Comic #6
Tag Archives: Infidelity
Too Perfect Marriage – Part 5
Brody stood behind Bridgette in the VIP section of the dance club. They watched Calvin get pummeled by a big man with a gold chain. Calvin and Shea escaped the club through the back door.
Bridgette spun around, and her lips were inches from Brody.
“So you had to do that?”
“Not a great time for cold feet, Bridgette!”
“Obviously,” she said, then crossed her arms. “But he’s the dad of my kids, it sucks to watch him get hurt… you better not be friends with that thug, animals like that disgusts me.”
Brody smiled and put his hand on Bridgette’s shoulder, then massaged her neck as he spoke. “H-hey, relax B-ridge. People will do anything for a fee, a love for the Benjamin’s is all I have in common with him.”
“Stop pretending, nobody can hear you but me… so why did you have him beat Calvin up?”
Brody released Bridgette, swatted the air with his hand then walked away. Bridgette scurried after him until they sat down on a sofa together.
“Don’t get snappy with me,” she said, then folded her arms.
Brody groaned. “We’ve been over this. They both needed to leave the club.”
“Duh, I know.”
“When Shea comes back in, you better be ready,” he said, then faced her with his brow deep over his eyes.
“They might leave together… I think they know-”
“She won’t.”
“Yeah but-”
“I took care of it,” said Brody. “She’ll be back inside.” He shoved Bridgette in the side with his forearm, forcing her to scoot. He shook his head as he reached for a concealed holster and took a revolver out.
“Hide that thing!” she said. “What if someone sees?”
“Your husband already did, thanks to your stupidity.”
Bridgette folded her arms, then shut her eyes and scratched her forehead. “So… did you bring the knife?”
Brody groaned, then got up from the couch and tapped one of his workers from the dealership on the shoulder. He smiled big. “Hey, having a blast?”
“Yeah, this place rocks!”
“Phenomenal! Hey, be a rock-solid guy and hand me Shea’s purse? Thanks guy.”
“Sure,” said the employee. He grabbed it from the tall table and handed it to Brody.
Brody returned to the sofa, opened the purse, then handed a steak knife to Bridgette. A napkin concealed the blade.
“You know what to do,” said Brody.
Bridgette bit her lips. “Is divorce really so bad?”
Brody curled his fingers into a fist. He glared straight ahead as he spoke through a dark whisper. “We’re a family first company. Divorce would crush my reputation. Marrying a widow, that’s a different story.”
Bridgette gulped.
“Grab Shea when she comes in.” He squeezed Bridgette’s hand. “Do this right, we can stop hiding.”
Bridgette nodded, then leaned in to him with her lips pushed out.
Brody caught her face with his palm, then sniffed. “You said you quit.”
“Calvin made me smoke.”
“You don’t listen to Calvin, you listen to me.” Brody pushed her away, then stood and stuck his finger in her face. “Get Shea.”
To be continued…
- Thomas M. Watt
Too Perfect Marriage – Part 4
“I had breakfast with Bridgette’s dad this morning.”
Shea quit smiling. Calvin walked around her and pushed through the dancers.
“Calvin, wait!” said Shea.
He split a couple apart and continued on. His eyes darted around the place, but it was hard to identify his wife with the rapid flash of strobe lights. Music pounded through the speakers. Sweaty bodies were everywhere – but where was Bridgette?
Calvin spotted a few of his wife’s work friends. They climbed the stairs. At the front of the pack strode Bridgette and Brody. It looked like they could be holding hands, but other patrons blocked his view.
“Dammit,” he said, standing on his toes.
Someone grabbed Calvin by the wrist.
“Shea, what does that look-”
The moment he whirled around, a fist came flying at his face. Calvin ducked down and narrowly dodged the flying knuckles. It came from a big fella wearing an extra large black shirt, gold chain around his neck.
“What the hell!” said Shea.
Big fella swung again, and socked Calvin in the stomach. Calvin fell back a few steps.
“Stop!” Said Shea.
“Ain’t about you girl,” said big fella.
Calvin lifted his gaze – bouncers were storming over and parting the dancers.
“Look me in the eye you little bitch.” Big fella cracked his knuckles.
“Who are you?” said Calvin.
Big fella grabbed a fistful of Calvin’s shirt.
