Another Michael

Chapter 3

At 5 o'clock sharp I'm at Mrs. Steven's door, ready to entertain her granddaughter. Jason opens the door. Doesn't he have any other clothes? All black again? And it looks like they're the same exact ones since yesterday or that night on the bench. Steve Jobs at his best clothes wise.

'Hello', I smile widely.

'Hi, Julie!' he smiles back.

'Actually, my name is Mona.'

'Seriously, your name really is Mona?' he chuckles.

What's so funny, I wonder. But smile back.

'Yes, it is. Why?'

'That's a little old lady name.'

'You're a little old lady!' I burst out and stop in my tracks.

Well, this started well! But now he's laughing with his hands on his belly, which is quite unusual for a man his age. Seventy? He laughs and laughs and I decide to interrupt with a 'It means hopes and dreams in Arabic'. Because I'm so interesting every which way.

'But you're not Arabic', he goes.

'So? It still means that.'

'What are you?'

'You know, human...'

'Don't wanna tell me?'

'I'm Romanian, ok? Why?'

'There was this little accent in your voice and I was just curious.'

'So now you know.'

'So now I know. Vampire land.'

'You know too much, sir. I might have to kill you.'

'So I'm the psycho, huh?' he grins.

I laugh. I like him. I like them both.

'Yes, you and your... wife?'

'What wife?'

'Mrs. Stevens, remember her?'

Mrs. Stevens yells out from the other room

'I'm not his wife, I'm his master! I would never marry this freak!'

Laughter.

'Jason, enough with the witty banter, let the girl in, we need to go.'

So he lets me in. The apartment has the same layout as mine, it's just a bit more stuffy and loaded with furniture and everything one can gather up in a lifetime. But it feels cozy and homey. I can relax, the little girl can't be that bad, can she?

'Ava is still napping. She might be a little grumpy when she wakes up, but she'll be ready to play in no time.'

'Oh, great', I smile, not having played with a child since I was a child myself.

They leave. I sit in an armchair with nothing to do and at some point decide to pick up a book from the shelf. 'The Art of Seduction'. Well, sweet little old grandma must have had quite a life! Two hour later, the child is still not up, but I've read almost the entire book.

Jason comes in. He's alone.

'Where's Mrs. Stevens?'

'She's at the hospital. They need to do further investigations and I'm going back for her later.'

'Oh... is everything ok? Nothing too serious, I hope.'

'I hope so too.' He looks worried.

'Ava is still not up.'