//------------------------------// // Calls // Story: The Pink Haired Woman // by Seran //------------------------------// Lunch had come in a hurry. John had just finished his rice and left Fluttershy alone to study the alphabet. With his muscles sore after being hunched over for a while, John decided to relax with a quick shower. As he showered he recollected his thoughts, bringing together what had occurred during the day. ‘Nothing went wrong with the Alabasters,’ he thought to himself, ‘they seem to be healthy. Where is their son, I wonder? I haven’t seen him in a while.’ His curiosity turned to frustration as he was reminded of someone he hated. ‘The Evans’ son is someone I hope not to see again. That racist asshole nearly cost me my job a few times.’ He stopped as he remembered something startling. “Crap, I have work!” he shouted in realization. “I have no one to care for Fluttershy.” Frantically, he reached for his phone past the shower curtain. “What day is it?” His mind raced as he desperately thought of a solution. ‘Okay, okay, maybe she would do well alone at home. She’s a grown woman. What could possibly go wrong?” ~~~~~~~ Fluttershy walked into the kitchen and rummaged around to find something to eat. As she opens the freezer she noticed the large bags of steaks, chicken and other meats he has stored. In a fit of rage, she grabbed the bags and chucked them out the door. ~~~~~~~ ‘That won’t work.’ John continued to think, ‘she hates meat. I can’t leave her alone with my fridge.’ He continued his shower as he thought of another idea. ‘Maybe I can leave her with a friend.’ He thought of all the possible choices. Not many were appealing. ‘Sven and his wife work. She just met the Alabasters, and Patrick hasn’t seen her yet. That may not be for the best. Martha has a strange work schedule. None of these people know anything about her!’ After having thought of all the possible people his mind went to one option. ‘I’m going to have to take her with me to work.’ John’s new revelation, though a solution to one problem, brought him greater frustration. “But I can’t have her work without documents... the immigrations office would have a field day with her. Shit, what can we do?” As he played out the situation in his head, he still needed assurance that things won’t go bad. “I’ll call Joe. Maybe we can work something out.’ He had made a decision. Feeling renewed, he jumped out of the shower and picked up his phone. Without hesitation, he searched through the contacts list to find the one titled ‘Joe Evans’. John stared at his phone, contemplating the words he would use. No matter how much he thought it through, he couldn’t get the words right. Most sounded like demands rather than requests. Finally he found an acceptable one and dialed the number. The phone rang a few times, which left enough time for John to regret the call. Finally, an answer. “Hello?” “Joe,” John responded, relieved. “It’s me, John.” He bantered on as he thought of his words again. “Oh, Johnny, what do you need?” “Remember the girl we met on Tuesday?” “Oh yeah, Butterfly? Right?” “Fluttershy…” John corrected, “Anyway, I have a problem with her.” “She’s not mankin’ you give up your gun is she?” “It’s not that, I… I have no one to care for her while I’m at work.” “Oh, well…” Joe paused, “why not bring her here?” “The problem is not watching her so much as it’s keeping her entertained.” John explained. “I have to keep her happy while she stays here. Perhaps get her to help around the farm?” John immediately regretted his comment. “Come on, Johnny!” Evans responded with playful disapproval. “I already got the Department looking at me for having migrant workers. If I make her work with no papers I can get my license pulled.” “No, I mean like help the missus around, clean, maybe pass water and food to the workers?” “Oh,” Joe sighed in relief, “well that she can do, as long as I don’t have to put her in the books.” “Listen, Joe,” John continued, “these past few days have been strange for me.” “How so?” John could feel interest in Joe’s words. “Well first this whole thing with Fluttershy, and now my brother came to visit and…” without knowing how to finish that sentence he stopped with a sigh. “I don’t want to push people into doing something they don’t want to do.” He thought hard on this situation. “If you don’t want to take care of her, I could find someone else to…” “Johnny,” Joe broke John’s train of thought. “I will help you. I brought you in this mess. Remember, I called you last Tuesday to get her. I should take some responsibility in her care.” John thought hard about Joe’s words. There was truth behind them. If he hadn’t been called, he wouldn’t have met Fluttershy. If it wasn’t for him, she could have been hurt, or worse. They both shared responsibility in this. John was about to speak when he heard the faint jingle of an electronic ring. A light voice spoke behind Joe as he went off to talk off the phone. John could make out some of what was said. Evans had answered the phone in surprise. A name was said aloud in glee, ‘Andrea’. “I gotta take this,” Joe set him off. “I’ll call you later to see what our plans are. Bye.” The click of the phone was all that followed. After having heard the sound of his phone hanging up, John let out a sigh of relief. However his relief was not great standing as he thought more about his guest’s well-being. ‘What would we do if she wants to work?’ he toured himself with the question. Not knowing how to respond, he gripped his phone harder as his hand shot up in the air.  