“Calvin!” said Shea.
Big fella cocked his arm back and delivered another blow into Calvin’s cheek. When he reloaded for another punch, Calvin shot out his arm, grabbed his gold chain, then twisted it until Big Fella began to choke. Big Fella dropped to his knees and dug his fingers between his chain and neck, struggling to breathe.
Big Fella ripped the chain himself, and the pieces landed on the floor.
“You done it,” he said, then stood and slugged Calvin across the face
Calvin landed in a dive on the dance floor, pushing the legs out from those around him. He hurried onto his back, and found Big Fella pouncing to clobber him. Calvin brought his knee into his chest, then kicked Big Fella right in the teeth. Backlash sent big fella bending and twisting over in the opposite direction.
Bouncers tore through the crowd, pointing at Calvin.
Calvin sprung to his feet and grabbed Shea by the hand. He rushed toward the backdoor, using his front wrist to strong-arm through the dancers.
“Why did he attack you?” said Shea.
“You think I know?”
Calvin checked over his shoulder for the bouncers, and got an unexpected glance of Bridgette and Brody. Calvin stopped in his tracks.
Shea ran into him. He turned her around, then held her with his forearm wrapped around her neck.
“What are you-”
Shea followed the point of his finger. Brody leaned over Bridgette from behind the top balcony, with his hands holding the bar in front of her abdomen.
“Oh my God,” said Shea.
The bouncers were making headway through the crowd.
“Let’s go,” said Calvin. He charged toward the back door and yanked Shea along with him. He kicked it open, and the two barged into a crowd of smokers.
“Waddup?” said a smoker.
Calvin noticed the four men encircling him had baggy shirts and chain necklaces.
“Your face looks like pizza got stomped on.” said one of them.”Who you runnin’ from?”
“Nobody. Let me bum one.”
They scoffed. One of them handed him a cigarette.
Calvin lit up, then sucked the black ash into his lungs.
“What just happened?” said Shea. She coughed and looked away.
“You don’t smoke?”
She eyeballed the cigarette. “Not anymore.”
Shea plucked the cigarette from his lips, then jammed it in her own. She treated it like it were a CPR victim, and killed it in no time. Shea coughed, bent over and pressed her hand to her chest.
Calvin pat her on the back and helped her straighten up. “Hey,” he said. “You okay?”
“Am I okay? Don’t you think they’re cheating on us?”
“I don’t know.”
“We’re getting cuckolded… my life’s over.” Shea spun around and reached for the door. Calvin grabbed her by the wrist then tugged her back.
“That guy attacked me for no reason.”
“I know, I’m sorry but-”
“Don’t go in there.”
“My husband’s in there.”
“Bridgette can be sinister. She goes out without me, but something changed her mind tonight. I don’t think it’s love.”
“Calvin-”
“Bridgette brought a gun. Maybe Brody’s got it now. Does your husband know how to use one?”
“Oh my God,” she lifted her head and stared back into his eyes.
“What?”
“The knife,” said Shea. She checked him up and down, then pushed her hand into his chest and walked away.
To be continued…
- Thomas M. Watt
Too Perfect Marriage – Part 3
Brody’s eyes fidgeted between her and Calvin. “…sure.”
He poured Shea a drink, then passed it along. The party guests resumed their former chatter, and the remainder of the ride went smooth, though there were a few subtle bumps. Calvin kept silent.
The ride pulled up to the popular night spot and dropped them off. The party guests hurried out and trotted to the back of the line. Once they settled in, Calvin grabbed Bridgette by the wrist and tugged her close.
“You brought a gun?”
“Huh?”
“I saw it. In your purse.”
“Are you being serious?”
Calvin’s mouth stayed shut.
“You’re starting to piss me off.” Bridgette jerked her arm away, then smiled brightly and returned to her circle of friends.
“Shit,” said Shea, squeezing Calvin’s shoulder.
He watched as she scraped her heel along the ground. It was the first time he noticed she had blonde hair and wore a red party dress, almost identical to his wife’s.
“I stepped in it. I stepped in shit,” Shea said.
Calvin stepped out of her grasp and grabbed his wife again. He swiveled her around, grabbed both sides of her face then kissed her on the lips.
“What do you want?” she said.
