New York City - 'TRCJ' - an excerpt

Some 20 months have elapsed and we meet Nick in NYC.

New York

         

As Nick got off the subway carriage and made his first steps on the platform, a well-dressed man brushed against him. That certain man was on his way to board the carriage, that’s how it looked like.  He didn't seem to be in such a hurry that deserved almost bumping into Nick.

'Sorry,' said that well-dressed stranger looking up at Nick with a mocking smile, as if he knew him, as if he was some old acquaintance of his.

The stranger’s accent as he uttered that single word alone, reminded Nick his own parents and aged relatives. It was not as heavy as the accent of his old parents, for that stranger must have been doing his best to hide it no doubt. But the traces of the stranger’s origin were there, he did not fail to detect them. Another Slav who believes he could be taken for an Anglo-Saxon. Nick summed the trivial incident without the slightest doubt. He did not bother to answer him or give that stranger a second look, just trudged on with the crowd towards the subway exit.

On top of the staircase getting near to the street's level, he saw that same man once again. He was standing above the crowd's heads, as if he was waiting there for someone. Leaning on the rail in his expensive yellow gray summer suit, he was smiling in a very peculiar grin in Nick’s direction.

But that man is smiling to me, as if we were two old buddies. It’s the same man, not someone else who looks like him! Wasn’t he going to board the train a few minutes ago? He seemed so eager to board it? How did he manage to get back that fast? He could be smiling to someone else though... He wondered puzzled and embarrassed, turning his head around in a swift glance. Is it really him? What the hell, I don't know him and that's it! He made up his mind angrily, evading the man's smiling face. He did not intend to give that trivial incident, which was as far as he was concerned a mere coincidence, a second thought. But it did happen again. That same man blocked Nick’s way out. He had no doubts by now! It was the same devilish man; and that same man brushed against him once again, and caught his right wrist... They stepped aside the two of them, up to the edge of the wide pavement, letting the surging crowd pass on. They were caught in between the stream of pedestrians and the constant flow of cars, rushing back and forth with their blinding head lights.                 

He must take me for a queer or who know what? The thought passed like a quick flash through Nick’s mind. A sudden wave of rage swept him and turning to face that man, he tore his hand free.                           

‘The day has come...' muttered the stranger in a whisper almost, his smile still lingering on his lips.                                                           

'What day? Just what are you blabbering about?' Nick Retorted astounded. 'Who the hell are you? What do you want?'        

The well dressed man facing him was a lean fellow about the average height or so, five feet ten or eleven nothing more. If he wished to, he could have sent him flying with one good aimed blow. During his several months’ stay at home, since his return from “Nam”; he was not accustomed to be accosted in public by strangers, and had hardly any patience left for strangers and relatives alike.                       

'Relax,' said the stranger. 'I've got a message for you!' He seemed to have noticed immediately how upset and angry Nick was, but was not going to give up either and was not perturbed by it at all.

'You must be mistaken mister! I don't know you!'

'You are dead right, you don't have to...' The Slav smiled his amiable smile once more. 'Dear mister Spree...' He added in a lowered voice.

'I thought you were some kind of a creep or a queer... but you must be nuts, yes, you’re simply nuts, mister!' Nick answered him contemptuously, trying in vain to hide the state of shock he was in; and pushing the stranger aside he started to move on, very eager to put an end to that strange encounter.

'It’s from Nicole,' said the Slav nonchalantly close to Nick's face as he was already passing him. 'Don't you want to hear it?'

Stopping abruptly on hearing her name, Nick turned around and looked straight into the stranger's smiling eyes suspiciously. What had that Slave who was already by his side again, to do with Nicole �" his Nicole? He simply could not grasp.                                 

'What's the rush Nick? Come on let me buy you a drink, and let’s have a few words on that important matter.' the Slav hastened to suggest. 'At the bar over there.' He added nodding his head to the nearest bar's direction.

'Okay.' Answered Nick meekly and followed the Slav without any objections.

'It’s not a joint you're in the habit to frequent, is it?' the Slav asked, mixing slang and eloquent English in a funny effort, to sound as much as he could, like a well bred and educated American.                                          

'No, I don't know it, never been there.' Nick answered wearily.

'Fine.' exalted the Slav. 'Call me John and do me a favor, act as if you know me well. Hey cheer up man, I've got good news for you!'

The fact Nick was troubled and worried didn't bother him of course; he simply did not wish Nick to carry around that beaten look of his.

Leading the way to the bar with Nick at his side, he kept scanning the passing crowd, as they were crossing the wide sidewalk, while sending encouraging smiles at Nick every time their eyes met.                    

A noisy group of three occupied the bar, a woman was sitting amidst two men; each one of them seemed to be doing his best to win her attention. They were putting a siege on her, right near the entrance. Sitting shoulder to shoulder on the bar's high stools; chatting loudly, exchanging jokes and bursting into fits of laughter, they did not pay any attention to the newcomers. They seemed to be too busy, fighting on the lady's smiles. But the Slav did not take any chances. Passing the triple joined backs he turned his neck to them, to evade their inadvertent or quite intended inquisitive glances, in the bar's broad mirror. He crossed the narrow hall in a decisive gait, leading Nick to the dim booths at the bar’s other end.                                        

'Aren’t you hungry?' He asked Nick as they finally sat facing each other, in the booth. The right and befitting booth according to the rules, the stranger himself chose for them. 'It isn't the right place to have a proper meal, but if you are hungry we'll have a drink or two and look for a good restaurant, a first class one, what do you say?'

'Thanks a lot, but I had dinner not long ago, just before leaving.' He answered turning down the Slav's offer, with a bit of impatience. He has already developed a dislike to that sleek well-dressed stranger with his jaunty airs; who seemed to know so much about him. But he sat quietly opposite that Slav trying to hide his impatience, waiting for the news he had for him. That stranger promised to deliver news from Nicole, that was the message. Nicole, will I ever see her again? I gave her up as lost, long ago! Good god! That open wound that started to heal, is giving me hell again...

'Well, never mind maybe next time. ' Said the Slav with a promising smile.

'What next time? What do you mean?' Nick asked him alarmed.

'Us having dinner together. you deserve to be treated in some better joints!'

'What about the message, you said you've a message for me?'

'We'll deal with it at the right time!' The Slav warned him with a slight nod toward the booth's open entrance, turning in vain Nick's attention to the approaching footsteps of the waitress.     

'Good evening honey.' The Slav beamed jovially to the young waitress, who greeted them with a ready pad and pencil.                 

'Well, what will you have?' He asked Nick.

'I'll have a double scotch on the rocks.' Nick declared, he was not very fond of booze, but the man offered him a drink.  

 

© Haim Kadman 1991 �" all rights reserved.