(Continued from Feb. 01, 2010)
“It is obvious that Bob does not respond well to attempts to alter his self-destructive ways,” I said to Alice. “There is little else that you can do and your decision to get away from him is obviously a wise one.”
“Perhaps, there is one more thing I can do for him,” Alice observed. “After I have moved out of his apartment, I can write him a comprehensive letter in which I implore him to seek professional help for his alcoholism. I have heard from an uncle, who managed to become a totally sober individual, that treatment includes instruction concerning improvement in other phases of one’s life.”
“That brings us to the brainstorming session regarding your exit from Bob’s world,” Thea asserted. “This time, we don’t have another lady in queue for him. That could make the execution of the plan a bit trickier.”
“I am assuming that Bob’s workout routine is on non-hockey days,” I said thoughtfully. “Has he mentioned when he intends to have his next session?”
“He plans on going this coming Friday,” Alice answered. “He has mentioned that day several times because there will be another draft sale at the pub. So, he will be away from his apartment for several hours.”
“That will probably work out well,” I noted. “I have a young friend who usually does not work on Friday evenings. I will be able to send him to observe Bob from a certain distance. He will be able to keep in touch with you girls by telephone. I mean, in case some unusual event threatens to shorten Bob’s routine. Obviously, as the neighbor whom he’ll meet sometime in the future, I cannot be the lookout myself.”
“That sounds like a perfect plan,” Elsie uttered with a sigh. Both Alice and Thea nodded in agreement and the latter proposed: “To make things easy for your friend, I will go to the health club tomorrow night and get a one-session coupon for him.”
“Alphonse won’t have a problem with getting a coupon himself,” I objected.
“Ah, you don’t know the system at that gym,” Alice asserted. “Thea will pay half of what Alphonse would pay. There is a shortage of female members there; so, girls get free coupons and pay half for a male coupon. The gym’s reasoning is that the girlfriend will join if the guy joins.”
“It is best if I do this,” Thea pointed out. “Some staff members at the gym have seen Alice with Bob, but they have never seen me.”
(To be continued)