the proposal, part 3

by nick nelson

part three of three

to read part two, click here

to read part one, click here

johnny turned around. the man in the orange hat was out of sight, with a sigh, johnny began walking back to his abode, where his unfinished proposal waited for him. he was within thirty yards of his destination when a police car pulled up beside him. johnny froze in his tracks. he knew the drill. he waited for the police person or persons to get out of the car, with his hands at his sides like a toy soldier. there were two police persons, a man and a woman. the man wore a purple sash and a black mustache, and with malice his dark eyes flashed. the woman wore blue mascara and a red bandana, and carried herself in a haughty manner. johnny waited for them to speak. after glaring at him for twenty seconds, the man asked - why were you talking to that fellow in the orange hat? johnny tried to remember the details of his encounter with the man in the orange hat. i think he said hello to me first, he finally answered. you think, the male police person sneered menacingly. did you know him? the female police person asked. had you ever seen him before? at first i thought he might be my old friend willie brown, but then i saw that he was not. and then what? the woman asked. i said it might rain. and did it? johnny looked up at the sky. not yet. we are wasting time, the man said menacingly, stroking his black mustache, are you sure you had never seen this fellow before? pretty sure, johnny mumbled apprehensively. let’s find out, the woman said. she took a t-67 out of her pocket and scanned johnny’s brain with it. he never saw him before, she told the man. all right, the man replied grudgingly. and to johnny - didn’t your instructor tell you not to talk to strangers? we have you on file now for a warning, so consider yourself warned. i thought he might be my old friend willie brown. there are two billion willie browns in the universe. most of them can’t be trusted. and with that, the two police officers got back in. their vehicle and drove away, leaving johnny to his thoughts. * with a mere fifteen yards to go to get back home, johnny saw another person coming toward him. what this time. it was a man, neither fat nor thin, with no distinguishing features, wearing a plain gray hat and plain brown shoes. the man came closer. johnny ! willie! oh man, i thought i would never see you again! so, what’s up brother, how are you doing? all right. you live around here? yes, in that building right over there. come on over, i will introduce you to pretty polly. pretty polly? who might she be? she is a great kid, even though she can be kind of a pest sometimes. you will like her. johnny and willie entered the building and took the elevator up to johnny’s room. but polly was not there. johnny never saw her again. and he never finished his proposal. the end