Dana noticed the small pie-shaped area of snow originating from the crack in his front door and radiating towards the living room as he entered his house. Champ ran to the kitchen to get a drink of water and give his dog bowl a sniff as he did every time he and Dana returned from an outing.
"I gotta remember to get some weatherstripping next time I go to the store" Dana said out loud as the dog returned "Hadn't I? Champy ole boy??" and he gave him a brisk rub on the muzzle
Dana walked over to his chair after hanging his coat and ball cap on their perspective hooks and sat down heavily. He always felt kind of lonesome when first returning home. Dana felt much better once he got involved in a TV program or a project or dozed off in his recliner. He did the latter more days than not. The house seemed much different when Maura was still living there. It even smelled different when she was around. Now the house smelled like Dana. Even in the dead of winter Dana would occasionally open up a window for 10 minutes or so just to introduce some new air to the situation and reduce the stagnant Dana smell. He doesn't remember the house ever getting stuffy when Maura was there.
Dana pointed the remote in the direction of the television. The screen illuminated with a middle-aged woman wearing too much make up and extra large hair. She was was trying to sell Dana a faux leather purse for three easy payments of $19.99. She ran her glamour length nail tipped fingers over the shiny synthetic plastic leather to further tantalize him. The old man rocked three times before gaining the momentum necessary to upright himself from the chair. Dana headed towards the kitchen and paused in the doorway, scanning the room before entering. The counter top was relatively uncluttered except for the electric percolator and the set of three canisters shaped like over-sized toadstools and glazed in earth tones. The labels of FLOUR, SUGAR and TEA were deceiving. The jars actually contained hard candy, chocolate and change. He had a bit of a sweet tooth despite the concerns of his doctor. Dana rubbed his hand over his flannel belly as he was reminded of the physician's request that he lose weight before his next check-up.
Dana opened the fridge door and peered inside. Nothing appealed to him. He would frequently have breakfast for supper but Dana was not in the mood for eggs and bacon or frozen waffles. He decided to skip supper all together and go straight to dessert. He reached into the SUGAR canister and removed a handful of mini Mr. Goodbars and Nestles Crunch bars and headed back to his recliner.
Dana had move to Albieville about twenty years ago after retiring from the Mass Telephone Company. He and his ex-wife had lived all their lives on Cape Cod, raised their daughter Mary and only decided to moved when he retired. Maine was less populated and life would be simpler there. Looking back now, moving may not have been the best idea but as they say, hindsight is 20/20. Who is to say his wife would not have left him if they stayed in Massachusetts?
"I know what you want, but you can't have any, buddy." Dana said as he slipped the first candy bar into his mouth. The woman with the hair and make up had moved on to a new product in his absence. The deal on the table was a set of multi-colored battery operated candles with crystalline holders for three easy payments of $12.99. Dana slipped another chocolate into his mouth as he reached for the remote.
"Bitch." he said under his breath as he changed the channel.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
ALBERT
ALBERT TOOK A DEEP BREATH AS HE ENTERED HIS CLAY STUDIO. IT WAS A SMALL SPACE BUT ONE THAT HE REALLY LOVED BEING IN. THE EARTHY SMELL OF THE CLAY WORKED LIKE AROMATHERAPY FOR HIM AND THE STRESSES OF THE FARM AND STORE LEFT AS SOON AS HE ENTERED THE ROOM.
ALBERT ALWAYS ENJOYED HIS DAY OFF FROM THE HARDWARE STORE. GENERALLY, IT WAS A TUESDAY BUT, FROM TIME TO TIME, HE WOULD GET A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY OFF. BARRY AND HIS MOTHER, SUSAN, KEPT THINGS GOING WHEN ALBERT WASN'T AT THE STORE. THE MOTHER AND SON TEAM WERE MORE THAN CAPABLE AND ALBERT DIDN'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE STORE WHEN HE WAS ABSENT.
HIS DAYS OFF WERE SPENT DOING CHORES AROUND THE FARM THAT HE AND HIS PARTNER, PETER, OWNED. THERE WERE OVER 20 SHEEP, THE SAME NUMBER OF CHICKENS AND AN ARABIAN HORSE THAT NEEDED TENDING TO EACH MORNING AND AFTERNOON. ALBERT ENJOYED TAKING CARE OF THE FARM BUT IT STILL SEEMED LIKE WORK AND IT ATE INTO THE FEW PRECIOUS HOURS EACH WEEK THAT HE HAD TO HIMSELF. ALBERT'S FAVORITE TIME-OFF ACTIVITY WAS WORKING IN HIS POTTERY STUDIO. ON HIS DAY OFF THERE WERE USUALLY SO MANY CHORES TO BE DONE AT HOME THAT HE WAS LEFT WITH A FEW HOURS AT THE MOST TO SPEND MAKING PLAYING WITH CLAY. HE HAD BEEN THROWING POTTERY SINCE HE WAS A TEEN AND AT THIS POINT IN HIS LIFE IT WAS MORE FOR THERAPEUTIC REASONS THAT HE SPENT TIME IN HIS STUDIO.
