Poor Harold’s Loss

Harold softly placed the phone on its cradle and held his hand on it for a moment. He turned around with a stunned look on his face and said, “Well, that’s it, she’s gone.”

Abner sat at the kitchen table with his hands folded on the top and said, “Harold, I’m so sorry.”

“You should be sorry!” Harold yelled, “This whole thing is your fault!”

“Come on,” Abner said, “You had a lot to do with it as well. If you had just been a little more careful then none of this would have happened.”

Harold slowly shook his head and stood on the other side of the table, silent.

“Listen, “Abner said before he was cut off.

“Oh, I’m done listening to you, that’s for damned sure.” Harold said.

Harold put his head down, as if he were deep in prayer. Then he slowly pulled the other chair out from under the table and sat down. He looked at Abner with hot, intense eyes. A glare that could have melted steel.

He lowered his head again and said quietly, “I can’t believe this. I had such great times with her, I think I almost loved her. More than anything. I’m serious, too.”

Abner tried to hold back his smile. That was one of the craziest things he had ever heard from Harold, and Harold had come up with some real doozies in the past. Trying to stifle a snicker he said, “I don’t think you really mean that, it’s just not realistic.”

“Shut up,” Harold snapped, “It is realistic, I swear.”

“Look, you had some great times with her, for sure. But you must’ve known that it couldn’t last. Not with the lifestyle that you have.’

“What the Hell is that supposed to mean?” Harold seemed surprised.

“You just spend too much money,” Abner said, “She was taking you for all you’re worth! Not to mention all your other ‘little habits’.”

“What do you mean, little habits?! What the Hell are you trying to say?” Harold sneered.

“You know what I’m talking about. The gambling and the drinking. Geez, I can’t believe you were able to stay away from the drugs for your whole life.” Abner said. “You pretty much drove her away. Without all those other expenses, you might still have her with you.”

Harold sat in silence for a moment, staring at the top of the table. Abner thought he was going to start crying. That would be just like Harold, so overly emotional. His intense emotions are probably what caused all of this, but Abner knew better than to say that to him.

“I know one thing, I’ll never trust you again, Abner.” Harold said, still staring at the table.

At this point Abner put his head down a little. He unfolded his hands and put them both on the table palms down, fingers spread. Like he was about to jump out of his chair. But he just sat like that and didn’t say a word.

“So that’s all you have to say?” Harold asked. “It was all my fault, is that it? I was fooling myself when I thought she’d be with me forever?”

“No, Harold,” Abner said, “All I’m saying is that you couldn’t keep going the way you were going and expect her to stay. I warned you about this!”

“You didn’t warn me about shit!” Harold yelled, lifting his head erect. “You’re the one that told me to go for it in the first place! You’re the one that practically brought us together!”

“Now don’t say that” Abner said in a stern tone. “I told you that it might be nice, I didn’t force your hand. Shit, I was only half serious anyway, I thought you knew that.” He stood up, “But no, you had to live the high life! That’s the only reason you went with her, and it was doomed from the start!” His voice was rising in volume. “Don’t go blaming it all on me! Yes, I did have a hand in it, but I was powerless to stop it with you hemorrhaging money the way that you were.”

Harold put his head down again. “I’m sorry,” he said softly, then mumbled, “I know it’s not totally your fault. I just don’t know where I went wrong. I already miss her.”

Abner looked around the room, then straight at Harold, “It’s not like this is forever. I mean, eventually, you’ll find another. You know that the IRS always gets their money. She had to go, you didn't have a choice”

Slowly Harold raised his head and stared at Abner in silence again. After a few moments, he shook his head and said, “She was so beautiful. I never thought I could own a boat like her." His tone changed to one of disgust, "Abner, you are a terrible accountant!”