In Between

Part Three

An entire week had come and gone and no sign of Michael. You also weren't looking for him. You had finally organized every book in the library and the place was really coming together. You knew Michael wasn't budging on sharing his story with you so you did the only thing you could do. You went to work with your dad. You figured the best place to start was the work place. Maybe somebody had information about Michael and his dad.

You and your dad sang random songs on the way to his workplace. As you were walking from the parking garage to the building you asked your dad who the best person to get information out of was. He never questioned your curiosity, he always fed it. Mom was the one who thought you needed to stay out of things. Your dad paused for a moment then replied.

"Probably, Griselda. She's been with the company since day one. She's like the mother of the company. Everyone loves her and from what I know she takes care of everything."

You were trying to figure out ways to get to her without abandoning your dad. However, your father was a smart man. He could see the gears turning in your head.

"C'mon, kiddo." You stepped on the elevator with him and waited patiently until it stopped and the doors opened. Your dad swiftly walked through the halls and brought you to a door that read "Griselda Stone." Your dad rapped on the door then opened it when the soft voice called him in.

"Hey, Zelda. This is my daughter y/n. She decided to come to my work with me. I'm kind of busy this morning and I was wondering if she could hang with you for a bit. She's really interested in the company so you can tell her all about it."

The gray haired woman stood up and put her fragile hands together. Her face was beaming as she spoke.

"I'd love to tell her all the history of this place. It's not often a young one shows such an interest. You run along dear and get to work y/n will be fine with me." Her voice wasn't as fragile as you assumed it would be, but it was soft and it never sounded weak. She shooed your father out the door and offered you a seat, which you accepted.

She insisted you called her Zelda, said Miss. Stone made her feel older than what she was. She also insisted you have tea with her then take a tour of the building. You really didn't mind. You weren't for sure how to get information out of her anyways.

She walked you passed the rooms they had their meetings and the places they took their breaks. Then she walked you to a HUGE office where the president of the company did all his work. The room was empty so she said you were free to glance around. Pictures covered all the walls. You walked along the the sides of the room and read each plaque that captioned the picture. It wasn't until you came to one that said "Sid and Michael, family BBQ, 1981." Michael looked identical, except his hair, to what he did now. That must've been just before he ... He... Well you know.

"Ah" she exclaimed and walked over next to you "That's Sid Clifford. One of the founders." She stood quiet while she ran her hand over the picture. Specifically over Michael.

"Were you close?" Your voice was so soft you almost didn't hear it. You watched her as she took the picture off the wall and her eyes welled up. She nodded and wiped an eye.

"I always forget how beautiful he was." She smiled down at the photo "I was 16 when I got a job here. It was mainly filing papers and handing out the mail, but a job. Michael was about 8 and his dad would bring him in, often times leaving him with me." She paused again. She took the time to make sure the picture was straight then guided you out of the room.

Back in her office you asked more about Michael. Zelda said she didn't mind talking about him so you gave her all your attention.

"No one asks about Michael anymore. It's sad. He was such a nice boy. Very different, not afraid of what others thought about him. He would've been an amazing man." She wasn't looking at you, just stirring her tea.

"He died? When?" You tried to be surprised and asked the questions someone who didn't know would.

"He did" Zelda said "about a month after that picture. Some boys from his high school were picking on him and it went too far. He hung himself in his father's office." She was crying now, but it didn't obstruct her voice. "I never knew he wasn't happy. I tried to be his friend, and I guess in some way I was his best friend."

"You don't... Have.. You don't have to finish" you said. Of course you wanted to know more. But it seemed really painful for her to talk about.

"No no.. It's fine. It's actually nice. Someone asking about Michael. He spent his entire life proving to his father that he was a good son."

You didn't have to ask her to elaborate she was already continuing.

"Michael's mother died when he was 7 and that's why they moved here. Sid invested in a sketchy company and tried to raise Michael the best he could. He was a broke hearted man trying to keep it together for a child that needed him. He just didn't know how much Michael needed him. As time went on Sid became more involved with the business leaving Michael alone." You nodded and tried to let her know you were interested without seeming too eager.

She continued to tell you about how Michael's dad never thought Michael was good enough and often blamed him for his mother being dead. She was getting to the event of Michael's death when your dad burst through the door to retrieve you for lunch.

"Oh, dear. I've been talking your ear off. Go, go, go. Go have lunch. I'll see you later, dear." She hugged you and out the door you went.

You and your dad were walking through the lobby of the office as your dad was conversing with the receptionist over where a certain restaurant was. You saw a picture that was blown up to an enormous size. There were three elder men smiling as wide as they can. The plaque said "Sid, Danny, & Alec. 2013. 50th anniversary party."

You walked over to your dad and commented on how the founders were still alive.

"Oh yeah" the receptionist said "Sid is over at Hillbrook. That really nice retirement home. He sold his share of the company, but we send cards for everything so he still feels a part of the company." The girl and your dad started up a conversation about how much they think he received for his share and whether or not it was a good idea to sell.

You noticed a postcard that was from Sid to the company. You couldn't make out the words, but you knew his address was on there so you slowly slipped it into your pocket and waited patiently for your dad to finish the conversation.

You calmly walked out of the building while keeping your hand in your pocket, gripping the postcard.