Benny looked at his broken-into apartment. There were a few things broken on the ground but not much. "Thank you, officers," he said to the policemen. "If everything happens, call us," said the policeman. Benny saw them off and then went back into his apartment and started to clean everything up. Nothing too important had been stolen. He didn't keep much in the apartment.
He still couldn't believe that might have been Cleo. Why would Cleo go into his apartment? Why would she even take anything? He thought they were friends. He brushed some broken lamp off the floor and made some coffee, and started to play chess.
He couldn't stop thinking about Beth. Poor her, she had to go on a plane. One of the last things she would have wanted to do. The phone rang shrilly and Benny was glad there was a distraction from his mundane, lonely apartment. He picked up the line.
"Hello?" he said, hoping that it was beth. "Benny!". Benny slumped back in his chair. "Hey Jolene, how are you doing?". "I don't really have time for social talk," said Jolene. "What is it?" he said. "It's Beth, she's in the hospital". "What?!" said Benny sitting up. "In Kentucky". "What happened". "I don't know but there's a lot of alcohol in her blood too, can you get down here?". "Yeah, yeah I can get down there, I'll be a few hours but I'll get there as soon as I can all right?" he said frantically. "Can you tell me anything over the phone?". "There wasn't too much damage, she was very lucky no bones were broken. Her arm was sprained though. Benny just try to get down here as quickly as you can," she said, tears in her eyes. "All right," he said. "See you in a few hours".