Ablizorm

Misfortune - Nov 08

Toni never used to have a temper. She was the easy going, smart, collected girl the neighbors ignored and her friends adored. When did that change? Since when did the family across the street, who, previously, she'd had little idea of their existence, give her side long glances of pity, a gaze that would break when they realized she was staring back. I don't need their sympathy. I just need...my friends. That's who I need right now. Toni looked longingly out of the kitchen window. It had been a day since.

Toni didn't dare call the police. She still suspected some to be shoulder deep in her business. Then there was the fact that the Confrontation was tomorrow. Tomorrow.

Toni sighed. But why bother? Zuri was gone, and by the looks of it, she wasn't planning on coming back anytime soon. So it's just me, Toni thought bitterly, biting her lip. Whenever I manage to make real friends, I just have to push them away don't I? Toni clasped her hands around her coffee mug, staring determinedly out the window. She needed to think.

Ironically enough, she had informed Taylor via phone— finding his number in Zuri's phone book— that he shouldn't come over. She used the house phone, not daring to drive down to the market and face him herself. God, she really was a coward. Stop the self pity. Her mind warned, sounding like the hypocrite she was.

Toni forced her gaze to leave the kitchen window, bringing her glare to the piece of paper she had set in front of her. What am I even doing? Toni stared down at the parchment, the paper in which she was expected to write a letter. Apparently, the police had not forgotten about the anonymous letter, or Zuri's 'suspicious' behavior' a few weeks back.

They had sent a notice which had arrived in the mail that morning, basically demanding that Zuri set up an appointment. Toni had a pretty decent idea of what they wanted to talk to her about.

So there was that. Toni figured she'd need to come up with a pretty believable response to get the police off their tails. Well, her tail, that was.

Toni pinched the bridge of her nose in overwhelmed frustration. What was she going to write? Dear Police, the person who talked to you ran away and hasn't contacted me since? Also this was like literally yesterday. Hope you understand, thanks? Toni had a pretty good feeling that that wouldn't cut it. Ugh.

~•~

Toni grabbed the ball point pen —which had sat forgotten on the counter next to the paper— and started her first sentence.

Dear... Police? Police station? Detective whatsitsface?

Toni sighed, taking a moment.

Dear... Detective Zorablim, I'd like to apologize for...

Toni stepped out of the kitchen, clutching her letter in her hands. She brought it up to read one last time.

Dear Detective Zorablim,

I'd like to formally apologize for the inconvenience my friend and I have caused you and your staff over these past few weeks. I assure you, the incident was nothing more than an unfortunate misunderstanding that we will do well to make sure never occurs twice. You see, an old neighbor, after hearing of these events, confessed to sending us a prank letter to uphold an old, silly little tradition between our two houses. It's really our fault we hadn't seen through it all immediately.

~T. Austin Z. Sauda

Toni was about to open the front door when she realized there was something else. Fumbling with the pen, she knelt down and pulled the top off with her teeth, setting the letter onto her thigh. Letting the cap fall to the floor, Toni pressed the pen to the paper to write down one last thing.