Just Another Day

The Little Black Book

Penny looked on in amusement as her co-worker danced around the kitchen. She always looked forward to her shift on a Friday. It was the only day of the week she and Wendy worked together and they made a good team. She loved a good work atmosphere, but then again, who didn't? It made the day pass quicker.

Smirking, she walked through the swinging door that led to the cafe out front, with heavy plates in hand.

Her shift was passing quickly. After making sure no one was waiting to be served, Penny took a seat on a stool beside the bar and pulled her little black book out from her apron pocket. She ran her fingers gently along the spine of the small Moleskine notebook. She was the only member of staff to still carry a notebook and pen, everyone else used those new-fangled electronic things.

‘That time of the day again, is it?’ Wendy asked appearing behind her, making Penny jump.

Penny laughed. ‘What time of day?’

‘Your time to revise with that outdated little book of yours,’ she commented, as she started to make a fresh pot of coffee.

‘It’s not outdated, it’s useful,’ Penny informed her, again, for the umpteenth time. ‘I like to know my customers,’ she explained thoughtfully, ‘knowing what they drink or where they like to sit can make all the difference. I want people to know they matter enough for me to remember who they are.’

‘I don’t know why you bother, dear.’ Wendy advised, attempting to impart some wisdom. ‘Take that old guy that comes in every week, you know, the one you sit and talk to sometimes?’

‘Eddie?’ Penny inquired.

‘Yes, that's the one.’

‘What about him?’ she asked.

‘Well,’ Wendy continued, ‘he's a nice enough gentleman but he obviously has early-onset Alzheimer’s or dementia and yet you spend a good twenty minutes after your shift just sitting, talking with him. Your earnestness is endearing, honestly, it is; but I fear it falls on deaf ears. I don’t think he knows who he is from one day to the next; let alone who you are.’ She quipped.

Penny looked up from her notebook and smiled at Wendy as she poured herself a fresh brew.

‘It doesn’t matter to me. In fact, it’s more reason to make that extra effort. He’s a lovely old man and for all we know we are the only company he has. I might be the only person who has the good grace to ask how his day has been.’

Wendy looked at her, a little perplexed. She softly took Penny’s face in both hands. ‘What did you do to get dropped down to this earthly plane with us mere mortals, huh? It must have been something quite scandalous.’ She whispered kindly, as she planted a soft kiss on her forehead then turned and walked back into the kitchen.

The cafe had quietened down and it was the end of Penny’s shift. She smiled with delight, ‘just like clockwork,’ she muttered cheerfully as Eddie entered the cafe.

Hustling to the bar she punched her rota card into the meter. ‘CLOCKING OFF!’ She called through to the kitchen then she headed to the front of the cafe to greet her friend.

‘Eddie, how are you?’ she beamed as she joined him. He had already sat at his usual table nearest the door.

‘I am quite well, thank you,’ he smiled at her, his expression seemed more pained than usual, 'and how might you be, Penelope dear?' he rejoiced as she joined him, ‘How has the week treated you so far?’

‘I'm a little tired this week to be honest with you,’ she professed as Wendy took his order and headed back into the kitchen to retrieve his sandwich. ‘I worked on Tuesday night this week, I needed the extra money for Charlie’s school uniform you see,’ she sighed.

‘What have I told you, young lady,’ he said as he looked at her with concern, ‘you must focus on making memories with that little boy of yours, not money. Life passes by, real quick. He’ll be all grown up and flying the nest before you know it,’ he warned.

Penny bit her tongue, for it was an easy thing to say when someone didn’t quite grasp the responsibilities of a single mother. ‘And how is young Charlie?’ He asked.

‘He’s good thank you,’ she beamed, ‘you wouldn't believe how tall he is getting,'

'I can imagine,' said Eddie, deep in thought.

Wendy popped his food down in front of him, along with a steaming hot cup of Earl Gray, and a coffee for Penny.

