Flora & Ulysses

Flora stood and stared at the sign on apartment 267. It was made of fake wood and engraved with white letters that spelled out the words RESIDING WITHIN: THE DR.’S MEESCHAM!

What was the apostrophe doing there? Did the doctor own the Meescham? And what was it with exclamation marks? Did people not know what they were for?

Surprise, anger, joy — that’s what exclamation marks were for. They had nothing to do with who resided where.

But at this particular moment, the exclamation mark seemed entirely appropriate. It was terribly exciting that a doctor (who didn’t know how to use apostrophes) lived in apartment 267.

“What are you staring at?” said her father. He was putting his key into the door of apartment 271, and he was laughing softly.

“A doctor lives here,” said Flora.

“Dr. Meescham,” said her father.

“I’m going to see if he can help with Ulysses,” said Flora.

“Excellent idea,” said her father. He opened the door of his apartment. He looked to the left and then to the right. “Keep your eyes open for Mr. Klaus!” he said. “I’ll join you in a bit!”

He slammed the door just as Flora raised her hand to knock on Dr. Meescham’s door.

But she didn’t get the chance to knock.

The door swung open of its own accord. An old lady stood there smiling, her dentures glowing white in the perpetual green twilight of the hallway. Someone inside the apartment was screaming. No, someone was singing. It was opera. Opera music.

“At last,” said the old lady. “I’m so glad to see your face.”

Flora turned and looked behind her.

“I am speaking to you, little flower.”

“Me?” said Flora.

“Yes, you. Little flower. Flora Belle. Beloved of your father, Mr. George Buckman. Come in, little flower. Come in.”

“Actually,” said Flora, “I’m looking for a doctor. I have a medical emergency.”

“Of course, of course,” said the old woman. “We are, all of us, medical emergencies! You must come in now. I have been waiting for so long.”

She reached out and yanked Flora over the threshold of 267 and into the apartment.

The Criminal Element had a lot to say about entering the home of a stranger. They suggested that you do so at your own risk, and that if you did make the (questionable) decision to enter the home of someone you didn’t know, a door to the outside world should be left open at all times to facilitate a quick escape.

The old lady slammed the door shut.

The opera music was very loud now.

Flora looked down at the hand that was on her arm. It was spotted and wrinkled.

Beloved? thought Flora. Me?