Mary was seeing a yong man before she died. She had met him downtown in from of Woolworth's. He was leaning against the wall. He didn't look like much but he had a quality about him that appealed to her.
"You look fing to kill. Any reason why"
"I am meeting a friend here and we are planning on celebrating our birthdays."
"Congratulations. How old are you and your friend?"
"We'r thirty and full of mischief."
Mary looked him over again. His appearance was very neat. What really caught her attention about him was his smile.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"My name is Mary," she stated.
"how about our friend?"
"My friend's name is Margaret and there she is now. Margaret, over here."
"Mary, who is your friend?" I askked.
"Margaret, I don't know. We just met."
"ladies, my name is Edward. If you are not in a hurry, I would apprreciate the company of the two such fine ladies on my bus."
"Bus?" we asked.
"Yes, I have to leave now. I drivee for the local transit authority." Edward stated.
Mary and I felt embarrassed. We should have realized that he drove fous by his uniform. We agreed to go with hime for a while. His route took him to Blumbo. During this ride, Edward told us about himself and we told him about ourselves. Mary did not do much talking.
When we got back into Lancy, Edward asked, "Mary, are you doing anything for tomorrow evening?"
"I have nothing really planned. Why?"
Mary asked.
"How would you like to go out with me for a ride?"
"All right. Let me write down my phone number for you and call me when you get off work," Mary then wrote down on a piece of paper her and handed it to him.
At 7:00 the next evening, the phone in Mary's apartment started to ring. Mary answered it, "Hello?"
"Is this the lovely red head that I met yesterday in fron of Woolworth's?" the voice asked.
"It depends on which redhead you are looking for?"
"The one I am looking for answers to the name of Mary."
"Then you are talking to her."
"Mary, this Edward. Are you still free for that ride?" he asked.
"Yes, I am. Shall I meet you somewhere or do you want my address to pick me up?"
"Your address will be fine."
"M address is 621 N. Lynx St. #5. I'll wait for you out front of the building.
"I'll be there in 10 minutes."
Edward was true to his word. Ten Minutes later, he pulled in from of Mary's apartment building. Mary climbed into the car and Eward stated off on their ride. He took her to the hills above Lancy. Hetold her about his pat. Edward got May to talk about herself. This was something I have not been able to do since she arrived back home last year. She proceeded on telling him about the lost of her family. While she was telling Edward this, she started to cry. After awhile, Edward pulled into a parking lot of a park that was in the hills. He reached over to pull her close but Mary backed up.
"Mary, slow down and tell me what happened." Edward said.
"It happened two years ago. I use to be in the service and that was how I med my late husband. We were happy together and during the course of our marriage, I gave birth to twins. Two years ago, on our way home from a visit, our car was sideswiped on the driver's side by a large truck. I do not recall everything that had happened during the next 30 minutes except that I was saved by someone dressed in Monk's clothing."
Edward proceded to question in full detail about the accident. With each question that was asked Mary remembered it vividly. By the time it was to go home, Mary could remember the whold accident (which she told me about later). Edward told her that it is in the past and now she has got to live for the future. He also told her that maybe she would like to be part of his future when his divorce was final. On the way back into Lancy, Edward told Mary about his marriage. How he had a wife who liked to spend money. She took pity on him. When they arrived back at her aprtment, she invited him in for a cup of tea.
"Please forgive the mess, but I have been busy and didn't have time to clean up yet," Mary told him as they entered the apartment.
Edward looked at the ap-artment, he couldn't believe his eyes. If this was dirty, he would like to see it when it was clean. Everything in the apartment was in the place except for some knitting that was laying on the floor. It looked like nothing compared with the way his wife kept their house. Mary made the tea and the two of them talked for another hour. After Edward left, Mary prayed to God that if this man was to be in her life to replace her husband let him come by again.