He brought his lips right into her ear, then whispered. “You have a gun. In your purse. I want to know why.”
“Get off me!” She shoved him back a few steps. Everybody in the circle went quiet. “See for yourself, moron!” She flung the purse at him.
It hit Calvin in the abdomen. Out spilled her make-up, tampons, and a few pens. No gun.
“Whoa! Keep it in the bedroom, you two!” said Brody. He ran his hand threw his grey hair and chuckled.
Calvin shook his head, then lowered to one knee and picked up his wife’s belongings. Shea bent over and picked up a few of the items with him, then dumped them in the bag.
Calvin stood, then smacked Bridgette’s shoulder with the back of his hand. “Here.”
She folded her arms. “You don’t trust me.”
“Take your purse.”
She rolled her eyes, then returned to her circle.
“You okay?” Shea said to Calvin.
He nodded.
“Want me to hold that?” said Shea.
Calvin’s eyes were glued to his wife. She wasn’t just enjoying herself – she was glowing.
Shea made robot noises as she peeled his digits off the handle, one by one. She swung the purse over her shoulder, then stopped giggling. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Yeah, I’m great.”
“Good, because that’s totally what I asked.”
A few people exited the night club, and the line moved forward.
“Brody works a lot, and I’m really busy with the kids,” said Shea. She stuck her palm to her eye. “Shit, I mean the kids I teach. I want kids, but Brody doesn’t. He used to, well before he married me-”
“My wife is going to kill me.”
Shea gasped. “What?”
Calvin studied Brody.
“I’m sure you’re just imagining it. I don’t know, you seem really creative. I think it’s cool how you play the guitar.”
Calvin faced her.
“Brody told me. They’ve been on the phone non-stop since Bridgette’s dad died.”
The group took another step forward. They were nearing the entrance.
“Did she even tell you? Shit, I shouldn’t have said that. Bridgette’s my good friend, and I don’t like getting into other people’s business. But that’s the only reason they look close.” She bit her lips, then pat Calvin’s shoulder blade. “I’m sorry. It’s not my place, I’m just a stranger to you… but if Bridgette’s scared you won’t be there for her when she needs you most, you kind of need to show her that she’s wrong… you know?”
The group advanced to the front of the line. “Wait here,” said the bouncer.
Shea sighed. “Shit, I can’t believe she didn’t tell you. That’s terrible. Not just for you, she must have trust issues. Just be patient and talk to her… I know I just met you, but you seem so sweet. Make her aware that you want to know all about the loss of her dad. That’s a really big deal… for anybody. I’m sure it’s not even you, she just feels vulnerable… There’s only two real men in a girls life, for God’s sake!”
Calvin shut his eyes.
Shea smiled kindly. “I know how it looks. Trust me, you think it’s been easy waiting for my husband to get off the phone with her? Bridgette’s an honorable person and would never do that to either of us, but I’m human, so yeah, I worry. I’ve been cheated on before – it destroyed me… for years.”
The group entered the nightclub, but the bouncer pulled the rope back before Calvin and Shea could pass through.
“Two?” said the bouncer.
“Oh, um, yeah I guess.” Shea scratched the back of her head. She frowned and punched Calvin in the shoulder. “It’s great to be a thinker, but you really should lighten up a little… I know Brody seems like a jerk, but he’s a good guy deep down… Trust me, he would never, ever cheat on me.” She smiled at Calvin. “So stop worrying about him and your wife already!”
The bouncer cleared the rope. The pair strode up the steps together and entered through the door. Music bumped, strobe lights flashed. Shea grabbed Calvin’s jacket flap. His gaze remained somewhere beyond her.
“Hey! Nothing is wrong! They’re friends! We’re friends! Relax and have fun!”
She hopped until she had his attention, then tossed her hair back and crossed her arms. “God, you really need to let things go!”
“I had breakfast with Bridgette’s dad this morning.”
Shea quit smiling. Calvin walked around her and pushed through the dancers.
To be continued…
- Thomas M. Watt
Too Perfect Marriage – Part 2
If you missed Part 1, click here!
A long black limo pulled up and parked by the curb. The driver walked around the vehicle and opened the door for them.
When Bridgette crouched down to enter, Calvin noticed a handgun tucked away in her purse. He stopped where he stood.
