The Joan of Arc Fountain

All that money. Thad thought about how different his life would be if he had money. He could take Sundara to expensive restaurants, buy her fine silk dresses in olive or emerald green colors that would beautifully compliment her skin tone. The first time Thad locked eyes with her, something inside him shifted, the universe seemed to take on new meaning. For the first time, Thadeus thought maybe, just maybe, there was a purpose to life. 

Thadeus walked past the bank for the fourth time in two days. It was slightly out of the way, but he enjoyed walking past the bank and through the park with water features on his way home. It helped him unwind after his night shift at the factory. He slowed his pace, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sundara. Sundara was the manager, so would be in the back offices. He glanced down at his phone with rehearsed nonchalance. 

Suddenly, Sundara was walking toward him. She was radiant. Thad felt his heart skip a beat as she unlocked the door and greeted him enthusiastically,

“Thadeus, hey! Just getting off work at the factory?”

“Yeah, another day, another dollar - and not much more than that, sadly,” he laughed awkwardly, then added, “Not true for you though, huh? Too many dollars in there to count!” 

“It’s not nearly as exciting as people think. Frustrating, really! Considering how little of it I get to take home.”

“Right? I’m sure people ask all the time, but - ”

Sundara laughed and it sounded like music, “Am I ever tempted? Yes, people do ask all the time. ” She glanced around to see if anyone was within ear shot, “Between you and me, yes. How could I not?” She appeared surprised she’d let that slip, “You headed home?”

“Yeah, slowly. I like to meander through the park, maybe stop by Llyod’s and grab an egg and cheese on the way.”

“Ah, I love a good egg and cheese from Llyod’s! So you walk through Malcom X park? Sometimes I sit near the big fountain and read at lunch.”

“The Joan of Arc fountain? That’s my favorite place. Helps clear my head.”

“Oh, I’ll bet it’s lovely this early in the morning. Fewer people.” She rolled her eyes and made a face.

So she was also a misanthrope, Thad thought. That’s why he preferred the night shift, fewer people to deal with. 

“Anyway,” Sundara began, “speaking of people, I suppose I should get inside and manage mine. Such a joy! I try to hide in my office until lunch.”

“Wise woman!  Well, I’ll see you around. Have a great day, despite people,” Thad smiled.

“You bet. And - hey - who knows? Maybe I’ll see you at the park sometime.”

With this interaction, a thought was implanted in his head,a thought that Thadeus would become beset by: Meeting Sundara at the Joan of Arc fountain.

 It wouldn’t be an easy task as he was usually dead asleep by 10am. Occasionally, he’d stay up late watching old Hepburn films and drinking beer. Even then, he’d typically pass out in his recliner well before Sundara went to lunch at what? 12? 1? Furthermore, he couldn’t orchestrate the encounter too soon; it’d look suspicious. He’d have to bide his time. 

The following week, he allowed himself to walk by on the third day. He decided to leave it to the Fates. If she saw him and wanted to talk, he’d take that as a sign that it was time to move to phase two. But the Fates weren’t on his side. He arrived just in time to see her walk into her office and shut the door. On the fourth day, Thadeus decided to give the Fates another chance. He made a point to get there a few minutes earlier. This time, the Fates were on his side. 

In a bold move Thad called out, “Howdy stranger.”

She laughed and, without missing a beat and shot back, “Well, how’s it going, partner?” 

“Oh, you know, different day, same ole mess,” he paused to yawn and stretch dramatically, then continued, “Sorry, my apologies.”

“What’s up, they got you working extra shifts?”

So she was interested? “No, not this week, but I picked up a couple extra shifts last week; now my sleep schedule is all messed up.”

“Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that!”

Her concern seemed genuine. That pleased Thad. “Eh, it’s ok. It’ll even out eventually. On the bright side, it’s given me more time to sit and read in the park.”

“Nice! I just had my lunch there yesterday. What are you reading?”

Crap. He hadn’t thought that far ahead. He scrambled. “Well, I’ve been working my way through the classics. Re-reading stuff they made us read in high school.” He panicked. Quick! What was a book he was forced to read in high school? “I just finished Little Women.” Crap, crap, crap! Why didn’t he choose one he’d actually read? He chastised himself.

“How funny! I started reading that for the first time a few months ago,” Sundara covered her hands with her face, “I’m ashamed to admit, I had a hard time getting into it. Should I give it another go?”

Thad shrugged and said the first thing that came to mind, “Maybe it’s an acquired taste?”

Sundra smiled, “Well, I hope you can get some sleep but, if you can’t, maybe I’ll see you at the park today? Hell, maybe you can talk me through Little Women,” she laughed nervously.

“It would be my distinct pleasure,” he said with a bow.

Thadeus booked it home. He only had a couple hours to read and memorize the summary of Little Women. 

They ended up spending her entire lunch break together, talking and laughing. Thad was beside himself. When he got home, he was so full of energy that he couldn’t sleep. That was ok, he consoled himself, Sundara was worth losing sleep over. 

