I'd Know You Anywhere - a short story by Florence Liberfarb...

She had almost missed his call on the way out to the hairdresser’s.

“Hello?”

“Hello. Is this Ellen Stein?” a man’s voice asked, “Formerly Ellen Katz?”

“Yes, it is. Who am I speaking to?”

He said he was Marvin Weiss, Marvin Weiss? That sure rang a bell.

“We dated back in high school,” he told her.

She remembered. Yes, indeed.

“Do you still have red hair?” she asked.

“Oh, you do remember me,” he said, pleased.

Why shouldn’t she? Her first big crush.

“How did you find my number?”

“A mutual friend gave it to me. Can we meet somewhere?”

“Where do you live?”

She was filled with curiosity.

“Not too far away, but I’m, here between flights. I know we have a lot to catch up on, Ellen. Why don’t we save it for when we can see each other in person? Okay?”

He was staying at the Fiesta Hotel down at the beach. She invited him to come over, but he explained he was on his way to visit a daughter in Atlanta and didn’t want to miss his connection. Could she meet him at the hotel for lunch?

It was nine forty-five. Her appointment was at teen fifteen. And then she was free. The outfit she was wearing was fine, with a little jewelry added and the new lipstick.

At the beauty salon she had time to think about this Marvin Weiss, what he had meant to her and the total surprise of this showing up now, after so many years.

What was it about him, anyway, that made her flip? Aside from his zesty youth and good looks. For one thing, at every social event, during those teen years he always managed to be somewhere near her, even before they were acquainted. Eventually they did get to know one another, and a warm friendship developed. It was a time for Ellen when holding hands and kissing seemed like the greatest invention on earth. And movie theaters were transformed to even more wonderful places.

Then, suddenly, or so it had seemed, his family decided to move to another state. Not since she was a child had she cried so.

“He will never forget you,” her mother told her, trying to comfort her.

For a while they did correspond, but over time letters failed to sustain the friendship. Was it she who was fickle or he? Once thing was certain, he hadn’t forgotten her.

“Shall I wear a carnation on my lapel?” he had asked.

“That’s not necessary,” she answered, a picture of them at the Junior Prom beginning to surface. “I’m sure I’ll recognize you.”

Amazing how quickly memory can return. Like it was always waiting there. His grin, those sparkling hazel eyes. She wondered if he was bringing a wife. And if not, would he think her too fat, too old, too…Oh, act you age, she told herself. He’s just a friend from a long time ago, passing through. But a flutter of excitement said otherwise.

The hotel lobby was comfortably cool, enhanced by potted trees and tropical cut flowers. Soft lighting emphasized the harmony of its décor, with chairs and love seats in subtly shades of rose, gray and ochre. From the lounge, music was filtering in, and the voice of Frank Sinatra…”I’m going to love you, like nobody’s loved you, come rain or come shine…”

Ellen sighed. Would she always and forever be a fool?

I’m too early, she though, looking in vain for a familiar face.

She purposely chose to sit in a well-lit area, where she would easily be seen.

Seated nearby, she noticed another woman who was waiting for someone, also. Well-dressed, attractive and about Ellen’s age, they looked very much alike.

More people were beginning to arrive, the hubbub increasing with their barely contained excitement. Ellen saw no one she recognized. Not even anyone from her condo building, who so often did come here.

There was one man sitting in a corner, wearing a loud sport jacked. That couldn’t be him. He had on gold-rimmed glasses and was reading a newspaper. She turned away.

Two lady friends now joined the one waiting. Together, in animated conversation, they made their way to the dining room.

Watching the elevators and the main entrance was becoming tedious. Should she have him paged? She thought not. What if he had already seen her and was disappointed. She decided to leave and was just past the door, when she had a sudden revelation. That man sitting in the corner with the loud jacked and the gold-rimmed glasses – that was him! Marvin Weiss. She turned around to go back in. As she entered the lobby she heard her name being paged.

“Ellen Stein…Ellen Stein…Please come to the front desk. Ellen Stein.”

Quickly she glanced to where Marvin had been sitting. He was no longer there, reading the newspaper. He was walking toward her, smiling.

Florence Liberfarb writes poetry, short stories and plays. You may freely republish this story for non-commercial use provided you follow the Publisher Guidelines and provide a hyperlink (electronic media) to the Wordly Web Site. You may not alter the copyright notice or edit the content of this story. Please notify the author of your intent to republish. Commercial use of this story requires written permission and payment of a royalty.

I'd Know You Anywhere by Florence Liberfarb

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Poems, Stories, and Plays by

Florence Liberfarb