I love New York

Lenny “Cricket” Robinson was dying. His throat was being tightly gripped by the cold hands of a New York foggy morning. Lenny was lying in a pile of cardboard boxes, covered with an old wet blanket. It would take a lot of effort to recognize a human being quietly waiting for his final breath as Lenny was wearing all of the dirty clothes he had in his possession. At that point of his life he had more in common with a basket in a thrift shop or at a garage sale than with a gentleman that he once used to be.

Ten years ago Leonard Robinson was a shop keeper. He had a small business on Central Avenue, selling tobacco and newspapers. The world was rapidly moving towards global digitalization but mr Robinson was a firm believer in a cup of coffee with a cigarette and a real newspaper. No gadgets would ever replace the smell and crunch of a freshly printed paper, he used to say. He had his regulars and his tiny shop was more of a club for those running away from cold neon LED lights.

His life was good and quiet with occasional shootings here and there, a few robberies and a fire but nothing big enough to write home about. Lenny was married to a nice woman and had a hot dinner every evening when he came home and a nice sweet kiss before he fell asleep. He was content with what he had and that was when life decided to strike unexpectedly. In Lenny`s case it used a truck to hit his car when he was driving his wife Sarah. She was on the passenger seat munching on chocolates. Sarah died instantly still holding that box. Lenny was taken to a hospital but upon his discharge a few months later he had nothing. His shop had been burned to the ground, his life savings were scarce and there was no one waiting for him at home. Like Job, he didn`t complain and obediently disappeared in the shadows of the New York City, living silently under a newly acquired name Cricket.

Ghostly shreds of labored breath were curling on Cricket`s blueish lips. His cold calloused hands were clenched together pressed against his chest. He could swear he could see the Pearly Gates and Sarah waiving at him when a round of deafening applause broke his moment of clarity.

“Bravo! Bravo, ladies and gentlemen! Bravo to monsignor Cricket, the last authentic homeless person with a tragic backstory! A never-ending classic!”

Lenny closed his eyes overwhelmed by the roar of a bullhorn. A sad melody accompanying his dying was turned down. A huge silver tourist bus with an open deck was parked in front of his cardboard pile. A tall dark-haired man was holding a bullhorn pointing at Cricket and a dozen of well-dressed people were staring at the dumpster pile.

“We make sure that there is a place for every choice in our modern society. Justice has prevailed and this area has been left for this wonderful philosopher to roam freely. We could observe him more and let him lead us by example on the way to Mother Nature…”

“But what if he gets sick? You`re saying he`s all alone here,” interrupted a young woman in an expensive silk dress.

“I salute your compassionate heart but worry not! There are CCTVs all around this block and mr Cricket is monitored constantly. We make sure he gets only the healthy and balanced leftovers and should anything happen we drop some medication where he can come across it,” he smiled sophisticatedly.

“But wouldn`t it be better to take him out of this dumpster?” insisted the woman.

“Oh no, ma’am! Who would we admire then? Where would we search for purity and novelty?”

“Purity is a wrong word for this place,” snickered a fat gentleman.

“Purity of heart, I mean,” the tour guide smiled again, “I`m afraid mr Cricket needs some rest. We will come back later to observe his feeding time.”

The young girl in the silk dress was looking at Lenny until he disappeared from her view.

Shuffling in his huge coat, Lenny was walking round the block checking the trash bins. He looked like a ruffled hungry bird, going from a bin to a bin, rummaging inside for scraps and leftovers. He was being followed by the same silver bus and Lenny`s ridiculous silhouette was partially lost in the head lights.

“Ladies and gentlemen, now mr Cricket is looking for supper! It`s autumn time in New York so we made sure that the city is providing our gentleman with a balanced diet enough to sustain him through the harsh weather. Look! He`s found something!”

Cricket was trying not to pay attention to the tourists. He felt their eyes drilling a hole in his back trying to see what he had found. But he wasn’t going to let them off the hook so easily. Slouching, he was stuffing his pockets with paper bags full of French fries and unfinished sandwiches. He even found a bottle of water. Evian, that was a gem!

Tiny, with long messy hair Cricket looked older than he was, only his black beady eyes were lively with a hidden spark behind a well-crafted wall of indifference. Back at his cardboard pile he put a cloth on the ground, squatted in front of it and methodically unloaded the contents of his pockets onto the cloth. The bus was parked right in front of him turning the dumpster into a theatre stage.

“Excuse me,” said the young woman who had changed into a navy blue suit, “I have something for mr Cricket.”

“It`s forbidden to bring things to the dumpster!” exclaimed an old lady in a pearl necklace and a fur coat, “We could disturb the eco-system of the place!”

“You are absolutely right, madam,” the guide bowed at her, “but let`s see what the young lady has in mind.”

The woman blushed and took a fresh white rose out of her handbag.

“I thought… everything is so dull and gray here. It`s just a bit of colour.”

The tourists were looking at their guide with a silent question in their eyes. He took a dramatic pause.

