Chapter 78 Condolence letters

Jerry was thirty, dark-haired, very handsome, and he owned a grocery store. He sat in a small office at the back of the shop, before a rough pine desk.His wife, Louise, red-haired and bloated, was receiving guests at the front. Jerry is missing Mrs. John. A stream of memories flashed through his mind, all of Mrs. John's shopping in his shop.Mrs. John is elegant, petite, soft-spoken, and polite. Her husband, John, is a well-known lawyer. Jerry remembered seeing John walking down the street toward the train station as he walked outside the shop for some fresh air.He went into town by train to work.From his appearance and expensive clothes and the briefcase in his hand, we can see his talent and his income.

Jerry thought to himself: If he had the opportunity to be educated like John, he believed that he might also succeed in the legal profession like him.He often fantasizes about himself as an influential lawyer, especially in court, using his personality, voice and experience to uncover the truth of things.He even fantasizes that if he is lucky, he might be a famous surgeon...   Then his thoughts returned to Mrs. John, a lovely blonde woman with whom Jerry had a crush. Of course, she didn't know it herself, although he had expressed his affection for her when she finally came to the shop.Now, that conversation came alive before his eyes again.

That evening Jerry sent his wife Louise home to prepare supper, and after she had gone Mrs John came.She entered the shop and said, a little out of breath, "How do you do, Mr. Jerry, it's a lovely day today." "Yes," he replied, "Mrs. John." He forced a kind smile. "Especially now." He looked into her pale green eyes and saw them look surprised, then a gleam of pleasure—he was sure of that.He knew the women were infatuated with him, including many of the regulars, though of course they tried to hide it.Mrs. John was like this now, and to conceal her pleasure, she walked up and down the shelves, picking out groceries.

Then, he felt that the time was right, so he said casually: "It's strange, you come here to buy meat, salad, cheese, etc., we are just business contacts, there is no other friendship... We should get to know each other better, I Refers to the private aspect." She paused and said, "To a certain extent, it's time to get to know him better." She looked at him in surprise again. "I don't quite understand what you mean, though." He laughed and said, "I just wanted to say that it's a good thing to know you and see you often." She nodded and asked calmly, "What else?"

"Well," he said, feeling an urge and wondering why he hadn't said that before. "I think it would be great if we could get to know each other better!" "In what way?" "I was thinking... just have a drink together, find a place, and go now." She didn't answer. "My wife has gone home to make dinner," he said. "Sometimes I come home late." "yes." "And, well, isn't Mr. John usually working in the city at night? I often see him coming out of the station when I work here at night." "He works long hours," she replied dryly. "That's why he walks to the station, walks home, that's his way of moving. Now—you want me to find you a place to have a drink? Go now?"

"There's a nice place over there on the peninsula. I've been there once. They don't know me, and they probably don't know you, but we're just talking about the food you're serving, right? For that reason, we What's wrong with drinking together? In this day and age, that's nothing." "Do you really think I'm going?" asked Mrs. John. "I wish you would, my wife took my car, but—" "But I have a car, don't I?" "I can walk home first, and you can pick me up halfway. To outsiders, it's like you're giving me a ride. What do you think?"

She shook her head gently, her eyes fixed on him: "I am a happy married woman, because I married a very good husband, we respect and love each other, if I leave you any wrong Impress you, I'm very sorry; if I did impress you, I did not mean to. Mr. Jerry, how much?" As he packed food and changed money for her, he felt hopeless, but he was still sure that she had a crush on him, and in that he was not mistaken.She spoke of love in marriage, but it was her husband's status and money that attracted her mainly.Maybe, she is afraid of losing everything she has? What would have happened without the hindrance of her husband?What would she do if that happened?No, she would confess to him, she would be passionately infatuated with him—Jerry.

She put my change in her purse, picked up the packaged food, and said coldly, "Goodbye, Mr. Jerry." That was three weeks ago, and she hasn't been here since then.However, he knew why—she was worried that she would not be able to control herself in front of him.He was convinced that her fear of being shaken, of giving in to her feelings, endangered her marriage.But if that person didn't exist... "Jerry?" He heard a voice outside the office door. It was his wife, Louise, who knew her husband locked the door because she always came when he didn't want to be disturbed. disturb.

