Mami

She comes in every Wednesday. But it’s Sunday and a holiday. But she’s here. The center was closed today because it was a holiday. A woman about thirty whined as she pressed her face against the glass.

“Aww!” she shouted. “Damn it!” The woman stomped her foot. She walked over to a nearby phone booth. She fished around in her bright pink coat pocket and pulled out some yen. The woman shoved them into the slot and dialed the one number she remembered. She paced around as the other line rang.

“Hello?” Don asked half-asleep. The woman whimpered over the phone.

“I need you,” she said. There was a pause on the other line. There was a pause on the other line.

“Hello? Hello?” she asked.

“Mami?” Don asked. “What are you doing calling me this late? It’s New Year’s Day.” Mami frowned as she pouted.

“I’m lonely,” she said. Don sighed. Seriously? Why was she calling on New Year’s Day? Didn’t she have anything better to do? Not now. Couldn’t she wait until tomorrow?

“Goodbye,” Don said.

“No! Don’t hang up!” Mami shouted.

“What?” he asked. Her lower lip quivered.

“I miss you!” she said. “Please? Talk to me!” Don groaned on the other line.

“Are you at the community center?” he asked.

“Uh-huh,” Mami said. Don sighed again.

“Hang on. I’ll be right there,” he said. Mami bowed her head.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Yeah, yeah,” Don said. He hung up on his end. Mami held the receiver to her chest.

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She came to them a year ago. Mami was twenty-six at the time. She walked into the center with a heavy heart. 1994 had been kind to her. Mami walked up to the front desk. The receptionist was on the phone when she looked up.

“Can I help you?” she asked. Mami looked ready to cry.

“I need help,” she said. The receptionist lowered her phone.

“What do you need?” she asked. The woman shook her head. Tears formed in her eyes.

“Do you want to talk to someone?” the receptionist asked. Mami nodded.

“Okay, hold on,” the other woman said. She switched lines on the phone.

“Boss, we have a lady who needs help,” the receptionist said. Mami watched her the whole time.

“Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Okay, I will let her know,” the receptionist said. She hung up and turned back to Mami.

“He’s on the way,” the receptionist said. Mami tried not to cry.

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Mami looked up when she heard a car pull up. Don rolled down his window.

“Get in,” he said. Mami perked up.

“Thank you,” she said. She got into the passenger seat and buckled up. Don shook his head as he pulled away. This was going to be another long drive around the city. He did not want to start the year like this.