Page 57 of Man Seeking Woman

“Actually, I have no idea, got any suggestions? You know August better than I do, what does he like?”

“Well, what do you like to cook? Because Mr. Burke likes it all.” The car moved forward, and I kept my eyes out the window.

“I like to cook a lot of different things, but I like cooking Japanese.”

“I've got the perfect little place to take you, leave it to me.”

It took us about twenty minutes with the traffic to go a few blocks. Jerry double parked outside a small Japanese grocery store. Passing me an envelope, he gave me a warm smile. “August said to make sure you get this if you go out.”

“What is it?”

“I don't have a clue, I was asked to give it, not open it.” Jerry kept checking his mirrors, keeping an eye on the other cars around us.

Opening the envelope, it almost exploded in my hand, as the seems gave out once the glue was gone, threatening to spill a stack of cash onto the floor. “What the hell is this for?” I asked Jerry, but I knew he wouldn't have the answer I was looking for.

“I'm guessing it's so you can buy stuff.”

“Well, I don't want it, not like this.” Tucking the flap inside the pocket, I held it out to him. “Here, take it back. You can give it to August when you see him.”

“I was told to give it to you, that's what I did. I can't take it back.” Holding up his hand, he gently pushed it back in my direction.

“I'm not taking this. You can either take it and give it back, or I'm going to leave right here in the backseat.”

“Ms. Day—”

“Ella,” I said, interrupting him before he could finish.

“Ella, just take it. You don't have to spend it, and you can give it back to him later.”

“Jerry, I really don't feel comfortable taking this money. Please, take it. Give it back to him, go on a spending spree, I don't really care. But I don't want it, not yet. Tell him I refused to take it from you. I'm a stubborn bitch sometimes, he'll have to deal with it.”

Setting the money down on the center console, I opened the door and climbed out. Poking my head back in, I said, “Give me half an hour, that should do it.”

Jerry gave me a nod and then pushed his way back into the moving heard of vehicles. I wasn't trying to make the guy feel bad, and I didn't want him to get into any trouble for me not taking the money, but we still hadn't sat down yet to really determine shit.

I wasn't going to have any debt to August right away, that wouldn't be smart. I would buy dinner, I would cook him a bomb ass meal, one he'd never forget. And then we could iron out terms.

Money might have been the motive, but I wasn't going to let it blind me. I still needed to try and keep some of the control, no matter how small it might be.

Dinner would do for now.

Filling the basket with everything I'd need; yakisoba noodles, white cabbage, aonori powdered seaweed, shredded pickled ginger, bonito flakes, all the things I would need to cook my fried noodle dish.

Standing on the sidewalk after I paid, I waited for Jerry to pick me up. The street was packed with cars. Breaks were squeaking, horns were blaring, echoing off the brick buildings that towered over my head.

Between the chatter of city noise, I could hear a very soft cry. It was coming from beneath me, the cry almost unnoticeable if there hadn't been a solitary moment where everything stopped and the world was silent. The moment couldn't have been more than half a second, just enough time for that pint-sized mewling to find my ears.

Dropping to my haunches, I tried to listen carefully as the world swiftly popped back on and it was hard to discern my own thoughts from the inaudible mumbling of pedestrians.

Walking like a duck, I moved around the sidewalk, getting kicked and bumped as people walked by me, unaware that I was on the ground.

“Meow.” The cry was small, but I was close enough to hear it really well, and know it came from street level.

Looking over the edge of the sidewalk, I saw a sewer drain, and heard the cry again. Taking out my phone, I turned on the flashlight, and pointed it into the drain. Eye shine flickered and the kitten meowed again, this time more intense.

“Aw,” I said, reaching into the drain to scoop up the small kitten. I felt the sharp nails as it clawed me, letting out a hiss. “It's alright, come on, tsk tsk tsk, come here.” Slowly moving my hand in, the kitten allowed me to pull it out of the drain.

Holding it tightly in my hand, I pressed it to my chest and ran my thumb up and down its nose. There was no more resistance, no hissing or attempts to get free. The gray kitten purred, snuggling up under my neck and rubbing its face on my chest.

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