“All aboard the S.S. Jackhammer!” said Brody.
Cheers and laughter followed, along with a few clanks of bottles and glasses.
“Hey, can I talk to you about something?” Calvin said to Bridgette, his wife.
“Uh-oh, he’s getting cold feet, you were right about this guy!” said Brody.
“You’re not even inside, and you already want to argue?” said Bridgette.
The laughter and chatter died down.
“It’s just…” said Calvin. “When did you get… Are we going someplace dangerous?”
For a moment the limo went quiet. Then Brody let out an explosive chuckle, yanked Calvin inside by his tie, and everybody returned to their previous festive mood.
“Grab a drink guy, lighten up. It’s Friday!”
Bridgette laughed. She took the seat right beside Brody. Calvin moved around at a hunch until he squeezed in between two women.
“Name’s Calvin by the way.”
“What’s that?” said Brody.
“My name is Calvin. We haven’t met before. I’m a firefighter.” He scratched under his jaw. “You know, my name isn’t guy.”
Brody raised an eyebrow.
“Ignore him. He’s a party-pooper.” Said Bridgette.
“No, no,” said Brody. “I’m a stand-up guy myself. My name is Brody, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, Calvin. Your wife has nothing but wonderful things to say about you.”
“Oh, that’s a surprise,” he said with a laugh. Everybody chuckled along with him.
While the party guests indulged in the jovial mood, Calvin sat with his knees pressed together. He reached into his pocket for his phone, and started to text Bridgette.
When did you buy a gun?
“Baby, hold this for me!” Bridgette tossed her phone through the air.
Calvin made a jerky move to catch it. He wanted to ask her out loud, but her eyes darted to every spot he wasn’t.
Calvin shook his head, then slipped Bridgette’s phone into his other pocket. When he did, he inadvertently elbow-jabbed the breast beside him. Calvin instantly crossed his arms close to his chest, then sighed, shut his eyes, and let his head droop backward.
“I’m here, in my mold,” he muttered to himself.
“But I’m a million different people, from one day to the next.”
Calvin’s eyes shot open. The woman who he’d just bumped into had sung the rest of the verse.
“Bittersweet symphony?” said Calvin.
“I know, don’t you hate that song? Slaves to money then we die? Sorry, but money equals happiness.”
Calvin raised his eyebrows and grinned politely.
“That was a joke… kind of a bad one. Not sure where the laugh goes. The verve? Please. I love that song.” She mumble-sang the melody and bobbed her head.
Nothing about her screamed super-model. Especially not the freckles spotting both her dimpled cheeks. But she was… simple. And simple was better than ideal. A lot better.
“Another bottle,” Shea!” said Brody.
The woman beside Calvin nodded, then reached into a cooler and took out some Pinot Noir.
“Throw it,” said Brody.
“Well I don’t want to break-”
“Throw it, throw it, throw it!” began Brody, slapping his hands to his thighs. The rest of the party followed his lead, while Calvin had his eyes on Shea. She blinked rapidly, shook her head, then chucked it like it were a dead rat over to Brody. He and Bridgette tried to grab it at the same time, and in their haste they knocked the bottle straight to the floor, where it shattered. Wine spilled over Brody’s slacks and Bridgette’s ankles. The cheer halted.
“Dammit Shea,” said Brody. He fanned out his wet hands.
“Shit, I knew I shouldn’t have thrown it. I’m so sorry.”
“Oh, don’t you worry doll. Brody bought more than enough,” said Bridgette. She flashed a picture-perfect smile.
Calvin twisted his lips, then pressed out the creases in his slacks.
“I know, I’m clumsy. Here, I’ll pass you another,” said Shea.
She retrieved a new bottle from the cooler. Brody crouched low then made ‘chuga-chuga’ sound effects as if he were a train, and ‘chugged’ over to her.
“Hey, here’s an idea? Why don’t you just hand it to me?” He chuckled loud, then snagged the bottle from Shea. “You’re the best,” he said, then returned back to his seat beside Bridgette. He popped open the bottle, then poured those around him a glass. He met eyes with Calvin, who sat with his arms crossed.
“Would you like a glass?”
Calvin scratched under his jaw. “This is your wife, right?”
