Hello readers! If there are any, that is. I would love any suggestions for improvements, etc. I am new at this stuff! Anything you like or dislike, I would love to hear!!!

Chapter 3: "Good Night Tomato Soup"

Luka braced himself for the streets of the city. He bent to tie his shoes, and opened the apartment door. It was his third day in America. He had been unable to leave the hotel room the day before. Luka looked around found his way to the elevator. He was going to find a job.

"Thank you for your application, sir. If we ever need your services, we will be sure to call you."

Luka nodded and left the building. So far, he hadn't found a hospital to hire him. He had applied at 3 so far. Luka tried to remain patient, but was becoming furious with himself. Why hadn't he anticipated this before he left Croatia? Had he really just left, without a plan, just expecting a new life waiting for him?

Luka walked out of the hospital. He wandered aimlessly around the city, giving up on his job search for the time.

"Excuse me, sir!" cried an old lady. She was half of Luka's height. "Excuse me!"

"Yes?" Luka said uncertainly. He didn't think she was talking to him.

"I'm sorry, but would you mind helping me? My tea fell out of my shopping bag and slid under my car. Do you think you could get it for me?"

Luka bent down. Sure enough, a little canister of tea was underneath the ancient car. He reached out and his long fingers closed around the grocery. He wiped it off on his jacket and handed it to the woman.

"Oh thank you so much! Such a handsome man! I must do something for you."

"That is not necessary. Just giving a helping arm."

"Oh, of course it is! Please, come over to my place tonight! I will make you a meal! I must fatten you up. Look at your frame! Besides, it will give me some company."

"Well….."

The lady handed Luka a ripped paper with her address on it. As he walked back to the hotel, Luka thought he would enjoy the company tonight as well.

Luka also lucked out when he found a sublet apartment. It was small, but Luka liked that about it. It meant fewer things to fill it. The previous owner even offered to sell Luka his furniture at a great price. He said he had been a bachelor for years, until he was 39. Finally, he'd met the love of his life, and they weren't wasting any time. He was moving in with her. The apartment had a bedroom with just enough room for a bed, a nightstand and chest of drawers. The living room and kitchen were sort of merged into one area, and there was a closet of a bathroom in a corner, with only a shower, no tub. He could move in next week.

Back at the hotel, Luka sat on the couch in his room. He reflected on his few days in his new home so far. The only words he'd really spoken were to employees at the airport, the hotel deskman, Lisa, hospital administrators and the little old lady. He'd called his mother yesterday, but the conversation had been cut short when she had company come over. This was not a good start to a new life. He may as well have joined the monkshood. But Luka was going to fix that. He needed to make a few friends here. Maybe this lady could be the first.

"Oh hello! Come on in!" chirped the lady. "By the way, my name's Irene."

"Luka," replied Luka, stepping into the apartment as small as his future one.

Luka studied his surroundings. The place was crowded, some might say stuffy, but oddly inviting to Luka. It was a real home. It reminded him of his mother. The couch was strewn with brown knitted afghans and crocheted pillows. There were picture frames and little artefacts on every bare surface. The little table was already set.

"I hope you like soup."

The meal Irene had prepared was a can of generic tomato soup and milk, but it was one of the nicest meals Luka had ever dined on. Irene let no moment of silence pass, always chattering. Luka was grateful, because it left little time for him to talk about himself.
Irene was fascinating to listen to. By the end of the evening, Luka knew her entire life story. She was 84 years old. She had been born in England, and spent her youth traveling. Her family had been quite wealthy. She visited all of Europe, including Croatia and recognized Luka's accent immediately. Luka was happy she described Croatia as a beautiful country, the way he liked to remember it. So many people heard of Croatia now and couldn't even imagine visiting it. They didn't realize how great a country it had once been. Irene met her husband, Edouard, in France, on top of the Eifel Tower. Irene described it as the most romantic event in her life. After eloping in Spain, Irene and Ed lived in the Swiss Alps for 3 years and then immigrated to the United States because it was one of the few places she hadn't been to. They made a living in New York for 20 years, during which time they had two daughters, Isabelle and Christine. Isabelle was an accountant in Georgia now, with 3 grown children of her own. According to Irene, her son-in-law was the greatest jerk she'd ever met. Christine had become a pharmacist and moved to Detroit. Ed retired, while Irene grew nearly blind. One day, Rudy suffered a heart attack, and Christine urged her parents to move to Detroit so she could help take care of them. Ed and Irene hated Christine's house, however, and moved to an apartment building next door. They never cared for Detroit, and would prefer to live in New York, but chose to live closer to their daughter. One day, while out to buy some bread, Ed had another heart attack on the sidewalk, and died. Irene lived by herself. Another day, Christine got married and moved to the suburbs to work in a better pharmacy for more money. So Irene took care of herself despite her terrible vision, and saw Christine a few times a year, even though they lived in the same city. Isabelle visited from Georgia every second Boxing Day.

As Irene told her story, Luka's heart felt for the lonely woman. Such a great, lovely, interesting person had basically been abandoned by her family, and had no friends. Such a tragedy for someone to have such solitude. Luka gladly listened to her stories, and loved the animated smile on Irene's face. He could tell she rarely had the chance to tell her stories. As he left later that evening, Luka smiled and thanked Irene for her food and company. He bent down and hugged her fragile body and kissed her wrinkled cheek.

"Good night."