Short Story

On the Corner of Elm and Poplar

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for Kevin’s No Theme Thursday 10.31.24.
We’re offered incredibly creative images to inspire
and get our writing juices flowing. This is my story.

© Kevin @ No Theme Thursday

It had been seven months since Harry Hannigan’s best friend, Dan Crawley, passed away. And every Saturday night since then, Harry found himself at Dempsey’s Bar on the far side of town, tossing back Jack and thinking about his buddy.

The old friends first made each other’s acquaintance at a town meeting at least a dozen years ago; the topic on the table that night was changing the five stop signs on Elm Street for traffic lights …. something Dan was ready to fight tooth and nail.

Dan and his wife Inez lived in an old Victorian house on the corner of Elm Street and Poplar Place. It was a good house; Inez spent her afternoons at her easel in the big front bay window painting street scenes. And even though Elm Street could be a little busy at times, the area was quiet enough for the Crawleys. Dan reckoned a traffic light on the corner would change all that.

Harry, on the other hand, was in favor of the traffic lights. A widower for 13 long years, Harry had a couple of grandkids who attended the local elementary school; he claimed that the lights would be good safety measures for the kids crossing the street.

It was this difference of opinion that brought the two men together and, after a few conversations, they actually discovered they had much in common …. fishing, playing chess, college football and, most of all, Inez …. although Harry kept that tidbit to himself.

The one thing Harry could never admit to anyone was how he loved watching Inez paint as he sat in his car at the stop sign on the corner of Elm and Poplar. Having a traffic light there would give him even more time to contemplate his best friend’s wife as she painted, her long elegant neck tilted slightly as she scrutinized her canvas, her feminine curves faintly visible through her slightly parted robe. It didn’t take long for Harry to fall madly in love with Mrs. Dan Crawley. And no one knew.

The day the traffic lights were installed was a day of celebration for Harry Hannigan. Instead of a brief few seconds at the stop sign admiring Inez through her window, Harry now had one full minute to gaze on the object of his affection. Soon he was driving up and down Elm Street several times a day just for a glimpse of Inez at her easel.

Now Harry sat on his favorite stool at Dempsey’s bar, tossing back Jack and thinking about life. Thirteen years was a long time for a man to be missing the company of his wife. Too many empty days and solitary nights. Harry knew what mourning and loneliness were like and he wondered how Inez was coping without Dan.

Harry finished his drink and checked the time: 6:45 PM …. still early. He paid his tab and walked to his truck. Reaching into the glove box, he pulled out a comb and ran it through his unruly mop of hair; one look in the rearview at his scraggly beard and he cursed himself for not giving it a trim. Harry popped a mint into his mouth and started the engine of his pickup. Driving down Elm Street, he felt a thrill when the light turned red in front of his old friend’s house.

There was Inez, in the front window, looking more beautiful than Harry thought possible. Inez glanced up and when she saw Harry looking in her direction, she grinned and waved beckoningly.

Harry smiled. As he turned into Inez’s driveway, he thanked his lucky stars for the traffic light on the corner of Elm and Poplar.

NAR©2024

No Theme Thursday: 10.31.24

This is Willy Nelson having fun with the old classic “On The Street Where You Live”

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy (The Sicilian Storyteller), The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

47 thoughts on “On the Corner of Elm and Poplar”

  2. Charming story, Nancy! I enjoyed imagining these characters and love the detail of the traffic light. Of course, I want to know what happens next but that is up to the writer. Some stories move through us snapshots in time. A delight to read!

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  4. Pingback: NTT Showcase: 10.31.24 Edition – The Beginning At Last

  6. I must say I am pleased Harry never gave Dan any soupçon of worry. That he kept it to himself, is a wonderful thing.

    I cannot help wonder if Inez was on to Harry the whole time.

    They both deserve a second chance at love and this tale was a delight to read.

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    1. Nope, good friends don’t disrespect each other. If Dan knew it would have broken his heart and destroyed their friendship.

      I’m certain that Inez was on to Harry’s feelings and probably had a little bit of a thing for him, too, but would never act on it because of Dan.

      These two belong together! I’m so glad you enjoyed this little tale. Grazie, amica mia! 🥰

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      1. Exactly. I so respect that. It’s not Harry’s fault that he fell for Inez. It happens.

        And yes, that can happen, as well. Doesn’t mean she wasn’t happy with Dan but sometimes you appreciate another.

        I think so, too. Prego. It was a delightful read!

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  14. When

    When I was 18 and she was 17, she told me that when she drove past my house she always sang “On The Street Where You Live”. She told that to me last when I was 20. When I was 21, she married someone from New England. I was a slow learner. Now whenever I hear the song, I thinking of her beautiful dark brown eyes. I have always been a slow learner.

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