Chapter 11: Joe

Down the street from Mary's apartment, there was a small bar and since it was Sunday night, it was nearly empty, except for the seat at the counter and the few scattered at the tables. At the counter sat Joe. His fingers gripped around a glass with a few swallows left in it while an empty one sat to the side of him. Glazed over eyes stared down towards the counter. Loneliness was eating away at him, and the alcohol was failing to do its job.

"Two beers," a man cheerfully ordered as he took a seat next to Joe. While he waited, he looked over to Joe. "You all right there?"

Joe was brought back to reality and looked over to him. "What's it to ya?" he nearly growled.

"Calm down there. I was just asking a question."

Joe shook his head. "Hey, I'm sorry. My wife just kicked me out."

"Jeeze. I'm sorry. I know when ever my wife and I fight I usually end up getting kicked out. Don't worry though. Things will get better tomorrow." He reassuringly smiled to Joe, but his smile faded as he saw the stern look.

"Right." Joe leaned his head back and finished the drink in his hand. "Another beer over here!" he called out after slamming the empty glass down on the table.

The bartender finally brought the two drinks to the man. He laid the money down and grabbed a box of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket. He slid one into mouth and offered one to Joe who turned it down.

"Listen. When I say my wife kicked me out, I mean kicked out. She lives up in New York. I followed her here to talk to her ya know? She was staying with her friend. I screwed up. Now I don't even get a fucking sock." Joe explained, beginning to slur his words.

"Why don't you call her? Maybe she's cooled off by now," the man suggested.

"She wouldn't listen to me." Joe lowered his head. It didn't take a genius to know that she was still mad at him. He had to admit, he even hated himself for what he had done to her. Then, he got an idea. Lifting his head back up, he smiled to the man. "I'm gonna go see Mary."

"Is that your wife's name?" the man asked as he watched Joe stand up.

"Nope, her friend," Joe said. He laid some money down on the counter and started towards the door.

The man quickly threw his cigarette in the ash tray and followed him. "Listen, if you're going to do what I think you're getting ready to do..."

"What would that be?" Joe asked as he slowly turned back to him. "I'm going to ask her to talk to Rhoda for me. Rhoda listens to her all the time."

The man let out a sigh of relief. "Just don't do anything stupid."

Joe laughed. "I already screwed up big time. What else am I gonna do?"

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Mary had just walked into her apartment with her date, Mike Penmark. He was sitting on the couch as she stood in the kitchen. "Would you like anything to drink?"

"You got any scotch?" he asked as he smiled up to her.

She returned the smile. "One scotch coming up!"

"How did you like dinner?" he asked.

"I thought it was good," she said as she poured his glass.

Mike nodded. "Maybe I'll take you their again sometime."

Mary took his drink over to him and joined him on the couch. "I think I would like that. Then maybe I can bring you back here again."

"I think I would like that too."

The two leaned in and started to kiss. That was when the doorbell rang. "Darn it," Mary said to herself as she pulled away. "Excuse me a moment."

"I need to talk," Joe said as he stumbled in.

Mary stepped aside upon seeing that he couldn't walk that well and sighed. "Rhoda's not here. She's back up in New York."

Joe stopped and looked to her for a second in confusion. "She left? She really left?"

"She went back home," Mary said.

Mike looked back and saw what was going on. "Maybe I should leave," he said standing up.

Mary walked over. "No! I mean, you don't have to," she said.

Mike just smiled to her. "Don't worry about it. We can go to my place tomorrow night. Sound good?" he asked.

Mary forced a small smile. "That sounds good to me." The two kissed each other goodbye and then he left. She watched him as he closed the door and then turned her attention back to Joe who was blankly staring down towards the ground. It was hard for her to sympathetic towards him. He hurt Rhoda by abandoning her when she needed him and then walks in and ruins her date. Of course, the second was nothing compared to the first, but it did add to it.

"I need you to talk to her for me." Joe kept his head down.

"I think she just needs some time okay? Just let it go for a week or so and then try to talk to her again."

"I didn't mean ta hurt her Mare, I promise," Joe pleaded.

Mary sighed. She didn't know what to do. It was obvious he wasn't going to leave anytime soon. She walked over to the table and grabbed the drink that she had gotten for Mike. "I don't know what to tell you Joe. You know she's mad. She's not going to want to talk to you and she doesn't need to listen to me tell her about you," she said as she carried the glass to the sink.

"Of course you choose her side," Joe remarked.

Mary turned to him and looked to him with pity. "Give me a good reason why I should encourage her to talk to you tonight."

Joe stumbled over and sat down on the chair. "I'm sick Mary."

Mary's eyes widened. "Here, I'll show you to the bathroom." She started to rush towards him.

Joe put his hands up and shook his head. "No, I mean sick sick. Ya know, doctor stuff."

Mary had froze in her spot. "How serious?" she asked with growing concern.

Joe shrugged. "I haven't opened it yet. I'll see about it later."

"How about we talk about this tomorrow after you have sobered up?" Mary wanted to talk to him now, but she knew that she wasn't going to get anything out of it.

"Don't tell Rhoda," he mumbled as he began to nod off.

Mary nodded. His eyes were shut so she knew he was staying there the night. She went and grabbed a blanket from the closet and put it over him. Before she turned the light off and went to her room, she looked back to him. What if he really was sick? If he was, it would explain a little bit more about what was going on between him and Rhoda. Letting out a small sigh, she finally turned off the lights and went to her room.