Brody glanced at her, then tugged his lip corners up with his cheeks. “How truly awful of me… I’ve been so excited to have fun tonight, formal introductions must have slipped my mind. Calvin, you’re sitting next to my wife, Shea.”
Calvin nodded with his tongue pushed into his teeth.
“Hi,” said Shea. She held out her hand, but Calvin’s eyes were trained on Brody.
“I’m not used to these events, so help me understand… why am I sitting next to your wife, while you’re sitting by mine?”
Bridgette glared at Calvin. Brody raised his eyebrows. The other party guests quietly sipped their drinks.
Brody opened his mouth, but Bridgette grabbed hold of his wrist.
“You don’t have to answer that,” she said. “Calvin… babe? This an adult event. Try to act like one.”
“It’s ok, B-ridge,” said Brody, returning Bridgette’s hand to her lap. “Now Calvin, it’s my fault for not giving you the four-one-one, but typically at events like this, you actually don’t use any seating charts. Had I known you would have felt more comfortable, I would have been happy to draw one up for you.”
Many of the party guests bit their lips. A few chuckles escaped.
“B-ridge?” said Calvin. “What’s that, your pet name for my wife?”
Bridgette’s palm smacked against her forehead. Brody wore a tight-lipped smile.
“Why don’t you tone it down a notch, huh guy? You didn’t pay for this limo. You don’t know anybody here. You wouldn’t even be here if weren’t for B-ridge. So take a drink, and enjoy the good vibes.”
Calvin mirrored Brody’s tight-lipped grin. “Sounds radical.”
Shea rubbed Calvin’s kneecap, then whispered in his ear. “Just ignore him.”
Calvin turned and they met eyes.
Shea darted her hand back, shook her head, then scratched behind her ear. She turned to Brody and smiled. “I’d like a drink!”
Brody’s eyes fidgeted between her and Calvin. “…sure.”
To be continued…
- Thomas M. Watt
The Worst Kind of Marriage – Part 4
Part 1 –
Part 2 –
Part 3 –
Bethany was locked in the closet with Amanda, the young bible-clenching girl who had made the terrible mistake of knocking on Huerto’s door.
“We need to get out of here,” said Amanda. She was blonde and had a fresh black eye.
“I know.”
“Can we? I mean, how has he managed to keep you here?”
“Every window is boarded up. Every room is locked from the outside. He’s always within reaching distance of his rifle. And he never has any visitors over,” said Bethany. She’d been locked in the house with Huerto for four months.
Amanda swatted the hanger poking her. “What happened to you? I mean… why did he stab you?”
Bethany swallowed. “We got in a fight this morning.”
“About?”
Bethany felt her wound and winced. She stood at a hunch – upright hurt too badly. “I asked to go outside. Even if it meant having a gun in my side.”
“And?”
Bethany looked down and ran a hand straight through her dark hair. “And he got upset, picked up a knife, then stabbed me.” She sniffed. “A minute later he got out of bed to ‘make us some breakfast’.”
Amanda’s face went blank. “What kind of man is he?”
“He’s not a man,” said Bethany. “He’s a coward. A sicko with a gun.”
“I wish I never came here.”
A shout came from the other room. “Marriage ceremony! Later today, Huerto and the bitch with the bible!”
Bethany shot a glance at Amanda. “Marriage ceremony…”
“What?”
Bethany swallowed. “I know what he’s about to do. He’s going to wed you with the rifle barrel pressed to your temple.”
“So?”
“So,” Bethany said, licking her lips before going on. “So maybe that’s my time to do something. I remember where the knife is that stabbed me. If I can manage to get hold of it in secret, maybe I can kill him before he knows what hit him.”
“But won’t that put me in danger?”
“What?” said Bethany.
“If you lunge to stab him when his gun is at my head he’ll shoot me, and I’ll die.”
Bethany bit her fingernail.
“C’mon,” said the teenage girl. “You can’t take that risk-“
“In all the time I’ve been here, not once have I had the chance to hurt him. Today I’m either going to bleed to death or fight back. What would you do?”
Amanda looked terrified.
“What?”
“Please don’t get me killed.”
Before Bethany could respond, the lock clicked and Huerto swung the door open. “Wedding ceremony, upstairs!” He pointed his rifle at Amanda. “Get out.”
