What in the hell is this, Harriet Small wonders from the top of the steps, peering at a huge unmarked box. The box is blocking the sidewalk outside her Manhattan brownstone. Clad in her standard elegant, ecologically correct fawn-colored faux suede coat, and matching faux sheepskin walking boots, Harriet charges down the steps in her usual determined manner. For a petite woman whose 5 foot height and trim form matches her last name, she cuts an imposing figure.
As Harriet descends the steps, a tall slender man in a navy blue fedora, with a feather in the band, approached from the west (left) side of the box.
“Hi, there, Big Harriet. What’s this thing doing here?”
“I have no idea, Ben. I was just coming down to figure that out. But it’s too big for me to get close enough to investigate. Can you….?”
“Sure! Lemme see if I can push the box away from your landing spot. Can you run into the house meantime and grab me a knife or something to cut through the sealing tape?”
Nodding, Harriet turns and marches back up the steps. Meantime, Ben examines the box. A question mark spreads across his handsome face — why were there a few holes in the top? Before he has a chance to investigate further or try to move the box himself, Harriet re-appears, a huge kitchen knife in hand.
“Whoa!” Ben whistles. “That’s some serious knife. Better watch how you hold it.”
“I know. I keep it near the door, just in case. We’ve been having trouble with a lot of strange folks around here lately.”
Ben nods. “Same here. We’ve been really nervous around my block, too.”
They shake their heads. Agree to talk about all that later. For now, they turn to the job at hand.
“First, help me move the box so I can get down to the sidewalk,” Harriet commands.
“Right-y O!”
Ben stations himself on his side of the box as Harriet bends down to take hold of the center of the side facing her. The two give it all they have. Success! The box moves, more easily than they expected. With enough space for Harriet to step down and join Ben on the sidewalk, and for passersby to get through on the street side of the box.
After they move the offending object, Harriet does a double take. “Ben! Did you see these holes in the top?”
“Yeah. What do you think these came from?”
Before Harriet can venture a guess, they hear, “THUMP!”
By this time, several passersby stop to see what’s going on. A few are neighbors and call out “Big Harriet! What’s the deal?”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.” Ben says. He reaches for the knife and begins to cut the tape. Harriet and the new arrivals urge Ben to be careful. Of what they don’t know.
Ben keeps sawing through the tape on all sides of the box’s top. He pauses. Looks at Harriet. “Ready?”
Harriet takes a deep breath, along with the growing crowd around them. “Do it!”
Ben slowly reaches for an edge of the box top. Everyone is holding their breath. He grabs hold. And pulls up.
A huge grin lights up Harriet’s face. “It’s a poodle!”
“Woof!” A glorious full grown black poodle smiles up at her. He wags his bobbed tail. Sure enough. “Thump!”
Harriet reaches in and hugs the dog. Ben and everyone gathered round burst into happy chatter as they take turns patting the poodle’s head.
Ben carefully saws through one side of the box’s tapes. Harriet grabs the poodle’s collar to be sure he doesn’t run off. Looking at it, she cries out, “Malcolm! Hello, Malcolm.” Malcolm barks each time she pronounces his name. A good doggie, he keeps his barks soft.
“I wonder who sent me this beautiful being. Is there a card inside?” Harriet asks Ben. No card. But there is a leash, and in a small box inside, a can of dog food and package of kibble. And a Whole Foods® bag with handles folded up. Ben and Harriet speculate about possible benefactors. No, it can’t be Harriet’s ex, Stephen, the highly successful lawyer for wealthy mob clients. He would never do anything this nice. No, it can’t be her son Theodore. He’s working in his dad’s office. They haven’t talked in the last five years. Hmmm.
Suzanne, one of Harriet’s friends among the little knot of folks, asks with a wink, “Could it be a new admirer?”
“That would be nice. But I have zero idea of who he might be…” Harriet’s eyes glaze over for a moment. “Maybe…there was a…”
Ben jumps in. “Who are you thinking about?”
Harriet snaps out of her reverie as she realizes while she’s among a few friends, the rest are total strangers.
She shrugs, turns to Ben, and asks if he would kindly fold up the box and put it into the recycling bin awaiting pickup at the curb. Thanking him for all his help, Harriet waves to the other friends and friendly strangers. Affixing the leash, she tucks the box into the bag. Bag slung over her shoulder, she leads her new best friend up the steps, big knife in the hand not holding the leash.
Story by Ina S. Hillebrandt. Copyright @ 2024 Ina S. Hillebrandt. All rights reserved.
Find out more at: https://www.inathememoircoach.com/.
The RV Book Fair 2024 Special.
Article published in The Relatable Voice Magazine - November 2024. Downolad the full magazine at:
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