Humans logo

Fictional First Date

A date in time

By John BurkholderPublished 3 years ago 23 min read
Like

Even the most experienced house remodeler can be surprised by what the world has to provide it. Tearing apart the 1990s version of a kitchen was more work than she expected. The cabinets were screwed directly into the studs and the electrical was placed in locations that didn't make any sense for the modern kitchen. So instead of just replacing the cabinets, Alex demolished to the studs.

That is when Alex noticed the envelope. An unmarked stationery sealed with a gold sticker on the back. Even though it sat in the wall for decades, it appears to be in good condition and oddly enough, waiting for someone to find and open it. As she reached down to pull the envelope, she also noticed a small wristlet hanging from a nail next to the envelope.

Walking back to her couch, Alex grabs a wine goblet and the bottle of Merlot to sit down and open the envelope. After pouring herself a healthy glass, she peals back the sticker and opens the envelope. Taking another sip, she unfolds the letter.

Greetings,

You found me. I placed this in the wall on August 12, 1993. The wristlet next to this is part of an adventure. If you are up for it, I think this could be fun and you may end up learning something about where you live...or find the writer of this letter.

Alex paused to take another sip from her glass. "Is this a scavenger hunt? Where are we going with this?"

This is a date. I personally don't date much and even if I did, I have very specific requirements. So, now you have a choice...will you go on a date with me, or will you just read the entire contents and/or throw it away? If you decide to read the entire contents, you will need to wear appropriate attire: Casual pants like jeans, something besides a printed t-shirt, and appropriate weather gear for tomorrow. This will be an all day adventure and you will need transit fare...so yes, for now, we are going Dutch.

If you'd like to accept my date, turn to the next page tomorrow morning.

Alex sat there and thought about it. Since she hasn't dated in quite some time, and is only looking forward to running new electrical tomorrow, she decided to see this one out. She has the entire week off from work for doing the renovation to the kitchen, but why not go ahead and see this through. Sure, why not?

The next morning, Alex prepares for her big date. Putting on her best jeans, a light blue button down shirt, and light jacket for the late Spring air, she grabs the envelope, and is ready to begin.

Thanks for continuing on. I am not going to tell you my name yet. Since this is a first date, I'd like to have you get to know me before I get to know you. If after all of this, you want to know me, the wristlet will be the key.

"Oh, Crap! I forgot the wristlet!" As Alex jumps up to go get the wristlet laying on her nightstand. She stands at the door and is ready to continue.

You want to take transit to the Loop area. Feel free to start you journey.

"OK, Keys, Wallet, Purse, and Phone." Alex says to herself as she steps out the door for the 1/2 block walk to the bus stop to go downtown. Once seated on the bus, she continues reading.

I love this area of Hyde Park. For years, it has been a historical element of Chicago with the University of Chicago and the Columbian Exposition. For me though, I was a student. I spent my entire childhood downstate in a small town and to finally be accepted at one of the best Universities in the country was fantastic...and a lot of pressure. After 3 years though, I figured out that music was the wrong path for me. I have always been into music. I love music. But if I wanted a career, music was not going to be stable enough. Anyone tied to music was also tied to the labels like Virgin or MCA. So I decided to switch. I switched to computers. These are cutting edge and I hope they continue to grow. While finishing out my degree, I started writing software to try to solve some of the world's problems... well, at least I hope. This change seems to be pretty good. I started my own company and we are off to a good start. That is when I bought the house you discovered the letter in.

I love Lake Shore Drive. In a world where there is a constant hustle and bustle, it is like a breath of fresh air to me.

Alex pauses to look out the window at the sun reflecting off the blue water.

If it weren't for the fact I have to make money, I would probably spend all of my time watching the waves lap onto the rocks and sand.

Oh, by the way, you will be going to Wabash and Washington Street.

Pick this back up when you arrive.

Alex looks up to discover the stop she needed has already arrived. She disembarks and walks to Macy's at Wabash and Washington. As soon as she read the intersection, she knew exactly where she was going. But this time, she is seeing it through a slightly different lens. She is imagining all of the walk over as if it was 1993.

After walking into the front door, Alex stood in one of the intersections and opened the letter.

