:A Game of Cards:
A strangled shriek echoed throughout the building, making Joyce Vartebedian flinch. She sighed softly and stood up. She walked into her little kitchen and put on the tea kettle. While the water was heating up she pulled some cookies from the tin and placed them on a plate. Soon there would be a knock on her door and she would have a very upset visitor.
Sure enough less than a minute later hurried footsteps came down the stairwell and someone knocked rapidly on her door. She opened it up and Penny threw her arms around her. Joyce patted her back soothingly and drew her into the apartment.
She settled Penny on the sofa and went for the tea tray. As soon as she sat down Penny launched into a tear filled, rambling account of what had happened. For supposed geniuses those two men upstairs were awfully stupid at times. The short one was always jealous of anyone she spoke to that wasn't him. The tall one was always insulting her. Sometimes Penny just needed to vent.
Once Penny was calmer they moved from the sofa to the kitchen table. Penny shuffled the canasta deck while Joyce retrieved the pad and pen they kept a running tally in. Penny dealt out the cards and they settled in for a friendly game.
"So, how is school going?" Joyce asked.
Penny grinned shyly. "I took your advice and talked to the college's counselor. I showed her my journals and that cheesy script I tried to write. She said it's pretty raw, but that I do have some talent."
"See!" Joyce said cheerily. "I told you, didn't I?"
Penny grinned and nodded. "She recommended some writing classes and even set me up with an advisor."
"I expect you will do very well," Joyce encouraged. Gradually the conversation turned to Joyce's years with Penguin Books. Penny loved to hear stories of the authors she had worked with and the life she had led. All too soon it was dark outside and Joyce was getting tired. Penny put away the deck and helped her clean up before hugging the older woman close.
"Thank you," she whispered against the soft, wrinkled cheek.
Joyce kissed Penny on the forehead and walked her to the door. "You come back anytime, dear. You know you are always welcome here." She watched the young woman head upstairs and sighed. Penny reminded her of herself when she was young. Full of dreams and life. Lately, though, it was as if that life was slowly dimming. Beginning to settle and forget about her dreams. So, she did what she could to encourage her to keep going. To reach for something big and bold.
She closed her door and headed to her bedroom. She feared the influence of the two men on the fourth floor had on Penny. She was almost certain that sooner or later, they were going to destroy the brightness and joy in Penny through their callousness and arrogance. She hoped she was wrong. But if she wasn't, she hoped she wasn't around to see it. It would break her heart.