Chapter 58: One Small Step

“And things were looking very grim but they’re looking good again,
Swallow my pride.”
– The Ramones

It was a ballsy gamble showing up on her doorstep, but I had nothing to loose at this point.  I just knew it was the right thing to do, and I was determined to fix what I had broken.

“Please don’t shut the door.  I just need to tell you…I screwed-up bigtime.”

Elsa stood in the entrance to her home, arms crossed.  She looked like she wanted to smash my face with a rusty shovel.  It had been almost a month since she slammed my car door and stormed off after my self-pitying rant.  Clearly, she wasn’t thrilled to see me loitering on her front step.

“I’ll understand if you don’t want to be friends anymore, but I need you to know that I’m sorry.  I acted like a pathetic loser.  I promise, you’ll never see me behave that way again.”  I stand there with puddy-tat eyes and wait.

She let out a labored sigh which suggested she would have to save the spade on my idiot skull for another day.  Once tense arms relax to her side, and she seems more open to my existence on her doorstep.  Possibly in the same way a homeowner just accepts they have termites.

“Ok.”

That simple word was the best thing I’d heard in weeks.

“Thank you!  You absolutely will not regret this!”  Elsa almost laughs as I enthusiastically accept her gift of forgiveness.  She must have felt flattered that it clearly meant a lot to the chump.

With my victory in hand, I decided to make myself scarce lest she change her mind…or I keep talking and say something stupid again.  I’m halfway back to my car when she gets my attention.

“John…”

“Yes?”

She shakes her head, but gives me a comforting smile.  “You’ve got to get your ducks in a row.”

Message received loud and clear.  I promised to do better and she was making it crystal clear; she expected delivery on that pledge.

“I know.  You’ll see better things from me.  I mean that.”  Perhaps against my better judgement, I decide to test how sincere her forgiveness is.

“What are you doing for lunch?”

NEXT – Chapter 59: Nine Weeks