It was on her fourth trip through every cul de sac in a two-block radius of Woodcutter Park when Alicia spotted a door she mostly recognized. The two-and-a-half-mile journey from off-ramp to door had taken 45 minutes and 11 miles in total, but Alicia was in no mood to celebrate. Of course tickets were sold out. She'd just have to find and unpack the TV.
Alicia pulled up to the curb by her duplex and got out. Here was 6602 South Harbergarber Drive, and over there was her end of the house. As a prospective renter, a location tucked back in the woods seemed cozy and private. As a tenant, it was hard to find, harder to give directions to, way too far from the main road, almost totally dark by late afternoon due to the tree cover, and the neighborhood had been gentrified by spiders.
One cobweb to the face while bringing in groceries through the swell of brush by her door followed by a near-fall down a poorly lit concrete staircase, and she lamented the other side of the house having been unavailable when they were browsing.
Alicia had taken to sticking her right arm out in front of her, then holding her hand up like trying to block an eye-poke from the world's two longest fingers. She figured at least if she didn't see a cobweb in time, it'd be her arm taking one for the team and not her face. A mild resentment of whoever had rented out the rest of the house without showing up began to simmer, but at the very least there was no one living next door-
KACHUNK-WHAMAMAMamamamamam
-was what she told herself right up until the sudden racket drew her attention to the Pak-It trailer and rented pickup parked in the driveway around the corner. I feel like I'm being mocked. She looked for a bright side. Maybe an exterminator could be moving in.
"Hey! Everything okay over there?" Alicia shouted.
There was a pause and a silence, and then a mop of brown hair and a doughy complexion. "Oh. Um, yeah. It's sort of not, actually. I hate to ask, but could I please have some help? My roommate flaked and I don't think I can get this dresser inside."
"Sure, what do you need?"
The tension eased in his face, as if he hadn't expected it to be that easy. From the curb, the man looked to be in his mid- to late-20s. He was stocky, tall, but not that tall, clean-shaven, and appeared to have a bit of an acne problem, which his fair complexion only further highlighted. Alicia could also tell he had underestimated her stature when he saw her from the other end of the yard. She was used to the look.
"It's, um… well, maybe it's best if you come over to this side and see. It's kind of on its side, but also tipped over? You'll get what I mean when you see it. Like this," he said, gesturing.
Alicia approached to find a wardrobe almost as tall as her laying on its side halfway down a metal loading ramp. Whatever it took to get it this far was assuredly quite stupid.
The man paused to gauge her reaction. "I mean, there are dresser drawers. I guess some people would call it a standing wardrobe."
Alicia tsked. "The one thing you'd think it'd be good at…" It was a big lift, but she maxed probably close to this weight during hockey season throughout most of college. "Front or back?"
Poorly concealed relief washed over the man's face. "Is the front the side that's closer to the door?"
"Do you want to go in the house first or me?" she clarified.
"Oh. I should, probably," the man replied. "Okay, I've got this end. Ready? One… two… three… alright, lift."
It was heavier than Alicia expected. Graduation was three years ago. Almost four. A few more cheat days had penciled themselves onto the calendar when she wasn't looking. "You've got a step coming up. Yep, right there. Okay, one more. Got your keys?"
"I propped it open."
They pushed through the door and Alicia instantly hated the new guy a little. This side of the house was way nicer. "Where's it going? I'll follow you." Were the french windows that big from the outside of the house? Moving further down the hall, she could feel her blood pressure start to rise. "Tile floors in the bathroom instead of carpet. Nice. Wish they were all like that."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Is that a big thing? Set it down over here," he said, motioning with his head. "No, actually, can you turn it- sorry. That was rude of me not to introduce myself, especially before asking you to- sorry, but can you turn it more? More this way. No, my this way. Thank you, yeah, like that is good. I'm Robert, hello. Robert Blarcher."
"Alicia Winthrop." Alicia shook Robert's hand. He looked gassed even before he sagged against the wall. Robert wiped his brow with his wrist. His plaid button-down was open in the front and he had the sleeves rolled up. Underneath, she could see a T-shirt for what looked like a band she didn't recognize. "Mage's Tower?"
"Hmm?" asked Robert, momentarily confused. "Oh, it's an art studio. They do, sort of, you know, fantasy stuff. I kind of- I do art."
"That's cool," said Alicia. "What kind?"
"You wanna see? This is the first one I brought in from the truck. I just finished it." Robert opened the closet door and stepped inside. Up against the wall, way back in the back, leaned a large piece of foldable cardboard like from the science fair years.
"Oh. It's a walk-in closet," said Alicia. "Must be nice."
"Yeah, it's kinda nice, I guess," he replied with a shrug. "Maybe a little too big."