You are looking for the tourist information desk. Once you get there, tell them you have a special request to see the tunnels. There is a business card in the envelope with Ken's name on it.

Alex digs out the Marshall Fields card with the name Ken written on it. This is unlike any business card she had ever seen as the name only says "Ken". On the back there is a gold star sticker and the letters "IOU" with what looks like a signature of Ken.

Ken is a bit old, but hopefully, this card still works.

Alex shows the card to the woman sitting behind the information desk.

The woman smiles and says "oh, that's an old one". She picks up her phone and calls Ken to let him know he has to come to the desk.

Ken is a shorter, balding man who looks to be well into his 80s. He looks at the card, and looks at Alex. His grins a huge smile and says "this is my last one." He pulls out a one wrapped, and one unwrapped and well worn ball caps from under the desk and hands the wrapped new ball cap to Alex. "Put this on and we will be on our way."

"On our way to what?" Alex asks.

"This is my last tour!" Ken states with a smile. "I have continued to worked here for 60 years and I made a promise to stopped only after the last IOU was collected."

Stunned by the statement that this is the last of what appears to be many tours, Alex smiles and says "let's go then."

Ken leads Alex to the art deco style elevator banks and pushes the button for the top floor. "We will start at the top and work down."

While the elevator lifts them the 9 stories, Alex goes back to the letter.

I am not sure if Ken is still there, he was not terribly young today, but someone should know about the card. If you are on the tour, stop reading until the end.

Ken takes Alex through the entire building from the top to the bottom. All along the way, people greet Ken as he waves and says "last one!" All the time Ken is explaining the story of the building, Marshall Fields life, and how he changed department stores. He discussed how the architecture was designed in a Chicago format, and how women were not only the primary shoppers, but the primary workers. He talked about how much in sales the store would make and how clothes originally were made on site.

Alex was fascinated, but all of the facts, and information Ken had. He really had been here his entire adult life.

On the 7th floor, he discussed the Walnut room and the history of all of the balls and banquets. Even how during Christmas, one of the largest trees in Chicago was on this very floor in this very room.

Alex had seen the Walnut Room during the holidays and it was truly a beautiful sight.

After exiting the Walnut Room, Ken stopped at the Frango mints area, grabbed a box and opened them. He grabbed one and offered the box to Alex to grab one. Ken looked over at the cashier and said "Last day."

The cashier nodded and jotted something down on a notepad.

"OK, let continue, we have a long way to go" Ken stated as he closed up the box. They approached another elevator and went down to the next level. Later in the tour, he escorted her into a very large room with a lot of art work. "This is the decorations room."

The decorations room was full of interior and exterior decorations for every season. The horns and garland for Christmas, the Halloweens of years past, and standing in the middle of it all was a huge table.

"It is that table that every window dressing Marshall Fields used was made on. It used to be the busiest room in the building, but now many of the window scenes are brought in from Macy's." You could see a little bit of pain as he says it. "I have been here for so many years, I have seen friends create families, then die. I have seen their children come work here, and grandchildren, and all of this time I just take in the beauty and unique life they breath into this building."

"What happens after this last tour?" Alex asks.

"I finally become the customer." He cheers up after saying. "No more discounts, but I will still enjoy being on the other side of all of this. Today, you are my guest. Everything from that hat to the candy is my treat...really, Macy's treat. It was part of the sale of Marshall Fields."

"Wait, what?" Alex starts to wonder who is the hell Ken really is.

"Yeah, I was one of the major owners of Marshall Fields. So when we decided to sell it, I added this stipulation to the contract." Ken grabs his stuff and head nods Alex toward the door.

As Ken leads Alex through all of the different layers of the building spouting fact after fact, Alex wonders how this is supposed to connect with the writer of the letter.

Finally reaching the bottom of the bottom levels of the building, Ken take Alex to what appears to be the last stop. There on the wall is what looks to be a giant submarine door.

