Grommet

The house renovations were finally complete. Maya spent the last part of her Sunday hanging curtains and pictures throughout the house. When she was done, she settled on the couch to admire all the work. Just then, the doorbell rang. Maya answered the door to find her best friend, Andrea, standing on the other side with flowers and dinner.

“Oh, my goodness! You didn’t have to do this for me!” Maya exclaimed.

Andrea walked in, hugged Maya, and handed her the beautiful bouquet of mixed flowers. “You are my best friend. Who else would I do it for?” Andrea said as they walked through the living room into the kitchen.

As Maya found a vase and plates for the dinner Andrea brought, she heard a noise. She turned to Andrea and asked, “Did you hear that?”

Andrea looked at Maya dumbfounded. “Hear what?”

Maya replied, “It sounded like someone just went, ‘Ahhhh’.”

Andrea began laughing. Through her laughter, Andrea blurted out, “You have been working on this house FOREVER! The house is probably finally relieved you are done. It is all in your head, Maya.”

Maya looked around the living room, the kitchen, and the dinning nook. She didn’t see anyone other than her friend. Maya shrugged her shoulders and continued putting the flowers in the vase.

The next morning, Maya was up at the crack of dawn. Although she didn’t have extra work to do, she wanted to enjoy extra time in her renovated office. She went into the kitchen, made a cup of coffee, and settled into her beautiful office. The new chair was comfortable, more so than she remembered when she first purchased it. She sat admiring her pictures, the curtains, and the view from her desk’s vantage point while she waited for her computer to boot up.

As the workday began, Maya was entrenched in spreadsheets, presentations, and phone calls. During one call, Maya became disappointed with the outcome. The project she was working on received an update. Maya was on the phone, speaking with her manager. Maya was told the client wanted the job completed sooner, so the timeline was shorter, which meant Maya would need to put in longer hours. Maya said to her boss, “You realize I can manage the longer work hours, but I will need to move my vacation. I am not happy about that, you know. Is the company going to help me with those costs?” Maya nodded her head and said, “Uh huh.”

a few times, followed with “Bye.” After she hung up the phone, Maya sat in her chair looking out the window. She began to daydream when she heard a voice.

“You handled yourself really well on that call,” said the voice.

Maya jumped up out of her chair. “Who is that?” “Where are you?” she screamed, nervously.

“It’s me. I’m right here. Don’t panic, I’m here for you,” encouraged the voice.

Maya swung around and looked everywhere. She didn’t see anything. She looked out the windows on both sides; nothing. She ran into the hallway; nothing. She began yelling throughout the house, “Hello? Hello?”

“What are you doing? I told you not to panic. I’m right over here. I’m on the window,” said the voice.

Maya ran back into her office. She ran to the window behind her chair. “Where are you?” Maya asked again.

Then the most unusual and unbelievable thing occurred. The curtain began speaking. “I’m right here. I’ve been here all along. I’m Grommet,” the voice said.

Maya looked at the curtain and took a few steps backward. “Curtains don’t talk! Am I dreaming? And what kind of name is Grommet?” she asked.

Grommet cleared his throat and replied, “Maya, you are not dreaming. I am real. I am your comfort curtain. I am here for you. I talk to you, and only you. Grommet is my given name. How do you think I’m hanging here, my dear?”

Maya stood looking at the curtain and then looked up. Maya bought grommet curtains for their convenience. The fact that grommet curtains do not need any other accessories other than the bar to hang the curtains makes them smooth and easy.

Maya sat in her desk chair and stared at Grommet. She began speaking, “So, you talk? I am baffled. First off, that you talk. Secondly that you understand what is going on. How is this all possible?”

Grommet waved the curtain as if the window was ajar and the wind had pushed its way through. Grommet explained, “Maya, I have been given extraordinary powers. The power to speak, the power to understand you and comfort you. But you must remember, you are the only one blessed to hear and see me.”

Maya still looked dazed and confused. “Ok. I understand.” Maya said. She continued, “What about the other curtains in the house? What about the shower curtain? Do they have powers too?”

Grommet burst out laughing. “Hahahaha! You are very funny, darling! Very funny indeed!! First off, shower curtains are the lowest of the low. They are not worth the grime they collect. No one would grant them the power to do anything.” Grommet regained his composer and continued to explain. “My last name is Blackout. Blackout curtains are the best type of curtain you can buy. You remember why you bought me, right? You did your research and

realized the advantages of blackout curtains with grommets. Easy to hang, temperature and light controlling. Plus, I’m very soft and smart. Grommet Blackout is the best money spent on curtains, even if I do say so myself.”

Maya continued to concentrate on Grommet. “Should I even ask how you know I did research on whether I should by blackout curtains or sheers or something completely different?

Forget I even asked.”

At that moment, Maya’s cell phone rang. She swung around in her office chair and answered it. Grommet watched intently on every move Maya made. Maya nodded her head.

Maya yelled, “No!” Then, Maya began to cry. Grommet reached out for Maya. The curtain was just long enough to reach Maya’s back. The end of Grommet stroked Maya, consoling her while she sobbed on the phone. “Please let me know when the service is.” Maya hung up the phone.

Grommet continued to stroke and console Maya and waited for her to make conversation. She reached for the tissue box. Maya wiped her eyes and blew her nose. As she wiped her eyes, Maya began to say, “Grommet, my best friend, Andrea, died…taken away in a car accident. She was just here yesterday. How can this be happening?”

Continuing to stroke Maya’s back, Grommet said, “The Roman philosopher, Seneca, once said, ‘The comfort of having a friend may be taken away, but not that of having had one.’ Your grief is truly felt, Maya, but remember and never forget all the wonderful memories with your friend. She will always be close to you.”

At that moment, Maya got out of her chair and hugged Grommet. “Thank you, Grommet. You are an amazing friend too.”