HE USUALLY LISTENED TO CLASSICAL MUSIC WHILE HE MADE POTS BUT TODAY HE WAS IN THE MOOD FOR SOMETHING A BIT MORE INVIGORATING. IT WAS "THE TALKING HEADS" AND THEY WERE "BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE" WHEN ALBERT FIRST SAT DOWN AND CENTERED HIS FIRST PIECE OF CLAY. HE HAD BEEN THROWING FOR ENOUGH YEARS THAT IT WAS EASY FOR ALBERT AND POTS RARELY COLLAPSED ON HIM.
PRIOR TO PETER ENTERING HIS LIFE, ALBERT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF RELATIVELY SHORT TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER MEN. THIS RELATIONSHIP SEEMED MORE PERMANENT SOMEHOW. PETER WAS CONSIDERATE OF ALBERT AND APPEARED TO HAVE HIS PARTNER'S BEST INTEREST IN MIND WHEN FACED WITH DECISIONS THAT WOULD EFFECT BOTH OF THEIR LIVES. THE FIVE YEARS ALBERT AND PETER HAD BEEN TOGETHER HAD CENTERED MORE AROUND PETER'S NEEDS AND ALBERT WAS OK WITH THAT. HE REALIZED RELATIONSHIPS HAD EBB AND FLOW TO THEM AND IT WAS VERY LIKELY THAT THERE WOULD BE A TIME WHEN HIS NEEDS TOOK CENTER STAGE OVER PETER'S. IN SOME WAYS ALBERT LOOKED FORWARD TO THAT POSSIBILITY.
THE CYLINDER THAT HE WAS WORKING ON CONTINUED TO GROW WITH EACH EACH PULL OF HIS FINGERTIPS.ALBERT WASN'T CERTAIN YET WHAT HE WAS CREATING BUT HE THOUGHT A NICE FULL BELLIED PITCHER MIGHT BE NICE. THE TALKING HEADS WERE SINGING PSYCHO KILLER AND ALBERT COULD HEAR ONE OF THE SHEEP BAAING OUTSIDE.
NOW THAT MOST OF THE INITIAL ISSUES WITH THEIR RELATIONSHIP HAD BEEN RESOLVED, THE BIGGEST PROVIDER OF STRESS FOR BOTH GENTLEMAN WAS THE HARDWARE STORE. IT HAD BEEN A ROUGH YEAR FOR THE BUSINESS. THE STORE HAD ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF PETER'S. ALBERT'S ONLY INTEREST IN THE STORE WAS PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR HIS PARTNER. HE WANTED IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR PETERS SAKE BUT IT WAS NOT SOMETHING ALBERT HAD INTEREST IN OTHERWISE. HARDWARE, TOOLS, NUTS AND BOLTS MEANT NOTHING TO ALBERT.
ALBERT ALWAYS ENJOYED HIS DAY OFF FROM THE HARDWARE STORE. GENERALLY, IT WAS A TUESDAY BUT, FROM TIME TO TIME, HE WOULD GET A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY OFF. BARRY AND HIS MOTHER, SUSAN, KEPT THINGS GOING WHEN ALBERT WASN'T AT THE STORE. THE MOTHER AND SON TEAM WERE MORE THAN CAPABLE AND ALBERT DIDN'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE STORE WHEN HE WAS ABSENT.
HIS DAYS OFF WERE SPENT DOING CHORES AROUND THE FARM THAT HE AND HIS PARTNER, PETER, OWNED. THERE WERE OVER 20 SHEEP, THE SAME NUMBER OF CHICKENS AND AN ARABIAN HORSE THAT NEEDED TENDING TO EACH MORNING AND AFTERNOON. ALBERT ENJOYED TAKING CARE OF THE FARM BUT IT STILL SEEMED LIKE WORK AND IT ATE INTO THE FEW PRECIOUS HOURS EACH WEEK THAT HE HAD TO HIMSELF. ALBERT'S FAVORITE TIME-OFF ACTIVITY WAS WORKING IN HIS POTTERY STUDIO. ON HIS DAY OFF THERE WERE USUALLY SO MANY CHORES TO BE DONE AT HOME THAT HE WAS LEFT WITH A FEW HOURS AT THE MOST TO SPEND MAKING PLAYING WITH CLAY. HE HAD BEEN THROWING POTTERY SINCE HE WAS A TEEN AND AT THIS POINT IN HIS LIFE IT WAS MORE FOR THERAPEUTIC REASONS THAT HE SPENT TIME IN HIS STUDIO.
