A good deed, nikyangelg [ebook reader screen TXT] 📗

A good deed

Eric was coming back from work when he saw a beautiful girl standing in the middle of the road. He stopped and looked at her. A cyclist came from behind and almost rode him over.
- What the…? He said in bewilderment.
He had barely dodged it. The bike seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He hadn’t seen it. He was looking at her. Now, he looked again. She was still standing there with a confused look on her face. He went closer and asked:
- Can I help you miss?
She turned around, studied him for a second with her big doll-like eyes. Then she smiled sadly, and said:
- You really shouldn’t.
Her answer intrigued him.
- How can I, when it is obvious you are in some kind of trouble?
She bowed her head for a second then looked at him with anger.
- What makes you think I need your help? Why do all men treat women as defenceless idiots?
Eric was taken aback by her temperamental outburst. Tears were dripping on her chin now but she was still throwing him deadly looks.
- I am sorry miss…, he started.
- Never mind, she interrupted. I just my need a bit of help right now.
The way she said a bit made it sound as if she was being nice and pretended to need his assistance, so his feelings won’t be hurt. Her personality seemed a little eerie, but Eric was still mesmerized by her beauty.
- How can I help you?
- Do you see that man in the corner of the street?
- Yes, he replied.
It would have been impossible not to. He was as big as a mountain, with tattoos all over his arms. Eric swallowed heavily. Most certainly he wasn’t a very nice guy.
- Has he robbed something from you miss? he asked.
- No, idiot! If he had, I would have called the police.
- Then what is the problem?
She showed him her little fist.
- Oh, my God! He hit you. Are you hurt?
She looked at him with exasperation then opened her fist: a round medallion on a golden chain.
- He dropped it, she explained.
- And?
Eric was getting more and more confused.
- I want to give it back, she said.
- Why? You can keep it.
Her eyes threw daggers towards him.
- I don’t know what kind of upbringing you had, but I was taught not to steal.
- But you are not stealing it. You found it, Eric argued.
- I saw him drop it; therefore I know who the owner is. If I don’t give it back is the same as stealing it.
- Oh!
She rolled her eyes, an attitude that showed exactly what she thought about his intelligence.
- So you want me to take it back to him? he asked trying to redeem his damaged image.
- Yes, she sighed it with relief.
Eric looked again at the giant. He was torn between his ration that told him that the man was dangerous and his ego that demanded him to impress the young lady. The later won.
- Alright, he said. I’ll do it.
She looked at him with a big smile on her face and said:
- Thank you.
She kissed him swiftly on the chick and put the medallion in his hand. Encouraged by this sudden proof of gratitude, Eric marched toward the man. Drops of sweat began to gather on the back of his neck. He thought what a complete embarrassment would have been to turn around half away. He touched his chick. It was still warm from her kiss. He focused on that warmth and walked the last few steps.
The man was sitting with his back at him. He coughed gently to get his attention. When he turned around Eric felt a sudden urge to run as fast as he could: the man looked twice as big up close. But he didn’t. He stood his ground. After all: he was a man, not a chicken.
- What? the man asked in a husky voice.
Eric swallowed hard and answered:
- I think you dropped this.
He showed him the medallion. The brute grabbed it.
- Thank you, mate, he said laughing. I’ve never seen it before but it’s gone get me some nice money.
Eric looked at him with his mouth wide open.
- Now beat it, he said grinning. You ain’t getting it back.
He backed away from the man as fast as he could. When he got back at the girl she asked:
- Did he take it?
- Yes…
His mind stopped for a second and then he realized: she had lied.
- You knew it wasn’t his.
- Of course I knew, she said smiling.
- Than whose was it?
- Mine.
- Than why did you made me give it to him?
- Cause I wanted to get rid off it, obviously.
- Why?
- Cause its cursed.
- What? he asked looking at her as if she was crazy.
There was a loud crack somewhere behind him and than a sharp shriek. He turned around and saw the tattooed man underneath a pile of rubble. The wall behind him had crushed on top of him.
- See, I told you, the girl said from behind him.
He looked at her again. She was smiling.
- Thank you for your help.
She went past him towards the opposite end of the street. Eric was dumbstruck. He looked after her until she disappeared around the corner. He sighed.
- I knew she was too beautiful to be real.
He shrugged and went on his way.

Publication Date: 08-16-2011

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