Interview of Howard Barlow Part One

Two people were seated in bright purple chairs on a small stage. They sat facing each other. One a young woman in a light blue suit. Her long black hair pulled up into a high ponytail. She wore a similar colored pair of glasses. Her name is Kathleen. And she was nervously pushing back on her nose for the second time in ten minutes. Briefly looking at her clipboard that she has tightly held in her left hand. A tight smile pursed on her lips. Doing her best to not look afraid of the person in front of her. A feat that was somewhat hilarious considering the person that she was interviewing.

An older gentleman with salt and pepper hair. Which were had them shaved on the sides and slicked back. He was also wearing a bright orange-red suit. With a black and white checkered button-up shirt underneath. His face looked somewhat fatherly.

And he is one. His name is Howard Barlow, father of six.

One of the creators of Silvy and Copps Burger Joint. Copps was a copper-colored coyote. While Silvy was a white and silver colored wolf. Both were a married couple. Much like the creators were. Mrs. Barlow had unfortunately passed thirty years ago. An unfortunate accident while performing with her husband.

Kathleen:”Good evening, Mr. Barlow. How are you this evening?”

Howard:*smiling as he adjust his tie*”I’m fine, Kathleen. And please. Call me Howard. There’s no need to be so formal with me.”

Kathleen:*scribbling on her notes*”Yes, Howard. I’m glad things have been good for you. Now, to the heart of the matter. I’ve heard that you will be retiring from the franchise you and your wife, Winifred Barlow, created?”

Kathleen:*sets the clipboard to the side*”Do you mind if I ask why that is?”

Howard:*smiling a bit warmer than before*”Oh no, I wouldn’t be here if I was. You see I feel that we need a fresh new face to lead the franchise.”

Howard:*sitting up straight as he smiles proudly*”And I feel that the best replacement for me is my oldest daughter, Melanie Barlow. She’s already grown up around the establishment and has been assistant manager at our first location.”

Howard:”I already told her last night about the good news. The whole process will be complete by this Summer. I’ve never been so proud in my life. And I know that Winnie would also be proud of her.”

At the mention of Winifred’s nickname, Kathleen perks up. Picking her clipboard up once again. She gave a genuine smile as she tapped the question with her pen. Almost as if she were giddy to ask what was on her very long list of them.

Kathleen:*holding up her clipboard up to her face to read it better*”Now, about Winifred. I’m sure that the whole world would like to know about what happened to Silvy the Wolf? Your wife was the one that created her and wore her suit?”

Kathleen:*sets it back in her lap*”What exactly happened to the suit? It hasn’t been seen in over twenty years.”

Howard:*looks uncomfortable as he toys with his tie once more despite it already being straight*”Yes, Silvy the Wolf. Well, it didn’t feel right to have her around without Winifred. Even if we could configure her to be more like the others. Bron the Bull and Auggie the Donkey.”

Howard:*sets his hands in his lap as he takes a deep calming breath*”We didn’t dismantle her but we made sure she wasn’t going to be in use ever again. Keeping her as more of a display for customers in the original store we had.”

This seemed to deeply sadden him as he tried to regain his composure. Finding it slightly difficult too as he rubbed the bridge of his nose as he tried to settle down. Kathleen handed him a tissue as she noticed tears running down his cheeks. Looking somewhat guilty for even asking about Winifred Barlow’s old suit.

Howard:*takes the tissue from her and says a soft thanks before wiping his cheeks*”I know it’s been thirty years since her passing but, I would rather not think of it.”

Kathleen:*nodding her head sympathetically*”Yes, sir. I’m so sorry for opening old wounds.”

Kathleen:*setting her clipboard down on the table nearby*”Why don’t we take a break and come back to this?”

Howard:*nodding his head* I would appreciate this, thank you.”

With that, the cameras were turned off. Howard crumpled his tissue before slipping it into his left-hand pants pocket. He got out of his chair as Kathleen was being worked on. Her make-up retouched as she ignored him walking towards the restroom.

Howard:*locking the door behind himself before heading over to the bathroom sink*”Oh, Winnie. This whole damned thing would be so much easier if you were here with me.”

Howard:*wiping his tears on his shirt sleeve*”You would know if this was a wise move or not. Melanie seems so ready for this responsibility but, I wish you could tell me if she is or not. You were better at that kind of judgement. Not me.”

It took her a few moments to get himself properly composed and his face cleaned up. Retiring from Silvy and Copps Burger Joint was long overdue. If you asked him, he would say that he loved it. Loved being in the business that he and his wife started together. Now, he just needed to get out of it and spend time at home. Stay there and never see the light of day ever again. Nothing had ever been the same without Winifred.

Sure, he had done his best to raise Melanie. Even if he hadn’t been the best parent.

Melanie could tell you that he wasn’t.

But he tried. Tried so hard and now he needed a damn break from everything in life. Soon as this interview was over, he was going home. To drink this whole thing away and hopefully not dream of the day that his precious Winnie fell off the stage.

Right into Bron the Bull.

Now wasn’t the time to relive that. If he did. He would start crying just like he had done then. Then this interview would take even longer than it ever must be. With this, Howard hurried back to the stage to complete the sham of an interview with that airhead reporter. Hoping that she wouldn’t ask another tactless question about his poor Winnie.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t know what he would do.