Glory's Short Stories

Winter passing by Julie Helms

2012-01-28T04:00:00.000-05:00

If you've visited Glory's Garden at anytime this year, you're likely to know our guest today, Julie Helms. She not only keeps sheep and chickens at Wooly Acres, but she also has quite the knack for poetry and short stories. Today she allows me to present to you a flash fiction piece which really sings to me.

Winter passing by Julie Helms

Tara was a true free spirit of the summer warm winds. Her little eight-year old legs danced in the tall grasses of the meadow, twirling her about. She picked wildflowers and wove them into elaborate wreathes for her hair. She picked more to bring her mother bouquets who put the blooms in quaint old glass jars and lined them up on the windowsill. Tara would wriggle her toes in dirt, run with her dog across the fields and quietly watch the baby bunnies in their nest as they grew.

But the weather changed. With the first snowfall Tara felt her spirits dampen. She sought the sun with her face through the windows but it wasn't enough. As the snow piled up outside she felt crushed beneath its weight Tara became despondent.

“This will not do,” said Tara's mother. “Look, I will teach you how to sew. You can do a sewing project and when you are done, I promise it will be warm again.”

Her mother brought out some beautiful fabrics, the brilliant yellow-orange of the sun, the cerulean blue of a summer sky, the deep green of the grass.

Tara's eyes lit up with the array of colors. She was a good student, listening to her mother's instruction. They worked together on a sundress that she could wear as soon as it was done, because her mother said that was when it would be warm again.

Every morning Tara awoke and ran to continue working on her dress. She knew each stitch she made brought summer closer. Outside the snow piled high and wind howled, but Tara was deep in her world of warm, bright sunshine.

As the dress would near completion, Tara's mother would cleverly add a new task: a fancy pocket on the placket or a special flounce around the bottom. Tara never wearied as she worked and worked.

One day her mother proclaimed, “Your dress is done!”

Tara was so excited her hands nearly shook with anticipation as she pulled the dress on and let her mother tie the big bow in the back. Her mother opened the door and Tara closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. The earth was waking up. She could hear the birds chirping and feel the southern breeze gently caressing her face.

She was off and running leaving her mother in the doorway, smiling.

Thanks so much, Julie. I do hope you will allow me to feature more of your lovely stories here.

Where did the time go by Alistair Marquise

2012-01-21T04:00:00.000-05:00

My friend Alistair Marquise has the guest spot today with one of his flash fiction wonders. If you are not aware of what flash fiction is, it is a story told in as little as 100 words. At Helium they are a bit more forgiving and allow 400 words. Alistair is a master of this genre and while his stories may not classify as nice, little romances (Most of them send shivers up my spine!) but they are wonderfully creative and well told. So, here is Alistair's first (I do so hope he will allow me to feature others in time) flash fiction story.

Where did the time go by Alistair Marquise

The steps of the tower wind above and below him in interminable, vertigo-inducing spirals, light from unknown sources accentuating the twisting, jagged stone, offering no hope for escape, the despair of eons twisting its way with equal ferocity into both Heaven and Hell like a mammoth screw.

Every step he crawls over is an agonizing conquest, every crumbling stair an altar where fingernails, bits of skin, and blood are sacrificed in order to progress in his seemingly eternal ordeal. His knees, having long been transformed into tattered knobs, finally force him to rest next to a brittle, old skeleton. Brushing skull and scapula aside, the dusty bones falling into the limitless abyss below, he collapses in a shambled pile of hopeless exhaustion.

“Have some respect,” comes the rusty-hinged voice.

Rolling over onto his side, a broken ridge digging into his thin ribs, he sees the black and white hare sitting a few steps below.

“Leave me… alone…” he commands weakly, his throat aching.

“Oh, now,” the hare creaks, the strange light of the tower silhouetting its lithe body. “Why so glum? Have you finally accepted the truth?”

“No,” he answers with a weary sigh, blinking dust from his eyes as he looks upward. “I will be free of this place.”

“Heh,” the hare puffs, its black eyes unblinking. “You were a young man when you were banished here, but look at you now- a cracked and fragile husk! How much time do you think you have left? Indeed, where do you think the time has gone?”

“The time…” he groans, rolling back onto his knees, digging his blackened fingertips into the stone. “…has not gone anywhere. The world… still waits for me…”

“Well,” the hare says, its long ears twitching as it turns away. “You’re right about part of it. A word of advice though, old man- watch your head.”

Before he has a chance to contemplate the hare's words, he is struck on the head by something that breaks apart in a cloud of dust and fragments. Startled, he looks down.

There, staring up at him from the stone, is the fractured face of an old skull.

See? Told you it was eerie! Thanks so much, Alistair. You are a master of your chosen craft.

Life’s too short for ugly clothes

2012-01-14T04:00:00.000-05:00

“Life’s too short for ugly clothes.”

“You sound like something out of Cosmo. Please, tell me youare not reading Cosmo. Hasn’t it been established that it rots the brain assurely as candy rots teeth?” Francinetold her infuriatingly blase sister.

Rolling her eyes, Gina stood in front of the full-lengthmirror in the only dress shop her stubborn sister would enter willingly andignored her latest gibe. She proceeded to survey her reflection withsatisfaction. This separation from her husband had done wonders for her thatfive years of exercise and weight watchers hadn’t, with loads less money spent.

“So, what do you think?” she asked turning around and doingher best Vanna White impression.

“Where’s the rest of it?” Francine said, not at all amused. “Come on,spill it.”

“Excuse me? I don’twant to look like a frumpy old housewife in sweats any longer,” Gina retorted.

“Gina, what’s going on?” Francine asked anxiously. “You don’t see me for two month, you don’teven return calls and out of the blue you want to go shopping and this is whatyou consider appropriate for a mother of two? Hookers dress better than this,Gina.”

Gina turned back to the mirror and glared at hersister’s reflection as she smoothed down what little there was of the skirt. Thetime had come, she realized. She inhaled a fortifying breath before sayingcalmly, “Rick and I are separated.”

She braced herself for the diatribe Francinewould certainly unleash on her. The expression on her sister, however, wasquite different from what she expected. “What? I’m sure you must have somethingto say,” she snapped.

“Two months, I’m assuming?” Francine asked quietly. Gina nodded. She removed the dress and slippedon another.

“ Is he cheating onyou?” she asked skeptically. Rick wasn’tthe type. Or was he? Aren’t all males the type?

Leave it to Francine to get down to the nuts and bolts. Shecould always make Gina sound stupid. But maybe, she realized suddenly, she was stupid. “It wasn’t just one thing.It’s been escalating for years. He makes me crazy,”Gina said defensively.

Francine tried desperately to keep a straight face. She knewRick truly wasn’t the reason for her sister’s insanity, but she also realizedshe shouldn’t tell her this. “There must have been a last straw. What was it?”she asked casually as she rehung the tramp outfit and made a mental note tohide it in the maternity section so Gina couldn’t actually buy it.

Gina grimaced as she remembered all too well a very hurt looking Rick she kicked out ofthe house. Francine would either kill her or laugh. Gina didn’t know whichwould be worse. “He’s ...well you know how he is. He’s as bad as that guy onthe TV show...what’s his name? The priest ...nun ....bishop... ...minister...pope, one of those.”

“Do you mean Monk?” she asked rolling her eyes and shakingher head in exasperation. “Continue, please." She kind of knew where this was going.

“You know what it’s like running around all day with thekids and I just needed some down time, so I sat the kids in front of the TV witha package of cookies and just sat down to read a magazine.”

“Cosmo, no doubt,” Francine muttered under her breath.

“Well, he makes me feel... inadequate,” she said plaintively.

“You’re gonna have to be more specific. Inadequate as adetective, mother, lover, kite flier.”

“Everything!"

Francine sighed. "One example, if you please."

"Well, he comes home from work and instead ofasking why dinner isn’t ready and why the house is a mess and why the kids arevegging out in front of the TV stuffing their faces with cookies he cleans thekitchen and makes dinner for me.”

Francine stared at her sister, a blank expression on herface, as she awaited the punch-line. When none came she proceeded intosarcastic-mode which always went over Gina’s head. She nodded sympatheticallysaying “Yeah, I see what you mean. That is horrible. The nerve of the man tohelp out with chores that are expressly yours. What did he make for dinner?”

“He took all the leftovers and created another Rick-supreme and the kids loved it, more thanthe cookies!” she shrieked.

“They were only store bought cookies,” Francine stated. “I’m sure if they were home baked the kids would have turned down adelicious hot meal.” At this point Francine was wondering how her ribs hadn’tcracked yet from her trying not to laugh.

“And you know what else?” All this sympathy was spurringGina on to greater heights. “He’s always putting my spice rack in alphabeticalorder and the other day I made oregano flavored oatmeal when I thought I wasgrabbing the cinnamon.”

This was Francine’s breaking point. She could no longerkeep the straight face and she burst out laughing.

The indignation onGina’s face sobered her.

“I’m sorry, butoregano flavored oatmeal...tell me that’s not a kick.” Francine straighten herface again with difficulty and continued kindly. “And here I thought it wassomething frivolous like he was ignoring you or a terrible lover. Yes, this isserious.”

“Don’t even get me started on that! He’s all over me! If Ilet him we’d be doing it three times a day!” Gina shouted.

“And that was before you lost the weight? He’s hideous. Itmust have been torture.” Francine couldn’t believe her sister was as thick asthis. Rick could easily replace any hunk Hollywood could produce. Who wouldn’twant him all over her?

“Well, not torture. He’s really good and...” she stoppedwhen Francine held up her hand with a pained expression on her face.

“Please, I don’t think I can take the bragging when I haveto go home to Sam,” Francine said, bracingly. “Is there anything else?” sheasked, growing impatient. She should have such problems!

“Isn’t that enough?” Gina asked making a weird face. HadFrancine listened at all?

“Enough for what exactly?”

“To break up,” she said sounding exasperated.

Francine looked at her sister for a moment and decided thebest way to show absurdity is to be absurd. But would it go over Gina’s thick head?It was a possibility.

“Sam and I once thought about breaking up,” she saidcasually as she slipped out of her jeans and tried on one of the tramp outfits scattered around them. It was asize too small.

Gina’s eyes popped out of her head. “Really? You never toldme. What happened?”

“Well, there was just one thing that neither one of us waswilling to live without and since I wasn’t willing to give it up and Sam wasn’twe decided to just stay together.”

Gina nodded knowledgeably. “It was the kids.”

“Oh, no, Sam knew he wouldn’t be able to handle the littlemonsters. We both wanted the blender.”

“Huh?” Gina knew she must have heard wrong.

“You know I need it to puree my tomato sauce and afterbasketball Sam always has to replenish the fifty calories he expends by makinga four hundred calorie milk shake. He needs the blender as much as I do so wehad to stay together.”

Gina blinked several times. “You could just have bought another blender. They’re onlytwenty bucks at K-mart," she said.

“But I like my blender. I know its quirks, I can workwith it and get it going when needed. Yes, the frappe button is broken, but Idon’t need it like other people do. I’m used to my blender and there's nothingsaying I get another one that works as well with me. It’s taking a chance, abig chance. I’ll just keep Sam and my blender,” Francine said, wondering if her sister would get the point.

Gina stared at her sister. “It’s just a blender.”

“No, actually, it’s a metaphor.”

“Huh?”

Francine laughed. She had managed to squeeze her amble selfinto the ultra-mini dress. “What do youthink?”

“You...you’re not...I mean...Sam would...”

“It’s not for Sam. I thought we’d go on a girls-night-outand see how many guys we can pick up. Debbie would love to come too, but maybeI should set her up with Rick!” she said excitedly until she felt the seamsstart to go on the dress. “This explainswhy Rick came over yesterday. He helped me with the dishes instead of watchingthe game with Sam.”

“You saw Rick and you didn’t tell me?” Gina shrieked.

“Well, it’s not like you want him anymore and I didn’t even knowabout the break up. If I had, I would have made my move on him. Three times aday sounds nice, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t like blondes, but I can alwaysdye my hair. Heck, for three times a day I’ll shave my head!”

“Hey, what the heck. He’s my husband!” Gina shouted.

“What did you expect would happen when you let a guy likeRick loose on the world of desperate women looking for anything half as good ashe is? Oh, and by the way, he’s looking better than usual. I guess the lack ofthree-times-a-day has left him with time on his hands. He’s been working out.He’s got some six-pack on him now.”

Gina glared at her sister in utter indignation. “And how doyou know this?” she muttered jealously.

“Maybe his t-shirt shrunk in the wash,” Francine stated with a careless shrug. Oh, but how she enjoyed the look of horror on her sister’s face. Shewas on the right track. “I’m actually surprised he would come to our house whenhe could’ve gone to Willie’s bar. It was lady’s night and he could have had hispick. The girls would have been all over him. He talked about you instead, gofigure.”

“What did he say?”

“He asked what I thought you would like for your birthday.I reminded him that it wasn’t for another two months, but he didn’t think it wasmuch time to get something really good for you. Yeah, that’s the kind of guyI’d like to strangle. Sam usually remembers my birthday two or three days afterit’s past and then says ‘Hey, babe, you don’t look so bad for being so old.’Romantic, don’t you think?”

Gina looked even more horrified and she sat down on thedressing room floor with her head in her hands. “What have I done?”

“I’d say the stupidest thing ever, but that’s coming fromsomeone who would gladly trade her beer guzzling, lazy, procrastinating,couch-potato husband for the glorious specimen of male flesh that you still cancall your guy.” Francine took a deep breath before continuing. “What do you want from him to make it all better?”

Gina frowned. “Idon’t know.”

“Think, Gina. What is it that has been better these past twomonths without him? The lack of three times a day?”

“No actually, that was the worst part. I didn’t think I’dmiss it so much.”

“So were you planning on getting a replacement for Rickusing this outfit? ‘Cause I can guarantee anyone you get won’t be nearly asgood as Rick,” Francine told her point blank.

“How do you know?” she asked suspiciously.

“I have loads of friends recently divorced, single evenwidowed that are looking and they tell me horror stories. Rick will have noproblem getting a step mother for your kids and she might have kids of her own.Extending the family. How nice.” Francine left the changing room with Gina ather heels.

