Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Friend (11/02/17)
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TITLE: Will You Be My Friend? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gerald Shuler
11/09/17 -
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Central Park is a hub of humanity. I'd never had cause to go there before this incident so the only thing on my mind was finding a policeman and getting help. I found none. What I did find, though, was snobbish women pushing baby carriages, sweaty men running, loud children rudely running wild and every other kind of low-life activity you could imagine. The peace and order of my executive suite office was sorely missed as I walked for who knows how far in search of help. Exhausted, I decided to sit down on a nearly clean park bench. Of course, I had the sense to lay my newspaper down to separate the filth of the world from my fashion savvy suit. I'm not stupid.
Just as I was about to get up and renew my search for a policeman, a man of very questionable character sat down right beside me. No invitation... he just sat down. In shock, I quickly rose to my feet to leave.
“Can I call you Friend?”
He was actually speaking to me. Appalled, I simply grunted and began to walk away.
“I've been looking for a friend and I think you would make a good one.”
Again, he was speaking directly to me. Everyone who works with me knows the law of getting along with me. Don't say anything unless I ask you a question. This man had to be put in his place.
“Dirty Man, why are you talking to me? Go away.” I said it with as high a high tone as I could muster. “You have no idea who you are dealing with.” There, that should quite the bum.
“Oh, Walter,” the man said calmly, “Sit back down and let's talk.”
For years I had only been known as W.J. Morefield. I hadn't been called Walter since my childhood, when my mother called me to her side as she was dying. Nobody knew me by that name. But this man called me Walter.
“Who are you?” I asked sharply. I may have had some apprehension in my voice, but who wouldn't? “What do you want from me? I have no money on me so you can just forget about that idea.”
“Sit down, Walter. I don't want or need your money.”
Okay, I'll be honest. I don't know why I did it, but I sat back down beside the little man.
“How do you know my childhood name?” I asked.
“I told you. I have been looking for a friend and I think you would make a good one.” The man reached into a brown paper bag that I hadn't noticed before and pulled out half of a ham and cheese on rye sandwich... my all time favorite snack. “You missed lunch because of your limo driver. Would you like to share my sandwich?”
I was hungry but, like I said, I'm not stupid. I just waved the offer aside.
“Look,” I said. “I don't know what your scam is, but I was looking for a policeman anyway, so...”
“I have no scam. I just thought you might like someone to drive you back to your office. You have the limo key in your pocket so I thought it would be a good way to start our friendship.”
“You're a limo driver?” The thought I was thinking was ludicrous. “Show me your license.”
Without hesitation, he turned over his hand and there was a fully legal chauffeur's license.
“No. This is just too convenient.” I stomped my feet as I rushed away from the strange man.
“At least take my card with you” he said as I walked off.
Suddenly I found in my hand a beautifully designed 3-D business card. On the one side was a picture of golden gates above billowing white clouds and the simple words “If you ever need a friend...”
I stopped abruptly and turned around.
Too late, I realized who I must have been sitting beside. But, at least for now, not a soul was in sight.
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Suggestion:
...that should quite [quiet] the bum.
I enjoyed the rest of the story and would have loved to have a better resolution.