Before he threw his phone in frustration, he was stopped by a light vibration and a tropical drums ringtone. He looked at the phone and saw unknown number come up as the phone continued to ring. John thought to himself it was, ‘new work? I could use it.’ John touched the screen to answer the call anticipating a new voice, perhaps an older female. Instead he receive a voice he was too familiar with. “Uh, how are you doing?” called the gruff voice of a thirty-year-old man. John was silent at first. His frustration grew as he remembered the wrongs he had done to him. “Juan?” the voice asked again. “How the fuck did you get this number?” John whispered as she gritted his teeth. There was a silence on the end of the line for a moment. “I asked Ellen for your number, and she agreed.” “Who told you that you could talk to the Grimmers, Andy? I left my mistakes with them. I don’t want to see them again!” He shouted angrily at the phone. “I did this years ago, Juan. We still worry about you. We just wanted to make sure you were doing well.” Andrew tried to reason with John, hoping his heart would be open to a voice from the past. “Why should it matter to…?” John noticed a hushed whimpering coming from the hallway. He turned to see Fluttershy hiding around the corner, shocked at the yelling that was directed at the small plastic slate. The sight grew heavy on John’s heart. “Could you excuse me for a moment?” John said with a sigh. “Wh– who are you yelling at?” Fluttershy asked in a whimper. “Sorry you had to hear that,” John apologized. “My brother called and I…” He couldn’t finish that sentence. “John, you can’t stay mad at someone you love.”  She spoke from her heart. “When my friends made me mad I would always forgive them.”  “I tried to forgive him but I just can’t forget the pain he caused me.” John replied as he thought deeply on her words. ‘Her help hasn’t failed me yet,’ he thought. “My friend Applejack tells me that family is first, and that you can never stay mad at family.” Fluttershy held his hand as she looked into his eye. “Sometimes we just have to let things go for the sake of family.” As he looked deeply into her eyes he couldn’t help but recall a familiar face from hers.. The soft blue eyes and pale skin reminded him of a ghost from his past. Her words brought back memories of this woman. John felt the tears coming from his eyes, all he could do was smile. “Thanks, Lucia,” he whispered. A light murmuring came from the phone as Andy tried to get John’s attention again. John quickly picked up his phone and ,with a deep breath, continued his conversation. “Listen, I’m sorry for how I’ve been acting.” John started. “Some things are hard to forgive.” His words were a cross between obligation and sincerity. “I’m sorry for being a jerk to you before.” Andy said. “So, what did you want?” John asked. “I just had some time before a meeting and wanted to know how you were doing.” Andy replied hoping to get a straight answer out of him. “Well, things have gone better.” John rubbed his head as he looked in Fluttershy’s direction. “I noticed you have been getting into trouble recently with your car.” Andy continued. “Yeah, those fucking kids have been bothering me ever since I moved here. Apparently they know of my past.” “That sucks. Listen, the meeting is about to start. Can we meet up some time later?” Andy tried to stop as he noticed some people pulling him in. “Well, you can stop by any time after five.” John hesitantly replied, “but I may get calls to do handiwork.” John thought about the consequences of what he had gotten himself into. He hoped he won’t screw things up. “I’ll be there on Tuesday at six. Try not to make any other plans.” Andy made the arrangements. “Alright,” John said with a fake smile. “See ya.” “Bye.” Andy said as he hung up. John let out a heavy sigh as the phone call ended. Fluttershy stepped closer to John as she noticed frustration pass through his body. Unaware of her presence, John gave a loud shout. His mind went blank as the primal scream flowed out of him. Fluttershy let out yelp as she covered her head in fear. It was enough to alert John. “Sorry about that,” John flinched as he noticed the woman covering her head as if an earthquake had passed. “I didn’t mean to scream.” The frightened woman looked up slowly, checking to see everything was fine. After seeing John’s scared look, she let out a timid smile and sigh of relief. She stood up, grabbing her arm defensively as her eyes strayed away from John. He took notice and it had begun to bother him. “Listen,” the embarrassed man apologized, “I’m sorry about yelling. I just have all this…” He waved his arms in frustration as the memories of what his brother did to him came back to him. “I haven’t been able to stand my brother for so long now.” “Well, why?” Fluttershy asked abruptly. John look a quick look at her in surprise. “What could your brother have done that would upset you so much? If I may ask?” John pouted as he held his frustration in as he had been doing for the longest time. For a moment he started to believe he had some way, someone he could let his frustration out on in a passive way. Normally he went to the gun range to shoot some targets, but even the most gun-crazy redneck in town said he should find something else less destructive. He fell into a sea of voices as he recalled all the upsetting moments he faced against his brother and father.  He had one thing to say to the woman who owed him her life and that he also owed her life to. “We’ll have to sit down, maybe crack a few drinks. We’re going to have a long chat.”