“You think he’s dating already?” Gina asked anxiously.

“What do you care? I have several friends that would lovehim,” Francine said.

“I don’t want you talking to Rick! He’s still mine,” Ginastated angrily.

“Yeah, but do you really want to live with oregano flavoredoatmeal?”

Gina made a face. “Could you tell him to leave my spice rackalone?”

Francine glared at her. “What, are we back in high school?Do you want me to ask Sam to ask Rick if he likes you so you can go to theprom?” she asked doing her best teenagerimpersonation. “Come on, Gina! Rick wasso sad and I couldn’t figure out why. He actually misses you and any guy thatis willing to put up with you... well,you best latch onto him and don’t let go. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going toK-Mart to find a blender that I’m willing to trade for Sam. Maybe I need thatFrappe button after all.”

Never fall in love again

2012-01-07T04:00:00.000-05:00

Dionne Warwick was letting her down.

For one solid yearStephanie very successfully had been using Dionne Warwick’s signature song as amantra, a incantation to ward off the evil that had plagued her since highschool, all through college and even now into her ...God help her!....her mid--all right, all right!--late thirties. So, why was Dionne failing her now? Oh, butshe knew perfectly well why.

“What do you get when you fall in love? A guy with a pin to burst your bubble. That’swhat you get, for all your trouble. I'll never fall in love again. ”

It had worked every time. All she had to do is sing alongwith Dionne and remember Chad, Tim, Jeff, Henry and especially Darren, thelittle weasel! And miraculously she would be safe, her heart would be still andshe could concentrate on the important things in life, her friends, her familyand her very successful career as an advertising genius.

“What do you get when you kiss a guy? You get enough germsto catch pneumonia. After you do he’llnever even phone you. I'll never fall in love again.”

She glanced at the clock on her desk for the umpteenth timethat morning, much to her own annoyance. It was now 9:45. He would be here infifteen minutes as he always was, prompt and punctual as ever. She hatedherself for wanting to see him and for wanting to talk to him and for wantingit so badly.

“What do you get when you fall in love? You only get a lotof pain and sorrow. I will never fall in love again.”

She just needed to remember her last disaster of a relationship. Stephanie still seethedwith anger remembering how put-out Darren had been, pouting like a baby whenshe got the Donovan project instead ofhim.

“So, did you sleepwith Donovan himself or just the boss?” he spitefully retorted, instantlyputting an end to their six month love-fest.

A resounding smack across his face was all the retributionshe needed, but she got more besides. For doing a stellar job for Donovan shegot the promotion. This coveted office was hers now, her reward for bringing inthe big-bucks clients. That would have been payback enough, but she alsogot to see Darren ousted for trying to steal others’ ideas. She was on top ofthe world. She didn’t need a man, especially not one like Darren.

“Don’t tell me what it’s all about. Cuz I’ve been there andI’m glad I’m out, out of those chains, those chains that bind you. That is whyI’m here to remind you. I'll never fall in love again.”

So, why did she continue to check the clock? She dropped her head in her hands anddesperately mumbled, “Dionne, you’ve helped me before. Please, help me now!”

“Who’s Dionne? Can’t I help instead?” asked Sandy, herfresh-as-a-butter-cup assistant that came with her promotion and the newoffice. She had strolled into the office with a stack of folders and droppedthem in front of her. Stephanie would like her more if she weren’t so darnedyoung and bubbly while Stephanie was feeling the years creep up on herself.

“Oh, just Dionne Warwick,” Stephanie reluctantly muttered.

“She new here?”

“Of course not,” Stephanie told her irritably. “I’m talkingabout Dionne Warwick, the singer.”

Sandy merely stared blankly.

“You know her, “I’ll never fall in love again, Say a little prayer, Walk on by, What the world needs now. Everyone knows DionneWarwick. She’s famous,” Stephanie insisted.

“Does she do anything with P. Diddy or Usher?” Sandy askedinnocently.

Stephanie groaned.She was just too old and getting older all the time.

“Knock, knock,” a familiar voice came at the door. It sether heart instantly aflutter.

There he stood. Rudy, the UPS guy with, of course, a packagein hand. He wasn’t much to look at, if truth be told. He wasn’t exceptionallytall, very muscular nor particularly handsome, but he was such a joy, funny andsweet. He had the kindest smile imaginable and penetrating honest, true blueeyes. They shared a joke every day and that was enough to keep her going therest of the day with a secret smile in her heart.

“What do you get when you fall in love? You get enough tearsto fill an ocean. That’s what you get for all your devotion. I'll never fallin love again.”

“Hey, Rudy,” Sandy said and slipped out of theoffice completely unaware of any undercurrent.

Rudy stepped in, but left the door slightly ajar. Proprietyrequired it in his profession as well as hers.

“If it isn’t Rudolph Valentino come to sweep us all off ourfeet,” Stephanie said, magically feeling alive now. She kept this under wraps, though, using herwell-honed business acumen. She rounded her desk to lean against it facing him.What a contrast they made. She in her sleek designer suit and he in his casual,slightly creased and wrinkled brown shorts. He wore these year round, insistinghe was never cold enough to wear pants, even during last winter’s blizzard thatstopped the city for three days. He didn’t even wear a jacket.

He had told her countless times, “I’m built for comfort, notflash.” She had to agree. On any otherman it wouldn’t fly, but on him it looked good.

“Now, I’ve told you it’s Ballentine and only my mama’sallowed to call me Rudolph and only on my birthday,” he said smiling.When he smiled like that he was the most beautiful person around. She melted alittle every time.

I will never fall in love again...I will never fall in loveagain... I will never fall in love again, rang in her head fruitlessly.

“How are you, Rudy? Have a nice weekend?” she asked albeitcasually, though her heart was frantically beating the conga against her ribs.

I will never fall in love again...I will never fall in loveagain... I will never fall in love again...

“Fantastic. How about you?”he asked, taking one tantalizingstep closer. Her heart skipped a beat.

I will never fall in love again...I will never fall in loveagain... I will never fall in love again...

“Rather boring but after a hectic week, it’s quite welcome.I spent it planning my niece’s birthday party with my sister. So, what have yougot there?” she asked looking curiously at the package in his hand. It was asmall rainbow-colored, gift-wrapped box, very unlike his usual plain browncardboard packages and envelops.

“I was hoping you could help me find who this belongs to,”he replied with a bit of a smirk. “Ramilda Vain. Do you know her?”

She looked at him with her own smirk. “As a matter of fact Ido only you won’t find her working here. She happens to be imaginary. She was the unscrupulous girl whotried to slip Harry Potter a love potion disguised as chocolates in the half blood Prince. You mightwant to try Hogwarts, Gryffindor tower. You could send it by owl delivery, muchmore reliable than UPS or the US postal service.”

He burst out laughing and approached her desk slowly. “Youare good, Stephanie. I can’t ever get anything passed you.”

“You could if I didn’t have a niece totally crazy aboutHarry Potter,” she replied smiling brightly.

“Well, in that caseI’ll leave this here for you. You are not imaginary, at least I hope youaren’t.”he said placing the box into her hand. Their fingers just barelytouched sending tingles up her arm. He looked deep into her eyes and she staredback semi-mesmerized.

I will never fall in love again...I will never fall in loveagain... I will never fall in love again...

“You brought these... specially for me?” she asked undulytouched.

“ You never know when you might be in the mood for a bit ofchocolate laced with.... something nice,” he said evasively.

“Something nice? Like what?” she asked curiously.

“I couldn’t say. I don’t fool around with potions of anykind, but they are specially made for you.”

“You made them?” she asked incredulously.

“I wouldn’t want to poison you so, no. Sweets for theSweet candy shop. Heard of it?” he asked.

She grinned. “My first marketing client when I started here.I remember it well. I’m a constant visitor there as Jane could tell you,unfortunately for my hips. Do you know Jane?” she said suspiciously.

“She’s my sister,” he replied.

Her mouth fell open. “Really?”

“I try not to lie. You know what they say, sweets for thesweet,” he said.

She stared at him her heart swelling and Dionne faintlywhispering in her ear, “I will never fall in love again...I will never fall inlove again... I will never fall in love again..."

“Thank you, Rudy. Thank you so much,” she said.She could barely breathe.

“You’re welcome, Stephanie. See you tomorrow,” he saidsmiling wistfully.

He turned to leave and as he touched the door she burst outsaying, “Rudy, may I take you out to dinner?”

He turned back surprised then he grinned as if he thoughtshe was joking. “Just because I brought you chocolates? Well, I don’t know ifmy ego can take a beautiful woman buying me dinner just for a few chocolates.People might think I’m a gigolo, but then that’s not really a bad thing, is it?”he said.

“I’m not kidding, Rudy,” she said coming towards him. “Ilive for your visits. I love our little chats. I almost sent myself somethingUPS just so you could bring it to me.”

“Oh,” he said, astonished.

Suddenly highly embarrassed she stepped around her deskand shook her head, quickly saying, “I’msorry. I just thought...but surely you are married or with someone. I’m sorry.”

He followed her until they were toe to toe. “Youmust realize I contrive to see you, even going so far as pretending to have packages for imaginarypeople. But you saw through it, Stephanie and I ... It’s torture to see youevery day looking so beautiful and untouchable. I know I’m not good enough foryou, but it was worse to not see you at all. So, yes, I will go out to dinnerwith you and every day for the rest of our lives if you will let me.”

He wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close and kissedher soundly. She melted against him joy bubbling within her as Dionne Warwick’smelodic voice sang on and on to no avail.

....So, for at leastuntil tomorrow, I will never fall in love again....

Zebrina the cat takes a romp

2011-12-31T04:00:00.000-05:00

Zebrina lept onto the window seat making certain she didn’tupset the plants and the many yogurt containers full of muddy potting soil.What, she wondered sulkily, was her human thinking? Didn’t she know this washer spot for sunning herself? So, why did her human insist on crowding it withthese stupid pots? She couldn’t grow a tomato if her life depended on it. You’dthink she’d figure it out by now. As for the catnip... well, it had beendelicious. Wished she grow some more.

Zebrina could only sigh and stare moodily out the window. Itwas such a nice day and her human still wouldn’t let her out. What was shewaiting for? For the mice and moles to run amok in her garden? They would getthe chance, Zebrina thought angrily, if her human didn’t let her out to do herjob. She had tried to sneak out just last week when one of the human kittenswent out to catch the bus to school. She was thwarted. Blast it!

Why was her human torturing her this way?

“Zebrina!”

Oh, and there she was, her human calling her. What now? Hadshe found the mess yet? Well, it wasn’t her fault! The litter box was simplyunacceptable. She should have tended to it before going on the tippy-tap thingwith the screen. Why she always plays with that contraption is anyone’s guess.She keeps talking about some weird thing called Helium too. Zebrina stillcouldn’t see the thrill in it.

“Zebrina! Where is that fluff ball?” the human muttered.

Well, she supposed she’d have to answer. “Me–arr,” Zebrinasaid and propped herself up.

“Should’ve know,” the human said seeing her at the window. “Well, you’ve been buggy for weeks now. How about a romp outside? It’s a niceday. I’ll even join you. Could do some gardening.”

Oh, what joy is mine, Zebrina thought sardonically, jumpingdown and following her human to the door. Her human would no doubt stop her fromcatching one of those yellow feather balls. She calls finches nice littlebirds. Zebrina knew better. They were a nuisance.

Cat and human stepped out of the house and both took a deepbreath of fresh mountain air. “Don’t you just love spring time, Zebby?”

Zebrina rolled her eyes wishing she wouldn’t call her that.It was bad enough when the human’s mate called her fluffy. Fluffy, of all theindignity! He wasn’t all bad, her human’s mate, Zebrina mused grudgingly. Heallowed her to sit on his lap most nights during his time in front of the big,noisy box with the flashing lights. That was almost enough in itself to redeemhim, but he made up for it.

He had come home with the right food for a change. Last timehe got 9-Lives because it was on sale. 9-Lives? Honestly! Did he think her thatstupid or just desperate enough to want that foul fast food? Zebrina remembereda few summers ago being lured to this house of humans because they weregrilling salmon. They had offered her some in return for a fat juicy mole. Shetook them up on the offer because that fish smelled wonderful, but she to thisday couldn’t understand why they tossed the mole across the street into theditch. It had been a perfectly good mole and very fresh, fresher than the salmon.

Zebrina ignored the human and slowly descended the steps.

“Remember, Zebrina, no birds!” the human shouted after her,pointing a threatening finger at her.

Zebrina stuck her tail way up in the air and stalked off.She wouldn’t even dignify that with a reply. If she didn’t watch her step,Zebrina thought slyly, that human might just find no moles at her doorstep comedinnertime. Wouldn’t she be disappointed!

A Dominican Christmas

2011-12-24T04:00:00.001-05:00

Loupe loved Christmas. The abundant music, tons of family,the garish lights, lavish decorations, the infectious joy and the food, oh,that wonderful, only-available-during-the-holidays food! She could never getenough of that. And her family always seemed to out-do themselves every year.It was as if they only wanted to cook during the holidays.

“What’s this called, Maria?” Loupe asked already dishingsome up before getting an answer.

“Choriso and mangu made with platano maduro,” Maria replied.

“Oh, I love that stuff! And this?” Loupe went to the nextbowl and took a huge scoop.

Maria smiled and said, “Mondongo but you won’t want me to tell you what’s in it so don’t ask.”

“Who cares what’s in it? I love that stuff,” Loupe gushed. “What arethese?” She took several.

“Pastelles. How in the world can you eat like that and notworry about getting fat?” Maria asked sounding equal parts astounded andenvious. “I could only eat like that when I was a kid in Santiago. We had towalk everywhere, you know, no car, not even a burro, so...instant exercise.”

Loupe swallowed a bite of a very yummy beef Pastelle beforeevasively saying, “Oh, you know, lots of Pilates.” She went off with a giggle bubbling up withinher. Wouldn’t her aunt Maria be surprised to learn her secret? Surprised andshocked, Loupe thought happily. At the present time she didn’t care if shegained weight. Actually, she expected to. She only just found out she waspregnant and utterly delighted about it.

