In Search of a Sidekick

A Sidekick

The jingling of bells caused Karen's head to pop up as I entered the front door of the coffee shop. I didn't see how with all the noise in the room from study groups, coffee dates, and one sided phone calls. I ordered  my coffee before making my way to her table. I didn't want to get wrapped up in a conversation before I could have a steamy tall cup to grip onto as a crutch.

"Good morning," I said as I sat down.

"It's noon."

"Barely. What was it that you wanted to talk about?"

She smiled and rolled her fingers on the table like she was in the drum line. "So I've been thinking lately. What can we do to get your mind off of," she bobbed her head to try to think of a word. "well, your mind! And then it hit me: your glory days."

"No."

"Sam, hear me out."

"I told you, I'm practically retired now." I sipped on my coffee, which was slightly too hot to drink.

Karen cleared her throat and began to talk in a less bubbly tone. "Sam, sixty-eight-year-olds retire. You are twenty-six, which means you still have to do more than sit in your bed with a sleeve of saltines and a Netflix subscription."

"I don't see the issue with that."

"I do. I'm your therapist, and I'd also like to say your friend. It's my job to help you."

"This isn't a therapy session, Karen. Let me be depressed and come back every week with some cash in hand, okay? Therapy sessions mean you get paid, pretty cool how that works."

She sighed. "Listen,the city is tired of paying for a hero that doesn't save anymore. Your retirement fund is running dry, and that means there won't be many more therapy sessions if you keep this up."

I wanted to fight her on it, but I knew she was right. An early retirement with no work related responsibilities was too good to be true.

Karen took my silence as an agreement and proceeded, "I know it's a lot to do on your own, and I've been thinking of a solution for a while now." She cocked her eyebrows and smiled wide; a signal for me to ask what it was.

"What's your solution, Karen," I said dryly.

"A sidekick!"

I could feel my heart beat quicken, and I wasn't sure if it was from the caffeine or sheer dread. "A sidekick?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"I know you don't like change, and that's why I'm bringing this up now instead of later."

My heart started to beat faster. "What's later?"

"The mayor wants you to decide if you would like the contract renewed." I could tell she noticed how panicked I was because she quickly added on, "It's still a month from now. You have time."

"Okay, alright." I breathed in and tried to calm myself down before I worked myself up. "A sidekick."