Alicia quietly seethed as Robert unfolded the cover. The lucky, garage-having jerk had talent. Though she found the princess and young wizard soaring in front of lightning bolts on dragonback corny, they were framed by a lively, verdant landscape. Rough around the edges, sure. Maybe self-taught. Alicia stepped closer for a better look. Incredible attention to detail: bees on flowers in the middle distance, pollen in the breeze, rich, fluffy clouds, masonry in the stonework of a far-off tower. The longer she looked, the more intricate the piece became.
"You did this?" asked Alicia, "It's good! Did you come up with it? Have you done more?"
"I have a couple leaned up against the wall in the hallway," he said, gesturing with a thumb. "Don't look, though. They're not done."
"Well, I hope you'll show me when they are! You need help with anything else?" asked Alicia.
"I'm good," said Robert, arching his back.
Alicia put her hands on her hips and pressed the matter, "I'm serious. Do you want me to stay and help out?"
"I couldn't ask you to do that," answered Robert. "I really appreciate the hand, Alicia."
"You sure?" Alicia replied. "I've done two moves the past two weeks. Maybe this is how I find my calling."
"No. That's- no. Thank you. Seriously. You went above and beyond," said Robert.
"Okay. I'll see you around, then. Welcome to the neighborhood. It was really nice meeting you," said Alicia. She shot one more glance and a polite little wave over her shoulder as they approached the front door.
With one foot on the walkway and one still inside, she turned back around one last time, "Look, I'm fine either way. I'll leave if you want, and if you're telling me no because you really don't want my help, that's okay. You didn't ask, but I am offering."
Robert's gaze dropped to the floor and lingered a moment before drifting back up to meet hers. "I would really appreciate it."
* * * * *
"That does it for all the heavy stuff, and all the very heavy stuff, and I think this is pretty much the rest of everything medium," said Robert while wincing and dropping a box that sounded mostly not full of glass on the floor. "Thank you again, Alicia. I mean it, seriously. I don't know what I would've done. If my roommate and his brother were here, you know, I wouldn't've bothered you."
"It wasn't a bother," Alicia assured him. "And you've got to stop apologizing."
"Sorry." Robert closed his eyes for a moment of performative embarrassment. "What I meant was, 'yeah you're right.'"
"That's really selfish, him bailing on you. Did he tell you why?" she asked.
"Because he actually signed a lease with his other friend in Chicago a month ago and didn't know how to break the news," Robert explained. "He told me on the phone yesterday morning."
"... Oh," said Alicia, "Wow. Sounds like a nice guy, geez."
He nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I really wish he hadn't done that. I'm a lot madder at him than I look."
"It probably isn't much consolation, but you know what? I like it out here. Rent's cheap. It's reasonably close to city limits. Great view." Alicia gestured to the thick, wooded area 6 feet from the back window. Robert laughed. "You might end up liking it if you can ignore the bad parts."
"I'll try and make the best of it," he said, clearly trying to push the conversation along. "You hungry? I'll order something. I think they said phone service is already hooked up."
"Don't bother," said Alicia. "My ex and I ordered delivery the day we moved in. They sent two different drivers. Neither one could find the place. Finally they told us to just pick it up at the restaurant."
"I'll consider myself forewarned. Bring you back some takeout, then?" Robert offered.
"Do you like Mexican?" Alicia asked, a hint of unexpected excitement rising in her voice. "Ever been to El Vaquero? If you're already making a trip, why don't we both go?"
Robert's face lit up with recognition, "Hell yeah, I love El Vaq! I've got to return the truck and trailer, but I can meet you there at like 6:30?"
"Um…" The concept of time returned. "Y- sure. Actually… sorry, whatever. I'm distracted," Alicia mumbled.
"What's up?"
"I was going to watch something that's on tonight," she said. "So, like… maybe takeout?"
Robert nodded, concealing his disappointment behind an understanding smile. "The wrestling thing?"
"Yeah," said Alicia, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "Like I said, it's sold out, but I wanted to try and watch a bit of it. Forget it. We can go."
"I'd offer to put it on, but my roommate got the TV."
"I've got one, don't worry about it," Alicia said, waving him off. "I just need to find it."
Robert asked, "You got something against scalpers?"
"Like ticket scalpers?" Of course like ticket scalpers, dummy.
"Yeah," said Robert, nodding emphatically. "My roommate took us to sold out stuff all the time."
Alicia felt momentarily embarrassed. She hadn't even considered the possibility, despite the many, many times she and Zack bought tickets in the parking lot the year the Yetis went on their miracle run.
Struck with the obvious, Alicia buried her face in one impressive hand. "Is it okay if I do something really selfish?"
"Please do."
"Thank you," said Alicia with guilty look. "Sorry."
"Have a good time," said Robert with a cheeky smile. "And you've got to stop apologizing."
Alicia chuckled and turned to leave. Just as they finished exchanging goodbyes and Alicia was halfway out the door, she turned and asked, "By the way, do you like loud music?"
"Um… do you?"
"I…" she paused for emphasis. "... don't." She gave him a meaningful look.
It took a second to register, but he got it. "Oh. Yeah, me neither."
"Cool. Glad we agree. See you around, Robert."
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