God, Providence, and Karma

Posted on Mon Feb 19th, 2024 @ 7:26pm by Dominique LaFramboise
Edited on on Wed Feb 21st, 2024 @ 6:58pm

Mission: Where We Came From
Location: Bay City
Timeline: Late October, 2018

Concerts in the park were a big deal around Bay City. Everyone would bring lawn chairs or blankets and snacks and drinks and just chill out, listening to music and chatting between sets. They usually only happened in the summer, but since fall tended to be mild, they sometimes used the park at that time of year, too. Most of the concerts were free, but some had a small admission fee, as did this one. Ryan would not let Nicki pay for herself and if she were completely honest, she appreciated it. She could afford the $15 admission fee, but the fact that he insisted on paying made her feel valued.

They had stopped at a local sandwich shop for drinks and sandwiches and they hadn’t been the only ones. The shop had been packed, but the staff was skilled at getting through everyone quickly and so they hadn’t waited too long. He had also insisted on paying for their food, too, and Nicki hadn’t complained.

The evening was chilly, but not ridiculously so. Most of the concert goers had bundled up well enough and were keeping warm with hot chocolate or coffee. Everybody was enjoying the concert, so nobody minded the cold.

At intermission, nobody listened to the MC, but he droned on anyway about their sponsors. At this point, it was pretty much law that nobody listened. Instead, conversations broke out all over the park, and because it was outside, it wasn’t even noisy.

“It’s a trite question, but what do you do for a living?” Ryan asked while the MC was trying to get everyone to applaud the local bank that made up the bulk of their sponsorship.

“I work at the music shop downtown full time,” she told him. “And I also play in pit orchestras for a lot of local musicals as well as Eddy Band in Saginaw in the summers.”

“I’m in that music shop all the time,” he said, brow wrinkled. “How have I never seen you before?”

“I have no idea,” she replied. “I don’t remember seeing you before, either. What do you play?”

“Guitar,” answered Ryan. “I have Matt do a lot of work for me. I collect and restore vintage guitars. When I come across something I don’t know how to do, Matt’s my guy.”

“He does good work,” agreed Nicki. “Nice guy, too.”

“For sure,” agreed Ryan.

“How about you?” she asked.

“I spend most of my time as a school nurse,” he answered. “I’m at All Saints Catholic. Doesn’t pay much, but I’ve got a small inheritance from my dad and no student loans, so I’m all right.”

“Well, that’s something,” agreed Nicki. “I had a full scholarship for college, so my only loans are for books and equipment. It amounted to a whopping $5,000. I should have it paid off next month, as long as everything goes to plan. So you’re a nurse?”

“Yeah,” he said with a nod. “I wanted to be a doctor, but my brother told me I should go for nursing. He said I care too much to be a doctor.”

“My sister-in-law is a nurse,” Nicki replied. “It’s a different personality for sure. Doctors are black and white, cut and dried. Nurses care more. They’re more empathetic.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, that sounds like me,” he said. “The bullies in elementary school tried to tease me by calling me mother. I took it as a compliment.”

“Better than what they called me,” said Nicki bitterly. “Death or corpse girl or ghost whisperer. I kinda liked that last one, though. I’m also a witch,” she explained to his confused expression.

“Necromancer,” he commented with an understanding nod.

“Yeah,” she said. “Don’t let the school find out you went out with me. They might threaten you with interdict.”

“I’m not Catholic,” he replied. “I just work for them.”

“Do you attend church?” she asked.

“I go with my mum because it makes her happy,” he replied. “And if I’m totally honest, I think I’d go even if she didn’t want me to. It’s relaxing.”

“You’re not supposed to nap,” she joked.

“Not that kind of relaxing!” he countered, also laughing. “It’s the energizing sort of relaxing. You know. De-stressing. Calming and energizing at the same time.”

“Yeah, I get it,” she replied. “I play in the praise band at my church. And sing. I’d rather just play, but they needed singers more, so there it is.”

“What church?” he asked conversationally.

“New Foundations, over on the west side,” she replied.

“Oh yeah, that’s the one that everybody thought was the new road commissioner’s office.”

Nicki grinned. “That’s why we got the lighted sign,” she said.

“Probably a good idea,” he agreed.

“It’s definitely stopped the weird random visitors stopping in with road complaints.”

“You said you play there?” he asked. “What do you play?”

“Mostly flute,” she replied. “Also some saxophone and clarinet. And tambourine once in awhile.”

“I played percussion in school,” he said. “I was drum major in the marching band.”

“You don't really look the part of a band nerd,” she said.

“I didn’t then, either,” he said. “The basketball coach kept trying to get me to try out. I’m so uncoordinated, though. I’m surprised I could march and play bass drum at the same time.”

“I’m the queen of uncoordination,” she said. “Well, at least I was. It got better once I became a hound. But yeah, I had to make my dad map me out a practice field in the back yard so I could get extra practice.”

“That’s more dedication than I had,” he laughed.

“I don’t do anything half assed,” she replied flatly, but gave him a wink so he knew she wasn’t offended.

He gave her another lopsided grin. “What made you decide to become a hound?” he asked.

“Mostly because my professor felt I’d be a good fit,” she replied. “But also because I had a few health issues that I was promised would clear up if I joined the leesh. Spoiler alert- they did. It kinda sweetened the deal for me.”

“It would,” he replied. “Perfect health from less than perfect health? I might take that, too.”