“Well, well, well, miss?..”

“Cecily Walters.”

“…miss Walters, it`s against the rules but tonight… tonight is a special day for our dear mr Cricket. Today is his birthday and I suggest you giving him this lovely rose.”

Alarmed whispers curled around Cecily and the guide.

“It`s unsafe! What if she brings germs here? It wasn`t in the program! I will sue you! How dare you!”

But the guide raised his hand.

“The floor below the deck is well equipped for sterilization. You undergo the same procedure before you come to these premises, it works both ways. So if miss Walters truly desires to deliver her gift, I see no obstacles. Granted, she would be the first one to do so but isn`t the point of our tours? Don`t we strive to learn something from mr Cricket?”

“I still think this is reckless,” grumped the fat man in response. Another blonde woman nodded in agreement.

“Darling, it`s unsafe, please stay here!”

But Cecily was looking at Cricket who, having his supper laid out in front of him, started with a short prayer. She`s never seen anyone praying. The guide was watching her with a strange smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. The lady with pearls touched Cecily`s hand.

“Come, sweet girl, you need to calm down.”

But Cecily easily ran down the steps and froze before stepping out. Cricket was looking at her like a caged animal ready to run. Her black toecap touched the wet ground, probing. Cricket slowly finished a fry. Cecily took a shaky breath and clumsily stepped forward.

“Happy birthday, mr Robinson,” she said hesitantly, “I know it`s not much but I thought you`d like it.”

She reached out her hand with a white rose in it. Cricket clambered to his feet.

“Thank you, ma`am,” he croaked, “I appreciate it. You can,” he pointed at the ground, “Leave it there.”

Cecily heard the group nervously whispering behind her back. A lady screamed in protest when the young woman proceeded to walk towards Cricket holding out a flower.

“Here,” she said, “Take it, mr Robinson. I really wish I could do something for you.”

Lenny took off his dirty hat and reached out for the rose.

“Thank you but I smell, you really shouldn`t…”

But miss Walters smiled. Lenny looked into her green eyes and smiled back, taking the rose.

“Thank you,” he said, “Thank you very much.”

The pearl lady fainted on the deck.

***

Lenny was making his bed of cardboard when someone called him by the name. Cricket turned around and saw the tour guide.

“Carl, nice to see you!”

“Couldn`t miss your birthday, could I?” Carl sat down next to Lenny and offered him a paper cup of coffee and cigarettes. Lenny took the coffee and Carl lit his cigarette.

For a few moments they were both sitting in silence, enjoying smoking and each other`s company.

“How`s your project going?” Cricket broke the silence first.

“All`s good,” Carl nodded reassuringly, “It`s going better than we expected. Your help has been invaluable.”

“Is there any hope?”

“Oh, loads of it actually! We are very optimistic about the outcome.”

Lenny shook his head.

“If someone told me I`d be helping aliens to stop humans from self-destruction, I`d say they were bonkers yet here we are.”

“Leonard, don`t belittle yourself. You are doing a wonderful job helping us to sieve through your so called crème de la crème…and trust me, replacing the rotten ones and empowering the good ones is turning the tide. The Earth is going to survive because of you. Your sacrifice will prevent other less-developed civilizations of following your self-destructive suit,” he reached into his pocket and produced a small velvet box, “The Intergalactic Union are sending their heartfelt good wishes to you, Leonard Robinson.”

Lenny`s face went pale.

“Is this…”

Carl smiled softly, “Yes, it is.”

Lenny stifled a sob. Carefully as if dealing with a butterfly, he opened the box. Inside there was a wedding ring, the one he had given to Sarah so many years ago.

“Oh my god,” tears were streaming down his face, “You did it. You did it!”

A powerful beam of light appeared from the night sky and in that light a female figure was coming to life. Leonard was crying, Carl put his hand on his shoulder.

“Lenny?” the woman stepped outside the beam. She was still the same beautiful kind Sarah that he remembered.

“We`ve retrieved her DNA, it`s a standard procedure for someone losing their corporal form so do not be afraid, it is Sarah Robinson, your wife. She`s got all her memories.”

“Does she know?..”

“No, that part was omitted. You can go home now, Leonard Robinson.”

Lenny hugged Carl, rose up and ran towards Sarah.

“Leonard Robinson, have you seen yourself?! I can`t leave you even for a day!” Sarah took her husband by the hands.

“No,” Lenny was smiling through his tears, “No, you can`t. I don`t want to ever part with you again,” he opened the box, “Will you go with me to the stars?”

Sarah looked him in the eyes, “Of course I will. But first we`ll tidy you up.”

Leonard put a ring back on her finger. She tenderly wiped his tears away and he followed her into the beam of light.

Carl was watching them with a smile. He finished his cigarette and waived the couple goodbye. He rose to his feet and looked up at the sky. New York was honking, crying, dancing, shooting and the Intergalactic Union still had a lot of work to do.