Helping a Friend

Mahonri entered Smith's just after 6:30am. Rehabiah was cashiering. He went through her line so he could see how she was doing.

"Morning," she greeted him with a forced smile.

"Morning, Rehabiah," he replied. "Your smile is beautiful."

"No, it's not. Were you able to find everything you needed today?"

"Yes. Why is it not beautiful?"

"Your total comes to $10.23."

Mahonri gave her exact change. "Is something wrong?"

"Not at all. Here is your receipt. Have a good day."

"You, too, Rehabiah." Then he took his bag and left, puzzled at her quick dismissal.

He puzzled over what could have changed for her. Had she been late to work? He wasn't working in the ER today, but walked the halls to help other patients who had been there for some time. At least it allowed him to think. Perhaps there was a way to cheer her up.

When he got back, he went to Rehabiah's apartment. A little light came out from under the door and he knocked. The light was turned off and he heard the deadbolt move into place. Did she really have that bad of a day? Entering his apartment, he threw together a salad for dinner and prayed for Rehabiah.

Mahonri left his apartment as Rehabiah was descending the stairs. He followed her to Smith's. He didn't say a word, just walked silently by her side. He left her side when they walked in, but was back as she was ringing up a man with semi-spiky blonde hair.

"Still missing the bang, doll," he said to her. "You've proved your point. Come home; let me provide for you again."

"My home is no longer with you, Shawn. Please stop bringing it up."

"But I miss my girl," he replied with a pouty face.

"$10.25 is your total."

"You don't have to be so stiff. Takes all the fun out of it."

"Goodbye, Shawn."

"Offer is good whenever you want it, Sweetheart." Then he left.

She ignored the comment and readied the next bag. "Morning," she greeted Mahonri.

"Who was that?"

"No one of consequence. Did you find everything okay?"

"You don't have to put up with that."

"He's a customer. I can't let personal issues get in the way."

"You can file a harassment charge."

"Your total is $7.50."

Mahonri handed her a ten dollar bill.

"$2.50 is your change."

"Rehabiah, you don't have to listen to that kind of degrading stuff."

"I'm not discussing this with you. Have a good day, Mahonri."

He wanted to state a rebuttal, but Rehabiah had already turned to the next customer.

Rehabiah seemed more closed when they were at the apartment, but here at work she almost lost her claws. Almost.

The rest of the week seemed to go alright for Rehabiah. Mahonri did his best to not always go through Rehabiah's line. But as he left, he would make it a point to tell her, "Have a good day."

She would wave then continue her work.

Rehabiah didn't go to church on Sunday because she had traded shifts with one of her co-workers so her co-worker could attend her church.

When Mahonri saw Rehabiah after church Sunday afternoon, he knew something was wrong. Her face was red from crying and her steps were slower—even with her limp. Rehabiah sat on the grass of the apartment complex and cried harder. Slowly, Mahonri approached her. Her head lowered and she twisted her hands in her lap when he crouched in front of her.

"Rehabiah, what's wrong? Does your ankle hurt?"

She shook her head and held her left hand to her mouth as more tears fell.

Mahonri set a hand on her shoulder and her silent crying became audible sobs.

"Come here," he said softly, wrapping his arms around her.

Her right hand gripped the back of his suit jacket as she continued crying. He just held her while she cried. Marci and Dale came out as Rehabiah pulled away.

"Thank you, Mahonri." She wiped her nose then stood and limped to their apartment building.

"What's going on, Mahonri?" Dale asked.

"I don't know," he said.

Mahonri didn't see Rehabiah until late Monday afternoon. She was sitting on the far steps eating. Her phone rang and she jumped, knocking a bowl of Cheetos off her lap.

"Hello?" she answered.

Mahonri approached her.

"Hi, Aunt Lou. Long time no talk to…. I have not. I," she paused when Mahonri picked up the bowl. "I haven't been able to think straight until this afternoon."

She turned slightly as Mahonri started picking up the spilled Cheetos.

"That will be fine. Do you want my address?… Alright. Thank you." She hung up her phone. "Thank you, Mahonri."

"Are you okay?" he asked. "You seem out of it still."

Rehabiah took her bowl from Mahonri. "My dad died yesterday."

"I'm sorry. How did he die?"

