Key Service

(continued)

By Rik Hunik

When he got home he checked the trash can, but he had emptied it that weekend, for the first time in a month. All the "Key Service" literature was gone. He had signed their little card and mailed it without reading it. He was still in the dark about what he had committed himself to.

After dinner alone, he left to take Marna to a movie. In her third floor apartment, he waited while she finished preparing. When she finally came out, he honestly couldn't see much improvement. "You look great," he said, as he pulled her close and kissed her, squeezing her butt through her black jeans. "We better get going in case they start the movie on time."

On the street he reached for his car keys and discovered that he didn't have them. "My keys, they're in my jacket."

"You left your jacket upstairs."

He nodded. "Just give me your keys and wait here while I run up and grab mine."

On the first flight of stairs Jarvis ran into another midget in blue hat and coveralls. His face, nearly level with Jarvis's, wasn't smiling. "Your keys."

Jarvis snatched them.

"Four dollars."

"What?"

"Four dollars."

"I heard you. I just don't believe it." He didn't like the progression.

"Are you refusing to pay?"

Jarvis got the impression that the guy wanted him to refuse. He thought of Marna waiting outside, of the movie starting without them. "No." He dug out a five-dollar bill and handed it over. "This isn't very fair."

"You got that right," the midget agreed, as he gave Jarvis his change.

"Back already?" Marna said as he joined her outside.

"Yeah." He unlocked the passenger door.

"You forgot your jacket."

He circled to the driver's side. "I'm warm enough. Let's go."

For the next few days Jarvis successfully held onto his keys. On Friday afternoon, while he was pulling into his apartment building's parking lot, his cell phone rang. He pulled into his slot, picked up his phone and killed the engine. "Hello."

It was Marna, calling to break their date for tomorrow. Something to do with her mother. "But we can get together Sunday night."

When arrangements were settled, he shut off his phone, got out of his car, shut the door and headed for the stairs. The outer door was locked, of course, which wouldn't have been a problem if he had his keys. Distracted by his conversation with Marna, he had left them in the car. He would have to walk around to the front to get the manager to let him in so he could get his spare set.

As he turned from the door he almost bumped into a midget in blue-gray coveralls. His cap was pulled low over his ears. With a sigh, Jarvis took his keys and reached for his wallet.

"Eight dollars."

Jarvis handed him a ten. "This is extortion, you know? I could have got them myself, without a hassle."

"Our motto is, 'Never be without your keys again'." The midget grinned and pointed to his hat. "'Service' is our name." He gave Jarvis a twoonie.

"Yeah, right." He picked out the correct key and stuck it in the lock, then turned around. The midget passed behind a concrete pillar but didn't appear on the far side. When Jarvis went to look, there was nothing to see.