Ordinarily, a nineteen year old, unmarried, CatholicDominican girl shouldn’t be so thrilled when finding herself pregnant, but shehad another secret which pleased her even more, her Billy. They decided theywere eloping after the holidays to fend off more arguing from both sides oftheir families. You’re too young. You’re from different worlds. You don’t knowwhat love is. You don’t have a clue what it takes to make a marriage work.You’re too different. You’re from drastically different cultures. You have nomoney. The excuses went on forever. Billy and Loupe scoffed at each and every one of them.

She sat with her plate eating contentedly as theconversation swirled around her, some in English most in Spanish and some in amix they all called Spanglish. Loupe’s uncle Pablo, a stern old-time schoolteacher, hated Spanglish and corrected them every chance he got. She was prettysure her younger cousins did it on purpose just to rile him up.

“Aye, Dios Mio!” he cried exasperated. “One or the other,you crazy ninos.”

“Don’t you mean crazy kids or ninos loco, Tio Pablo?” Miguelasked smirking. He got chased around theroom and a playful smack on the butt forthat one.

In a whirl of snow and blustery wind the front door openedand in came Loupe’s second cousin Julia with a man she’d never seen before.

“A gringo,” she muttered to herself, taking note that he wasalmost an exact copy of her Billy. He was tall, blond, very American and by thelook in his eyes, amazed at the quantity of people all packed into one relativelysmall house. Loupe could sympathize. Billy had the same reaction the first timehe came to one of her family gatherings.

“Are all these people related to you?” Billy askeddoubtfully.

“Yeah. Most of them couldn’t make it tonight. You’ll meetthe rest tomorrow at church,” Loupe said casually.

“The rest?” he shrieked, incredulous. “You mean there’smore?”

Loupe just laughed at him. It was true she had a huge family alltogether almost twenty-five aunts and uncles and entirely too many cousins tocount even if you could get them to stand still long enough for it. There alsowere the people that were distantlyrelated by marriage or had been at one point in the past century and those whothey knew just because they also happened to be Dominican. Once in a foreign country any connection tothe old country made you more like family. Once in the family, you couldn’tescape until death and even then everyone would talk about you forever whetherthey liked you or not. That’s family. That’s community.

Loupe knew it was like that with the Irish-Americans,Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans, all those hyphenated Americans. Birds of afeather, she mused.

Indeed they were a large family and every year it only gotbigger. New babies born and more coming from the old country or Home as some ofthe older folks still called The Dominican Republic. Loupe’s father and motherwere some of those, but she didn’t remember anything of it. She had been toolittle when she came to the states. Most of her cousins had been born righthere, but the Dominican culture hadbeen so ingrained they may as well havebeen born there, too.

All holidays were the same, just like this, family stayingrooted to their culture yet with Americanism obviously taking hold in strangeand funny ways.

“What’s that you got there, Julio?” his uncle Juan asked.

“Mp3 player,” Julio answered.

“What’s it for?”

“Music. Wanna hear?” He got up and shoved the ear piece in. Juan made a face and pulled itout.

“You call that music? Got any merengue, bachata or salsa?”

“Uh, no, only rap,” Julio replied with a shrug.

“I’ll stick with my guitar and maracas,” Juan saidderisively.

Loupe laughed then glanced at a group of her cousins allshowing off their cell phones and snapping each other’s pictures.

“Phones that take pictures?” Javier said in wonder. “When Iwas your age we didn’t have a camera and we didn’t even have a regular phone.”

“What are you talking about? You didn’t even know what aphone was back then,” his daughter said, a smug expression on her face.

“Shut the mouth, Nina,” he retorted. Then looking at Loupehe shrugged and said in a whisper, “She’s right. We didn’t even have indoorplumbing.” She giggled.

Yes, life in America was vastly different than where they came from. Was it better? Dependson who you ask.

“What’s with this pine tree and that crazy fat guy?” Hectorsaid grimacing. “We used to have palm trees and Los Tres Reyes, The ThreeKings. We used to put out grass and bowls of water for their camels not cookies for some burglarcoming down a chimney. And they didn’t bring presents on Christmas day. BabyJesus didn’t get presents on his birthday. It took the kings some time to findhim, you know.”

“Well, Santa and thetree are German Christmas traditions,” Loupeexplained.

“Oh, yeah? So, when they going to try some Dominicantraditions around here?” Carlos interjected.

“When Sammy Sosa becomes the US president, Vladimir Gurerrois Secretary of state and Jose Reyes is Chief Justice,” Hector said making theentire room erupt with laughter.

Loupe listened silently and wondered how much more grumblingshe’d hear about the sacrilegious ways of Americans and their awful influenceon their kin when they all discovered she was pregnant by a Gringo. Bad enough shewas dating one, they’d say but this?

“They’ll string me up in the nearest mango tree,” Billy hadtold her anxiously just days ago when the pregnancy was confirmed. “We gottaelope now!”

“Hey, it’s their fault we didn’t get married first. We’dalmost be celebrating our first anniversary if we hadn’t listened to them. Andyour parents were no better. I’m tired of listening to them. If they wanted meto marry a Dominican they shouldn’t have brought me to America,” Loupe snapped.

Billy hugged her. “I love my little Dominicanrebel,” he said.

Life in a this country had its challenges, someinteresting results and endless possibilities. Loupe and all her family,despite some grumbling, knew this and loved every bit of it, even cell phonesyou can take pictures with, fat burglars in red suits and tiny players ofdreadful music.

Feliz Navidad! That's Merry Christmas for you gringos! ;-)

Accidental friends, part 2

2011-12-17T04:00:00.000-05:00

He groaned. That was not what he wanted to hear. “You’re notserious, Lisa. We were just... it was nothing to get all bent out of shapeabout. Nothing to get divorced over anyway. Jason’s not really going to getanother wife.”

“I’m not bent out of shape,” she said indignant. “I thoughtthings over and I finally got to see it through your eyes or rather through theeyes of the male animal. That is what you said you are, isn’t it? Nothingbetter than monkeys and apes, as I recall.”

“Uh....sort of, yeah. I said it was our natural inclinationto have multiple partners. It’s in our genes.”

“And in your jeans. Yeah, I know,” she added with adistasteful look. She waved a dismissive hand. “Same difference. The point is Iagree with you and that’s why I want a divorce but you know what that idiotsaid to me?”

He truly had no idea and even if he did he wasn’t wiseenough not to say it. “Uh... no?”

“Fly on the wall, were you?” she said narrowing her eyes athim. “He said I can’t have one and then he kissed me. I’m sure he wanted to dosome headboard banging too, his words not mine, but I had to get the kids upand ready for day camp.”

“Whoa! Wait a minute! You ask for a divorce...”

“Said I wanted one. Bit slow on the uptake, aren’t you?” shesaid crossly.

“Whatever! You drop this divorce bombshell and all he cansay is let’s get busy?” Kyle said utterly incredulous.

“Well, it may have been my faulthim not taking it seriously. I was cuddled up to him about a half hour beforethe alarm was set to go off and I was stroking....” She stopped here, cleared her throat and gavehim a furtive look. “You don’t need to know that part.... I told him I want adivorce.” She then picked up her bageland took a delicate bite.

He gaped at her. “But why? Why didyou ask...”

“Said I wanted.”

“Okay, I give up. What the hell’sthe difference?”he asked now getting impatient.

She sighed and shook her head.“How does Peggy put up with you?” was all the reply he got.

He made a growling sound in histhroat but refrained from shouting, just barely. “Why did you say you want adivorce? You always say you two getalong fine, great even and you obviously did since you were ... “cuddled up”.What happened?”

She put down her bagel andfrowned. “I realized you were right,” she said somewhat reluctantly.

Kyle savored that for a minute.Never had he heard that from a woman. Pity it wasn’t from his own wife but thiswould have to do. He knew it wasn’t likely he’d ever hear such a wonderfulthing again even if he lived to be a thousand.

“About what exactly?” he askedcuriosity getting the better of him.

“You really are a bit slow, aren’tyou? Never noticed that before,” she said and took another bite of her bagel.

It was agony waiting for her tochew, swallow and take a sip of her water. But wait he did. He took out hissandwich and took a huge bite and was about to take another when she at lastspoke.

“I figure you were right. I wasbeing selfish. I’m messing up Jason’s natural inclination to...” she moved herhands about looking for the proper words. “Procreate or whatever.”

Kyle almost dropped his sandwich.“You’re letting him take another wife?” he shouted even louder than before.

“A little louder, Kyle. I don’tthink the hospital on the next block heard you. No, that’s not it. If we divorcehe can do as he pleases. It’s marriage that’s the evil here. Marriage with itsunreasonable vows of chastity and faithfulness that men simply can’t followanyway because nature gets in the way. Or rather marriage gets in the way ofnature. Yes, that’s what you said.”

“Hell, that’s not what I said atall. Of course we can be faithful. I am and Jason has been, hasn’t he?”

Lisa shrugged. “According to youthat’s impossible.”

“I never said that!” he shouted.

“I beg to differ, Mister. I recallquite clearly what you said. I meditated on it the whole weekend in fact.”

First off, he couldn’t believe shethought that stupid conversation worth mediating on and secondly, “You must nothave had a fun weekend if that’s all you did.”

Actually it was pretty good. Iguess Jason thought it time to pay me some extra attention seeing as I wasunhappy enough to want a divorce, so he took me to my favorite botanicalgarden. There was a nice Celtic band playing and they had the fountain and lightshow once it got dark. We even got Chinese. It was kinda nice. He said I wasstill a cheap date," she said with a giggle but she quickly sobered."That must be why he's keeping me. Saves him money. Divorce is costly Ihear. But that was after he bought me about a dozen new books. It was Lisa’sweekend for undeserved gifts, "she said with an oddly sad note to hervoice.

“And why would you say you don’t deserve them? Jason wasobviously making certain you know he doesn’t want to lose you,”Kyle said, his toneearnest. “He knew what would get you to stop thinking of some stupid divorce.”

She shrugged again. “That’s what I get for being married toa man for over twenty years. He knows me too well.” She sighed and added, “Guess he’s a gluttonfor punishment wanting be stuck with me, as unreasonable as I am and all that.But he probably knows no one will put up with his crap as well as I have allthese years. I may not look it but I’m a push over. He gets his way every timewith no argument from me.”

She was right. Kyle would never say she was a push over. Hewanted to laugh but didn’t. Instead he just stared at her wondering what thisall was really about. From being married almost as long as Lisa he knew womengot upset and started fights about everything except the thing that really wasbothering them. Displaced anger they called it. Man, was that annoying!

She suddenly looked so sad and he didn’t much like it. Hewas used to seeing her so happy and carefree. It was the one reason he felt compelledto visit her during his lunch break. Whenever he had a horrible day she wouldmake him forget it. She always made him smile. That and she was nicer to lookat than a bunch of blenching beer-bellied co-workers.

Something was bothering her and it had little to do withpolygamy. He was sure of it.

“Are you going to tell me why you’re so sad when you’re notreally getting a divorce?” he asked, his tone gentle.

She glanced up and her eyes looked like twin lakes ready tooverflow. It momentarily tore at his heart. “I’m getting so old,” she said in avoice that trembled.

“No, you’re not,” he answered on automatic.

“It’s my birthday tomorrow,”she mumbled.

“Happy birthday! Now you’ll be...what? 25 for the fifthtime?”he said smiling at her.

“So funny, aren’t you?”she replied narrowing her eyes athim.

“ Can’t be older than I am. I have the fire department onstandby when they light up my birthday cake.”

“Like everything, it’s different for men. Men getdistinguished as they get older. Women get extinguished,” she muttered throughclenched teeth.

He laughed but quickly stopped. “That’s not true, Lisa.You’re still beautiful. Jason thinks so or he wouldn’t keep you around,” hesaid

“Am too. I got a speeding ticket last week,” she said byway of explanation.

This went completely over his head. He blinked severaltimes as he chewed slowly and waited for her to clarify. When she didn’t addanything he asked, “So?”

She rolled her eyes to the heavens. “I never get a speedingticket. They take one look at me, I smile and apologize, flirt a little bitmaybe and they give me a warning and I go on my way speeding all over again. Igot a ticket cuz I’m no longer cute.”

He broke out in laughter and, almost choking on his food,had to take a drink before answering. “How much over the speed limit were youdoing?”

“That never used to matter,”she said avoiding looking himin the eyes.

“How much?”he asked again lifting a disapproving eyebrowmuch like he did with his wife or kids when they were up to no good.

She gave him a contemptuous look then said, “20 over in aschool zone.”

“Hell’s bells, Kid! What did you expect? I’m surprised theydidn’t haul you in just for the heck of it.”

“It never mattered before I got too old and not prettyanymore,” she said with a petulant pout so reminiscent of his own daughter hehad to stop himself from taking her into his arms and telling her everythingwould be all right.

“20 over in a school zone, Lisa. Even a super-model in abikini would get a ticket by these speed-Nazis we have around here. You aredefinitely still cute, cute as hell, in fact.”

She shot him a look at clearly said, “You know nothing.”

“Don’t believe me, huh? Well, you just get on a little miniskirt and a skimpy little tank top and walk on over to the construction siteand you’ll see and hear a lot of disagreeing, loud-mouthed, chauvinist pigstelling you exactly what they’d like to do to you. That sound good?” he saidforcefully.

Much to his surprise she seemed to be giving this someserious contemplation. After a minute she said, “You know what? It kinda does.”

He burst out laughing and she joined in. It took a whilefor them to stop but when they did she grinned at him and said, “I’m kinda gladwe’re friends, Kyle, even if it is accidental.”

He stared at her, a quizzical expression on his face.“Accidental? What does that mean?”

“Well, you didn’t actually set out to be my friend, did you?”

“Does anyone set out specifically to make friends? Isn’t itall random?”

“Gosh, no. I always try to make friends with those I thinkI could really like.”

“You didn’t think you would like me?” he said soundingrather insulted.

“Of course not. You’re a guy,”

“So?”

“So, I’ve never had a guy friend. All the guys I’ve everknown want to get in my pants and that’s another thing that got me thinking I’mnot cute anymore. You didn’t want to,” she said, pouting again.

He opened his mouth then closed it again not quite knowinghow to answer that without getting himself in trouble. “I’m married, Lisa. Youknow that. If I were single it would be a totally different thing. I’d be allover you.”

