The Pillars were like any other well known family in the upper middle class of the town of Baltimore in the 1890's. The Berks of course being one of them, as well as, the Evans and the Williams. To be frank, most of the upper middle class consisted of John's friends.
Since the city of Baltimore consisted of apartments and close buildings and stoned streets, the middle class and lower class parts of the cities were close by. John didn't mind walking through the lower class streets to get to certain places. However, he never adventured to the lower parts where the Italians and the Irish lived. He just never did. He never was much of a traveler either.
However, Benjamin told him many funny stories about the Italian and Irish people that lived there. Ones about how they came to be or why they made what they made. Benjamin liked to crack jokes. That's what John liked about him the most. A thirty year old man throwing jokes for no reason. At times John found himself hanging out with Benjamin just to hear his jokes.
Now looking back on it, Benjamin didn't care much about having a profession or getting a job. He was much less like his father and mother. They were hard workers and everything they did was serious and not a tone out of line.
Benjamin was an alcoholic but at the same time who wasn't? John liked to smoke at times when he was nervous which he had taken the habit from his father. Sure, he did drink but only at parties and events. Secretly, he enjoyed the plays he and Benjamin attended only to look for a women.
Benjamin was a player at times. He slept with one women one night and the next a different women. No girl was right for him. John noticed Benjamin suffered greatly from a broken heart and drowned himself in drinking, smoking, and seeking for love. He was a drunk wandering man in the streets of Maryland.
However the thing that bothered John the most was that Benjamin was considered handsome in all the women of Maryland. He had perfect black hair and emerald green eyes.
John would find himself remembering points growing up as a young adult with Benjamin, and calling him names and say how only the girls liked his looks. Of course, being Benjamin, he retorted back by telling John that he didn't look half bad with his brown hair and caramel colored eyes.
"One day a lady will look at you and you'll catch her eye and instantly you'll fall in love and have a family of ten children." Benjamin said jokingly.
John sighed as he noticed one part was true. Indeed he had a rather interest in Ms. Willam. As a child and now as an adult. His feelings never changed. Even when they drifted apart. So, when he had to ask her for help and he indeed had to see her it hurt him.
It reminded him of the feelings he once had and that were never returned. Now that he realized that his feelings had stuck with him all these years he had no intention on expressing them. He wouldn't stand for it and get hurt again. It wouldn't be worth it. Just thinking about it put him in a terrible mood as he sat across from Benjamin.
Benjamin was in his usual brown suit and top hat. His chained pocket watch was seen in his pocket. He was slouching and sipping whiskey as he waited for the plan in which John was there to tell him.
"John you said you had a lead?" Benjamin asked as he crossed his legs.
"Yes, well me and Ms. Willam do-." John began but Benjamin interrupted him.
"Why don't you call her Nancy anymore? I dare say you are still friends aren't you?" Benjamin asked.
"It would be improper seeing as she hasn't given me permission to call her that." John said uncomfortably.
