The Actual Story

Arbor Glen Townhouse projects one of Tammy's many London residences. Friday after a long day of driving I show up as expected with Sheena in tow, a pretty husky/Sheppard mix with great personality and stories all her own. Entering the back door after a quick knock, announce. "Hello, it's me."

Tammy calls back from the kitchenette she and two other ladies are sitting in. "Hello we're in here."

Michelle's distinct voice can be heard talking with one other female. Michelle is the kind of person when speaks, most things sound like a question as their tone goes up at the end of a sentence: In a do you know what I mean kind of way.

Face to face I greet the smiling trio of ladies, Arlene looked familiar, being a decade since I wasn't sure. Tension within the space made me wonder if she was the landlady. Michelle of course catches that I don't fully realize who it is and tries to help in her own way saying something on the lines of can you believe Arlene is paying us a visit.

Bewildered I had to look more around her eyes to see the Arlene remembered. My heart changed rhythm realizing whom it was. Right away worried it might show on my face, so I tried to play it cool. Noticing Arlene seemed uncomfortable hoped it wasn't me being there. With the tension felt, had I interrupted something?

Those moments before she left question after question kept coming to mind. Wanting to be a good boyfriend to someone who'd put up with so many bad ones stayed quieter than normal. What had she been doing with her time? The more important one, was she at least happy, but something then said no.

It wasn't long before Michelle makes a comment that gets Tammy to smile and end Arlene's visit.

Seeing an old friend, merely reaching out, I was saddened by the women. "Ladies you shouldn't be so harsh you know damn well, what kind of crap a guy will say to get you out of your pants and when he's done he's gone. I'm gonna take Sheena for a walk." With a slight head shake and long sigh of disgust head right back out the door I came in.

Unhelpfully Michelle makes an off-handed comment before getting outside. Pushing my basic instinct to go make sure an old friend is okay.

Having already gotten a break earlier, Sheena walks contently, sniffing away. More curious to see where we are going as the woods are the other way. Figuring Arlene must be 'busing it' head up to the plaza where a couple of the routes stop.

A scent worthy of a better sniff, Sheena stops reducing the wag of her hairy curved tail. Using the moment to scan ahead, Arlene can be seen standing near the bus stop watching a cigarette burn. Her posture alone gives a sense of sadness.

Wondering what to say I look to Sheena's brown eyes for an answer. Her simple, happy to be out look, says keep it light.

With a dog like Sheena one couldn't help but notice us approach. Coy she tried to be Arlene waited to gauge my behavior on how I acknowledge her.

I wave slightly with the leashed hand, "hey Arlene. Didn't make it out of here yet eh?"

Feigning minor surprise while restraining a look of dread turns towards us shaking her head while uttering a soft, "no."

Stopping beside her I make the usual gesture, "can give you a ride. If you like? Sheena won't mind."

The thoughts that go through Arlene's mind show in eyes, the reply hesitated but the same, "no."

Thinking about the girls history maybe I misspoke by saying Sheena wouldn't mind. I hesitated in thought, say something nice. I want to speak the honest truth but that seems to get me into trouble. "If you're worried about Tammy being upset for me giving you a ride, don't be. We're all friends. I should be able to give you a ride home. This is a questionable neighborhood."

Still seeing me as still 115lbs and not much of a defender Arlene almost smiles, "I've always been in neighborhoods like this. Usually by myself."

Curious if there's a jealous man in her life I suggest, "if it's your man, I can drop you near home."

Unsure whether to accept the ride, just be polite and say no, or fuck off, Arlene does wonder if I have other intentions. "The offer is nice. You can keep me company while I wait for the bus." She looks down at Sheena and extends a hand to pat her head.

"Ok." Fine with that still push the boyfriend query, "please tell me you didn't end up with some jealous abusive type. I don't want to have to feel bad for you taking shit for just talking to me."

Not wanting to even think of the man that's been giving her too much shit, she utters, "he can fuck off and die right now for all I care." Regretting the uttered words she thinks of how she put herself here. "Upsetting Tammy, maybe more of a reason."

Stupidly, while trying to keep things light, decide to bring up something else that shouldn't be mentioned, right now, "Tammy and Michelle told me you guys fought over guys. Not even good ones."

Definitely not a conversation she wants to get into, but has to ask, "if you're a good one, should you be out here talking to me? Or seeing your girlfriend?- For the first time this week."