"Well, this is it." Ken says,

Ken then goes on to explain in 1992, the city of Chicago had a huge flood caused by a hole being opened into a giant underground freight train system covering the entire loop of Chicago. This mesh of tunnels moved goods from all over to the stores and printers. "But when some work was being done on the Chicago River, a backhoe popped open the tunnels and caused about $1 Billion in 1992 money worth of damage to the structures all over. So when you walk along the sidewalks of Chicago and see and area of sidewalk that looks like a concrete patch, that is probably an elevator shaft for the tunnels or vents that seem to go down forever... ventilation shaft for the tunnels."

It was then with the artistry of a master magician, he unlocked the locks, and yanked the door open. "This is why we now have a submarine door."

When we stepped in, and he flipped the light switch and it lit up beautifully. There in the middle of the room with 3 tunnels heading in each direction was a small train engine. "Today, we check on the train every so often and make sure everything is still being maintained."

Over on the wall looked to be a bunch of electronic equipment and written in chalk below it was Alex's new address with another envelope sealed in a ziplock bag. Alex immediately left Ken's side and walked over to the envelope.

"Oh, you're that one." Ken grinned.

"Wait, you know the person who left this?"

"Of course. I now know you are on a journey and I am just one stop. That envelope sits there because of that flood I mentioned earlier. The person who helped me resolve our flooding issue, the person responsible for that submarine door, the person responsible for those monitors...that is all the same person. But that is all I am allowed to say." Ken smiles.

Alex opens the ziploc bag and the opens the envelope.

Hello again, adventurer. Well, it seems you found part two. These tunnels are miles long. I used to love coming down here to think before the flood. Everyone else avoided it, but the sounds and shear work involved in making these tunnels always astonished me. As I said, this is to get to know and understand me. I appreciate the history involved in how this city was built. I want to make it better than it was.

If Ken is there, tell him I appreciate him and I am sure I will see him again.

Alex relayed the message to Ken.

"I am sure" he says confidently.

"The letter says I need to down Wabash to Millers. Have you ever been there Ken?"

"I have" Ken responds, "and since it is coming up on lunch, I will walk with you."

As they step out of the room, Ken closes and locks the large submarine door, gently place his hand on the door and says "good girl" in a hushed voice.

The day had warmed up some and the walk to Miller's Pub was as it normally is with people bustling to and from work, "L" trains overhead, and cars vying for parking spaces. All along Ken pointed out the grates in the sidewalk and the depth to the freight tunnels.

Walking into Miller's felt like a 1930s restaurant with dark walls and a huge old bar. After seeing Ken's face, they warmly greeted him and everyone in unison said "Ken!" Clearly, Ken had been here before.

"Last day" Ken responds.

"Congrats! I see you brought a guest. Bar or table?" the Maitre D asks.

"Table bar."

We are walked to our table by the bar. A man behind the bar calls over to Ken and says "Usual?"

"Yes, and for my guest, the same."

Meanwhile, the second letter says she can continue with the first letter. Alex reads on.

Hopefully, you are at your second destination. If so, ask the bartender if Michael is around. If he is, hand him the wooden nickel from the second envelope.

"Are you Michael?" Alex asks the bartender.

He smiles and says, "Yep. You heard of me?"

Alex produces the wooden disk with a Blackhawks logo on one side and a star etching on the other. Underneath is the small signature showing Michael. "I am supposed to hand this to you."

Michael and Ken stare at the wooden nickel in astonishment. Ken looks at Michael and says "Michael, it seems I may have underestimated someone."

Michael still staring at the wooden nickel walks around the bar and lifts if from Alex's hand. "OK, I guess this is it. Ma'am, I'd like to introduce you to someone. Would you please follow me? Ken, I will get your drink shortly."

Michael walks Alex into the kitchen and walks up behind a very tall black man with more muscles than can comfortably fit in a shirt cooking a prime rib. "Hello, Marlon." Alex is only about five feet talk and comparing in height, Marlon looks about two feet taller.

"I don't have time for this Michael. Who is complaining now?" Marlon says with short staccato tones.

"I have a wooden nickel for you." Michael timidly says.

Marlon looks up from his flipping action and dramatically turns around. "Now? Right... Wooden Nickel." I am on it. Marlon calls for another cook to take over his grill.

"Hello Ma'am, I am Marlon."

"Alex. Nice to meet you. I am still unclear as to the purpose of this wooden nickel."