"What?" he asked sharply. "what are you doing?" "I'm busy." "What are you busy with?" "Busy about something I don't want to be disturbed." "I want you to tell me what it is." "Is that all you want to know? Just what I'm doing here?" "We're out of cheese in the shop." "Then call again." "When are you coming out?" He pictured her by the door, where he thought she was attractive before, but now "I'll let you know when I come out," he said. "when?"

"Probably never." When she stopped talking, he went on thinking about Mrs. John.Then suddenly he opened the only drawer of the desk with a small key, thinking of John, who was the only one standing in the way of his getting Mrs. John.Without him, Mrs. John would fall into his arms.Suppose—he took out a piece of letter paper from the drawer, picked up a pen, and fantasized.He has always been good at writing letters, and many people asked him why he didn't use this writing talent to write novels, so that he could gain both fame and fortune.But that's for later, and now he's writing about something else.

"Dear Mrs. John: Although you are only one of my customers, I have always respected you. I was surprised to learn that Mr. John has passed away. I am very sad. I am writing to express my condolences and hope you stay healthy. Regards, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry. " When he read the sympathy letter he wrote, he didn't feel comfortable, but even more depressed. How wonderful it would be if this letter could actually be sent!However, it is possible, and there will always be a day when it can be used.He put the written letter back in the drawer, locked it, got up and closed the shop door, and went home to vent to his wife. On the bed at home that night, he was still thinking about Mrs. John, unable to fall asleep, so he had to get up and sit in the living room to meditate. Then he started thinking, how to make the dream come true... In the store the next day, he was gloomy and silent, and Louise kept saying, "What's wrong with you? You didn't say a word, and you stopped scolding me. What's going on?" He didn't answer. "What's on your mind?" "What does this have to do with you, Louise?" "I want to know what's going on," she said. "Go back and make macaroni salad!" When he got home and had a hasty dinner, he got up and said, "I'm going to the shop to do the account tonight." "Ah, let's go." "Also, don't call me, I have to work and don't want to chat on the phone, understand?" "Ah, I really don't understand you." As he drove away from the house, he thought of the way Mrs. John had looked at him the last time he saw him, and he felt that there was something in her eyes, and he was sure of it.What if she wasn't worried about losing her husband's property?But if he got rid of him, wouldn't she still have the money, property, and insurance? right.Then, she can come and go freely with Jerry, that's for sure.With such a good start, they were likely to stay together for a long time, and he could divorce Louise and marry Mrs. John. He drove to the library, flipped through the catalog cards, and then went to the bookshelf to find the book he wanted, which was about auto repair.He took the book to the table and read the section on bent iron hooks, key files, and hot wire.He copied all the information in a small notepad, and went to the train station to get the timetable. Back at the grocery store, he pored over the timetable and reread the material he had copied from the library. When it was dark, he came out of the office, went to the front shop, and sat by the window without turning on the light.After a while, a slender, familiar figure appeared on the street with a briefcase in his hand.Jerry concluded that John came back by the 8:06 train... The next morning Jerry handed over the store to Louise and went to a small town beyond the peninsula to buy some tools carefully and drive back to home, into the garage, where he has a workbench.He put the key in his pocket and began to experiment.He has always been very clever in mechanics.By noon, he could unlock the doors and start the engine without using his keys. He put the various supplies in the bottom of an old box in the garage and went back to the shop. "Where have you been?" Louise asked, as soon as she saw him. He looked at the shelves and interrupted, "We need to add some shredded lettuce in the store." That week, every night he hid in the dark store and waited.Every night, John walked by at the same time, and Jerry left the shop and followed him from afar.John was a regular man, he always took the same way home, took the same side of the street, crossed the same corner of the road, and came back to his spacious home, his wife knew when he was coming home; the door was always open to welcome he.On Friday night, Jerry stood in the dark corner, witnessed another warm welcome, and in his mind had replaced John with himself. When he finally got home, Louise complained that he had to go out every night.He simply ignores her