He waited for Amanda and Bethany to exit, then walked behind them. Bethany led the way, eyes glued ahead. Blood continued to drip down her nightie and the pain was getting worse. She could feel her legs shake as she stepped up the stairs.
Her eyes were dark, as was her hair, but her skin was pale. As they reached the top of the stairs her breath intensified. A strange feeling mixed with all the pain, fear and anger she’d had to live, day in, day out.
It was hope.
Part 5, Coming Soon!
– Thomas M. Watt
A Handshake Precedes an Indecent Request – Part 3 – GRAND FINALE!
Mr. Huerto grabbed Marie by the arm just before she reached the front door. “You’re going nowhere!”
“Let me go!”
“No!” He screamed. “Not until you explain yourself. Did you marry me for my money, expecting to take it and marry Joe after he returned from prison?”
She squirmed. “Joe, help me!”
Joe shook his head. “Tell the man, Marie.”
Marie shrugged her arm free. “Fine.” She let out a breath. “Yeah, maybe I did. Maybe I thought it would be the ultimate surprise for Joe when he got out. I loved him!”
“Loved?” said Joe.
She looked at Mr. Huerto, and rubbed his shoulder. “But something happened! I actually fell in love with you along the way! I don’t just want your money, I want you!”
“What about me?” Said Joe.
“Well… I still care about you! But things change! You’ve been gone for so long, Joe! What did you expect? How could you not think things would change?”
Joe grew teary eyed. “That whole time in prison, I served that sentence for you… for us!”
“Well what about me!” Cried Mr. Huerto. “I’m the true victim in all this! To think I’ve been duped, like some kind of idiot!”
“You weren’t duped!” Said Marie. “I love you! You’re my husband!”
“I”m a mockery! Our marriage is a complete sham!”
“No! It only started out that way!” Said Marie.
The door swung open, and Billy the butler rocketed in. “Good heavens!” He said, in a gasp. “What’s going on here? Who are you?” He said to Joe.
“That’s Joe,” said Mr. Huerto. “Fresh from prison.”
Billy the butler gasped again, and ran straight to Mr. Huerto. He hugged both arms around his neck. “Intruder! Don’t touch my man!”
Marie and Joe both gasped.
“Your man?” said Joe.
Mr. Huerto dropped his gaze and scratched the back of his head. He spoke solemnly. “Yes, I’m afraid it’s true.”
“What?” Said Marie, with a sniff.
“Me and Billy the butler.” He hardly managed to look back to her. “We’re in love.”
Marie slapped Billy the butler in the chest, and then he slapped her back. They both engaged in fit of wrist flickings, until Joe held Marie back.
“So our marraige IS a sham!” Cried Marie.
“Yes, but darling!” Said Mr. Huerto. “This can all be fixed!”
“How?” She said. “How can all this be fixed?”
Mr. Huerto shrugged. “Well… we can just stay married, and Joe can live here. Come night time, I’ll sleep with Billy the butler, and you can sleep with Joe.”
Everyone else shrugged as well.
An hour later, they sat before the television set, watching a feel-good movie by the fireplace. Mr. Huerto kissed Billy the butler on the cheek, and Joe kissed Marie on the lips.
“One big happy family,” said Mr. Huerto.
“I guess so,” said Joe, before winking to Marie. “We’re gonna go grab some more popcorn from the kitchen. We’ll be quick.”
As Joe and Marie walked hand and hand to the other room, Billy the butler turned and called out to them over shoulder.
“So will we!”
Everyone laughed extra laughingly.
THE END
– Thomas M. Watt
Various thoughts that fit Together in my Untamed Mind
Pretty girl, sitting there, gazing wide, looking fair.
I know you see it, I do too, the art from God, the voice of truth.
The problem is, you know it’s true, we’ve come from heaven with work to do.
I know my calling, know it fine, called to live my life divine.
By God who judges, He who speaks, the One who whispers my heart to sleep.
I know you want it, want it bad, knowledge of this so makes me sad.
For it’s not quite me of which you want, nor my heart, nor my cock.
But you want the dwelling bruise, the heart that aches, the lasting blues.
I’ll say it simply for some ears – the truth hurts me, the truth you fear.