‘And how did his performance go?' he asked as he began to eat, 'Jack and the Beanstalk if I remember correctly.’ Penny loved that he remembered such a detail. Wendy must be wrong about Alzheimer's, it just didn’t add up.

‘It was, and he did marvelously.’ Penny said proudly. ‘He got both of his lines right and timed them perfectly. He wouldn't stop talking about it for two whole days.’ She beamed.

‘Did you manage to get in on camera?’ He asked earnestly.

‘Ah, I’m afraid not.’ she disappointed him, quietly glad she had taken the time to watch it herself, rather than through the lens of a camera, as most of the other parents had.

‘Of course, you prefer living in the moment, I forget. Still, you shouldn’t be too quick to overlook the benefits of technology. What I would have given to have a smartphone when my girls were young. You see, if that was me, I would have wanted to watch my Bethany and Mabel perform again and again and again...’ he chortled. ‘Have I told you about my girls and their acting before?’ he inquired, his face lighting up as he slurped his coffee.

Penny had heard lots about Bethany and Mabel in the past. They were Eddie’s twin girls, and like any proud father he could waffle on about them for hours. Their names never changed, but their professions, their interests, and hobbies often did. From professional ballet dancers to florists in Paris, every time the story was different. But Penny enjoyed them just the same. One thing was for sure, he was a good storyteller.

Penny listened as he told her all about RADA drama school and how his girls had taken the world of theatre by storm, acting in plays and pantomimes on Broadway.

‘That’s incredible Eddie, anything I may have seen them in?’ Penny asked, her interest evident.

Eddie’s brow deepened as he thought it over. ‘ I doubt it, it was a bit before your time I’m afraid dear, they chose to leave the wonderful world of stardom behind them quite early on into their careers, even though they were widely successful. They decided to retire to the country with a bushel of dogs.’ he laughed lovingly.

‘I’m sorry to interrupt Eddie,' announced Penny,' I’ve had one too many coffees I’m afraid, nature calls. If you’ll excuse me I’ll be right back.’

‘But of course,’ he commented. As she stood, so did Eddie; briefly. Penny smiled as she walked to the Ladies’ room, at least chivalry isn’t dead, she thought to herself.

Making her way back towards the table she was taken by surprise. It was empty. No coat, no hat, no Eddie. His half-eaten tuna roll was still on the plate. Penny looked around, confused. Other than another table of two there was no one else in the cafe.

‘Wendy?…’ She called. Wendy appeared from out the back with a towel in one hand, using it to dry a plate in the other. ‘Wendy, did you see where Eddie went?’ she asked, concerned.

‘What?’ Wendy asked, as she walked up to the table, ‘ Sorry love but I was washing up. He must have headed off.’ she guessed.

‘Without saying goodbye?’ Penny could hear the strain in her own voice.

‘I’m sure he didn’t mean to, he probably just forgot he had to be somewhere.’ Wendy said playfully.

‘Very funny,’ Penny tutted, deflated. ‘I hope I didn't offend him somehow. I guess I better get back to Charlie anyway.’ she said. Grabbing her bag from the back of the chair and slinging it over her shoulder as her friend began clearing Eddie's table, she headed for the door.

‘Hang on a minute,’ Wendy called after her.

Penny stopped and turned around, the long day finally catching up with her. She suddenly couldn’t wait to see Charlie and get off of her feet.

‘Yeah?’ she responded, yawning.

‘This was under his plate,’ said Wendy, perplexed. ‘It has your name on it.’

Surprised Penny reached across the table, and took a small brown envelope from Wendy's hand.

‘It has?’ She asked, as she looked the envelope over. Sure enough, there was her name, scribbled in the top corner, accompanied by two words that made her heart start to thud. Penelope – Make memories. Penny quickly pulled it open hoping it would explain Eddie's sudden departure. Penny gasped as she realised what she was looking at. It was a banker's cheque in her name, for £20000. Wendy peered over her shoulder. ‘Holy Moly,’ she exclaimed.

Penny stuttered, ‘Is this for real? What - why would he? - Wendy I don't understand.’