She suddenly smiled, the sweetest smile he had ever seen onher. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me. Thank you, Kyle.”

“Uh... you’re welcome,” he said, a little confused but gladjust the same.

“I got this Christian book, “This Present Darkness” byFrank E. Peretti. I don’t usually read books of that sort but a friend said itwas really good and....”

He listened to her prattle happily on and marveled, halfdazed and half bewildered at her abrupt change in countenance. Was that all ittook to make her happy? Knowing he would do her in a second if given thechance? Girls were just too weird, but they were good to look at during yourlunch hour.

Accidental friends, she had called them. He thought on thisa bit then came to the conclusion some accidents were pretty darn good to have.

Accidental friends, part 1

2011-12-10T04:00:00.000-05:00

Kyle knew she’d be there. She always was. Of course her fiery red head would be virtuallyimpossible to miss anywhere even from the top of the skyscraper whoseconstruction he was currently supervising. But now that the trees were all leafed out spotting her from thisvantage point was not so easy. He, however, was certain she would be there,although he wasn’t positive she would want to talk to him today. Their lastconversation had been a heated one.

So it was with sometrepidation he crossed the street to the park, leaving his hectic work daybehind for a precious hour, his favorite Tim Horton’s coffee in one hand and his lunch in the other. Hemade a bee-line to the usual place, the picnic table just under a PinkHorse chestnut tree. Not that he knew a chestnut tree from a maple. Lucky forhim Lisa did and explained to him with obvious adoration how her husband alwayssneezed his head off when they were in bloom.

“Good thing he’s not here then, huh?” Kyle had said lookingup at the huge and highly fragrant flowers hanging off the pretty tree. He hadto admit he never noticed them before. That was three months ago. He couldn’tbelieve it only had been that long since they’d met. It felt as if they’d knowneach other for decades.

Lisa always spoke of her husband Jason. That was why Kylefelt utterly safe spending his lunch time talking to her. She was married andcompletely off limits just as she should be if he were to be spending all thistime with a woman not his wife. It rid him of useless guilt. He had even told Peggyabout her just to make sure nothing got back to her that could make trouble forhim. Not that it would, not even if there was something to it. The guys on hiscrew kept their thoughts to themselves for their own sakes. Honor among thieves is what they called it. Goodthing because those guys were usually up to no good.

Kyle had just passed between the swings and the elaboratemulti-level jungle gym when he saw Lisa’s curly carrot-top just visible frombehind a book. Her nose was usually stuck in a book. It was one a many thingsthey had in common and the one that particularly resounded with him. Of coursehe usually had a problem with her choice of authors.

“D.H. Lawrence? What am I gonna do with her?” he muttered tohimself. He made a mental note to bring Hemingway’s “Snows Of Kilimanjaro” fromhis collection for her. Then she’d know what a true masterful storyteller was.

“Hello, Lisa,” he said, settling himself across from her.

He noticed she didn’t even lower the book when she said anoncommital, “Hmm.” He suppressed a grin. She was obviously still a bit tickedoff.

“How was your weekend?” he said casually as he opened hiscooler, pulled out a bag of chips and ripped open the package.

“Wonderful,” she mumbled still not deeming him worthy of aglance.

He wanted to laugh but kept it in. Girls were just so funny.They ask you a question and then when you answer truthfully they get all pissedoff at you. In his estimation if you don’t want to be told your butt is too bigin those jeans then you shouldn’t ask. Not that it was even remotely that sortof thing they had quarreled about. He was pretty darn sure her butt was perfectin her jeans. Not that he had looked! Not on purpose anyway. He was a guythough and guys look no matter what. Jason would understand, he was certain.

Perhaps quarrel was not the right word. They had beentalking about polygamy of all things, how no man in his right mind wouldn’twant more than one wife if given the chance and if he could get away with it.It started out easy enough, the conversation, but after a bit it was more of ashouting match. At least on her part.

He had been very courteous, he thought, honest and logical,too and hadn’t raised his voice at all. She on the other hand had been allemotion, very loud emotion. He was pretty sure the guys eating their own lunchacross the street had heard most of it. But who can get girls to listen whenthey get all emotional?

“So, what’s your point?” she asked, annoyed.

“My point is any man that tells you otherwise is lying toyou,” Kyle insisted. “It’s in our genetic makeup to want and seek out multiplepartners, to go forth and multiply. It’sthe best way to ensure a good robust gene pool. It’s all nature.”

“Right, because what the world of genetics really needs isstupid, horny, drunk college boys at spring break and middle aged men trying tobring back an ill spent youth and whoshould know better multiplying.”

He laughed. “Listen, you asked and I told you. It’s just theway we’re made.”

“So, what you’re saying is one woman is just never enoughfor any of you?” Lisa asked her blue eyes mere slits in her face.

“Enough for what?” Kyle countered carelessly. “Men alwayswant more sex than women so...”

“Right, cuz that’s all you guys ever think about. Sex.Forgive me. I wasn’t thinking.” Shecrossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “You’re worse than Jason. Atleast he said he would only want another wife if she didn’t want any morekids.”

“He only said that because you already have four kids. Itwould be different if each wife only got one kid. It would be fair.”

“Fair?” Lisa shrieked making a face as if she were tastingmud pies made with real Mississippi River mud. “For whom I wonder? Oh wait, letme answer that. You men are allowed as many children as you have wives toproduce them while women are only allowed one each. Hmm.... sounds real fair.”

“Well, if you really wanted more you could. Some women don’twant any kids so it evens out. You could negotiate,” he said with a carelessshrug.

“Oh, I’ll negotiate all right. For the beheading of all menand I won’t say which head I mean,” she said through clenched teeth.

He winced and involuntarily pressed his knees together as iffearful she would really do as she said. He gulped then tried to sooth thingsover by being funny. “You know it would be okay if you gals just learned toshare. I mean, you do know that there are more women than men in the world,don’t you? And if I had 3 or 4 wives I wouldtreat them all the same. I would love them all equally. They should all be thesame age, too, so there won’t be any jealousy between them like happens in reallife.”

She stared at him aghast. “Please, do tell, oh Wise One. Howwould you handle your harem?” she muttered her voice dripping sarcasm.

“Look, a guy gets some young hottie younger than his wifebecause it’s nature calling him to reproduce regardless of whether he reallywants to. He can’t help it. It’s instinct. But the wife she gets all bent outof shape about it because she feels it’s all because of her own age when itisn’t that at all. There are plenty of women in their forties and fifties thatare great, beautiful and....”

“And you want to bop the ugly ones too. Yeah, Billy Crystalexplained all that to Meg Ryan once. I don’t need to hear it from you,” shesaid waving a dismissive hand at him.

He could almost hear her teeth grinding as he stared at herin confusion. In truth he had not a clue what she was talking about but as shewas so good with the nonsequiturs he would have to let her explain it.

She rolled her eyes to the sky. “The movie?”

He frowned in concentration thinking of any and all films inwhich he saw Meg Ryan. “Sleepless inSeattle?”

“That was Tom Hanks, idiot,” Lisa growled.

“You got mail?”

“Tom Hanks again. When Harry Met Sally,” she saidexasperated. “He was telling her that men want to screw anybody, even the uglyones.”

He frowned a little then shook his head. He still didn’t gether point. “Anyway. Seeking younger women is simply the pull of nature to keepreproducing when your wife’s....”

“Washed up, dried up, useless, barren and too old,” Lisainterjected scornfully.

His mouth fell open. “Not exactly as I would put it. Out ofher child-bearing years,”he replied in a gentle, dignified voice.

“Nature is wonderfuluntil men get a hold of it. Well, that explains one thing perfectly,” she saidgetting up, putting her garbage into the can behind her, gathering her book andpurse with undo force and readying to leave.

“What’s that?” he asked frowning.

“Why women turn to lesbianism in their later years. I’mseriously considering joining them,” she said stalking off, her nose up in theair. She didn’t even look back though she must have heard him laughing his headoff.

Now it was a good long four day weekend later and surely shehad calmed down ever-so-slightly, he thought as he stared at the top of hergleaming head. Silence ensued unbearably, however, and not being one to takethe cold shoulder too well, he gave in first.

“I went camping with my boys. Went Kayaking for the firsttime. Great fun. Thanks for asking,” he said trying to sound bright and cheerybefore taking a long swig from his coffee.

“I told Jason I want a divorce,”she said in a totally boredvoice. But no sooner had the words left her month than she shrieked. “Eewww!”

He had spit out his coffee all over her book. “You didwhat?”he shouted.

“Yuck! How the heck am I gonna get this off here? I hate thesmell of coffee.” She made a hideousface as she grabbed a napkin from beside her water bottle and started to mop upthe mess. “Guess that’s what a dust jacket is for, in case some idiot spews coffeeat you for no good reason. Why can’t you drink water like the rest of thecivilized world?”

“I’ll buy you a new book,” he said tersely, a crease betweenhis brows as he stared at her. Divorce? He never saw that coming and shecertainly didn’t look like someone who looked at all upset about an upcomingdivorce.

“Don’t bother. This guy is highly over rated as far as I’mconcerned,” she said pulling off the ruined dust jacket and throwing it intothe garbage can behind her. “I should stick with Jane Austen and HenryFielding. I have no problem with their run-on sentences but this guy? What thehell is his point anyway?”

“What happened?” Kyle asked, his lunch totally forgotten.

“Well, that’s just it I don’t really know. “Rainbow” isabout a family that....”

“Not the book!” Kyle shouted angrily. “ Jason, what happenedwith Jason?”

“Jason never reads anything other than the sports page. Itold you that,” she explained with no concern whatsoever.

He would have laughed if she weren’t so infuriating. “Lisa,why did you ask Jason for a divorce?”

“I didn’t ask for one. I told him I wanted one. There’s adifference you know,” she replied with a lofty tilt of her head.

This went right over his head. He could not make heads nortails out of that sort of “logic” so he thought it best to ignore it. He staredat her as she took a bite from her bagel, honey wheat with strawberry creamcheese. She always got the exact same thing for lunch. He stared at her as shelicked the cream off her fingers while pushing her hair out of her eyes withher other hand. At that moment with her neon bright hair blowing about wild andunrestrained she looked like a cross between a grown up Shirley Temple and adefiant little kid who looked intent on sticking her fork into a light socketjust to see what would happen. He had the simultaneous urge to spank her andpat her head telling her what a cutie she is.

“Does this have anything to do with our discussion of lastweek?” he asked with evident caution in his voice.

“Of course,” she replied.

He groaned. That was notwhat he wanted to hear.

Continued next week...

A poem: To no longer be shackled

2011-12-03T04:00:00.000-05:00

In an odd twist of things, I wrote a rare poem. A definite departure from my usual short stories, to be sure. It just sort of hit me one day. I wrote it down and here you have it. Being I know very little about poetry, I'd advise you not to expect too much.

To no longer be shackled

Ah but to no longer be shackled to the earth,

Ah but to fly into the sky and soar high above,

Ah, but to leave the world below and only look back tosmile,

Smile and to say, “I am free! You cannot hold me!”

Ah, but to glide amongst the clouds, for hours, 

for days, for weeks on end until rest is required,

ah, but To float like a feather down, down, down,

Ah, but to land ever so softly on freshly fallen leaves,

Ah, but to sleep an enchanted dream-filled slumber, 

Slumber and breathe the lovely scent of violets in bloom,

Ah but to no longer be shackled to the earth.

Every time I hear your name

2011-11-26T04:00:00.000-05:00

He was rather proud of himself. Yes Sir, Isaac Dakota was indeeda changed man and about time too. He had been quite pathetic when she left, butno more. Several years it took, this changing, but changed he was now and for thebetter.

He finally got overthat old song of theirs. He could hear it now without tearing up. He didn’teven bother to change the station on the dial anymore. Stevie Nicks and DonHenley’s could sing “Leather And Lace” til the cows came home. It had ceased to be a source of pain. It was justanother likable tune.

Isaac could spot littlered sports cars now and not check the license plate for *999-DAS*. He hadgotten himself into a bit of trouble when he almost caused a three car pile upchasing a speeding flash of red down the interstate. But no more of that.

He had stopped drivingby her house too. Her mother had been this close to calling the police andgetting a restraining order on him, but she wasn’t there anymore anyway. Hewasn’t doing that either. He was a different guy now.

He had gotten around totheir old haunts. All those restaurants and Honky-Tonks were no longer taboo.He recalled they had had such fun dancing and hanging with friends, but thosememories caused nothing, not even a twinge of regret. He could go out withfriends and laugh. Felt so good to dance again.

He didn’t even look aroundanymore when he caught a sniff of her perfume. It meant nothing to him now. Hecould walk right by her picture in a magazine and feel nothing but happy forher. She had gotten her wish and was now a semi-famous model. No, none of thatbothered him.

“Zach went out withher,” Kenny said casually.

“Really?” Penny said, incredulous.

“She grew up here, wentto school with all of us. She and Zach were sweethearts since they were, like,ten or something,” Kenny replied. “Tell her, Zach.”

“What?” Isaac muttered,confused. He hadn’t been listening.

“You really went outwith Dina Shaw the model, Zach?” Penny said.

Dina--Isaac’s heartstopped, his brain went blank. This happened every time he heard her name.Dina--like a knife to the chest. Dina--like a punch in the gut. Dina--like abrick in the face. Her name hit him and he was lost.

“Beer... anybody want one?”he mumbled. He got up and went to the bar before getting an answer from hisfriends.

Dina--All he had to hear was her name and he was transportedback five years, the fifth of May and rain falling out of the blue sky. Dina--He was staring right into her eyes, nothing’s changed and they’re still thesame. Dina. He was lost to the innocence of their first kiss and hanging onevery word rolling off her lips. Dina. That’s all it took and he was right backthere in that place. Every time he heard her name.

His hands shaking, he grabbed the beer and upended it, pouring it down histhroat as if dying of thirst. Get a grip, he admonished himself. She’s gone,it’s over and there’s nothing to be done about it. Besides, he had someonespecial in his life now. Kara was a great girl. Everyone thought she’d make anamazing wife. Isaac’s dad thought shemight be the one because she kind of reminds him of Isaac’s mother when she wasyoung.

