With A Little Help From My Friends

"Come on, we'll go to Auntie Wainwright's and you'll meet her," Truly invited Norman Clegg and Compo.

The trio arrived and slowly inched toward the open door; they stood eyeing the knick-knacks and tkotchkes Auntie had displayed on the large table in front of her store. They didn't dare pay attention to any one particular item, lest Auntie coerce them into buying it. Instead, they perused the vast array.

Finally, Auntie Wainwright stepped outside. The trio straightened and stood tall.

Ah, customers! she thought.

"What can I do you boys for?" she asked, tapping her fingertips together in anticipation.

"We don't need anything today, thank you," Truly answered.

"Oh, don't underestimate yourselves! The day is young!" she countered, "These just came in. Everyone needs a diving mask and flippers!" she offered, holding the items up for speculation.

"In Yorkshire? Come on!" Compo scoffed.

"He's here to ask your new employee to lunch," Clegg answered, referring to Truly.

"New employee?" asked Auntie Wainwright dumbfounded, "What new employee? No one's here except me and Smiler, and he's already gone to lunch."

He'd better not be gone long. Time is money! The little voice in her head said.

"Your niece," Truly stated.

"Niece? I don't have a niece," she cocked her head at him, "What are you talking about?"

"She's young, has two boys..."

"…Brownish hair, grass-green eyes, about this tall?" Auntie Wainwright interrupted, "I sold her that mantel clock I've had in the shop for years! A good customer, paid full price! She said she was my niece?"

Before Truly could answer, he was off like a shot with Compo and Clegg trailing him.

"Someone needs to tell him we're retired!" Clegg groused, huffing and puffing.

Truly rounded the corner to his lane and could see his house. Truly slowed down to catch his breath and Compo and Cleggy caught up with him. Truly eyed a strange man on Melanie's front steps peering suspiciously through the windows of her front door.

"Hey up!" Truly called as he stopped at the front gate, "May I help you?"

"I'm looking for Bernadette," he said.

"There's no one here by that name," Truly answered, scrutinizing the man who looked to be no more than forty. He had thick blonde hair and wore a grey pullover and black trousers.

"Is there a young woman who lives here with two young boys?" the man asked, exasperated.

Truly, flanked by Clegg and Compo, looked the man over.

"Look sir! She's my wife! It's imperative that I find her." The man was almost in a panic.

"No one by the name of Bernadette lives here," Truly scowled.

"She took my sons and left. Her parents haven't heard from her in weeks. We got a tip she was living here. Please help me," he pleaded.

Compo poked Truly in the back, "Come on, Truly. You saw what happened up at Auntie Wainwright's! Maybe there's some truth to what he says," Compo whispered.

"She said her name is Melanie," Truly said at last.

"Melanie," he said flatly.

"She said you were an American."

"I'm obviously not an American," he sighed.

"The boys are Daniel and Donald," Truly offered.

The man shook his head, "Paul and Michael."

"What about the fried chicken? She said she learned how to cook that in America."

"She bought an American cookbook at a jumble sale," the man shrugged.

Truly's heart sank. He walked up the path to where the man was standing. Shielding his eyes, he peered into the windows. The house was completely cleaned out. Taped to the front door was a piece of paper folded in two addressed to Truly.

"Are you Truly? This is for you," the man pointed at the note on the door.

Truly nodded and retrieved the message. Slowly he opened it.

Dear Mr. Truelove 'Truly',

Thank you for the kindness you've shown me and the boys. I shall never forget it.

Sincerely,

Melanie

Truly's face fell and he stared at the ground.

"She must have moved out in the middle of the night. When I saw the car missing, I assumed she'd gone to work," Truly stated, his voice soft and dejected. Compo put his hand on Truly's back.

"Chin up. Come on," Clegg tried to persuade him.

"I'm sorry, sir," the man said quietly.

"Heartbreak of this caliber requires a pint!" Compo announced, "Let's kip down to the pub; I'm buying!"

Truly and Clegg swiveled their heads toward Compo.

Truly's eyebrows shot up in surprise and disbelief, "Since when?" he chuckled, perking up.

"Since I need to borrow five quid! Couldst thou lend me a fiver, Truly?" he asked, hands jammed in his pockets, playfully kicking the gravel path.

Truly handed his friend a five-pound note.

"See, Truly, thou dost have a heart!" Compo teased.

"I must have a heart," Truly quipped, "I just gave you five quid!"

The trio laughed heartily and walked on.