For when she longs and so “Wants you,” all she wants is the pursuit.
Give her mystery, give her myth, a taste of wrong, a hint of bliss.
Her one true goal is to have you chained, but once she does, you’ve lost the game.
– Thomas M. Watt
The Taste of Tainted Lips
“Oh, Big Steve! Keep bouncin’ that ass Big Steve! Oh- Greg? Is that you? SHIT!”
The pan was already searing hot by the time Greg cracked his first egg and dropped it on. Almost instantaneously, the egg sizzled from translucent to white. Eyes weary, he used a fork to scramble it as he cracked then added a second. He thought back to the afternoon before, and let out a breath.
Darlene entered the kitchen. She caught his eyes and buttoned her lips, then shifted her weight to one side and shook her head.
“I don’t wanna talk about it,” said Greg.
Darlene sighed. “Babe if you just let me-”
“I said I don’t wanna fucking talk about it!” Said Greg, zinging the fork into the white plaster wall.
“But babe.” Darlene moved to his side. “We need to discuss it, that’s all.”
Greg returned his attention to the eggs, fuming through his nostrils as he stared bleakly into them.
“Babe?”
Picking up the iron pan by the handle, Greg lifted it high overhead before slamming it back down into the stove top. “Dammit Darlene, what do you want from me? What do you want me to say?” His chest heaved up and down for five heavy breaths, but she issued no response. “I mean, c’mon babe! How the fuck is talkin’ about it gonna make things better? Let’s be real here, you and me-”
“What about you and me?”
Greg shook his head. He picked up some of the scrambled egg remnants, turned his back to Darlene then flicked them into the sink. He turned the faucet on and ran his hands underneath the water stream. “We’re fuckin’ over. I mean, shit.” He gulped. “You know it, I know it. I ain’t gonna heal from this sort’a thing.”
“Well you could if you try! It was a mistake, I admit it-”
“I DON’T CARE!” Greg was surprised to find himself on the verge of laughter, even as his heart sank into his stomach. “Baby, put yourself in my shoes for a second. I come home, from a hard days work, lookin’ a grab a cold beer, maybe sit on the couch, watch the game for a little bit.” Flapping his arms up into the air and gazing towards the ceiling, Greg continued. “Lo and behold, I walk in on my girl messin’ around with Big Steve the professional fly-swatter-guy. I mean shit, Darlene! What the fuck kinda job is that, even? FLY SWATTER? You know you could just buy the equipment for about four bucks or something.”
“It was a big fly, babe, and I already told you, I made a mistake.”
Greg put his hands on his hips and shook his head. “A mistake would’a been kissin’ him. Maybe even sleepin’ with him. But dammit babe, I walk in to see the guy sittin’ on your face in my bedroom, shit! I don’t know whether I should be more mortified, repulsed, angry or just weirded out! I’m out their bustin’ my tail everyday, and for what? To come home and see Big Steve over here gettin’ rim-jobs about two feet from my pillow?”
Darlene sighed, then came closer. “You know that I love you, Greg,”
Greg shrugged. “I mean, not exactly.”
“Aren’t you gonna say it back?”
“I don’t know, I’m pretty sure I don’t feel like sayin’ it back.”
“You’re really going to hold this little tiny mistake against me?”
“Babe,” Greg shook his head, threw a dish-towel down, then started away. “Just think about what’s gonna run through my head every time I gotta kiss you, and there’s your answer.”
THE END
– Thomas M. Watt
White-shirted man
White-shirted man is on his way,
Seeking sunlight by the bay.
White-shirted man just wants peace,
Wants to feel the sickness leave.
No more commerce, no more drone,
No more pain within his coat.
Wants to quit, wants to leave, but money quenches more than greed.
Why this work this stupid job, why this wife who flirts with Bob.
Working hard to bust his ass, still brown-noses win by laughs.
Double Decker yellow bus reminds him of the days once tough.
Trying to just get ahead, dreaming of an income stead.
And yet it doesn’t work that way, make the money, or don’t stay.
Increase the income and you’re stone, stay the same and friends will go.
Never can enjoy much sun, when the money always says to run.
– Thomas M. Watt
(Painting courtesy of Andrew Farmer @ http://andrewfarmerfineart.wordpress.com/)
Thomas M. Watt 