Harvey's Grudge and One Little Word
A middle aged woman laughed, her warm brown eyes sparkling. "You didn't? That's hilarious, Lou! I wouldn't have been able to to go through with it."
Lou chuckled. "I almost didn't, Lena. But Harvey has been asking for it for years. Since we were kids, actually."
Lena nodded. "Wait until Ken finds out. He's going to love this. Nina and Dave too."
Harvey walked away from the little outdoor cafe where he was supposed to meet his friends.
Somehow he ended up in a nearby park, where he'd spent many happy hours playing with the same friends he'd just overheard had betrayed him. He sat alone on a bench, his head in his hands. Birds sang cheerily, and the warm sun and cool breeze made it one of the nicer days of the year.
"I can't believe they would do that. But who else would have known?"
He pounded his fist into his hand. "They think the others are going to love it? Who needs them - any of them."
Harvey stood, and rubbed his eyes. "Oh well, nothing I can do about it today. I might as well go home."
A couple of days later, Lou and Lena met at the same cafe.
Lou sighed. "I don't understand Lena, it's not like Harvey not to show up, or at least let us know what happened. Do you think he suspects something?"
Lena looked around the cozy but crowded spot, and shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe he did show up, but he overheard us talking?"
Lou's eyes widened. "That's a disturbing thought. Maybe we should go see him."
Lena nodded. "This has really been bothering me. I couldn't sleep last night. But just in case, let's not let on that we know anything."
Lou dropped some bills on the table, and the two friends left.
Lena approached the door, and gave her signature tap-tap-pound-pound knock.
Silence.
"Harvey, everything alright in there? We haven't heard from you in a while," shouted Lou.
More silence.
Lena put her ear to the door, then looked through the keyhole. "I don't think he's in there."
Lou shook his head. "Where else would he be, other than here or the cafe? He's not exactly a spontaneous person."
Lena shrugged. "Maybe he had to go to the doctor or something. He's obviously not home."
The two walked away.
Harvey sighed with relief. He got up from the floor, rubbing his right ear. It had been pressed a bit too firmly to the wall beside the door. "I thought they'd never leave. They probably wanted to laugh at me again. Or see about trying something else to make me miserable."
The next week, Harvey stood in the doorway of a small book store across from the cafe where his former friends always met for Saturday brunch.
"I feel a little ridiculous in this getup. But at least they won't recognize me," he thought as he adjusted the large sunglasses.
"Maybe the hat is a bit much." Just as he was contemplating removing the oversized cowboy hat, he saw them pulling up.
He pulled out a small paperback, and casually strolled over to the back of Lou's truck as he and Lena got out.
"They always were closer to each other than the rest of us," he grumbled after they were gone.
A few minutes later, three other vehicles arrived, all within seconds of each other.
Harvey hung back until they left, keeping his huge hat low. "Nobody was even looking for me. Some friends!"
He felt the weight of the hard metal lump in the pocket of his newly purchased thrift store jacket. "Maybe I should try to hear what they're up to before I do it. But what if one of them recognizes me? No, I can't take the chance."
Well outside of earshot, the little group had their heads together. Their voices were low and somber, mingling together as one.
"Ken, I know he's been driving us crazy as long as we've known him. But I shouldn't have done it."
"I agree. I've been calling and stopping by every day, and I never get an answer. Something is very wrong."
"All we can do is keep trying. One of us has to catch him eventually."
"Let's all go over and try to see him now. We'll bring his favorite brunch, and if he doesn't answer we'll leave it there for him."
Without having so much as coffee they ordered his usual muffin, coffee, and smoked ham sandwich.
Harvey was pacing back and forth, gripping a large pair of wire cutters in both hands. His knuckles were white, and his hands were shaking. "It's now or never. They'll be eating right now, no chance they'll come back out for a while."
He gingerly lifted the hood of Lou's truck. Suddenly he grinned. "I remember when he got this. We all crammed in and went on the longest road trip of our lives."
He shook his head vigorously. "Get a grip! You were wronged, and they have to pay. They're not your friends anymore. Probably never were."
He put his head down on the truck. "I just wish I knew the truth..."
Footsteps caused him to look up. "What are they doing back already - and all of them?"
Harvey quickly and quietly closed the hood, and backed away unnoticed. He hid behind a large, classic van.
Lou was holding a bag, and striding quickly towards the truck. "I sure hope Harvey's alright. I'm so sorry for what I've done! I never should have paid the drive through guy to replace Harvey's fries with a package of raisins. It's just that he's always hated even the sight of them, and it seemed like such a ridiculous thing. I hope he never has to see another raisin in his life."
Lena ran to catch up. "I feel awful that I laughed when I found out. I feel responsible somehow."
Ken, Nina, and Dave started to jog to catch up.
"Wait for us!" they called out as one. They looked at each other and laughed.
Unable to contain himself, Harvey stashed his ridiculous disguise and the cutters, then casually strolled out.
Lou almost dropped the bag, but caught it in mid air. "Hey, Harvey! We were just planning on going to see you. How are you doing?"
Harvey looked at the ground. "I've been better. But I think things are going to be alright now..."
Cover image made in Canva Pro using their gallery