He spent the remainder of the week and weekend strategizing. How could he meet Sundara in the park more frequently without losing too much sleep - or his job? He wondered if he could switch to swing shift. It would be a difficult transition initially, and the pay would be slightly less. Still, he was overdue for a raise and a promotion. It was worth a try.

The next week, he got his manager, Jack, to approve his move to swing. He could see his plan unfolding: Within a couple years, he and Sundara would get married and she’d be pregnant with their first child. He would be the most amazing stay at home dad a woman could ever want.

When he finally told Sundara that he was moving to the 2-11pm shift, she appeared genuinely pleased. “Oh that’s amazing news, Thad - I’m so happy for you! Working the night shift must’ve gotten lonely at times.”

Thad laughed, “Yeah, people get pretty lost in their heads working the night shift for too long. I needed to get out before I became completely socially inept.” 

“Nah, you’re super easy to talk to. Hey! Does this mean you’ll have free time for an egg and cheese before work once in a while?” She seemed uncharacteristically shy. 

Thad found her shyness endlessly endearing. “I’d really like that. You can help resocialize me.”

Over the next few weeks, Thad and Sundara developed a standing date at the Joan of Arc fountain on Mondays and Fridays. At first, one or the other of them would show up with bagels or sandwiches from Lloyd’s. After about a month, Sundara started bringing home cooked meals. The small gesture of Sundra making food specifically for their lunch dates touched Thad deeply. That’s when he knew they were falling in love. 

A week or two into the second month, he finally got up the nerve to ask her out on a proper date. 

“I thought you’d never ask,” She smiled. 

Thadeus had never felt such unbridled joy.

Over the next couple of months, their relationship blossomed. The first time she came over to watch old movies, they did little more than kiss, but he knew that he was hopelessly in love. Thad hadn’t been with many women. He’d started working at the factory at 19 to help pay his mother’s medical bills. Between work and caring for his ailing mother, he’d never had much of a chance to socialize or date. Now 25, Sundara was his first official girlfriend. He was so anxious about pleasing her sexually that he started visiting the local brothel for practice. 

As they entered their third month, Thad had gotten so good at sex with the sex workers that he was keen to show Sundara his newly acquired skills. She wanted to take it slow, and he wanted to respect that, but the longer they did over-the-pants, under-the-shirt stuff, the harder it became. Pun intended. One night, after being rebuffed for sliding his hand too far up her skirt, it randomly occurred to Thad that he’d never been to her place. He’d walked her to the door, but he’d never even been inside her building. Was that odd? He wondered. 

When he asked, she replied she had a messy roommate she didn't get along with. This was the first he’d heard of a roommate; it seemed odd that it hadn’t come up. He tried to ask follow up questions, but she silenced him with kisses. Still, once he’d thought of it, he couldn’t let it go. Who was this roommate? The thought burrowed into his head; an insidious worm. 

He tried bringing it up casually a few days later while they were eating lunch at the fountain. Instead of answering him, Sundara covered his lap with her book and unzipped his trousers. It was the first time she’d touched him that way, and he lost control almost immediately. He was ashamed. He’d gotten good at delaying his release with the sex workers, but Sundara’s touch put him over the edge. Despite his shame and disappointment, she was kind. She told him it was totally normal.

Still, Thadeus couldn't let the roommate thing go. A few days later, he brought it up again, insisting that she divulge at least a few minor details. He got very little information out of her, so decided he’d have to take the matter into his own hands. He knew that night Sundara was going out with a friend. Thad decided to do something he’d rarely done: call in sick. Sundara had talked about this girlfriend before, her name was July. She was an old school friend or something. He’d also learned that the roommate’s name was Becky. Apparently, Sundara went out with July a few times a week to blow off steam and trash talk Becky. 

It was normal for him to be curious about her life, Thad reasoned. They were in love. Being curious about your partner’s life wasn’t creepy. Sometimes you had to nudge the Fates a little. If they were going to spend the rest of their lives together, he was going to have to meet her friends eventually. Nothing wrong with expediting the process.

