To The Rude Guy in Apartment Five - J. S. Cooper Page 0,46
seen a lot of the world and might be able to help.”
“Not really.” I shook my head and nibbled on my pen. “I just got this job at this new startup. I’m a writer, well, a blogger, a small blogger, and this company is in finance, and I really need the paycheck and I love my new work friends, but I don’t know anything about finance and I have to write this article and I’m thinking of asking my neighbor, who was on Wall Street, to help, but he is also my old crush and I think it might be a bad idea because he had his brother walk in on us when we were trying to have sex, and I was dating his brother at the time and it was horrible—” I finally stopped to take a breath. I’d just told them both my entire life story in less than thirty seconds. “Sorry, I’m a bit of a mess.”
“Nothing to be sorry about,” the other lady said. She looked to be about seventy and had kind blue eyes and matching bright blue hair. “This is better than my daytime soaps.”
“Cheryl!” The first lady chided her and then smiled at me. “It seems like you are in quite the pickle.”
“Yeah, you can say that again.”
“So, let me get this right. A young man you used to know who now lives close to you could possibly help with your work dilemma?”
“Yes,” I nodded and blushed. “But the other stuff makes it a bit complicated.”
“When did you, uh, sleep with him?”
“Ten years ago.”
“How old is he?” Cheryl’s eyebrows raised. “Please don’t say forty because you look awfully young, love.”
“I’m twenty-eight and he’s thirty.”
“Oh.” Cheryl looked thoughtful. “So you were eighteen and twenty?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, okay.” Cheryl laughed. “Honey, I’m going to say this nicely, but men don’t mature until they die.”
“Huh?”
“A twenty-year-old man is a fool. A thirty-year-old man is a fool. A forty-year-old man is less of a fool, but still a fool. My husband is seventy-six, and I still have to tell him what groceries to buy every single week, even though the list never changes.”
“Oh, wow.”
“My point is,” Cheryl continued, “whatever happened when you were young can be forgiven.”
The other lady nodded. “You ever heard of the author Maya Angelou?”
“Yeah, she wrote that book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, right?”
“Right.” The lady looked pleased with my answer. “Well, she said it’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.”
“And I’m sure you’re not perfect, right?” Cheryl said. “You know what the Lord says?”
“Love everybody?” I answered with a small shrug.
“Well, yes, but what else?”
“Thou shalt not kill?” I said trying to remember the ten commandments. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife?”
“Well, yes, but that’s not it.” I could see that Cheryl was trying not to laugh. “The Bible also says The Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.” She smiled. “It’s important to forgive. I find that when you forgive others, it also helps you to feel better.”
“I guess so.”
“I forgave Cheryl years ago.” The first lady said. “She stole my boyfriend away from me.”
“No way!” I blinked, shocked.
“Well, the joke was on me.” Cheryl laughed. “I went and married him, and now I’m stuck with him.”
“Oh.” I had no idea what to say.
“Don’t worry, dear.” The first lady laughed. “I’m okay with it. I figured out I’m a lesbian and have been with my partner for forty years.”
“Oh, that’s great.”
“You just never know what’s going to happen in life. Don’t hold grudges,” Cheryl said. “And if you think he can help you, go and ask for that help.”
“Yeah, I suppose that’s true.” I paused. “I’m just nervous about what will happen next.”
“Next?” Cheryl frowned.
“She means in the bedroom, Cheryl.” The first lady grinned. “Honey, just go with the flow. That’s the problem with you youngsters, you think too much.”
“Oh.” Cheryl laughed. “Honey, you’re young, have fun. Heartbreak never lasts, enjoy the ride no matter how long or short it is. It’s the journey that makes the difference.”
“You know what.” I grinned at them. “You’re right. I’m going to call him and I’m going to ask him to help. And you know what, he can even make dinner for me too.”
“That’s it, darling. Have him work for you.” Cheryl nodded. “Trisha, we should go. The Zumba class starts in twenty minutes.”
“Oh, yes,” Trisha nodded and they stood up. “Good luck, dear. I hope it works out for you.”
“Thank you both. It