Marlon explains how "a wooden nickel is a currency of favors and barters. Much like bitcoin is a currency without a currency today, the wooden nickle was back in the day. Many of these wooden nickels date back to 1880s. So when is given a wooden nickel, something very special had to be done for it to be given. "

"So Michael gave the wooden nickel to the person who gave it to me" Alex states.

"And now, he has given it to me which is honestly one of the biggest honors I can have." Marlon explains. "So today, I am teaching you the secrets only a select few people know."

Marlon begins by pulling out a bunch of ingredients and laying them out on the stainless steel tables slightly away from the kitchen. He carefully explains all of the ingredients and why he uses them to make his Canadian Baby Back Ribs with Shrimp. After going into detail about the food, preparation and most importantly, time. Rushing certain foods actually makes foods taste bad. Time is the friend...and the enemy of cooking. He explained how everything was not technique, but also artistry.

Then he threw me an apron wrapped in plastic and said "Let's get cooking."

Alex doesn't normally cook. The reason she was updating the kitchen was because it was ugly, not because of it's usefulness. She barely used it. But after listening to Marlon explain how the layout of the kitchen keeps conflicts from happening with as many people in the room, it makes a lot more sense. As she watch Marlon, she learned that the artistry involved is more than just the movement of the hands, but the constant tasting to make sure the seasonings were right.

Marlon is a master chef. He watched, smelled, and timed everything so perfectly that it felt like he was in a constant competition with himself to make the very best meal he could. He plated everything and had the service of the meal sent back to where Ken and I were sitting. "Go eat your meal and come back when you've finished."

As Alex took off the apron to hand it back to Marlon, he said "Nope, that's yours now."

Alex walked out of the kitchen to the bar in a bit of a daze thinking to herself, this is one weird first date.

Sitting down, Ken looked at Alex and smiled. Michael walked back to the table and offered a bottle of Merlot to go with the meal. Ken pushed his iced tea to the side and said "absolutely!" as Alex nodded her head.

"Ken, this is just so much to take in." Alex has loosened her grip on what was happening and relaxed with Ken. "I just learned how to make our meal and I don't... didn't even really cook. This was a masterclass in one session."

Ken replied "sometimes, it takes going on an adventure to understand more than your own constant life. If a person earns a wooden nickel from someone like Michael, they must have done something amazing for him to offer it. Was your experience amazing?"

"Beyond amazing." she takes a sip of wine. "I didn't realize how much love went into making a meal. I never looked at other peoples jobs to see why they are the best at what they do."

"Our mutual acquaintance also does everything with a passion. I can only assume that is why she called in this wooden nickel."

After finishing off the best meal she feels she has ever had, Alex waves Michael over to sit with them and talk. "Do you know where this wooden nickel came from?"

"I do." Michael acknowledges, "I gave it to Sam."

Alex paused. "Sam? Sam who?"

Michael replies, "I don't know that part, but if this is from Sam, I know why it was given. In February 1993, I was on my way to work on the "L" and the train slammed into another train which had stopped in a tunnel. It was pure mayhem. It was dark, and smoky, and the rail was still live. Later we found out 11 people dies that day."

"I remember that day" Ken interjects.

"Sam was going from person to person asking if they were OK and trying to find doctors or nurses. She found a couple and they all moved from car to car to the front of the train to check on injured. I wasn't a nurse, but I was willing to help. As we entered the total mess of the front car, we started checking vitals and trying to bandage people before they could bleed out. It was terrible."

Alex was starting to think Sam was some sort of superhuman that just happened to know what to do and when. He definitely wasn't afraid of getting his hands dirty.

"I didn't see Sam on the "L" for a while after that. I supposed anyone could be screwed up after that. It wasn't until two weeks after when I finally was able to give Sam the wooden nickle. Anyone who is willing to go through hell to help another person deserves it." Michael teared up after explaining. "Now, Marlon has it. He is such a good person and after all of the trouble and hardships he and his family had to deal with, I think this is just a small token for him."

After more conversation with Ken and Michael, Alex excused herself and walked back to the kitchen. "That was probably the best meal I have ever had Marlon."

