A New Leaf

Freddy slipped on his loafers as silently as possible in the dark. He put on his beanie and grabbed his gloves. It was only six in the morning, so it was probably still chilly out. Freddy looked back down the hall at the clock, six o'two. He better hurry.

He gently turned the knob and pushed out the front door, moving even slower where he knew the hinge squeaked. He should probably get some WD-40 while he's there, he thought. He squeezed through the small gap he made and as he was closing the door, a glimmer caught his eye on the other side.

Like a fairy that promised him salvation from the humiliation of getting locked out again, his sparkly keys called out to him and froze his arm before he pushed the door shut. He reached out through the now smaller gap, desperate not to have to go back in. He tapped the keys with the tips of his fingers once, twice, then a third time. They were swinging a little now, ever so delicately, almost fluttering. Then they swang close enough that he snatched them off the key hook violently.

Freddy eased the door closed and turned his hard-earned key in the top lock. There had been some break-ins on there street in the past few months. Police have been around more, but he started locking his door even when he made runs ot the corner store.

Freddy turned around and sucked a huge gulp of cool morning air from Pearson Street. It was energizing and pure before the morning city traffic picked up and unloaded car fumes and cigarette smoke into the city's collective lungs. For now though, there wasn't a soul in sight. It was Freddy's time.

He took the first step off his stoep while he fiddled around with his gloves. Each finger was harder to fit through as the morning chill set in and numbed him. Swinging open his front gate, he started booking it down toward Ebsen Street.

As he strode, he peered over his neighbors fences on the right of him. It was early Spring, tiny violets and dandelions were beginning to show. In Ms. Delia's yard, he even noticed some daffodils. As he got closer to the corner store, the pep in his step got even peppier.

"Freddy?!"

The flowering trees were fleshing out with green, and every little morning breeze rained petals of white and pink down around Freddy.

"Hey Freddy!"

Freddy noticed his laces slapping with each step. He ducked down and began retying when a voice came behind him.

"Freddy? Is that you?"

Freddy fell against Mr. Jordan's black iron gate, startled. Turning around, he saw his friend.

"Andrew, my god, you startled me," said Freddy as he pulled himself up on the gate.

"I've been calling out to you from across the street, Fred," he was bundled up even more than Freddy. Andrew's scarf wrapped around his mouth and tucked into his puffy black coat. Freddy could tell he was smiling from the way his eyes crinkled.

"I'm sorry Andrew, I was really in my head just then," said Freddy.

"Where are you off to? It's early."

"I... uh... have to make a quick run to the corner store. It just opened," answered Freddy.

"Oh so you still live around here?" Andrew asked through his scarf.

"I do. How long has it been man? I guess we haven't hung out in a while," Freddy leaned on Mr. Jordan's brick half wall.

"Yeah, not since the party."

"The party?" Freddy furrowed his brow.

"The party," confirmed Andrew. "I'm actually really glad I ran into you. I've been thinking about that night a lot."

"The party?" Freddy was even more confused.

"I wanted to apologize for how I acted that night," Andrew continued. "It wasn't my place to say all that."

"Ummmmm, could you remind me again?" Freddy said shyly.

"Oh, you know, about the drinking," Andrew paused. "I said you had a problem. That we were all worried about you."

Freddy looked away.

"Was this Gemma's party?" Freddy's eyes were flicking around a million miles an hour trying to remember.

"No, it was Luca's. I said some really mean things. Like how your life was falling apart, and that Sarah was going to leave you... are you still with Sarah?" Andrew pivoted.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm still with Sarah," Freddy turned back.

"That's really great. I'm glad to hear that," Andrew crinkled his eyes again.

"So you said all that at Luca's party?" Freddy said baffled.

"Yes, Fred. It's been on my mind a lot lately. I was hoping I'd run into you so I could say I'm sorry. I truly am. That was no way to treat a friend," Andrew's winced as he finished.

"That's alright Andrew. I forgive you. Honestly, I don't remember it too clearly," Freddy ran his gloved hand through his hair.

"That's really great. I'm really happy," said Andrew.

There was a long pause. Freddy took a few steps back.

"Well it was really good to see you," started Freddy.

"Is there anything you want to say to me?" interjected Andrew.

"I... uh... I forgive you Andrew," stammered Freddy.

"No, no," said Andrew. "I mean, do you have anything you'd like to apologize for?"

"Uhhhh..." Freddy thought long and hard. "I'm really sorry too."

"For what?" squinted Andrew.

"You know, what I said?"

"What you said?!" though muffled by his scarf, volume pierced the peaceful morning.

"Yeah, Andrew, all of it. Whatever I said," said Freddy.

Andrew let out a deep sigh that travelled through his whole body.

"You don't remember Freddy," Andrew's hand came up to his scarf. His fingers clenched tight around it as he pulled it down.

"I tried to take a glass out of your hand when we were arguing." Behind the scarf was a tattered pair of lips. Red bulging scars creeped out in every direction. "You smashed it into my face. You don't rememeber?"

Andrew's eyes no longer crinkled happily, and his mouth, if it could even smile, was just as still.

"Andrew, I am so sorry. I can't even begin to imagine how painful that was."

"But you don't remember?" shot Andrew.

"I don't remember Luca's party at all, man," Freddy took a another step back. "But I am truly sorry about you face. And it was good to see you, we should hang out soon. I have to hurry and get back to Sarah though."

Freddy turned and continued down the street as fast as he could, but with all the pep gone.

Soon after, he entered the corner store with a ding. Robbie was working this morning.

"Hey, morning Fred," said Robbie as Freddy walked to the back of the store, single-mindedly.

Freddy stared at the whiskey before him. A morning dew of saliva formed over his tongue as he imagined his first swig. Then the image of Andrew's mouth, like a meteor impact, flashed in his mind.

He looked away from the bottles in shame, and made his way to the front.

"Not the usual today, Fred?" smiled Robbie.

"No, Robbie. But I'll take some Newports."