran into the mechanic's garage. He was hollering something I couldn't quite hear. I was shocked that he ran off so abruptly. Glancing at Anthony as he exited the car, I decided not to worry, because there was no concern or irritation painting his features. 

It occurred to me then, that the two must be familiar with those working at the shop.

Once we were in the small office, waiting for someone to come help us, I began to worry my lip. I mentally calculated how much money I had to spare. Maybe I just needed to pick up more shifts...maybe find another job that pays better. As soon as my car was working again, I made the decision to spend time in the library job searching on my off time. 

A man emerged from a side door in work clothes with oil stains new and old. He was conventionally handsome with blonde hair and the bluest eyes I have seen. They were like the sky of a bright summer day. His skin was darker than hers, similar to Anthony's. The stranger, obviously the mechanic, embraced Anthony in a sort of man-hug before shooting me an easy smile and a wink. 

Uninterested, I looked towards the floor to escape the attention. 

"Tony, you didn't tell me that piece of shit car belongs to such a beautiful woman!" 

The mans voice was thunderous, filling the small space with reverberations long after he stopped speaking.

"Jack, this is Jeanne. Jeanne this is my friend, Jackson. Please excuse his crudeness; the man was never taught manners." 

Anthony's voice was full of humor.

I was captivated by the change in Anthony. This was a boy reunited with his best friend, not the cold man I've only just began to see defrost. 

"Jeanne, do you mind going around to the garage and making sure Damien isn't getting into something he shouldn't?" 

Anthony's request was more of a demand. I wanted to stay and talk about my car; Damien was technically not my responsibility. It wouldn't take long to find the boy, so I acquiesced briskly walking away. The quicker I found him, the quicker I could figure out a deal on the car.  The possible costs, what I had left in my bank account, and the size of my next checks at the top of my mind as I wandered away. 

"So what's the deal with her Tony? As good looking as she is, she looks like a Spook..." 

Anthony internally cringed at the name they gave those who were users growing up. Jack was as close as a brother; they were both raised in a small town shittier than this one. Every house on their block was a drug den essentially. A lot of the individuals who entered and left those home looked like ghost and zombies. Hence, their boy minds agreed to call them Spooks.  

"Don't call her that." Anthony demanded.

Jack held his hands up in front of him in a surrender motion. 

"Sorry, man. I just know you. You have that look in your eyes."

Anthony snorted. Jack had no idea what he was talking about. He didn't have a look in his eyes. He didn't know if it was because of how Damien adores the strange woman, or because of a deeper sense of guilt and pity at war, but Jeanna was something special. She sure didn't see it, but he could. 

"Set up the payments to my account. Call me when the car is ready and we'll be by to pick it up."

Jack knew better than to question his friend a second time, and nodded. As soon as that mischievous smile lit up Jack's face, Anthony new what was coming next.

"Sooooo....you like her eh?"

Before Anthony could respond, a feminine screech erupted from the direction Jeanne had disappeared.