Everything In Its Place

Kate pushed her hair back from her sweaty forehead and surveyed the room with satisfaction. It was slowly beginning to resemble a living room and not a disorganized furniture warehouse. The couch, armchairs and coffee table were in place. All that remained was to fill the bookshelves and hang pictures on the walls. She looked at the boxes of book with a sigh. She hoped that when they had children, Howard would be as attached to his offspring as he was to his books. Hefting the first box up onto the coffee table with a grunt, she opened it, sneezing as dust puffed upwards into her face. At that moment, the front doorbell rang. Kate gave a cry of joy as she saw her best friend standing on the porch.

“Allie!” she said, enthusiastically embracing her.

“Steady on. I don’t want to drop these,” Allie said, laughing and brandishing a box of doughnuts. “Hope this isn’t a bad time. I’m dying to see your new place.”

“Your timing is perfect. I am so ready for a break. Come in.”

As Allie entered, a steely-eyed, elderly lady trundled her trash can down the front path of the house next door towards the street.

“Can I help you, Mrs. Peters?” Kate said.

“No, thank you. I may be old, but I am not helpless. Don’t forget that the trash will be picked up by nine o’ clock at the latest tomorrow. It would be most considerate to put your receptacle away as soon as possible afterwards. A good day to you.”

“I won’t forget,” said Kate as the old lady stumped back into her house. “And a good day to you too.”

“Nice neighbor you have there,” Allie said, brows raised, as Kate made coffee.

“Howard calls her General Patton,” said Kate. “In the chaos of moving in, I forgot our trash can out there. Mrs. P. came over to let me know that she was most perturbed. A place for everything and everything in its place, she says, looking at all the mess. I didn’t know whether to salute her or snap at her. Howard made faces at me from behind her back, so I had to try not to laugh instead. Anyway, let me show you around.”

“I love the house,” said Allie, clambering around the boxes of books, as they entered the living room. “Jeez, how many books do you have? Has Howard never heard of a Kindle?”

Kate clutched her chest and gasped in mock horror.

“Such sacrilege! He says it’s not hoarding if you’re collecting books. We got this house because he fell in love with the built-in bookcases. He is a professor of literature, after all.”

“Got to run,” Allie said, hugging Kate. “I have a day off tomorrow if you want help. Did I tell you I had to kick Rob to the curb? I’m footloose and fancy free these days.”

“You’re an angel,” said Kate, waving goodbye. “And you’d better dish all the dirt. I never thought Rob was good enough for you.”

Kate was singing off-key along with the radio in the kitchen the following morning as Howard left for work.

“You’re mighty cheerful,” he said.

“Allie’s going to help me shelve your gazillion books. We’ll try not to throw too many away.”

She ducked and laughed as Howard threw the dish sponge at her.

“You wouldn’t dare,” he said. “Don’t forget the trash can or the general will have more ammunition. I’ll bring home pizza for dinner.”

He blew her a kiss and left. Kate rolled up her sleeves, took a deep breath and headed to tackle the boxes. Absorbed in her task, she jumped as Allie entered.

“Hey. Didn’t mean to scare you, but the front door was unlocked.”

“Howard’s always forgetting. He's the stereotypical absent-minded professor.”

“Does he have any stereotypical, single professor friends?” said Allie. “I’m telling you, the dating scene out there is dismal.”

“I’ll ask him,” said Kate, laughing. “Just don’t bet on him remembering. Oh, Lord. What time is it? I’d better put the trash can away before Mrs. P. has a conniption fit.”

“I’ll do it,” said Allie.

She returned, looking puzzled.

“I thought you said Mrs. P. always put her trash can away pronto.”

Kate looked up from the books.

“She does. You can set your watch by her routine.”

“Well, it’s still there.”

Kate peered out of the window.

“That’s odd. I’d better check on her.”

They went next door and rang the front doorbell. There was no response, so they tried the back door. Allie looked through the kitchen window and gasped.

“She’s on the floor and waving at me, pointing at something. Should we break the window?”

“Call the ambulance. She probably has a key somewhere,” Kate said. She looked in the direction that the old lady was gesturing and saw a tall, heavy, clay planter full of pansies. With effort, she maneuvered it from its spot. Muttering in triumph, she found a small metal box containing a key. She fumbled it into the lock, opening the door just as Allie hung up the phone.

“How long have you been here, Mrs. P? What happened?” said Kate, kneeling beside the old lady who was sprawled on the floor, one leg at an awkward angle.

“The last thing I remember is getting up to get a drink of water last night,” she said hoarsely. “I came over dizzy, and I don’t know what happened next. My leg hurts.”

“The ambulance is on the way,” said Allie.

“You’re shivering,” said Kate. “I’ll find a blanket.”

“In the cupboard in the hall,” said the old lady. “I always say…”

“A place for everything and everything in its place…” said Kate, grinning as she returned with a blanket and gently covered her.

“That’s how I was brought up. Service and order. Both my father and my husband were in the army. You must think I’m an old dragon," she said, trying to smile but grimacing with pain.

“Not at all,” Kate said. “That makes sense. Oh, good. I hear sirens. The ambulance is here."

A few moments later, she and Allie retreated as the paramedics entered, opened their gurney with a snap and took over. Once Mrs. Peters was strapped in and ready to go, she beckoned to Kate.

“Would you mind bringing in my trash can?”

“Consider it done,” said Kate. “We’ll come and see you later. Don’t worry about the house.”

The old lady waved feebly as the paramedics carried her away.

After the ambulance receded into the distance, Kate and Allie fortified themselves with coffee and doughnuts in Kate’s kitchen. Allie held out her trembling hand.

“Look at that,” she said. “I’m still shaking. I’m not used to all this excitement. I hope she’ll be okay.”

“I feel guilty about thinking that she was an old nuisance,” Kate said. “But if she hadn’t been fixated on the trash cans, who knows how long she would have lain there.”

“Things work out in mysterious ways, or so they say,” said Allie. She straightened up in her chair, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Hey, did you notice that younger paramedic? Hot stuff, and when he took his gloves off, I didn’t see a wedding ring. It wouldn’t be too pushy to thank him for his service, would it?”

Kate shook her head, smiling.

“You are incorrigible. Have another doughnut.”