‘It sure looks real to me,’ confirmed Wendy, taking it out of Penny’s hands and looking it over. It’s signed and dated with today’s date.’

‘Why would he do this?’ Penny’s legs felt weak. She’d never had that kind of money in her life. 'My goodness, Wendy, you must be right about him having Alzheimer's. This money should belong to his girls, if anyone.'

'We need to find him and make sure he's alright.' Wendy worried.

'How?' asked Penny.

'Well, do you know anything else about him?'

'Honestly... no. All I know is his name and the name of his daughters,' she pondered. 'I don't even know where he lives.

'Well, that's settled then, there's nothing we can do about it tonight.' advised Wendy, 'we'll simply have to wait until the next time he comes in and try to get to the bottom of things then. Hopefully, in the meantime, he hasn't given away his family fortune.'

A few days passed and there was no sign of Eddie. Penny was getting increasingly anxious. She noticed that even Wendy was glancing at the door every now and then during their shifts, hoping Eddie would make one of his mid-week visits.

When Friday morning finally rolled around, Penny found her spirits had lifted somewhat. She should get some answers today as Eddie hadn't missed his Friday afternoon tuna sandwich in as long as she could remember. She would be able to return his cheque and sleep better at night. She stepped off the bus and made her way down the familiar street towards the cafe.

'Hey Wend,' she greeted as she entered and took off her coat, tying her apron around her waist.

Penny stopped mid-stride as she noticed the look of disbelief on Wendy's face as she looked up from what she’d been reading...

'What's wrong?' Penny asked as she joined her at the bar.

Pushing a copy of today's newspaper towards Penny she said. 'Read this...'

Former C.E.O Business Mogul Edward Manners Dies From Cancer:

Edward Peter Manners, 68, former President of tech giant MEDINET, dies after losing a five-year battle with Lymphoma.

Manners made a name for himself in the corporate world as a young entrepreneur in 1982, when he designed an algorithm that could successfully predict if someone was at risk of cardiac arrest. Technology that is still widely used to save lives today.

Over the next 7 years, he continued to make giant strides in the medical and technological fields whilst contributing to some of the most groundbreaking medical advances of the early nineties.

In 1988 Forbes magazine named Mr. Manners one of the top up-and-coming businessmen of the twentieth century; after making his first millions from his contributions to medical science.

Aged 29, Mr. Manners married Eleanor Smithers in Spring Lake, Devon. A humble ceremony with only a handful of close friends and family in attendance; before welcoming twin daughters into their family three years later.

In 1996 Peter Manners was the sole survivor of a road traffic accident that took the lives of his wife Eleanor, and their two daughters; Mabel and Bethany, aged 8.

The accident happened whilst traveling to a medical convention where Manners was to pitch his idea for a new type of pacemaker; Manners and his family were struck from the rear by a drunk driver.

November 20th, 1996 at The Old Bailee Court in London, the defendant Abe Tyson, aged 49, received a 4-year prison sentence and a £6000 fine. which was to be paid directly to Mr. Manners.

The Telegraph reported the following harrowing statement, from Mr. Manners, as he addressed the court on the day of sentencing:

‘Your Honour this is not justice. I already have all the money any man could dream of, what I do not have is my family. What do I want with six thousand pounds? The millions I have could not touch the anguish or the grief I am feeling today. The gaping hole that I will now carry with me for the rest of my life. I will never see them again, I will never hold them again. Can you fathom that? The emptiness? All I have left now are memories. Of which, I have been robbed of the chance to make more.’

Manners continued to take the business world by surprise when he walked away from his career in 1998, donating most of his proceeds to numerous charities and signing his business over to his former vice president. Cutting all ties to his former life he retired to a quiet humble life in the countryside. Speaking to a few close friends, they said that he never quite recovered from the loss of his family.

He is known to have died with his trusty dog Max by his side, in his 2-bed cottage on the outskirts of Petersfield.

Mr. Manners is not known to have any living relatives.