Having summarily rationalized stalking her, he developed a simple plan. He’d wait outside Sundara’s building until he saw her leave, then follow her and see if he could get close enough to hear them trash talk Becky without being detected. His effort probably wouldn’t yield much information, he knew. But perhaps he’d be able to verify that the roommate was, in fact, a messy woman rather than some secret boyfriend. He decided to wear a wide brimmed hat pulled down over his brow and a false mustache. It was a bit cartoonish, but it would suffice.

~~~~

Sundara was feeling especially annoyed with Thad. She was irritated by him most days, but on the days she got to meet July, she found his company particularly tedious. She passed the day in a foul mood, counting the hours until she could close the bank. She raced home after work to shower and change. She felt like she hadn’t seen July in months, although it had scarcely been days. When July arrived, Sundara buzzed her up, excitedly waiting by the door. The instant Sundara saw July, she knew it was all worth it. Sundara grabbed her and kissed her passionately. 

“Baby, I’ve been aching for you,” Sundara breathed as July pushed open her robe and grabbed her.

“I know, lover, I can tell,” July grinned as she pushed Sandara back inside, kicking the door shut behind them.

A couple of hours later, the two women were on the couch, in varying states of disarray and undress. July pulled on her slip as she walked to the phone, “I’m starving. Thai or Vietnamese?’ Sundara told July to surprise her, then poured them both more wine. They were kissing passionately, ready to begin round two when the phone rang, startling them both.

Annoyed, July leaped up and grabbed the phone, “Yeah, who’s this?” 

The person on the other end inhaled sharply before hanging up.

“Ok, whatever,” July muttered, walking back to the sofa. “Listen, I know it’s unpleasant business, but we gotta talk about the elephant in the room. How much longer before we’re done with Thadeus?”

Sundara sighed, “Lover, please. You know I need at least another month before we have all the offshore accounts settled.  Look, I’m as eager for this to be over with as you are. The man’s a dreadful bore, but you know how much he’s worth! In another couple of months you’re going to have me on my knees all over Paris. In the finest lingerie, in the fanciest restaurants and hotels,” she moved her hand slowly and deliberately up July’s thigh as she spoke.

“Listen, I know I told you it was ok to let him do whatever clumsy hand stuff he can manage but, honestly, I’m more bothered by the thought of him kissing you.”

“I don’t let him. But I get it. I hate the thought of anyone else kissing you. That mouth is mine.”

 There was an unexpected knock at the door, startling them both. 

“I have your delivery. Your neighbor let me in…”

Sundara turned to July, laughing about how they’d completely forgotten ordering food. 

After they’d eaten a bit, July asked, “So, you’re positive when I get Jack to drop the insider tip, Thad will take it?”

“He’ll come to me when he hears it. He’ll consider it our decision. He’s madly in love with me.”

“Gross. But you sound pretty confident.”

“I’m in banking. He’ll come to me for advice.  He might not know the term insider trading, but he’ll know it’s not legal. He’ll want me to tell him it’s ok.”

“He’s really never sold or traded any of his stock? All these years?”

“The guy’s dying mother, who he took care of, willed it to him. Oh - wait! Here’s the best part: I found out yesterday that Thad has enough stock in the factory to be a major shareholder. And he has absolutely no idea! If we play this right, we’re looking at 50 million. Minimum” Sundara held up her wine glass.

“I’ll toast to that!” July cracked open another bottle. 

“Although,” July began.

“Oh no. Although what?”

“Do you think he’ll be hesitant to sell because, you know, maybe he’s sentimental about it?”

“Maybe. Who cares? You don’t think he’ll part with Mommy’s stock for this?” Sundara slid open her robe, running her hand slowly up her thigh. 

“He’d be insane not to,” moaned July, moving closer.

Sundara stopped her, “And you’re positive you can get Jack to drop him the tip? After all, your approach is far less…hands on than mine.”

“Again, gross. Trust me, babe. The bastard knows that the garment district is about to collapse due to the impending embargo with the far east. I’ll have no problem convincing him to tip off Thad and trade his stock to our bogus pharmaceutical company. After that, I'll convince Jack to rat Thad out. He’ll want to divert attention from his own dirty dealings.” 

“So Thad will spend 5 to 10 years in a white collar prison? Who knows, maybe he’ll finally make friends,” Sundara laughed.

July turned away with an inscrutable expression. 

“What’s that look?”

“Well, love. You must realize Jack can’t let Thad live … he’ll be a liability. You can convince Thad to sell the stock and put the money in your - or, our-  offshore account for safe keeping. But when Jack accuses him of insider trading, Thad’s bound to retaliate and name Jack as the informant.” July could tell that Sundara hadn’t considered this.

“Casualties of war, Sundara. Not to be crass, but what else would the guy do with his life anyway?”

Sundara sighed. She disliked having blood on her hands. “I suppose you’re right. Casualties of war,” she shrugged.

“There’s my woman,” July crawled on top of Sundara again, “Now. Kiss me like you love me.” 

~~~~~

Thadeus was annoyed that Sundara and July hadn’t left the apartment. He’d been outside for hours. He saw the delivery guy come and go,  but figured they might still head out for a drink after eating. They probably just lost track of time, chatting, he reasoned. 

Thadeus decided he needed to forget this cloak and dagger business and head home for some shut eye. After all, he was proposing to Sundara that weekend, and there was still much to do in preparation. Sundara had been admiring a gorgeous opal ring in the window of Barney’s for months. It was outrageously expensive, but with the money he was about to make selling his stock in the factory, he’d be able to afford the ring; maybe even a downpayment on a modest brownstone. Sundara was going to marry him and love him forever. Thadeus smiled and whistled on his way home. Yes, indeed. Life was good.