Isaac knew it was way too soon to be talking about rings though.Neither of them wanted to rush into anything. Kara was getting over someonetoo, somewhat like himself. She spoke of him every once in a while and he wouldlisten, nod his head and smile. He knew what it was like. He knew exactly whatshe was going through because he’d been there too.

When the conversation inevitably turned to Dina he would getcaught in the “you were the only one for me” thought and her eyes would be allhe saw. He knew he couldn’t go back andstill he would go back. And there theywere parked down by the riverside in each others arms making love for the firsttime. Dina.

Every time he heard her name that's all it took and hewould be back in that place. It was torture, pure and simple, he knew. But hewould start thinking of all the words he left unsaid, all the promises made andbroken. He couldn’t help thinking of how to change that which could not bechanged. She had her life, the life that didn’t include him.

In his heart he knew she was gone, gone forever, but his headwas a different matter. There was no telling his head. He had his life, a lifewithout the woman of his dreams, his first love, but hopefully not his onlylove. He just had to work harder.

Maybe he wasn’t exactly the changed man he thought he was.Changing takes time. Isaac would keepgoing, keep at it and one day he would no longer blank out at the sound of hername. One day, hearing Dina wouldn’t cause his world to flip over. It would take time. Changing took time.Changing, after all, wasn’t so easy.

College Students

2011-11-19T04:00:00.000-05:00

Wyatt scanned the hugeclassroom and frowned. Lily wasn’t here and she hadn’t been in any of her otherclasses. That wasn’t like her to miss a class let alone all of them. He hadn’tseen her all day either. Something was wrong.

He ran outside andsearched the campus for her shiny, black head and there she sat alone at apicnic table under a Sugar Maple, its red and orange leavesswirling in the cold breeze at her feet. There was an open textbook in front ofher yet she stared off into space seemingly unaware of the growing chill andthe smell of snow in the air.

Wyatt’s heartconstricted painfully. She looked so sad. He stood irresolute as he watched heruntil, of their own volition, his feet took him closer. She had made it quiteclear to him time and again that she couldn’t stand the sight of him. She hadcalled him conceited and arrogant and, admittedly, she had been right. He wasall that and more or had been back in high school.

It had been too easyfor him then. Captain of the football team, valedictorian, homecoming and promking, voted most likely to succeed, adored and admired by almost the entireschool and he could get any girl he wanted. It hadn’t been much tougher atcollege. Who wouldn’t love being him?

Only thing was, hehardly cared about any of that anymore and he didn’t want just any girl. Hewanted only Lily. It had been that way from the moment his eyes landed on her,like a cement ball thrust into an unsuspecting gut. He was lost from that momenton. But try as he might to charm her, as many times as he had asked her out,she refused point blank. She simply hated him. To his friends he shruggeddismissively saying “Her loss.” But itwas he who felt the loss.

He had tried to pushher out of his mind. He had gone out with plenty of girls in an effort todislodge Lily from his head. But it was no use. Lily hadn’t been just in hishead. She had firmly and irrevocably taken residence in his heart, a muchharder place to remove someone, so they say.

So, here he waspractically stalking her. Going so far as attending the same college just in theoff chance she might change her mind about him. It didn’t even matter to himthat she had a long-time boyfriend. Wyatt’s mother wanted to kill him. Hisfather wanted to have him committed. He could have gone to any ivy leagueschool on a full scholarship and here he was wasting his life at a stateschool, and not even a particularly good one nor was it close to home. At leastthat would have been something. He could get to see Missy more often.

He looked down at histie and smiled wistfully. It was a pale yellow with Lilo and Stitch embroideredon it in blazing colors, his sister’s birthday present to him. Missy lovedDisney characters. Thinking of her brought tears to his eyes. Life just wasn’tfair. He got all the brains in the family and she got virtually none. Missy hadthe mental capacity of a five year old, but she was the sweetest girl ever. Heloved her so much.

He made a mental noteto write her a letter on the Beauty and the Beast stationary she gave him forChristmas. His mother could read it to her. He would get some stickers for her,too. She loved stickers. Perhaps he could find Aladdin or Lion King ones. Hehad yet to find those for her.

As he drew nearer toLily he stopped, his heart constricting. She was crying! His feet took motionagain without his consent stopping within a few feet of her. She hated him,after all, and would no doubt hate him more just for being there. Deciding he didn’tcare, he slowly straddled the bench beside her. So lost in her misery she didn’t even notice him.

“Lily?” he saidquietly.“Lily, is there anything I could do for you?”

She took a deep breathand slowly turned towards him, but he knew immediately she didn’t even see him.Her eyes were unfocused, her vision blurry and her mind distracted.

“Lily, can I getsomething for you? I hate seeing you look so sad,” Wyatt said softly,tentatively touching her hand which lay beside her book. To his horror he saw asparkling engagement ring and the air was sucked right out of him. She wastruly lost to him. He wanted the earth to swallow him up.

Suddenly she focusedon him with the usual disdainful expression on her face. “What do you care?Leave me alone,” she hissed before turning away from him.

He pulled back hishand but didn’t go. “If you haven’t guessed yet, Lily, you never will,” he saidsadly. “I’d do anything for you. Anything to make you happy, if you’d let me.”

To his extreme shockshe didn’t yell at him nor walk away in a huff as she had done a thousand timesbefore. Instead she burst into tears. He hesitated for only a split secondbefore enfolding her in his arms. He held her to his chest allowing her toweep as he stroked her hair.

“Lily, it’ll be allright, whatever it is. It’ll be fine. We’ll make it good again,” he murmured, though he had no idea why she cried so. And still shecried, on and on making him feel more useless with each tear that soaked intohis shirt. He knew he should be thrilled to finally have her in his arms, but inall his fantasies she hadn’t been bawling her eyes out.

“How can I help, Lily? Tell me, please,” hedesperately said after several long minutes.

“Lily, what the hell?”a harsh voice shouted making them both jump.

Wyatt pulled hercloser to him determined to protect her if need be. He looked around ready tofight.

“What do you want,Steve?” Lily said wiping her face with the sleeve of her sweater. Out of hispocket Wyatt pulled out a Mickey Mouse handkerchief, another gift from Missy, and he tenderly dried her tears much to her astonishment. She gave him onequizzical look then took it from him and blew her nose.

“I’ve been looking allover for you. Where have you been? I thought you were hurt or something. Whyare you crying and who the hell is this?” Steve said, glowering at Wyatt.

“It’s none of yourbusiness who he is,” Lily shouted. She pushed herself slightly awayfrom Wyatt’s embrace, but took his hand. Squeezing it he told her without wordshe would stay as long as she needed him. He pushed the hair stuck to her wetface out of the way and gave her a tiny, encouraging smile.

She looked at himobviously surprised by the tender gesture, but she said nothing and lookeddefiantly back at Steve. Wyatt was very used to that contemptuous glare. Shehad thrown it at him since the ninth grade. It was oddly satisfying to seesomeone else as the recipient for a change.

“What’s wrong, Lily?Why are you crying? What did this guy do to you?” Steve yelled looking readyfor a fight.

“Oh, yeah, what hedid!” she shrieked. “I suppose he’s the one that lied to me, huh,Steve?”

Steve blanched, hismouth hanging open. He looked no better than a deer in headlights.

“Busted,” Wyattmumbled, rubbing her back.

“You keep the hell outof this!” Steve snarled “Lily, I don’t know why you say that. I wasstudying all night. I swear.” The shiftyway his eyes were moving spoke volumes.

“Lies and morelies,”she muttered.

“Who is this guy andwhy is he all over you?”Steve asked in an obvious attempt to change the topic.

“That’s hardly yourconcern anymore, Steve. All you need to know is he wasn’t the one doing Kellylast night, but you know that first hand, don’t you? In future you might want tosleep with girls who can keep their mouths shut,” she said.

“No... I...no...”Steve stuttered lamely, his eyes wide in horror.

Wyatt looked from Lilyto the imbecile, for surely he must be the biggest imbecile, So, this guy made her cry. He felt like rippinghis throat out.

“Let me see if I gotthis right,” Wyatt said, his rage only held back by sheer will. “You have thisbeautiful girl in love with you and you cheat on her? You lie to her and goscrew some bimbo when you have this absolute angel engaged to you? You risklosing the only good reason to be alive for a cheap thrill? Congratulations,Bud, you’re the biggest fool on earth. Freaking idiot,” he said.

Heshook his head in disbelief until hecaught Lily’s astonished expression. “Oh, Lily, I’m sorry. It’s not my place tosay anything.”

“It’s all right,Wyatt. You just saved me the trouble, is all. Thank you,” she said lookingslightly bewildered, but mostly grateful.

“Lily, please, let’stalk about this in private. This has nothing to do with him,” Steve said.

“Uh-huh, sure, goingto talk your way out of this one, are you? Think again,” Lily said dabbingat her eyes one last time. “Here,” she said, tugging at the ring. She pulled itoff her finger and she threw it at Steve hitting him on the chest. She then stoodup. “I don’t ever want to see you again, in case you thought otherwise.”

“Lily, please!” Steveshouted making to grab.

Wyatt grabbed his hand and crushed it. “Don’t you dare touchher or you’ll have me to contend with,” he snarled.

Steve was half hiswidth and several inches shorter, so, he backed up though reluctantly. “Lily,please, listen to me. I didn’t... I swear it,” he said not yet giving up.

“Tell someone whocares,” she retorted, turning her back on him.

Wyatt stayed betweenLily and Steve waiting for a cue. He couldn’t see how to help her or if shewanted him to. That was cleared up almost immediately when she held out ahand to him. Shocked yet thrilled beyond belief he seized it much as a drowningman clutches at a life raft. He followedher like an obedient puppy.

“Lily, I’ll call you. We can talk about thiswhen you calm down. You’ll see it was nothing,” Steve shouted after them.

“Stay away from me orI swear I will let Wyatt punch you until you bleed to death. And he can do it.He’s ten times the man you are. Rot in hell, Steve, and take Kelly with you.You deserve each other,” she said, then walked on, Wyatt in tow.

Wyatt tentatively puthis arm around her waist and when she didn’t protest he asked, “What can I do?”

“You’re doing it.Thank you,” she replied stiffly.

But simply walkingwith her wasn’t good enough for him. “You’re better off without him. Youdeserve so much better,”he said. “He’s not worthy enough to lick thebottom of your shoes. Don’t waste another tear on him.”

“Thank you,” shemumbled, her lip trembling and her eyes brimming with tears.

Dammit, she was crying again! “Can I get something for you? Food, drink? A sledge hammer to use onSteve?” he asked not at all joking. To his amazement she giggled and his heartsang.

“I just want to getaway from him,” she said desperately.

“I can take you toyour dorm,” he said helpfully.

“Knowing him he’llcome knocking down doors forcing me to listen to his crap,” she saidbitterly.

“I’ll stand guard. Hewon’t get passed me,” Wyatt said.

“Yeah but Kelly willbe there rubbing it in. No thanks. I just want to get away from here,” she saidmiserably.

“We can go for aride,”he said pointing to where his car sat parked.

She tried to smile, buther eyes swelled with tears again. He gave a gentle squeeze. “It’ll be allright, Lily. You’ll get over that jerk. You know how many guys would kill to bewith you? Loads,” he said as he opened the car door for her. She nodded,but after more than an hour riding around in near silence, still she cried. Itbroke his heart.

After a while, Wyatt grew hungry, but instinctively he knew she wouldn’t want to eat much, notwith how she was feeling. But he needed to get something to keep his stomachfrom growling. So he went to a fast food place, got a couple of large fries, acouple of milk shakes and, stopping at the mini-mart, two huge bars ofHershey’s chocolate. His mother always said chocolate and fries were the curefor any emotional upheaval. He sure hoped his mother was right.

When he told Lily thisshe actually laughed. “Fries and chocolate? Your mom addicted to junk food orjust a bit nutty?” she asked.

“A bit of both,”hereplied holding the bag of fries out to her. “Doesn’t hurt to try it.”

She took a few andmunched on them. “Wow, they’re really hot. I love fries whenthey’re super hot,” she said. "Didn't realize I was hungry."

“This shake is foryou, too. Orange-vanilla, your favorite,” he said.

She gaped at him a fryhalfway to her mouth. “How in the world did you know that?”she asked,incredulous.

“Uh...” What could he say? That he watched her in theschool cafeteria for years and knew she always got an orangecicle for lunch?“Just a guess,” he said shrugging. “My sister loves them.”

She stared at him insurprise. “I didn’t know you have a sister. Did she go to another school?” sheasked curiously.

“She did. Missy hasDown’s. She’s really adorable. She got me this for my birthday,” he saidsheepishly, showing her the Lilo and Stitch tie. “And the Mickey Mousehandkerchief.” He noticed she still heldit clutched in her hand. It made him feel good.

“Oh, I didn’t know,”she said.

“No worries. Disney isher thing,” he said grinning like a fool.

“I wondered why youalways wore Disney sweatshirts and stuff, ”she said thoughtfully. “I thought itwas strange. Now it makes sense. It’s sweet, that you wear her presents evenwhen she’s not around to see you.”

His heart lept withjoy. She had noticed what he wore. She thought it was sweet. That wassomething. In silence he furtively watched her eat almost all the fries. Whenshe took the shake he asked, “Would you like a sandwich?”

“No, this is fine. Ithink your mom’s pretty smart. I do feel better,” she said sounding a bitsurprised.

“You haven’t eventried the chocolate yet. Mom says that’s what does it,” he replied.

She cast him a curiousglance. “You’re different,” she said.

“From?”

“How you were in highschool,”she said.

“You expected me tostay a stupid high school kid? I’m a college student now. I was bound to growup eventually,” he replied.

She continued to starefrowning slightly. “Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked. "I was never nice to you."

This wasn’t the timefor confessions of deepest longing, not so soon after she broke off anengagement. It was bad form and there was nothing saying she wouldn’t take theidiot back. Plenty of girls do.

“Wyatt? Did you hearme?”

“Uh, yeah,” heanswered without looking at her. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.“I like you, Lily, very much. Simple as that,” he said quietly.

“But why?”

He didn’t know how toanswer that. He shrugged. “Just cuz,” he muttered.

