Chapter 5-Challange for James

 "You're quite the popular one these days James!   You have another visitor."  James was only half way dawn the stairs when Mrs. Melby met him halfway, she called up with a suspicious sweetness in her voice that he seldom heard.

James paused a moment.  He was hesitant from the scene that Mary had brought the evening before. Mrs. Melby saw James' hesitation and reassured, "It's a man...and he's handsome!" By God above Mrs. Melby was blushing. James exhaled a sigh of relief, at least halfway, he normally didn't have visitors and wondered who it could be.  "He's on the porch!  And he's ordered coffee for you both!"  Mrs. Melby scurried off to fetch the service.

The sun shone into the parlor that Saturday morning and revealed a beautiful day. James let himself onto the porch and there, reclined in an Adirondack chair, wearing sunglasses and casual wear was none other than Mr. Bane.  He was, as Mrs. Melby put it, handsome, with his dark hair and high cheekbones.  He was older with bits of white in his hair but he was fit and had a commanding presence.

"There you are my boy!" Mr. Bane rose and shook James' hand firmly. "I must say, I've shamelessly hunted you down. Got your adress from the firms secretary. I'm surprised to find you living in one of these, my boy!  I imagine you make enough to have your own apartment!"  James was at a loss for words and felt embarrassed that the thought of the suggestion of inadequacy.  

"Get the door James! I'm coming through!"  Sure enough Mrs. Melby was putting on quite a production of service for James' guest.  James opened the screen door and Mrs. Melby carried a tray with a coffee pot and cups, cream and sugar and even a tiny flower vase and plate of something sweet with the cover still on.  

"How delightful!" Mr. Bane sat down in his chair and motioned for James to do the same.  "My goodness!  And here I was thinking I was saying yes please to a mere cup of coffee!  A marvelous presentation Miss, what is your name?"

Mrs. Melby could hardly answer fast enough, "Winifred, but I go by Winnie..." 

"Winnie...of course you do." Mr. Bane took off his sunglasses and lifted the dome from the desert platter to reveal the last two slices of peach pie that Mary had brought to James the night before. "Peach?"

Mrs. Melby nodded proudly. "Enjoy." She smiled as she walked away with an extra wag in her tail.  

Mr. Bane poured coffee for himself and chuckled. "Even the funny ones need it."  He mused. "She smells ripe for a pounce wouldn't you say?" James blushed, he had never though of Mrs. Melby that way. "Cream and sugar?" 

"Please." James had resigned himself over to the ceremony of service that Mr. Bane had ordered and he hoped that perhaps Mrs. Melby would be providing the breakfast as a gift considering her flattery of Mr. Bane.

"James, I have been thinking.  I worked with my former accountant for almost twenty years. He passed away this last year, which was why I came to your firm.  And truth be told James, I never appreciated the man I never realized the value of the work he had done for me."  This was honest and James felt a sense of flattery for Mr. Banes confidence on him. "I see now that I missed the chance at a unique kinship with someone who was watching out for my best interest in finance, and it pains me to think about.  But seeing the way you handled that problem of mine the other day, I could see my books weren't business as usual for you, as it was for you boss. You had consideration for my personal account and it occurred to me, James that that is just what I am looking for."

James was beyond proud and tried to hide his grin with a mouthful of pie.

"I'd like you to handle my books, James. Manage my finances.  At least for a time, to see if it will be a good fit.  Would you be interested."

He was, to be sure and he answered quickly. "Yes! But it would have to happen through the firm and marked off by my Boss. Private consultancy is not permitted when working for a private firm."

Mr. Bane took a sit of his coffee and turned his attention to the garden below the porch. "My wife is a gardener, James and do you know what I notice?"  James was at a loss and only listened. "When a garden is pruned back too hard, too tidy there is an ugliness to it, as though it's too well kept.  As though it's clean, but it lacks wonder. Perhaps life is much the same? Too much minding of formalities and rules you miss out on some of the...harmony that life has to offer...the sweetness of it all.  Don't you think? How many friendships have I missed out on for minding formalities, like I did with my accountant, god rest his soul."

James was speechless and he knew what Mr. Bane was implying. It was a bold ask dressed in flattery and James felt as though he was the over trimmed garden and altogether too tidy.  

He was glad when Mr. Bane spoke. "Do you play Squash, my boy?"  James had seen men play the game in college.  He knew little about it but knew enough that it was done with a racquet. 

"I played Tennis in college." James answered.

"All four years?" Mr. Bane was intrigued.

"On a scholarship." James answered proudly.

"Ha, ha!  What luck!"  Mr. Bane slapped James knee. "You are coming with me today!"

"Where are we going?"  James was befuddled.

"There is a Squash tournament at the Rainer today at ten. You are going to be my partner, James!" Mr. Bane took one bite of his pie and a last sip of his coffee and rose.

"A tournament? But I've never played." James was suddenly terrified.

"We can get there early if you like. Nine forty-five?" Checking his watch. "Yes, that's an hour from now. Perfect. They have racquets you can use, but wear sport clothes."  With that, Mr. Bane left. Coffee full and pie uneaten.

Mrs. Melby must-have been watching by the door because she came out as soon as he left.  She handed James the bill for the refreshments to sign. An irony considering it was James who had given her the pie to begin with.  He signed it and she cleared the tray. He was too distracted with worry of the tournament to protest the bill.  He had not played tennis in five years and had never played squash.  

It was already an expensive morning, coffee, pie and now he would have to find tennis shoes for the tournament in one hour.