Me being me wouldn't be straight to the point. "Walking Sheena, here. Saw you, by your self, thought I'd come over. I figured you left because of those digs Michelle was making at you. Or me. If it was me I am sorry and will leave you alone."

The reply seems to take time to produce. "No, its just where, I'm at in life. Well and Michelle, she can really get on my nerves."

Relieved it's not me attempted levity, "yeah, I know what you mean. Told Tammy if I had to live with her I'd be an alcoholic."

That did it, Arlene cracked a smile, remembered well from youth when we were all in a mischievous mood. "That's mean Rob."

"Hah, I saw you smile."

Swiftly she changes the look and tries to see where I stand with Tammy. "So you and Tammy eh? In our teens she always wondered about you."

Curious to how she still feels I note, "actually we dated before - didn't work. She mentioned you both stayed away from me because you both had an interest." Her cheeks seem to have some colour to them. Not needing a verbal response, now admit to my own youthful vow, "you were Len and my favorite - of the four of you girls back then. I didn't do anything for two reasons Len and you never seemed interested."

Having been able to conceal those feelings in the past she feels a small amount of pride. "We were never sure if you were interested in any of us."

I nervously laugh lightly at youth's lame fears. "I was told you ladies get tired of being stared at by every guy out there, so I try no to stare. Silly me, guess I should've stared at you like a piece candy than."

Not thrilled by the comparison she's relieved to get a teenage admittance out there, and not come back negatively, allowing Arlene to relax some. "Just don't start singing rock candy. Or any of those candy songs"

"Ok." Might be the reply but the mind is already humming Nugent. Feeling like continuing with the honesty I began to ramble on a bit. "Yeah, but I would've been no good back then. We both were looking for different things. Now I know a little more."

Unsure where I'm going, Arlene queries, "yeah, what do you know?"

Patting Sheena's head, "don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things." Seeing her control a laugh I ramble on. "I get the feeling you needed someone to help you get out on your own. I wasn't there yet myself. Now I've got the adult dream. Salaried job where I set my own hours, work from the house and even a company vehicle. Maybe living in a shack right now but its two bedrooms to Sheena and myself."

Indeed she was trying not to laugh. A bit envious of where I am in life she does have an inquiry, "you say you live in a shack?"

"Yeah, down on Point Pelee, well top edge. Quietest place I ever lived too. But yeah a shack built from what ever they could find, like old window and door frames."

Sounding worse than the present place she is curious about the area and the quiet. "Never been there, is it pretty? Why so quiet?"

"I'm about, four roads north of the provincial park. It's like twenty kilometers long itself - depending on the year. But a few kilometers to the east or west is the lake. Poor place is actually below water level. Heavy enough storms make me wonder if I'll wake up swimming."

At the heart of Arlene's soul and many others like us, real change is needed. A collusion of change; where no one knows the younger you. In seeing Michelle and Tammy, she wasn't looking for a place, just maybe, still had some stable friends out there. Only to see that friendship will never be again. "You said it had two bedrooms. What do you use the other room for?"

"Storage." Seeing her physically perk up and of course wanting to just keep the conversation flowing threw out a suggestion, like the offer for a ride. "Why? You wanna live the quiet life for awhile?"

"What about Tammy?" She asks but likes the offer made. Any kind of escape had been on the mind for months.

"Oh I wasn't talking boyfriend, girlfriend or anything. I think Tammy would be upset." Inside my mind was now thinking about Tammy but kept rambling away. "If you needed out of a bad situation I would open my door for you. If you did have a dangerous man, you wouldn't want anyone to know where you were. Better to think you went left instead of right you know?"

She shakes her head no to the idea, "no, never been in the middle of nowhere. Be worried about being trapped out there in the snow."

Only thinking about the usual snowfall seen there. "Barely snows. Don't even need a shovel."

It gets quiet for a second as we both think.

Needing an escape the impulsive side of her is screaming, take the offer and run girl run. "Tammy would probably be hurt by you just asking me. Let alone having me as just a roommate. And some days not a pleasant one." She silently curses herself for uttering the thought.

