2024-11-26 “If So Inclined” by Hannah (born 2002)

NYC SysCo had closed down at noon on Tuesday for the Thanksgiving holiday, so I had gone home and was standing by the window in the common room. Merritt and Devon were in the kitchenette talking about the intern, Liza McDuffy, who Devon had said seemed sad and lonely.

“No one actually knows her,” Merritt said.

“All the more reason to be nice,” Devon replied. “What’s one more person at Thanksgiving dinner? Shay won’t mind telling the caterers to feed one more person. There’s already a small army of us…”

Merritt shrugged. “Shay certainly won’t mind… Are you… you know… interested in Liza?”

Devon shook his head. “We just met, but she seems really… lonely.”

“So you said…”

I was pretty sure Devon would win the debate. That’s how he was; always nice.

As I stood there looking out, I saw Kent coming into the apartments. He buzzed and Merritt let him in. I heard him come up the stairs and swap some words with Devon and Merritt.

I turned and Kent smiled at me, then walked my way. “I had an emergency dimmer switch job nearby. So, I thought I’d drop by…”

I smiled. “Emergency dimmer switch?”

“Thanksgiving ambiance…” Kent put an envelope down on the window seal. “So, this is for you… I’m… thinking I’d like some coffee from the shop across the street… Read it and if you’re inclined… maybe I buy you a cup…”

“Coffee?”

Kent nodded. “If you’re inclined.”

He smiled, shrugged, and headed out saying goodbye to Devon and Merritt. “See you guys later…”

“Leaving so soon?” Devon said.

“Gonna grab some coffee,” Kent replied, then looked again at Hannah with a smile.

I watched him go across the street, then opened the card:

_____

Hannah,

The first day we met, I thought you were a good-looking woman. Then, I found out you could do electrical wiring, and I became very interested. Then, I found out you were with Merritt, so I flipped all my switches to “off” and stopped considering if…

Since then, we’ve been on a few adventures! With each passing day, I have come to consider you more and more of a fine person and good friend.

Now, I know it has not been too long since you and Merritt called things off, and even less time since your adventure with Devon ended. All the same, I’d like to flip the switches back “on” and see what happens.

I’m in no hurry. Good things come in time, but if you’d like to hang out and see if our friendship can grow into something, let me know. Now… later… no rush.

If you’re not interested, I hope this doesn’t drive a wedge between us. I hope we can go on saving the world or whatever it is we’ve been doing back in 1880 just as before and continue to be comfortable as friends.

However, if you are interested, I promise you will never feel anything but respected and admired. You deserve nothing less.

Please consider this. Let’s spend some time together and explore possibilities. Let’s see what might come of it.

~Kent

_____

I looked out the window, suddenly longing for coffee. I grabbed a coat and put it on and hurried down the stairs and out the door.