“You’ve never thought about it?” she asked.

“A couple of times,” he admitted. “But I like being a good old fashioned human.”

“Fair enough,” she said. “It’s not for everyone. There are down sides, after all.”

“I thought being a hound was famously without risk,” commented Ryan.

“Not really,” answered Nicki. “I mean, sort of. Okay, here’s how it works. Yes, old injuries and illnesses clear up before too long. That’s a huge plus. But hounds are compelled to help however and whenever we can, sometimes even when we can’t. And it’s physically painful to resist.”

“Wow,” said Ryan. “So you basically have no choice.”

“Not really,” she replied. “But- and here’s the cool part- we’re compensated. Call it God, call it providence, call it Karma, but whatever it is, we’re taken care of. I once walked into the grocery store with just enough money to get a few groceries to last me until pay day a week away. No food in the apartment at all except some cheese and salt. As I’m walking in, a woman is panicking because someone has emptied her bank account and she can’t pay for her groceries. And to make matters worse, she’s got three little kids with her. I walked over, swiped my card, and then left, nearly in tears because I was hungry myself and had nothing. I figured I could beg a few things off my parents or brother. But, when I got home, my neighbor lady met me at my door with several bags full of things that were going to expire soon. I don’t think she understood why I was crying.” She grinned. “Anyway. Yeah. The universe takes care of us.”

“Or God,” he added.

“Something does,” she agreed. “Or someone.”

“Kinda makes up for everything.”

“Yeah.”

The band was getting set back up now, so that put an end to their conversation. Nicki didn’t mind though; she had run out of things to talk about. She started out trying to think of something else, but got lost in the music. Pretty Penny really was the only band who could make jugs and spoons sound cool.

She needn’t have worried, though. Ryan, it seemed, had plenty of things to talk about and kept her company the whole way back to her apartment. She was enjoying his company so much, she didn’t really want it to end.

“Do you want to come up for a bit?” she asked before she had really thought it through. “I mean, not for anything. Just a chat. And a coke. But, nothing else.”

“I didn’t think you meant for that,” he said with another of his lopsided grins. “But, yeah, I’ll come up. For a chat. And a coke.”

“I really need to get some beer,” she said as they walked up to her second floor apartment.

“Don’t get beer on my account,” he told her. “I actually don’t drink. Alcoholism runs in my family, so I’ve never touched the stuff.”

“Probably smart,” Nicki agreed. They arrived at her apartment and she unlocked the door. “It’s a bit of a mess,” she apologized, turning on the light. “I’ve offered to put some music in order for Eddy Band. Whoever the last librarian was didn’t do a very good job.”

“”I’ve seen worse,” he assured her.

“Really?” she asked doubtfully as she went to the fridge to retrieve the cokes.

“I used to be a teenaged boy,” he pointed out.

“Touche,” she said. She handed one of the cokes to him.

“So…” he said, settling on the sofa. “Any idea what you wanted to do up here?”

“Not really,” she admitted, sitting next to him. “I was just enjoying your company and didn’t want you to leave just yet.”

“Ah, good old fashioned selfishness,” he said approvingly. “I have a secret,” he added conspiratorially.

“What’s that?” she asked, leaning slightly closer as if they had to be quiet or the world would hear.

“I feel the same way,” he said, giving her a grin that made his eyes sparkle.

She giggled involuntarily.

“Wow,” he said, his gaze turning a bit bleary. “Your eyes change color when you laugh.”

“Do they?” she asked. “It could be an illusion.”

“Let me get a closer look,” he said, moving closer to her. “Okay, now I just have to make you laugh again.”

But that made her laugh.

“Yeah, they go kind of goldish,” he said, not moving from his place about six inches from her face. “I mean, they’re already goldish- they’re hazel. But they seem to be more gold when you laugh.”

“I could laugh again, if you like,” she offered.

“Oh, please do.” And he moved a bit closer.

Which made her laugh yet again.

“Mmm,” he said.

And before Nicki knew what was happening, they were kissing. She probably would have let him carry on for awhile, but she was afraid of losing control and so she broke off a bit earlier than either of them cared for. “Sorry,” she said. “I just… I meant what I said. I’m just not ready for that.”

“It’s just kissing, Nicki,” he said, somewhat iritably.

“I know,” she said. “I just don’t want it to go too far.”

“Is that seriously all you think I want?” he asked.

“Of course not!” she defended.

“Then why bring it up?” he demanded.

“Don’t start in on me again!” she snapped.

“I’m not the one starting in on anything!”

“You literally just did!”

He grunted iritably and moved to leave.

“Wait, Ryan,” she said, intercepting him before he got to the door. “I’m sorry. It- look, I’m not explaining myself properly.”

“Yes, you are,” he snapped. “You think I only want you for one thing. Well, I’ll do you a favor and just leave.”

“No, that is not what I think!” she snapped back. “I’ve jumped in head first before and regretted it. I’d rather not repeat that. When I stopped you a minute ago, it was more for my sake than yours. I had to remind myself not to lose my mind.”

He studied her for a moment and then sighed. “Okay,” he said. “How about if I promise to let you be in charge?”

She blinked. “What?” she asked.

“I’ll let you be in charge of whatever happens between us,” he said. “I’ll never push. Never. On anything. You make the calls.”

She thought about that for a moment. “That’ll do,” she said finally, nodding. “So how about if we sit back down and just enjoy one another’s company.”

“I’d like that,” he admitted.

And so they did.