PRL Serials

***

Violette practically pushes Esther to shuffle faster down the dim corridor. She can hear the voice behind them getting closer, though it js still far away; the two have been making their way in the narrow corridor for some time. 

I can’t go any faster. Esther says, stumbling over her left foot that leads her shuffle. She doesn’t fall and she tries her best to recover and continue. Her heart races and she worries that Violette is suddenly very urgent. 

Violette looks up at the brick ledge in the wall that Esther has noticed before. She reaches and grabs it with both hands and pulls herself up with little effort. When she is high enough, she sees that it is a boarded up window. 

We have to get through this window. Violette says when she eases herself down next to Esther. Do what I do, quick! 

Violette pulls herself up again and manages to wedge her body between the two walls to free up her hands. When they are free, goes to work pushing at the wood covering the window. Esther complains but manages to make it up next to her. The two push together and move the board from the window that falls inside. It is dark inside, but both cough at the cloud of dust that issues out from the newly open window.

What is this building? Esther asks as Violette shimmies inside. She pokes her head out of the darkness and offers Esther a hand. 

It really doesn’t matter right now, just get in here! She practically pulls Esther through and when they have both collected themselves,  they survey their surroundings. It is very dark and Esther clings to Violette who is putting on her bravest face. 

Let’s go. 

No, Esther says and Violette can hear her crying. 

Come on, I’ve got you. 

Just tell me what this place is. It’s so creepy, it could be anything. What if people were murdered here?

Violette chuckles. You have such an imagination. We have to move. Those are dudes behind us. We’re not letting them win. 

Violette moves through the darkness cautiously and then remembers the cell phone in her pocket that she uses to illuminate their way. Esther clutches her arm tightly.

We’re not letting them win. Dudes are the worst. 

Don’t say that. You’re being a stereotype. 

Am I? Violette says. I was talking to Freda the other day, I don’t know why she even deals with her brother. 

Pete? He’s never in Monroe. 

Oh he comes, just to make Freda feel like shit. 

Not Pete! He’s such a nice guy. Esther has completely forgotten the spooky darkness that they find themselves in. 

Yes Pete. He’s an asshole. 

2.

Freda inherited the building in rural Monroe, NC that was big enough to accommodate five families, and her family had lived there and rented the extra space since she was born. When her parents retired to Detroit, MI of all places, they signed the building in Monroe over to her and she has lived in the unit on the main floor by herself ever since. She is a very attentive property manager and for that reason, many of the families that have rented her family’s apartments for years stayed when she acquired ownership. Freda responded promptly to maintenance requests and she balanced the complaints of her tenants with their leisure to generally keep everyone happy. 

When she had been managing the building for about a year, she was visited by her older brother Pete who had moved away to make a life for himself. 

“It’s just like I remember,” he said as the two stood out front. He craned his neck up to scale the three stories that he remembered fondly from their childhood. He had fallen from the second story window and broken his arm when he was dared to hang out by one of the children of a tenant. He had his first kiss on the third floor with a different tenants daughter. 

“You have to go inside to see all the improvements I’ve made.” Freda was annoyed. Her brother had done well for himself and even though he was generally a very gracious person, Freda could feel him condescending the hard work she did as the landlord of the property. 

Pete shrugged. “I don’t doubt you, little sister, but maybe it would’ve been best for everybody if mama and daddy had just sold this place. Then you could’ve moved out of Monroe.”

He had said that plenty of times before too and Freda wondered if he just wanted his cut from the value of the property. Their parents had long established that if the property was ever sold, the proceeds would be divided evenly between the two children. It was a stipulation of her sole ownership that Freda would split the profits with her brother if she ever sold. But as the manager of the property, Freda would retain any profits while she owned it. 

“What if I like it here?” Freda asked confrontationally. 

“I bet you do. I do, this is where I grew up. But you can’t live in the past. I thought you wanted to be a pharmacist? Whatever happened to that? I know you make good money now, but you could be doing so much better for yourself.”

Freda nodded and turned away from the sun that was bright and unobstructed by clouds. She had wanted that, she even started her education on track to become a pharmacist, but she accepted the building as her sole responsibility and it had paid off. She had no debt, plenty of savings, and she was eyeing a building in Matthews that would allow her to duplicate the winning model she had in Monroe. It may not have been her plan, but the life she was making for herself meant a lot to her and she was proud of it. 

“Don’t you wanna get married and have some kids?” Pete continued. “Managing this place by yourself must make that impossible. Are you even dating?”

Freda laughed out loud and turned to her brother who looked legitimately concerned for her.

“Pete,  if I ever decide to have kids, you know where I’m gonna raise them?” She pointed at the building she loved so much. “And no, I’m not dating. You suddenly care about my personal life?”

The two only talked when Pete made trips to Monroe and they never talked over the phone or by any other means. They were not particularly close and Freda always got the impression when she went to Georgia to visit his family, that he was doing his best to rub his accomplishment in her face. He always knew what time to expect her at his house, but she would always be forced to wait at the gate that surrounded his nice home and the acres he had bought surrounding it. She loved his kids though and she would endure his humiliation to spend time with them. 

“I have plenty of friends that would love to get to know you better, but none of them live in Monroe.” Pete said, still earnest. 

“So what’s your advice? Get married or get a better job? You’re all over the place big brother.”

“I just want you to be happy.”

“You should leave then. Have a good day.”

Pete left, shaking his head.

***

You’re being sensitive,  Esther says. 

No, he does that shit all the time. He’s the worst. 

Does what? Care about his sister? 

No, undermining her effort, her accomplishments. You think he would have asked his brother if he wanted kids?

Maybe… Esther starts before Violette interrupts. 

Look. There is a dim light in the sea of darkness. Let’s go that way. 

Are you sure? Esther asks.

Ummmmm…