Perplexed I wonder if Arlene is in a dangerous relationship. I've seen it happen before, and sometimes it doesn't end well. Prisons contain many women who were merely brought to a breaking point by abusive loved ones. Counseling rooms and cemeteries have their share of victims as well. "Arlene if you need a safe place I would be honored to hide you away. As a friend, not going to lie to you if something more came out of it I might be okay with it happening even if it does hurt Tammy. She will always have Michelle and their kids in her life." Oh my god I can't believe I just said that. Stupid me what a horrible statement about Tammy to make.

Appreciating the honesty behind the words really makes her think more about the gesture. Perplexed her self, as the side of the mind that says go, is the one that needs to be controlled. "Some truth to it. My MAN isn't dangerous just an asshole. Just another fuckin' asshole."

In the distance a city bus can be heard, our time is about to be cut short and I'm not sure I want to leave it this way. Partially worried for her well being also wondering if there was someone better within Arlene for me. "Well there's me for you. Kinda felt like you were down. Thought I'd come and at least check on you. Try and put some humor back in our day a look what happened. Me ramblin'."

Also hearing the bus mixed within the words, Arlene tires of fighting with the mind. Someone is interested in her, as a person, and decides to accept the ride, "I'll tell you what, you stop at Tims' for a coffee and maybe I'll let you drive me home."

Thrilled to have more time I easily agree, "okay." As I point the way Sheena is ready to get moving again too, "come-on then."

Hesitantly she gets moving unsure of what she's doing or what could happen just for taking the ride. "Alright. You, going to let Tammy know?"

Debating it already, "I should. Ask her if she wants to go too. See how she takes it. What's the worst thing she'll get mad at me for driving you home."

Picking a spot to walk while following the dog Arlene adds, "she'll get mad thinking we had this worked out together and you purposely came looking for me just to get together."

Unable to dispute the thought, knowing the poor woman has been cheated on before. To this point the worst cheating I've been guilty of was a couple kisses at the age of seventeen. "Well guess we'll just have to see. You coming in with me?"

She shakes her head no. "not if I don't have too."

Joking away the steps, "figures send the man in to do the dangerous stuff."

Feeling bad about putting us in this currant position she wasn't fully listening, "maybe this is a bad idea." She turns as the bus finally reaches the stop.

"It'll be okay. Tammy gets over things pretty fast. It is just a ride home."

As the bus stops its doors open and Arlene stops. "If you're sure?"

"Yeah." Seeing the bus doors still open, "better make up your mind fast."

As the bus doors close she sighs uttering the truth, "there will be another in twenty minutes. But I'll take the ride."

"Great." A feeling of foolish youth washes over me. In the darkening, tree lined street, her face was exactly as remembered. Silly thoughts and fantasies came back to mind while struggling to speak. "So where you living these days? That I'm to be taking you too."

"Clarkside road near Gore road." Thinking youthfully too she controls it from escaping. "Been there a year or so now. How long have you been living in this shack of yours?"

"A few years myself. The rent is only four twenty-five a month. Hard to find a place that cheap these days, almost hate to give it up."

Hearing the price and thinking of the description, pictures a horrible hobble. "So you're living in a hole for cheap rent?"

"Well hole's a bit much. It doesn't even have one of those. Polished turd I say." Noticing no smile from the attempt at humor. "It'll do for now. Besides it's the first place I've lived where I don't hear trains. And if I want to have a bonfire - I can - winds permitting."

Liking the idea of no trains, and fires always had an appeal to her. "What is it really windy out there or something?"

"Some days it can be. But my fire pit is close to the house. I don't want hot flames and embers being pushed towards it. Away is better."

Rounding the back of the townhouse property to the parking lot Sheena steers us towards the service van, "just over there." Nervously I share an antidote about Sheena, "her first couple rides I had to pick her up to get her to go. She soon realized, car rides can equal fun and food. Now she prefers them to indoors. My old pick up truck sits rusting on the property, and under it, you'll usually find Sheena."

Starting to get a bit nervous Arlene gets quiet, glancing at Tammy's place to see if she's looking out the window for them.

In opening the doors for the two tighten up on Sheena's chain leash to keep her from jumping in the front seat first. "Here let me get you in before the dog." Taking a napkin from between the seats quickly wipe the seat off. "There we go. "Sorry about the hair."

"It's okay. Thanks though."

Opening up the back door Sheena makes sure she's getting in too taking the leash from my hand, "okay, well there you go too then." Chuckling while closing the door, "I'll just let Tammy know."

"Okay." She nods with a simple pasted on smile.