Lesson 1

He knew it would be hard, holding that table for so long. But when Karen had asked him to help her he couldn’t say no. It just wouldn’t be right. Not when he was so close.

„After I get this over with, do you want to get something to eat?“ she asked, slipping the carpet under the table. He thought about it.
„I would like that,“ he grunted, his muscles aching. He decided then and there that he would start going to the gym he gave money to every month. Although he decided that every time. Maybe this time he meant it?

„Anything in particular,“ she said, fixing the carpet a little more. „Almost there…“
He hoped she would finish this soon. He doubted he could hold on for much longer. But if this selfless act would finally show her how much he…

The phone rang. Not his phone, which was good. Her phone, which was bad.
She answered, he noted, with a smile. A tiny pebble started to form inside his stomach.

„Hey, you. Oh, nothing much. Sure. Okay, I’ll see you in a bit.“

She hung up. Her phone went into her pocket.
„You can put the table down now. Thank you so much, I don’t know what I would have done without you.“

As gently as he could muster, the table came down. And only with a tiny thunk. He exhaled.

„Listen,“ she said, „I’m sorry but something came up.“ The stone in his stomach made itself welcome in its new home. „I will make this up to you tomorrow, okay?“
„Was this Andrea?“
„No, it’s a guy I met the other weekend, he’s taking me out on a date.“

This was new. And not in a good way.