She was quiet for a moment and watched the clouds continue to drift by. "Alzheimer's."

Mahonri set a hand on her back. "At least now he's at peace."

She stood and glared at him with tears in her eyes. "But I'm not!" She brushed passed him to enter her apartment. The door was pushed to close, but it only managed to bounce off the door frame before creaking back open. "Damn it all!" she yelled. She came back and slammed the door tightly.

Mahonri sat at the head of the stairs, stunned by the sudden change. Perhaps he really should back off. Slowly he got back to his feet and entered his apartment. In his room he knelt by his bed and stayed there until he could find the words to pray for Rehabiah and ask what he could do to help her.

For several days after that, Rehabiah ignored Mahonri completely. If he shopped during her shift, she only asked the minimal required questions that she would ask of any customer. She only answered her door for Dale or Marci if they called beforehand. But if Mahonri wanted to talk to her, she would purposely not answer the door or be gone on an errand.

Friday came. Rehabiah was cashiering and Shawn came back to bug her. Mahonri was in the line behind her. He had a note in his hand he wanted to give her because he knew she was missing her father's funeral today.

"Hey, beautiful! What the hell happened to you?" Shawn said, grabbing her chin. He turned her chin in his hand. "Have they been working you too hard? You're starting to look like an old hag. Why don't you come home and let me provide for you? You're not meant to work."

Rehabiah managed to break away to help the next customer. Shawn wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. Rehabiah removed his hands and stepped into a corner where he had less opportunity to touch her.

"Leave, Shawn. We're done. I'll never come back to you."

"Alright, alright. I see how it is." Shawn started to walk away, but stopped and turned back again.

Mahonri had just pressed the note in her hand. She grabbed it, not yet releasing his fingers. He slipped his fingers away as Shawn approached her again.

"Are you okay, Rehabiah?" Mahonri asked, he asked before Shawn was too close.

"No, brother, I am not," she replied. "Have a good day at work."

"I hope your day improves," he replied, before paying for his purchase and leaving.

Mahonri and Dale entered Smith's the following afternoon just as Rehabiah was leaving.

"Rehabiah," Dale said. "How are you doing?"

"Fine, I guess. How are you and Marci doing?"

"She's fretting over something, but I'm fine."

She nodded. "Mahonri?"

"Doing okay. Did you read my note?"

"Yes. It gave me something to think about."

"O…kay." It wasn't what he had expected her to say.

"I've got to go. Bye."

"Bye, Rehabiah," Dale said.

Mahonri and Dale shopped for what they needed, before returning home. He came up behind Rehabiah as she was climbing the stairs and startled her.

"Afternoon, Rehabiah," he said.

She turned quickly. "Oh, Mahonri."

"Are you okay?"

"Just fine. I was… thinking."

"About what?"

"How I could help a girlfriend of mine." She finished climbing the stairs and Mahonri followed.

"What kind of help?"

"…Financial. I offered to help, but she refused. I know she's Mormon, but I doubt I could help without her knowing it was me."

"There might be. Come inside a moment. There's something I can explain to you."

"Could you explain it here?"

"Sure. One minute." Mahonri entered his apartment and came out with an envelope and a slip. "This is a tithing slip. It's how we donate funds to the church or other activities. Here on the form where it says 'Other', you write underneath who or what the money is for and the monetary amount is written in the boxes beside it."

"If it is a donation that is to be kept secret then why do they want a name and address?"

"The church keeps a record of where the money comes from, but the bishop, or leader, of the congregation your friend goes to will give them the funds, but keep your identity anonymous."

"Can I see those?"

"Sure." Mahonri handed them to her and she looked at them for a moment.

"If there is more than one congregation, does it matter what form I fill out?"

"The form is the same, but the envelope is a little different since each congregation has its own leader."

"How do they differ?"

"They don't really. Each congregation is taught the same material at the same time. But smaller groups are easier to watch over. It's a system the prophets and apostles have established."

"Okay. …Do you mind if I keep the form?" Rehabiah asked.

"Not at all." He took the envelope from her.

"Thank you, Mahonri. See you in the morning."

"Are you working?"

"No. I'm going to church with Marci."

"That's great!"

"I guess. Bye."

"See you tomorrow, Rehabiah."