“I’m sure you can comeup with something better than that, smart as you are,” she said. Shesuddenly frowned. “What happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"I thought you were going to Yale? That’s what I heard.”

“I had that option,”he said.

“Then why are youhere? This is hardly Yale.”

Again he shrugged.“Just cuz.”

She gaped,understanding finally dawning. “You didn’t come here because of me?”sheshrieked.

He just shrugged.

“Wyatt, look at me.Tell me you didn’t,” she said anxiously.

Once more he shruggedbefore looking up at her.

“Why, Wyatt, why wouldyou...?”

“Do you really have toask?”he burst out. “I’m crazy in love with you. Don’t you think I knowI’m moronic? Chasing after a girl who hates me. You’ve got a boyfriend. You’reengaged for Pete’s sake! Still all I can think about is you. I would give myright arm for one kiss from you, Lily. That idiot Steve had you and threw youaway. I could kill him for hurting you.”

She started crying again. “Oh, Lily, please don’t,” he moaned. “ I’m notyelling at you. I’m sorry.”

“We’re both sostupid,” she muttered.

“Uh, okay,” he said,confused.

“I came to this schoolto be with Steve and you came here because of me. I want to go somewhere else,”she mumbled.

“I’ll take youanywhere, Lily. Just tell me,”Wyatt said.

“Think I can get intoYale?” she asked.

His heart stopped.“What?”

She took his hand andsqueezed it then smiled. “Now that I know what a nice guy you are and how youfeel about me I’d like to go wherever you go.”

Surely he wasdreaming. “You want to go to college with me?”

“I’m not as brilliantas you, but I’m not dumb. Yale may be out of my reach, but there must be a goodcollege for both of us. We can study together, get to really know each otherand I won’t make you give up your right arm for a kiss if you promise not tolie to me,” she said.

“No lies, Lily, never.I’d sooner quit college all together and dig ditches for the rest of my lifethan lie to you,” he said.

She laughed and liftedhis hand to her still damp cheek pressing it there. “You know, I kinda believeyou. I guess we better apply to different colleges for next semester. What doyou think of Princeton? I almost went there.”

He nodded unable tospeak. Princeton would be great. It had been his first pick because it wasclose enough to go home every once in a while to see Missy. Happiness swelledinside him. He was finally going to enjoy being a college student.

Death Wish

2011-11-12T04:00:00.000-05:00

“Timmy, don’t blink,” Henry said as he puffed on hispipe and rocked slowly on the porch.

Timmy paused in playing with his toy race cars and stared up at his grandfathercompletely baffled. “Whaddaya mean, Grandpa?”

“Weren’t you listening to the song? It made a lot of sense.How old are you now, Timmy? Five?” the old man asked.

“Six.”

“Just like in the song. You’re six years old, you take a nap, you wake up and you’retwenty-five married to your high school love. Don’t let that happen to you,” hesaid, vehement.

“If I take a nap I won’t wake up until I’m twenty-five?”Timmy shrieked in horror.

Henry burst out laughing, but it quickly turned into acoughing fit. “Ah, Timmy, you are good for the soul, but bad for my...anyway. It doesn’t mean that. It means that you have to make sure you make everything, every moment inyour life count. It goes by so quick. Look at me. I’m eighty-nine years old andI barely know what I did in all those years. I blinked. I’m on my last leg. Notmuch more I’m gonna be able to do beforethe good Lord calls me up.”

“Why is he gonna call you up, Grandpa? Does God really have your phone number?” Timmy askedinnocently.

Henry laughed again with the predictable coughingfollowing. He sat back with his hand over his heart wheezing painfully. “Have Itold you lately how much I like talking with you, Timmy? You’re the reason Ihaven’t jumped off a building by now.”

“You’ll get hurt if you do that,” Timmy said, anxiously watching his grandfather.

“Yeah, that would be the point. Better than causing so muchtrouble for your mama and daddy. They shouldn’t have to be stuck with a sickold geezer like me.”

“But we like you here. We don’t like the home where youwere living. Mama said they’re not nice.”

“They were nice enough,” Henry said dismissively. “I like that song. Could you play it for meagain?”

“Okay, Grandpa.” Timmy got up, pushed the replay button andKenny Chesney’s voice came back on telling them not to blink. Henry listened toit humming along. Tears suddenly filled his eyes and spilled over his wrinkledcheeks.

“What’s wrong, Grandpa? Should I get Mama?” Timmy asked taking his hand.

“Come sit with me, Timmy,” he demanded gruffly. Timmyobeyed instantly crawling gently up on his lap. Henry patted his head. “Youhave to promise to remember me when I’mgone.”

“Where you going, Grandpa?”

“Well, I can’t stay here forever, you know. Everybody hasto go sometime. God wants us to only stick around for so long then we have tokeep him company in heaven. Hopefully that’s where I’m going. If it was theother place I wouldn’t be so anxious to get going.”

“But you have to die to go to heaven. I don’t want you todie,” Timmy said starting to cry.

Henry hugged his sturdy little body to his frail one. “Now,now, Timmy. That’s why I want you to remember me. That way I won’t really die.But I want you to do one more thing for me, Buddy.”

Timmy wiped his face with the back of his hand and lookedup at him. “What?”

“Whenever you do something great like the first time you hita baseball or the first time you kiss a girl....”

“I don’t wanna kiss no girl!” Timmy shouted at once.

Henry laughed again. “Well, you say that now, but there will be one day maybe in ten years andyou’ll change your mind.”

“Uh-uh,” Timmy insisted, shaking his head foremphasis.

“Okay, forget that. But whenever you do a great job, Timmy,I want you to stop for a minute, look up at the sky and say “See, Grandpa, Ididn’t blink.” Can you do that for me?”

Timmy stared at him perplexed. “A great job?"

“There’s gonna be many times in your life when you won’texactly know when those times are, but even if you’re not sure just do itanyway. Just say hello to me. I’ll be there.”

“Like a ghost?” Timmy said, his eyes wide as saucers.

Henry grinned. “No, I don’t think I know how to do that.I’ll be around every time you think of me. You just won’t be able to see melike I am now. Maybe I’ll be a butterfly or an eagle or just a mushroom in theforest.”

“Wow. I better not knock over anymore toadstools. It mightbe some dead guy I don’t even know,” Timmy said seriously.

Henry laughed, then promptly started coughing. When he couldhe said, “So. Now you got it? You justsay hi to me whenever something happens to you even if it’s bad or good or justregular stuff like when you first learn to ride a bike.”

“I already know how to ride a bike. Wanna see?”

Henry smiled. “In a bit you can show me. But first I wantto make sure you know what I want. This is my death wish, Timmy. It’s importantthat you do it or I’ll be forgotten.”

“No, I won’t forget you, Grandpa! I promise,” Timmy said.

“There’s my good boy. Now go on and show me how good youare at the bike thing and then I’ll show you how to beat me at checkers.” Henrykissed the top of his head and Timmy scampered off his lap, jumped on his bikeand rode around the lawn and sidewalk.

Three weeks later, Timmy stood beside his mother clutchingher hand. She had tears streaming down her face, but Timmy stood stoically asthe preacher spoke of walking in the valley of the shadow of death--wherever that was. Henry’sshiny black coffin was covered with white roses. Timmy placed on the casket a bunch of daisies he pick in themeadow beside his house. He looked up at the stormy sky and sadly said, “ I picked these cuz maybe they’re Grandmaand now you can be together. I miss you.”

A butterfly, yellow and black, fluttered in front of hisface and landed on the daisy bunch and Timmy smiled.

“Hi, Grandpa. See, Ididn’t blink. I’ll never blink. But I’m still not kissing no girl,”he saidgruffly.

Timmy looked all around him,amazed. He could have sworn he heard Henry laughing at him.

Grandpa got hisdeath wish.

Finding home

2011-10-29T04:00:00.000-04:00

Miranda tried to watch the movie, but she could feel Jimmy’s eyes onher. How strange. She thought he’d hate to look at her now. She had lookedbetter, much better in fact. Just as she turned totell him to stop staring at her he spoke.

“You’re so beautiful, Miranda,” he said quietly. "As beautiful as ever."

As this was exactly the opposite she had expected she gapednonplussed. “Jimmy, are you insane? I have a black eye, a cut lip, a swollennose and bruises everywhere,” she said half incredulous, half exasperated.

“I can see passed all that. I only see the real you... before hedid this to you,” he said unconsciously clenching his fist. How he’d love tomeet her husband down some dark alley and show him what a proper whooping feltlike. “I’m still worried Cletus will come back, Miranda. What if he sneaks in while you’re sleeping?You won’t have time to call me... oranybody, for help.”

She managed a small smile. “I’ll be fine, Jimmy. I’ll besleeping with my favorite guys tonight,” she said flippantly. At the shockedlook on his face she giggled. “Smith and Wesson.”

“Oh,” he said obviously relieved. “But if he catches you asleepyou won’t have time to reach for it. He could kill you this time.”

“And what will you have me do? Hide from that creep forever?Leave my family and friends, my hometown? He already took my dignity. I won’tlet him take anything else from me,” she said fiercely, fighting the urge tocry. “I’m staying put. He dare show his face here and I’ll make sure it’s thelast time he has a face to show. I’ll blow it off!”

Jimmy cringed. “Please, don’t say stuff like that, Miranda. I’ma cop,” he said wearily.

She giggled again. “I’ll deny I ever said such a thing andyou’ll have to back me up or see me thrown in jail,” she said brightly, turningback to the TV.

“You know I would never allow that to happen,” he said.

She smiled at him and patted his arm. “You’re such a pal.”

His heart skipped a beat at the tiny touch and that smile gavehim the strongest desire to kiss her. But he couldn’t possibly do that. First,she was still married and might, despite all her protestations, go back to thebastard. Second, she just said they were pals and pals don’t go around kissing.Third, anywhere his lips would land would likely hurt her. He’d sooner die thancause her more pain.

It was as if he was back in high school. It hardly mattered he was virtuallyunrecognizable from then. He grew more than a foot, had musclesand could take care of himself. Plus he wasn’t sobad to look at anymore, at least according to all the ladies who ask himrepeatedly to dances, dinner parties for two and the movies.

So why did he feellike the geeky, awkward fifteen year old kid he had been then whenever Miranda wasaround? He knew perfectly well why. He had loved her since then, from afar,yes, but loved her just the same. Longing for the girl he could never have didthat to a guy and being in or out of high school had nothing to do with it. Buthe wasn’t about to give up on protecting her. He could at least do that forher.

He looked critically around her home. He saw nothing to make himthink she could possibly want to stay in this hovel. It was a rundown shack atbest out in the woods far from anything. She didn’t belong here. It was plain forhim to see. Why couldn’t she?

“Miranda, you don’t really like this place, do you?”he burstforth.

“Like it?” she said bemused.

“I mean, wouldn’t you like to live in a nice place closer totown, closer to friends and where youcould find work? The woods is nicebut.... I just don’t like the idea of you all alone out here. Maybe I couldhave Townsend and Daltry come stand watch for you.”

She stared at him. “The guys from The Who?” she askedbewildered.

He grinned. “Townsend and Daltry are my two GermanShepherds, guard dogs. They're very good at their job. They’d rip off anyone’s facewho tries to get in here. With them on guard duty I’d feel you were safe. Onein front, one out back. What do you say, Miranda?” he asked.

Emotion welled up in her chest. “I say you are thesweetest man alive to care so much about a stupid girl like me. I’d like tomeet your mother to tell her what a great job she did raising you.”

“She’d love to meet you, my dad,too. They don’t live too close but we can take a ride next weekend and...”

“Jimmy, I was kinda kidding. I very much doubt your parentswould like me. I’m quite beneath you and they’ll know it,” she said.

“Of course they’ll like you! They’ll love you as much as I do,”he said before he could stop himself.

She remained perfectly still savoring for a moment that little slip. She knew better than to say anything in return before she truly knewwhat her feelings were.

“Well, maybe I can meetthem after I don’t look like I went two rounds with Mike Tyson. I wouldn’t wantto scare them,” she said as casually as she could. “Come to think of it, won’tI scare The Who dogs with this face?”

“They don’t scare that easy. You can feel safe in your own homewith them around. You want me to get them for you?” he asked hopefully.

She looked around as ifseeing the house for the first time and realized it never really had been herhome. It certainly never felt like it. When she and Cletus married they wereonly going to stay for a while in this hideous dump. A while stretched intoalmost three years with no plan to change things. But things were definitelychanged now. She had never really thought about it, but she didn’t have to stayhere at all. Not in this place which only held the worst of memories for her.She never considered leaving but now she truly couldn’t think of anything she’dlike better.

She suddenly felt lighter than air. A smile spread across herface, but it quickly vanished again.

“Miranda? What is it?” Jimmy asked.

She slowly turned to him and tried to smile, but she couldn’tmanage it. “I’d love to leave this place. I’ve always hated ithere,” she said quietly.

“But?” he said frowning.

Her lip trembled as she stared down at her hands. “I’ve got nomoney, Jimmy.”

“I’ll get you a job.”

“I have no skills. All I learned in high school wascheerleading. You gonna get me an audition with the Dallas Cowboys’cheerleading squad? Even you can’t do that,” she said.

“You were artistic back in school. You’re smart and personable,quick to learn. You’ll have no trouble getting a job. Anything will do for astart until you find something you really like,” he said confidently.

“Jimmy, you think way too highly of me. And so what if I get ajob? No one will just let me take an apartment before I have enough for adeposit and I don’t even have a car to get to work. Cletus smashed his and tookmine. I’m stranded in the sticks unless you got a horse I can borrow,” she said.

“Then move in with me,” he said.“No, listen, it’s not like you think. I have a three bedroom house and my lastroommate just moved out when he got married. You can have his room and you cando whatever you like with it. I’m right in town so you could walk to any placethere for a job. It’s like five minutes. In good weather I walk into town or Ican drop you off before going to work.”

She stared at him fighting the urge to cry again. “Jimmy, are you going forthe title of supreme nice guy of the universe?” she asked.

“No, I just want to know you’re safe. When I’m not home Townsendand Daltry will be right there protecting you. No way Cletus can ever hurt youthere and you can start your life over. You can be happy again. I’ll make sure of it. Please, Miranda?”

