Centenary Book Two: Gene, Stories 76 - 80
Steve shows up at Anne's apartment for Happy Hour. Then Gene arrives. Just two of the surprises in this collection of five 100-word fiction stories from Living Well Towers.
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76: GENE
Gene sees people. People don’t see Gene.
The two brothers who meet for coffee every Sunday morning at the cafe beside Big Baby’s.
Gene, watching this year as one brother gets older by the week, while the other doesn’t age.
Older brother is stooped now, leaning on a cane, cranky, not hearing much, seeing less.
Younger brother just strode past Gene on the sidewalk, heading toward their neighboring watering holes.
Gene, stopped at the light in his electric motor chair, hard to miss, you’d think.
Younger brother bolted right past, no hello. No nod.
No seeing Gene.
Gene sees him.
77: ANNE, STEVE, and DEE
- Steve! Come in.
- Is Gene coming?
- Honestly, I don’t know ladies. Gene does what Gene wants.
- We saw him.
- Have you been to Big Baby’s?
- Who’s apartment is that?
- It’s a dark, musty bar in that shopping center beyond the gates.
- Beyond the gates? I never go out there.
- Do you want to know about us seeing him?
- I suppose I do.
- We followed him. All four of us. Niece drove us.
- To see where he was going, so fast, every day instead of staying for dinner.
- To Big Baby’s?
- Yes!
- Don’t you want to know what he was drinking?
78: ANNE, STEVE, DEE, and GENE
- Why are they knocking? COME IN!
- Do you want me to get the door, ladies?
- Ruth and Four know they can just walk in.
- COME IN!
- I’ll get it.
- Gene!
- Well, I’ll be damned.
- Come in! We have your shandy makings ready.
- Hazy beer and sour lemonade. Cold, no ice, just like you like it.
- Shandy? Gene? Explain yourself.
- Gene knows what Gene likes, and Gene likes shandies.
- We bought, at Big Baby’s.
- We were hoping you’d come to Happy Hour. You can save some money if you come here instead of that bar.
- Until it’s your turn to host.
79: STEVE, GENE, ANNE and DEE
- I’ll co-host, for Gene. Guys host.
- Gene can host, Gene writes.
- Really?
- Ruth has next week, then Dee. The week after?
- Week? Gene must host for a week?
- Oh yes, we each host for a week. You’re the only one who doesn’t drink white wine — well, Steve, we don’t know what you drink. It’s just a bottle a night.
- I know what Steve drinks.
- Dee!
- Gene would like to know that, too. Gene has never seen Steve take a drink.
- So, we’re set? Gene in three weeks? Steve, the week after?
- Japanese whiskey, with one cocktail cube melting, slowly.
- Dee!
80: STEVE and GENE
- Gene, we need to talk.
- Why?
- Exactly! Why did you agree to host those four ladies for Happy Hour?
- Plus you.
- For a week!
- Gene did not expect that.
- What are you doing?
- Gene counts things, but the things Gene counts? Gene has tallied all of them, do you know what they add up to?
- I don’t understand you.
- They do not count.
- For what?
- For life. They take up Gene’s time, keep Gene’s mind busy. But they do not fill Gene’s heart, lift Gene’s soul.
- What do you want from them?
- That is not quite the right question, Steve.
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🆗 ps - You might like Spilled at the Wine Bar, documenting what I see, hear, and overhear pouring for customers.