He was a chubby man about 50 years old. When we saw him walking we almost could hear a noise of squeaky wheels. Nobody liked him. And he wasn’t that type of man who are disliked because of the way he look or just being detached. Everyone on our street had their own reason not to like him. Old loan shark ensured that. He never offered a fair price even if the person was in extremely tough situation, we heard nothing but insult from him. My friends and other kids didn’t like him and often throw small pebbles to his car that was passing by and great steam of abuse constantly caused a rowdy stream of laughter.
I didn’t like him too at least until the day when that accident has happened. My mum sent me to his pawn to check if there is any new items of cats of any kinds, she had a huge collection at the living room and, actually, everywhere in our house. Dad and me truly hated them but that’s another story. I was staring at glass cases while old shark was staring at me. To be fair, I didn’t really care about him much and even liked that I had a chance to annoy him a bit. I think, he wanted to throw me out but my mother was one of his best customers and he never would dare to touch me. I was looking for new treasures when I vividly heard a meow.
– Mr. Babcock, do you have a cat?
– I don’t have any pets. Are you here to buy something or just to dillydally?
I didn’t answer and got back to screening the cases when someone came in. That was Mrs. Black. She was a really nice and hard-working women. I knew that as she was my friend’s mother and always offered us drinks if we were playing next to Billy’s house, he was her youngest son. My mother wasn’t really happy about our friendship and me spending time at that part of the town. His family wasn’t wealthy. Mrs. Black works since early morning till late night, she was a seamstress and worked from home. Mr. Black were a frame worker but he lost almost all his clients because of sharp temper and heavy drinking habits. Day by day he earn less and less and drink more and more.
I hadn’t thought that the situation was that bad until I saw Mrs. Black in the pawn. After a couple pints of beer Mr. Black liked to crucify the old moneylender out a loud in the pub and Mr. Babcock knew about that perfectly well. Mr. Babcock’s place wasn’t the only one in the town but maybe the last one where Mrs. Black’s husband hadn’t had a debt.
Mrs. Black came closer to the old man. I guess, she thought that no one else was there as I was covered by one of the bookshelf. She was a proud woman and wouldn’t stay if noticed her son’s friend.
– Mr.Babcock… – Her voice was breaking.
– How can I assist? – His voice was cold and arrogant.
I heard a sound of metal falling on the glass.
– I got this jewels from my mother. And at her turn she got them from hers. But now I have to…please… – She lost her voice.
He looked the ring and neckless Mrs. Black brought expressing the disgust with every muscle of his face.
– I’m not interested in that. These items are cheap and sloppy. I won’t get much from them.
He lied and didn’t even try to hide it.
– Please, Mr.Babcock, I know my husband was rude and unfair to you, but im doing that for my son not for him. I had shortage in orders this month… There is no one else in town I could ask for a loan. – She suddenly stoped.
For a second I saw a face of Mrs. Bishop staring at almost crying Mrs. Black and old man from the street, but a moment after she disappeared. That wasn’t a good sign, in couple of hours whole town will know about. Now Mrs. Black realized she had noting to loose anymore and Mr.Babcock user stood that she wouldn’t give up easily.
He looked at the jewelry again.
– I can give you this. – He wrote something on a piece of paper.
– But that is less than a half of real price!
– You can try anywhere else but I’m afraid you will get nothing and even these will be taken to cover your husband debts.
– I will take money. – I hardly could hear her voice.
A minute later the door slammed and Billy’s mother left. I stayed there and had no idea how to start moving then I heard a clear meow again. I turned my head to the sound when suddenly old Mr.Babcock raised up right in front of me.
– Why are you still here? Say your mother I have a new arrival for her and now just get out!
He was pissed off but I was sure that I wasn’t the reason so I run out from the shop as fast as I could.
Three hours later I was playing in the yard with some neighbor boys when Sam almost flew into the yard.
– You won’t believe what happened! Old shark is dead! Billy’s father shot him! He came to the pawn deadly drunk and yelled Babcock robbed him.
All the boys start talking in the same time and in that yield I couldn’t hear Sam anymore. Somehow I felt guilty in that moment even I couldn’t know that would happen and I was just a silent witness. Suddenly I felt like to stay alone for a while. I stood up and started walking away. When I almost left our yard Sam called me.
– Do you know the best part? When they found his body there was a little cat in his hands. He covered it from the shot. Who would believe that even Old stark loved cats!
I left the yard and went down the street. So I was right there was a cat in the pawn. Maybe old Babcock feed it sometimes. I came to the pawn – window was broken and chaos reigned inside. I stayed quite for a minute.
– Puss puss puss…
I heard something under one of the cases. Then I bent down and picked up a little bundle. Accidentally, our noses touched each others and our friendship began. I took him home, you know, my mum love cats. On the way home I was thinking about Mr.Babcock. He was an angry man but I knew that no man can have a heart that is completely made of stone.
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