She gazed into his honest, hazel eyes feeling her heart swellingwithin her chest. She couldn’t comprehend why Jimmy, who shehad treated contemptuously back in school, was being so nice to her. She didn’tdeserve it. She may never deserve such devotion, but she wanted to. She wanted tobe the person Jimmy saw her as. If she didn’t know better she’d say she wasfalling in love. But it was way too soon for such nonsense. She was just in astate of emotional upheaval. That could cause all sorts of crazy thoughts andeven nuttier feelings. But still she hadto consider Jimmy’s offer of a real home. It was too good to toss it carelesslyaside.

“Have you ever lived with a girl before?” she asked.

“Does my mom count?”he asked.

She giggled and shook her head. “Mamas are supposed to like youeven if you leave the toilet seat up.”

“My mama taught me well. I never leave it up,” he saidproudly.

She laughed. “You know, I believe it coming from you.”

“I can cook too. Nothing fancy but I won’t let you starve. Ifyou don’t like it you can always slip it to Townsend. He’ll eat anything,” hesaid conspiratorially.

She laughed again. The happiness she felt so briefly came backfull force. “Last chance for you to back out of this, Jimmy, cuz I’m reallyconsidering taking you up on the offer.”

He grinned like a fool. “Ain’t gonnahappen.”

“Then I guess you got a new roommate, but I will pay you back,Jimmy, and I won’t be a nuisance. I’ll keep house for you and I can cook. I canat least do that,” she said.

“You’re going to regret saying that. I’m a slob,” he saidstanding up and pulling her to her feet.

“What? You’re leaving so soon?”she said, surprised.

“No, I was going to help you pack a few things. We’ll take whatI can fit in my truck now and we’ll get the rest tomorrow,”he said.“Unless you want to see my house first to make sure you’ll like it.”

She shook her head. She knew she’d like it even if itwere an underground borrow. Cletus, after all, wouldn’t be there, but moreimportantly, strong and handsome OfficerJimmy would be sleeping in the room next door worrying about her, willing toprotect her with his life and eager for her happiness. She finally found home.

Gun Power And Lead

2011-10-22T04:00:00.000-04:00

It took four cops to get him off her this time.

“Lady, you gonna file charges yet or are we gonna see youdead next time?” Officer Franklin snarled, his menacing scowl reminiscent ofher husband’s.

Still dazed and hurting all over, she barely knew what washappening. She raised a shaky hand to her scalp. Blood, thick and pasted ontoher pale blonde tresses came away on her fingers. Had they not shown up shemight be heading to the morgue. Good thing she had sense enough to know it wascoming this time. She called the police preemptively saying there was anintruder before he made it in the house and started smacking her around. Theytook their damn sweet time. Just another “disturbance” at the Jonas’. Domesticviolence gets no respect nor do those who live with it.

Much to her own surprise, she said in atremulous, almost inaudible voice, “Yes, I am. This has to stop.”

“Stop?” Cletis shouted, incredulous. He strained againstthe two men holding him back, hands cuffed behind him. “Oh, this will stop soonas I get back, you bitch! You can count on it.”

“Ma’am, you should let us take you to the hospital. Youdon’t look so good. You might need stitches,” a kindly officer who’d never been there before, said as theothers took Cletis out still screaming obscenities and threats.

She shook her head and instantly wished she hadn’t. Shenearly fainted. He grabbed her before she fell and helped her to a seat on thecouch. He knelt beside her still holding her hand. “Please, Miranda, let mehelp you. This shouldn’t happen to such a nice girl,” he whispered.

She stared at him, but he was slightly blurred. He lookedvaguely familiar. “Jimmy Harold? From high school?” she asked.

He smiled. “Yeah, you finally noticed me.”

Yes, she remembered perfectly now. Jimmy Harold had been ageeky kid, scrawny and bookish. He always went out of his way to say hello toher and help her with any school work she was having trouble with. Unless she needed him she would turn her noseup at him. She barely acknowledged his existence.

She had been a very popular girl, acheerleader in love with Cletis the quarterback. But look at them now. Jimmywas now a respected police officer tall, handsome and muscular and she? Well,rag doll came to mind when she looked at herself in the mirror lately, floppylimbed, stringy haired, often bruised and swollen face, weak and broken in bodyand spirit.

“How the might doth fall,” she retorted.

“Miranda, I can...”

“Harold! You coming or what?” growled Officer Franklin atthe door.

“I think we should take her to see a doctor,” he said,swiftly standing up and releasing her hand.

“What for? She’ll be in worse shape after her darling getsout on bail and comes back to finish her off. Now let’s go! She’s hardly theonly one in town getting beat up,” he snarled.

Jimmy looked down at her then grabbed a card out of hispocket and stuffed it into her hand. “Call if there’s further trouble, Ma’am,”he said sounding carefully detached. Reluctantly he left, quietly closing thefront door behind him.

She heard the gravel fly as the two police cars took offdown the road. What could she do but lean back and cry? She did weep for a good while. Despair often followed an episode of Cletis verses Miranda leaving her lethargic and resigned to her fate, but this time she remembered Jimmy atschool. That somehow bolstered her. How nice and kind he had been to her then andeven now. She looked at his card and only then noticed handwriting on the back.

Call me whenever you need someone to talk to. I’ll listenand I’ll help if you let me, it read followed by his personal cell number.

“Still sweet on me, I guess,” she murmured to herself. “No, Jimmy, no one can help me.”

She knew it was true. She had to do it herself or stay likethis. It was only a matter of time untilCletis really did put her in her grave prematurely. Suddenly she wasn’t toowilling to allow that to happen. Cletis had slapped her and shaken her like arag doll once too often. A steely determination suffused her being. She had aplan.

She went to the kitchen and grabbed a beer forfortification. She would need it. She downed it slopping a bit down her shirtbut no matter. She went outside and hopped into the old jeep and tore on out ofthere. She had only a few hours at most until he made bail. His barroom buddieswere always willing to help him out. Well, she had no buddies. She had onlyherself now. She didn’t need anyone though. She would do this all alone. Shegot herself into this mess and she would get herself out.

She pulled into her parent’s driveway and snuck into thehouse. Not that it really was sneaking in. Nobody ever locked their doors inthis tiny bo-dunk town. They were gone to church so no one would see herdisheveled appearance nor question her about her mission. She knew where herfather kept it. It was always in clear view perhaps to intimidate anyone whodared question his right to it. The shot gun was up high and she, tiny thingthat she was, had to get up on tiptoe to reach it leaning on the mantle for theextra inch she needed.

She handled it with expertise once she got it down. Herdaddy had shown her a few hundred times how to shot with accuracy and she wasgood.

“My own little Annie Oakley!” her father had proclaimedproudly. She knew he had been disappointed in her for this current situation.She would do him proud again.

She checked for ammo with no doubt of actually needing it.Her father always kept the shotgun loaded for the unexpected critter bent ondoing harm. Well, she needed it more than he did right now. She quickly scrawled anote on an old receipt for barbed wire from the hardware store she found lyingon the kitchen counter.

It read: Need this toget rid of a vermin that’s been bothering me. Get it back to you soon. Loveyour little Annie Oakley.

She grinned then grimaced and tenderly touched her face.Damn but it hurt and she could feel a tooth was loose. Oh, yeah, he would pay.His fist may be big but her gun’s bigger. He’ll find that out soon enough whenshe pulls the trigger.

Back home she sat by the front door smoking one of hiscigarettes. She hated smoking and grew more ornery just from doing it. Shewanted to be ornery. For far too long she had been a weak willed, sweet youngthing blaming herself for Cletis’ problems. Well, she wasn’t the one pouringJack Daniels down his throat nor was she the one that kicked him off the job.He did that on his own. He blamed her, slapped her face and shook her like arag doll. Don’t that sound like a real man? Perhaps now she would earn thatblame.

Another beer in and the six-pack was done. She could feelhim coming like a black thunder cloud rumbling in the distance. Soon, realsoon. Sure enough she heard a clunking pick up--Carl’s no doubt--flying down towards her. She thought she’d beafraid but that had long since passed. A blazing heat permeated her soul.Perhaps she was getting ready to go to hell. No, that wasn’t it. She wasalready in hell and she was determined to crawl on out of there and leave himthere. Last time Cletis would ever hurt her or anyone.

“He wants a fight, well, now he’s got one,” she said as shecocked the gun and brought it to eye level.

The door banged open and there he stood filling up thedoor frame with his broad shoulders and looking angrier than a food deprivedgrizzly. Then he saw the gun and blanched.

“Say goodbye to your jewels, Honey. You won’t be seeing themagain, not in one piece anyway,” she casually said.

BAM!

She calmly got up and walked towards him. He lay clutchinghis groin a scarlet stain appearing between his fingers as if by magic. Hestared up at her terrified groaning.

“What the hell!” he moaned, thrashing around in obviousagony.

“Does that hurt?” she asked innocently.

“Hell yeah, you crazy bitch!”he shouted, looking from her face to the gun and back.

“You ain’t seen me crazy yet,”she snapped. She did, indeed, look a bit maniacal. Her pale blue eyes were slightly dazed and there was a nervous tick on the side of her face.

“What you gonna do?” he squeaked, rather like a cornered mouse.

“Don’t gotta look soscared. It’s just little old me, Honey. I’m half your size, remember? And youknow what little girls are made of, don’t you? Just a tiny bit of gunpowder and lead.”

She kicked him in the ribs just for good measure and laughedas he yelped. She then sat back down on her rocking chair staringat him as he struggled to get up. “I suggest you sit still or I might get anitch in my trigger finger. Now, listen up. You are gonna get back to yourbuddy Carl’s truck and go. I don’t care where, just go and never come back. Ifyou do, it’ll be more than your pecker gets blown off next time. Do youunderstand me, Cletis? Or haven’t you sobered up yet?”

“I’m dying and you expect me to drive?”he whined.

“You’re not dying. That would put you out of your misery and I kinda likethe idea of you not being able to function like a man, if you know what I mean.Being as you ain’t no sort of man to speak of. You actually think you’re a big man beating up on a little girl? Gotnews for you, you are nothing more than a wimp and a bully. I’m just sorry Inever saw it back in school. The way you always beat up on kids smaller thanyou. Always smaller than you. You made sure you were friendly with the bigones, didn’t you?” she said.

“Call an ambulance, Miranda! You know I didn’t mean it,” hepleaded.

“Yeah, I’ll do that soon as you take back every slap andpunch you ever gave me. Take the rest of you and get out of here unless youwant me to finish you off. I could always dump you in that old well we gotcovered up out back and no one would ever know. Be easy to drag you out thereand just... you know what? Maybe I should. You look like you’re in a lot ofpain there. What do you say? One in the forehead, for all the good times?”

“You... you are crazy!” he shouted pushing himself away fromher using his legs and leaving a wide, wet, crimson trail. He finally managedto get outside and pull himself into the truck blood pouring everywhere.

She waved from the front porch, smiled and shouted as hetore out, “Come back if you want another taste of what little girls are madeof. Remember, gunpowder and lead! ”

She waited until the dust cloud vanished with histaillights. She stumbled inside and fell back on the couch, trembling all over.No, the fear hadn’t returned. Just an immense sense of relief. It was over, shejust knew it. He would never return. Somebody had finally stood up to him andwhen all of town heard how it came about, he would be a laughing stock. To havehis member blown off by a tiny little girl, a girl? No, he was outta herepermanently.

She smiled then started to laugh, even though it hurt her.The laughter slowly ebbed and tears fill her eyes. She was free and she knewexactly who to thank for it.

She dialed the number on Jimmy’s card and just as she hadhoped got his voice mail. “Um, Jimmy, this is Miranda. I just wanted to thankyou. Cletis, as you probably know, got out on bail and I had a...uh...a littletalk with him. He’s leaving town so you can tell your Sargent there won’t beany more trouble here. Thank you, Jimmy. I couldn’t have done it without you,” she said and slowly hung up.

She took in a deep breath and slowly letit out again. Time to start afresh.

Bitter pill to swallow part 2

2011-10-15T04:00:00.000-04:00

She has issues

Ginny watched her brother calmly eathis apple and frowned.

“You don’t seem at all surprised,”she said.

“Why should I be?” Paul replied.

“Well…did you hear what I said? Gretatold Pop that we can’t wait for him to die so we can have all his money.”

“My hearing is excellent,” he said,taking a last bite and tossing the apple core into the compost bucket under thesink. He then washed his hands, picked up his guitar and sat back down.

He started strumming and then said, “Toldyou she has issues. She talks about you behind your back all the time.”

Ginny gasped. “She does? You nevertold me that!”

“You never asked.”

Ginny’s mouth fell open. “What…what …that’snot the kinda thing anyone asks!” she shrieked. “Oh, by the way, does such andsuch talk about me behind my back?”

“It would make things easier,” Paulsaid, matter-of-fact, as he played a familiar Beatles tune in an unfamiliar way.

Ginny listened for a bit and likedit very much, but then she shook her head impatiently. “Well? What does she say about me?”

“Hmm, the best one was that you haveno opinion of your own. You just agree with whatever Ned says. she thinks you're little more than milquetoast,” he said derisively.

“She really said that?” Ginny said.

“Oh, sure, but I wouldn’t allow it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I told her she had it all wrong.Anyone who has a brain and sees you and Ned interact for more than a minute cansee you’re totally in tune with each other. I told her it’s not that you don’thave an opinion but that you and Ned have the same opinion."

"I'm surprised you do," she said, looking at her brother in awe.

"For Pete’s sake, you barelyhave to talk and you know what the other is thinking. You finish each other’ssentences. Just a look and…” He suddenly started laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, Greta...she just hates that I contradicther and I do it all the time. I may be the only one who does. She’s such abully."

"Uh, what does that have to do with..."

"Well, you should have seen the look on Greta’s face when I told her allthat. Like she was eating lemons dipped in turpentine. It was hilarious!”

Ginny, however, didn’t find anythingto laugh about. All this time she thought she had a confidant in Greta or at the very least a friend. What afool she had been!

“I never said that, what she toldPop. You know how Ned is. Practical and logical. He was telling them…Stanmostly but Greta was there too…”

“Sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong, as usual,” Paulmuttered, irritated.

