Oh Mister Samuels
h Mister Samuels."
I didn't look up. It had been a hard day and I didn't want to go over it again with Mrs. Goldstein, perched as usual in her open window by the stoop. I mumbled a reply and took the steps into the building two at a time.
"Oh Mister Samuels." I heard her holler as I hurried through the entry and took the stairs to the second floor. Two at a time at first, one at a time by the time I reached the top. By the time I reached the end of the long hallway I was moving slow. The hallway smelled, and again I wished we could find a better place to live.
Things were better between Laura and me the past few weeks and if we had a better place to live it would take off a lot of the strain. It wasn't easy for either of us to live in the rotten old tenement in a large city after living in a small town all our lives. We had fought, seriously, about moving to the city, but if I wanted to work, here I would have to be. When we arrived and couldn't find a decent apartment, it made matters worse.
When I opened the door to the apartment I came to a dead stop. Nothing. The place was bare. What few furnishings we had were gone. I looked around the room. I couldn't believe my eyes. Or I didn't want to believe them. Laura had gone, taking all our things.
I thought back to this morning when I left for work. Did I miss something? Was she mad about something and I just didn't see it. I couldn't believe that I had missed something serious enough to make her leave. I wanted to sit down, but the only two chairs we owned were not there. I walked to the closet and opened it. Bare. My clothes were even gone. What could have made her mad enough to do this to me?
I walked slowly down the hall and descended the stairs. I had only the clothes I wore and $3.75 in my pocket. Laura had the money from yesterday's paycheck. The rent was due tomorrow on the sorry apartment.
"Oh Mister Samuels" Oh no, I couldn't deal with Mrs. Goldstein now. I hurried down the stoop and crossed the street with the repeated "Oh Mister Samuels" ringing in my ears.
As I walked, I tried to figure out what had happened. Why had she left? The more I thought about it, the more confused I became. The more confused, the more unhappy I got. I thought about Laura and began to miss her terribly.
Two hours of walking the streets didn't do anything to make me feel better. I decided to spend the night on the floor of the crummy apartment and leave town tomorrow. I could catch a bus to the edge of town and then hitch-hike home. Fat chance. Who in hell picks up hitchers these days. I'd probably end up walking most of the way.
"Oh Mister Samuels." Oh god. I really didn't want to face Mrs. Goldstein.
"Mister Samuels, oh Mister Samuels."
"Yes Mrs. Goldstein," I said resignedly.
"You left so quickly I couldn't give you this. Laura left it with me to give to you. It's the key to your new apartment. She moved everything this morning. She was so happy. You're going to be late for supper if you don't hurry."
I took the key with the address tag and stood looking at it for a moment. Then I reached across, kissed the old lady on the cheek, and forgave her all her nosiness.
I practically skipped down the street toward the new apartment.
