The happening

THE ROCKER

 

'Louie, come back in the kitchen, I have a nice surprise for you,' Tillie calls to her husband who is checking the cash register drawer. Louie doesn't come because he is partially deaf in one ear and has to keep his attention on what he is doing. Tillie peeps out into the store and sees Mrs. Birnbaum enter, almost pulling her daughter Hilda in with her. Hilda is shouting, 'I want to go to Macy's. They have prettier tap shoes than this old store.' Louie is close enough to hear her degrade his store, takes her hand and calls her, 'Sweetie.'Come, Mammaleh, put your feet in this machine and I will turn on the magic. I will even let you see your own bones right thru your shoes. Stand still.' Louie looks and sees there is still some room for growth and lies a little to Mrs. Birnbaum. 'My friend, there is some room for Hilda's feet, but not much, maybe a week or two. You want to take a look? ' He knows his customers and suggests she get the tap shoes now instead of coming back in a few days. Hilda stands firm, her arms across her blouse. 'No, I want to go to Macy's.' That digs into her mom's guts. 'We will see what Louie has or you won't be in your tap recital at all.' From the back kitchen, Tillie blows a whistle and shouts out, 'Louis, I'm still waiting for you.'

 

Mrs. Birnbaum cringes. 'Your wife, she still nags you?  I never nag my Sydney, do I Hilda.?' 'Oh, no, Mama, you never nag him.' Smugly Mrs. Birnbaum says, ' See, I told you. Tell your wife you have a customer and she should leave you alone.' Louie does not answer but brings out a shiny black patent leather shoe with a wide white silk tie instead of a button. 'Try this on, Sveetie. How does it feel? Plenty of room for your toes? The heel is a perfect fit.' 'Louie, I'm still waiting,' rings out from the kitchen. 'And how much are these inexpensive shoes going to cost me, Louie?' 'Only eight dollars. Macy's, I know are ten.' The deal is done, the ten dollar bill goes into the cash register. Mrs. Birnbaum looks over his shoulder to see how much money is in the drawer, pulls back and is handed two crisp one dollar bills and a hand shake.

 

Louie walks slowly to the kitchen. 'So, Tillie, what's so important you had to nag me in front of Mrs. Birnbaum? I could have lost the sale if you called me one more time.' Tillie can't help herself and starts to cry.
Her husband of fifty-five years doesn't love her anymore.  She turns away, her back to him, leans against the small wooden table and looks out of the window, sees only the garage where shoe stock is stored. It badly needs painting. Pulling herself together she turns again to her husband and hands him the pie she made for him while he fiddled with Mrs. Birnbaum and her spoiled Hildie. 'Happy anniversary, Louie! Just look how high I made the meringue for you. And I toasted it just tan enough for you to enjoy. The lemon chiffon is exactly just right, a little sweet, a little sour. Taste.' She kisses him on his cheek and he kisses her back, barely touching her lips.

 

He takes his pie and sits down in his favorite place, the rocking chair with the faded cushions Tillie made herself for their thirty-fifth anniversary. He relaxes, rocks and eats a second piece of Tillie's delicious pie. The bell over the store door jingles again. Louie doesn't hear it, keeps eating the pie, licking his lips and fork. Tillie motions to him she will see to the customer. Two rough looking men are already inside the story, heading for the cash register. Without a single word, the taller one fires at Tillie. Blood spurts like a geyser from her breast. Louie doesn't hear the shot and sits in his rocker, still relishing the gift Tillie made for him. Mrs. Birnbaum comes into the store to return Hilda's tap shoes, gets a fast look at what has happened and runs outside, screaming for help, 'Call the police, 911!'

 

She drops the tap shoes on the floor and runs to the kitchen, screaming loud enough for the dead to hear her, 'Louie, Louie. The police are in the store and you have to come right out to see them.'

 

'Thank you, Mrs. Birnbaum, do me a favor. Tell them I'll be out as soon as I finish my anniversary pie.'

 

He rocks and rocks, eats and eats. It is about the last thing he ever enjoys.