and instead actively prepares for Monday's move. On Monday night, half an hour before John's train arrived, Jerry pulled the tools he'd bought close to him from a box in the garage, along with a pair of thin leather gloves and a small flashlight. He told Louise that he was going to the store to check the bills and drove away. What he wanted was a blue car.During the few nights following John, he noticed every day that the car was always parked under the shade of two big oak trees, and it was also in the residential area where he lived, which was just right away from the high-end residential area where John and his wife lived. three kilometers. He parked the car two streets away from the blue sedan, got out very calmly, took what he needed, and walked quickly, glad that no one was around.He walked to the blue car, stood in the shade, and looked at the nearby houses. There was no light in front of the house, and the residents were probably behind. He put on his gloves, turned on the flashlight, and got to work. A few minutes later, he started the engine, drove at high speed for three kilometers, stopped at a place he had chosen in advance, and did not turn off the engine.At this time, he found himself short of breath and his hands began to shake. He shined the flashlight on his watch. John would be passing in five minutes.He waited, as if time had stood still, and finally, John emerged from behind the blue car, walked past the car and walked towards the intersection ahead. As John left the pavement and straddled the road, Jerry drove forward, the wheels screeching, and headed for the intersection at full speed.John, who was walking in the middle of the intersection, turned his head and looked at the oncoming car.He hesitated at first, then retreated to the side in panic, and then, like in a dream, the matter passed.Jerry drove three blocks without looking back, then stopped. He jumped out of the car and continued to run, away from the car he had used to cause the accident. He put the used tools back in the garage box and went inside.Louise complained again that he was out at night, but he ignored it, went into the bedroom, lay in bed, and waited for the phone or the doorbell. However, neither sounded. Although he hadn't slept all night, he drove Louise to the store in good spirits the next morning.He bought a daily newspaper at a newsstand.John's accident hit the headlines, and he didn't read any other news. He went back to the store, went to his office, and began to read the news carefully. (Newspaper) The famous lawyer John is dying.John, a celebrity in this town, was hit on his way home from get off work, and the perpetrator fled. As of press time, there is no news.The owner of the car that caused the accident called the police minutes before the car was hit, saying that the car was stolen... Reading this, Jerry smiled, picked up the newspaper, and threw it in the wastebasket.Now that the work is done, there is nothing to worry about, and it is the future to think about. He took out the key and opened the drawer, looking for the letter that had been written but not sent. But it's gone. He sat there with his heart beating wildly, then managed to get up, went out into the outer room, and asked Louise aloud, "Did you go through my drawers?" She blinked, blushing. "I--" "tell me!" "Well, you've been acting weird lately, and you've been very cold to me. I'm worried and jealous. I think there might be some secret in the drawer. Maybe it's something from someone you're out there, or her name, or It's the phone number. I knew I had a second key in the chest of drawers at home, so I took the key out three days ago, opened the drawer, and I found a letter. I didn't read it, because I heard you come in at that time, and I Put the letter in your pocket and lock the drawer. I don't have time to read the letter until we get home from dinner and you go out again. I just started reading that letter.I feel so guilty.Seriously, Jerry, I didn't know that Mrs. John's husband had died. Mrs. John was very nice and polite, and she bought me a few times, and I remember her.You are so thoughtful and considerate to write her condolence letter.I thought you forgot to post it, so I checked the phone book, found their home address, wrote it on an envelope, stamped it, and mailed it for you.I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid that you would get angry and say that I went through your drawer—" The phone on the wall rang. Jerry stared at his wife, gasped, stepped back, and picked up the phone. "Hello?" He had a hard time getting the words out. "Is that you, Mr. Jerry?" The voice was familiar. "Yes," his voice became a whisper. "I received the letter you sent two days ago this morning," the cold voice stopped, and then turned into a scream: "How did you know I would become a widow?" Jerry stood there with the microphone in his hand, knowing what was going to happen. Louise gazed at him imploringly, but, in his desperate rage, she blurred.