“I guess. Ned told them that heexplained to Pop that the IRS would snatch half of his money upon his death. Popblew a gasket when he heard how much the IRS would steal from him. He said, ‘A death tax on top of all the otherways they taxed that money already? Los Ladrones!’ He yelled for a half hour andcalled them a few other choice words. Totally livid.”

“I can imagine,” Paul said. "The IRS is completely out of control."

“He explained to Pop… this was thelast time we were there, last Christmas… he told him some ways he could use tokeep as much of it as possible, like he should start dividing his money and givingit away as gifts. I mean, he knows he’s got to give it away to someone anyway, sohe may as well give some now so he won’t get penalized with the inheritancetax.”

“I like calling it what it really is,the death tax, just like he said.”

“Ned told Pop he should give you somenow, since you could use it to buy a new car and maybe get a nice little house.I hope you don’t mind he told him that,” she said a bit anxiously.

Paul shrugged. “I don’t care, but Idon’t want his money and he won’t give it anyway. Not without loads of strings attached and Idon’t like strings.”

Ginny sighed. Her brother and fathernever really did get along. “Anyway, Pop either didn’t understand what Ned wasexplaining or is procrastinating.”

“It’s a family trait.”

“Not understanding money matters orprocrastinating?” she asked, a bit of a smile finally showing up.

He laughed. “Both I’d say!”

“So, you believe me that I never saidI want Pop dead so I could have all his money?”

“Of course I do! You’re no moneygrubber. What? You think I’m gonna believe anything coming out of Greta’sjealousy?”

“Jealousy? Why would you say she’sjealous?”

“Come on! Just look at you. You leada charmed life,” he said.

Ginny blinked stupidly. “I do?”

He laughed at her. “Okay, maybe not charmed.I mean you did almost die a couple of times and…”

“What?” she said, totally thrown.

“When you got your appendix takenout. I overheard Mom talking to… what was that lady’s name? Remember Aunt Sohpie’s friend, that really smart old lady? I think she was Cuban.”

“Dolores?”

“Yeah, that’s her! She had beentranslating what the doctor said for Mom. She said you almost died. Weird, huh?In this day and age, almost dying from an appendix is unheard of. Of course,you were only twelve at the time.”

“I had no idea,” Ginny said, her eyeswide in shock.

“But you knew you could’ve diedgiving birth.”

“Oh, that wasn’t even close. It wasjust a routine c-section.”

“No c-section is routine and itprobably caused the autism. And Lonny was way premature and he almost did die.They were tough babies for you. Ned was scared to death he would lose you, too.I was there, so I know.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re exaggerating!”

“No, I'm not. You had that fire in the house, too,and lost most of your stuff.”

“This is your idea of a charmed life?”

“No,” he said, laughing. “It’s thatno matter what bad things come your way, you still manage to be happy and finewith it. You have a great attitude. You and Ned stay together, you even growcloser through stuff that usually, at least nowadays, breaks families up. And younever fight.”

“Of course we do!”

“Not nearly as much as normalpeople,” he said.

“So, now we’re abnormal?” she shouted.

“Definitely Abby Normal. I love that movie. I should go lookfor it,” he said.

Ginny rolled her eyes. Leave it to her nutty brother to go off on atangent. “So, you’re saying Greta is jealous because Ned and I are stilltogether? But she’s still with Stan. That can’t be it.”

“But she fights constantly with him.She fights with everybody, but that’s another story. She knows you and Ned are deliriouslystill lovey-dovey after all these years and she can’t stand it. You should beas miserable as she is. She doesn’t have the same outlook as you, either, orthe same inner peace and she knows it. I told you, she has issues.”

“And what are these issues?”

“Heck if I know. I just know she’sone of those miserables—you know, theFrench revolution types. She’s never happy.So she tries to spread misery to all around her. I guess that’s supposed tomake her feel better, but don’t ask me how.”

“That’s exactly what Mom told me,”Ginny said.

“That’s why I tell her nothing orvery little. She’ll only twist it around and use it to slander you. Think I’dever tell her my roommate is female? Hell no! She’ll just turn it intosomething sleazy. Who needs that?”

Ginny stared at her brother in awe.“You’ve opened my eyes, Paulie. Thanks. Have any advice? What I should do aboutPop?”

Paul shrugged. “Let him stew in itfor now. He’ll get over it in time and then it’ll be as if it never happened.”

Ginny made a face. “You really thinkthat’ll work?”

He grinned. “Let’s put it this way, Pophas issues of his own and only he can deal with them. Nothing we can do aboutthat. He’ll have to get over it and if he doesn’t, well, Pop still can’t takeit with him. I’m hoping he leaves all his money to the church. We all know theynever have enough golden challises. Did I tell you….”

Ginny smiled as she half listened toPaul’s favorite rant, religious hypocrisy. Perhaps he was right. Things wouldjust blow over with nary a word spoken about it. It usually happened in thisissue-filled family.

As for Greta, God would have to dealwith her. It simply wasn’t Ginny’s place nor desire to deal with her deviousaunt.

Perhaps—and this gave Ginny a chuckle—God could have Beelzebub handleGreta. They were kindred spirits ofsorts and only the likes of him should be able to do something with her…unless, of course, Beelzebubhas issues too!

Meant to be

2011-10-08T04:00:00.005-04:00

“Good night, Melina, my love. Sleep tight,” Kelly whispered. She and Ray went down the hall and into the living room in silence.

“I’m afraid to ask what you think of my little brat,” Kelly said.

“Melina is not a brat,” he said. “ She’s precious, an angel, a little darling. But then I suspected she would be with you for a mother. She’s so much like you it’s scary.”

“I’m not sure that’s a compliment, but I’ll take it as such. Thank you, Ray,” Kelly said. Taking his hand she led him to the sofa.

“For?” he asked, sitting down beside her.

“First, for scaring away the monsters far better than I could have done. That’s very important, especially to Melina,” she replied. “And second, for giving her a little taste of what it would be like to have a daddy. She’s never known that.”

His smiled. He hadn’t realized how much he missed being a daddy, but he couldn’t exactly tell her that. She’d think he was auditioning for the part. “You said her father died when she was just two. She doesn’t remember him, then,” he said quietly.

“She couldn’t possibly. Henry left for the war when she was three months old. I should have known he wasn’t meant for civilian life.” She sighed heavily. “Love makes you irrationally hopeful, doesn’t it?”

He couldn’t agree more with that statement. Here he was, after only being widowed a bit over two years, dating a woman 16 years his junior and wishing to have her and her darling little girl as permanent fixtures in his life. What was he thinking? How could he think of replacing a daring and brave army lieutenant, a war hero? He must be insane.

“So, Melina never really knew her dad.”

“I’ve told her stories but no, not really.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t married in all this time. You’re so... wonderful,” he said.

She smiled. “Thank you, Ray. I suppose I could have found someone if I had been looking, but I was too concerned with Melina. Her seizures only just started getting better since this new medication. It’s only because it has been more than six months without an episode that I even thought about taking some time for me, like a class, your class. It was the first time I could breathe with ease. Felt good for a change,” she said with obvious relief.

“Well, I’m certainly glad you did. You’re a joy to be around,” he said. He cleared his throat and pretending calm he asked, “How long did you know Henry before you married?”

“Oh, years and years, since high school. When we met we were each dating other people, we all were friends until my boyfriend took a liking to his girlfriend and we were left out in the cold,” she said laughing.

“That wasn’t very nice,” Ray said frowning.

“No, but it was for the best,” she replied matter-of-factly. “It happens.”

“So, then you and Henry got together?”

“No, he went to the army right out of high school. He loved it. It was what he was born for. Wish I had figured that out then,” she said thoughtfully.

“What do you mean?”

“He asked me to marry him early on but I wouldn’t.”

“Why not?” Ray asked bewildered.

“He planned on making the military his career. I didn’t want to be an army wife. I didn’t want our kids never to know if their father would be coming back from a war or even a training mission. That’s no life. So, when he finally got out, we decided to marry.”

“How long was that?”

“Eleven years.”

“You waited all that time to get married?” Ray said incredulously.

“Yes, I refused to until he was out of the military for good,” Kelly said wistfully.

“But then... how did he die?”

“Nine-eleven happened when I was pregnant. Henry wanted to go back, I could tell. He pretended he was fine, but he was so restless and cranky. I couldn’t take it. He was so miserable being home and doing nothing of value while his buddies were out killing terrorists and protecting us from further harm.”

“Nothing of value? He had already done several years protecting all of us,” Ray said fiercely. “Plus now he was a father and a husband. There’s value in that, too.”

“He didn’t see it that way. He felt he was letting everyone down. So, I let him go. He swore he’d come back, but we never saw him again. He was blown to bits,” she replied stoically.

Ray cringed. “Oh, Kelly, I’m so sorry,” he whispered. And he thought he had it bad, seeing his wife slowly die of cancer.

“It’s fine, Ray. He went the way he wanted, protecting us from evil,” she said soothingly, giving his hand a squeeze. “You know that stupid saying. If you let it go and it comes back, it was meant to be. Me and Henry, we just weren’t meant to be.”

“Don’t say that. Together you made Melina. She was meant to be, wasn’t she?” Ray said softly.

She giggled. “There you go again, Professor. Teaching me something very important. Melina’s right. It was a good thing for me when I found you.”

No, he thought, it was a good thing for him. Too bad he was too chicken to tell her this. “How sad for you, Kelly. You and Henry only were together for such a short time.”

“Not much sadder than you, Ray. For you it was far worse, I think. You were together for so long,” she replied.

“And yet it wasn’t long enough,” he said before he could stop himself. “Guess we’re in the same boat, then, both losing our spouses.”

She grinned impishly. “People have become friends with less in common.”

They stared at each other both knowing they were becoming far more than friends.

“Do you think they’re looking down at us right now?”she asked wistfully.

He thought about that a moment. “I don’t know. What do you think Henry would say?”

She smiled. “He’d say, about time you got a life,” she said in a gruff voice. Then she giggled. “How about your wife?”

He looked into space for a minute and grinned. “You know, I never really thought about it, but I kind of think she’d say the same thing.” They both laughed.

“Well, then maybe they’ve become friends too, wherever they are,” Kelly said brightly. She then took Ray’s hand and squeezed it. “It’s like back in high school.”

“How do you mean?” he asked baffled.

“We’ve switched partners. Maybe this was meant to be, too,” she said.

He smiled. He certainly hoped so.

Bitter pill to swallow

2011-10-01T04:00:00.010-04:00

This was odd. Her mother callingin the middle of the day? Something was up. Ginny knew it couldn’t be she wasill. Her father would have called if that were the case. Although, he had beenrather distant lately.

The usual smile Ginny wore whentalking to her mother slipped away as she listened. “And he believes that? Heactually believes I would say that?”

“You know your father. He’sstubborn and he always thinks the worse in people,” her mother replied sadly.

“But he obviously believes hissister over me! Well, you can tell him…”

“Ginny, I’ve tried to reason withhim, but he’s bullheaded as usual.”

“I never said …”

“I know you didn’t. I don’t blameyou. I blame Gretta. She’s a bitter, foul-tempered woman who delights intwisting things around. She could never be happy throughout her life though shehad everything she could want. She loves to spread misery wherever she goes. Ijust wanted you to know.”

Ginny held back angry tears. “AndI can’t even talk to him. He never says more than hello to me anymore, and Idoubt he’d do even that, if given the choice.”

“You realize your visit herewould be…cumbersome at best and downright uncomfortable at worst,” her mothersaid, in a defeated tone. “It’s not that I don’t want you, Ned and the kidshere, but I don’t want you to feel…”

“It’s okay, Mom,” Ginny said, hervoice cracking. “I gotta go.”

“Okay, bye.”

“Bye,” Ginny mumbled beforehanging up. Only then did she allow the tears to fall, her thoughts centered onGretta, the bitch!

She heard footsteps and quicklywiped her face. She hated being caught crying.

“Hey, I need…” Ned said before heglanced at her face. “What’s wrong?”

As calmly as she could sheexplained the situation, but by the end of her speech it became more of a rantwith language rarely used by her.

“Really?” Ned said blankly. “Sheactually told them that?”

Ginny nodded. “And if you think I’mever speaking to that bitch, think again!”

“No, don’t blame you. What areyou gonna do?”

She shrugged and did the only thing she couldthink of, cook dinner and think.

How to deal with betrayal? She hadnever needed to know before. Ginny’s first thought was to phone her aunt and tellher precisely what she thought of her, but common sense prevailed, common senseand good breeding. Her mother would never do such a thing, so neither wouldGinny. Unlike most women, Ginny prided herself that she had become her wonderfullysensible mother.

Suffer in silence, that was thefamily way. That didn’t sit well, though. Shouldn’t the betraying, lyingtroublemaker have some sort of punishment dealt her? In a just world, yes, butwho ever said it was a just world?

“Well, perhaps I’ll be cut out ofPop’s non-existent will,” Ginny muttered to herself as she tossed onions intothe browned beef and stirred. “Gretta can have it all to herself. It’s not likeI want it and then maybe she’ll be content.”

Ginny scoffed. She knew nothingcould do that. But why not? Gretta had so much to be grateful for, a faithfulhusband, great kids, a lovely home and personal beauty. What more could shewant?

What enigmatic thoughts must fillGretta’s head? To what purpose does she spread her venom? This wasn’t, afterall, the first time, but naïve as Ginny always was, she never saw it. She alwaysliked Gretta, which made the betrayal all the more baffling. To what end didGretta behave this way?

In every life some weltschmerz must fall. There was adifference between how Ginny would deal with it verses her ugly-minded aunt. Ginnywouldn’t allow this episode to make her bitter. Gretta could keep that all toherself.

Glory's Short Stories

Winter passing by Julie Helms

Where did the time go by Alistair Marquise

Life’s too short for ugly clothes

Never fall in love again

Zebrina the cat takes a romp

A Dominican Christmas

Accidental friends, part 2

Accidental friends, part 1

A poem: To no longer be shackled

Every time I hear your name

College Students

Death Wish

Finding home

*Gun Power And Lead*

Bitter pill to swallow part 2

Meant to be

Bitter pill to swallow

Gun Power And Lead