Marlon's eyes shine. "I have one last thing for you. This is the recipe for everything we did today. Just do me a favor and remember that it is not the ingredients that makes the meal, although it helps, it is the care put into it."

She thanked him again and walked back to the table.

After returning to the table, Alex opened the letter. Skimming through the Miller's pub portion of history, she picked back up with where she wanted to continue her journey. "Apparently, my next stop is back in Hyde Park."

After thanking her hosts and being told the meal was already paid for, Alex said her goodbyes and walked to get the bus back to Hyde Park.

Your last stop is back in Hyde Park. There are certain parts of Hyde Park that I love. The University of Chicago campus is likely one of the prettiest in the world. The point is one of the best things ever created since you can have bonfires and formal gatherings all in one place. But today, you are going to the First Unitarian Church.

Church, well that is unexpected. But what could possibly have been expected during this entire journey?

We are not attending. We are there for a different reason. Continue on once you arrive.

Alex stood in front of the old church for a bit to look at the architecture. It is nice. It wasn't terribly grand but it seems to meet everything you need for a church including a bell. Alex had never been to this church before but had attended a few events in Rockefeller chapel only a few blocks away.

People are actively going in an out of the church even on a weekday. After following someone into the entrance, she quickly found someone and asked for the office. After getting directions, she knocked and entered to find an older woman behind the desk. "Hello, How can I help you?"

She pulls out the letter and reads to get the red CCC business card out of the envelope. Alex hands her the card and says "I am supposed to give you this."

"Oh honey. They haven't used these cards in..." Her voice trails off as she flips over the card. "That's great! What's you name hun?"

"Alex" says Alex.

"Sam sent you?"

"I assume so. It has been a bit of a journey so far." Alex provides a retrospective of her day.

"Sounds about right. I am Hazel. We are going to talk a walk to the chapel. The card you gave me was for the Chicago Children's Choir." she grabs keys and starts walking out the door. "Sam has been working with the Chicago Children's Choir for year. Have you heard them?"

"Yes, but I haven't seen a concert I don't think."

"Well, they are amazing and they do amazing work with the children...and it all started right here. This is the building that started it all in direct response to the Civil Rights Movement in 1956, the choir has grown from one choir into a vast network of in-school and after-school programs serving nearly 5,000 students across the city. Now they even travel all over the world showing the strength in song and diversity." Hazel explains. "One of the reasons I love being here is because of everything we do with, not for, the community."

As they move into the chapel, it is amazing how it towers over the floor in steep arches. Expecting to find a bunch of stained glass windows throughout, finds the opposite. It dark, quiet, and calm. There is not one religion being displayed. "We welcome all spiritual beliefs here." Hazel explains. "We always have. This is the diversity as a people we embrace."

Hazel continues by explaining how the children's choir practice and how Sam is one of the beneficiaries of the choir to make sure the love of music helps kids when they need it the most.

Alex thinks to herself, "So that love of music, stayed even as he moved on."

Hazel states that if she has any questions, come see her in the office and leaves her in the chapel. A few minutes later, small children walk into the church with folders under their arms. Within 15 minutes, it was full of kids and what appears to be the instructor walks into the room carrying folders followed by another adult that appears to be the piano player.

The instructor looks at Alex quizzically and tells the kids to line up.

"It is amazing." Alex thinks to herself while listening with seems like a shocked expression on her face. She sat there the entire time. Transfixed on the beautiful voices singing songs in Swahili, Hebrew, Polish and English. The harmonies and pureness of the voices ring through the chapel as if the entire place was made just for them to sing.

While singing, the next group of kids walk in and take seats waiting for their turn to go up and sing. Alex couldn't move. It was an ebb and flow of emotion from song to song. Even with the stops and starts. Instructors change, children change but the music is still as beautiful...just as the older children move on stage, the sound is more refined.

After sitting on the hard pews for what seemed like minutes but what actually hours, a woman walks up to Alex and says "Hi. Are you a parent?" She looks down at the letters, and back at the woman searching for her wrist.

"Oh, hi. I am Sam."

literature
Like

About the Creator

John Burkholder

I am an IT Guy who has been doing IT entirely too long. This is my way to use the creative parts of my brain.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.