THE STUDIO WAS WELL INSULATED AND A SMALL SPACE HEATER DID A FAIRLY GOOD JOB KEEPING THE CLAY AND WATER FROM FREEZING BUT THERE WAS STILL A SLIGHT CHILL TO THE AIR ON THE DAYS WHEN THE KILN WAS NOT FIRING. ALBERT TOOK OFF HIS COAT AND REPLACED IT WITH AN APRON BEFORE HE STARTED TO WEDGE THE CLAY AND SET UP HIS WHEEL FOR A SESSION OF THROWING. THE LIGHT BLUE CANVAS APRON, WITH AN IMAGE OF WINNIE-THE-POOH ON THE BIB, READ "KISS THE COOK" AND ALWAYS BROUGHT A SMILE TO THE POTTERS FACE.
HE USUALLY LISTENED TO CLASSICAL MUSIC WHILE HE MADE POTS BUT TODAY HE WAS IN THE MOOD FOR SOMETHING A BIT MORE INVIGORATING. IT WAS "THE TALKING HEADS" AND THEY WERE "BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE" WHEN ALBERT FIRST SAT DOWN AND CENTERED HIS FIRST PIECE OF CLAY. HE HAD BEEN THROWING FOR ENOUGH YEARS THAT IT WAS EASY FOR ALBERT AND POTS RARELY COLLAPSED ON HIM.
PRIOR TO PETER ENTERING HIS LIFE, ALBERT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF RELATIVELY SHORT TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER MEN. THIS RELATIONSHIP SEEMED MORE PERMANENT SOMEHOW. PETER WAS CONSIDERATE OF ALBERT AND APPEARED TO HAVE HIS PARTNER'S BEST INTEREST IN MIND WHEN FACED WITH DECISIONS THAT WOULD EFFECT BOTH OF THEIR LIVES. THE FIVE YEARS ALBERT AND PETER HAD BEEN TOGETHER HAD CENTERED MORE AROUND PETER'S NEEDS AND ALBERT WAS OK WITH THAT. HE REALIZED RELATIONSHIPS HAD EBB AND FLOW TO THEM AND IT WAS VERY LIKELY THAT THERE WOULD BE A TIME WHEN HIS NEEDS TOOK CENTER STAGE OVER PETER'S. IN SOME WAYS ALBERT LOOKED FORWARD TO THAT POSSIBILITY.
THE CYLINDER THAT HE WAS WORKING ON CONTINUED TO GROW WITH EACH EACH PULL OF HIS FINGERTIPS.ALBERT WASN'T CERTAIN YET WHAT HE WAS CREATING BUT HE THOUGHT A NICE FULL BELLIED PITCHER MIGHT BE NICE. THE TALKING HEADS WERE SINGING PSYCHO KILLER AND ALBERT COULD HEAR ONE OF THE SHEEP BAAING OUTSIDE.
NOW THAT MOST OF THE INITIAL ISSUES WITH THEIR RELATIONSHIP HAD BEEN RESOLVED, THE BIGGEST PROVIDER OF STRESS FOR BOTH GENTLEMAN WAS THE HARDWARE STORE. IT HAD BEEN A ROUGH YEAR FOR THE BUSINESS. THE STORE HAD ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF PETER'S. ALBERT'S ONLY INTEREST IN THE STORE WAS PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR HIS PARTNER. HE WANTED IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR PETERS SAKE BUT IT WAS NOT SOMETHING ALBERT HAD INTEREST IN OTHERWISE. HARDWARE, TOOLS, NUTS AND BOLTS MEANT NOTHING TO ALBERT.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Sara
Sara enjoyed waitressing at Rudy's Cafe. The pay could be better but she liked working for Freddie despite his temperment. This wasn't what she had dreamed for herself at age 50 but it would have to do for now.
It seemed like only yesterday Sara was a young horticultural student at Penn State. Her life was filled with promise and she was excited about her future. She met Lester shortly after arriving in PA. He was twice her age and was a phys ed instructor for the university. He was attentive and kind in the beginning, just the type of man Sara hoped to find. There relationship lasted close to 20 years. By the time Sara decided to move on; the relationship had turned abusive and unfullfilling to say the very least. About 9 months ago she decided to pack up a few belongings and leave the dark basement apartment and her partner behind while he was at work. Sara and her two children needed a fresh start more than they needed a partner and father. The kids didn't seem to miss their dad and never asked for him. This surprised Sara especially in regards to 9 year old Amy who was the apple of her father's eye. Her son Daniel seemed relieved and appreciated the distance between he and Lester. His Dad had been hard on Daniel. No more waiting on an unappreciative elderly father and no more watching the abuse of his mom. Daniel was 13 and was perfectly content spending his free time playing on his X-box. Anna was more outgoing and loved drawing, dancing and singing. She hoped to be a model and singer someday.
Sara looked up when she heard the clang of the bell on the front door to see Dana, a regular customer, enter the cafe. She met the older man at his usual spot, a booth intended for four which had seen better days. Sara heard the vinyl squeak and the duct tape patches scratch as Dana slide into the booth.
"Coffee?" she asked and started to pour in anticipation
"Sure.....you got any of Franks rolls today?" Dana wasn't a big sweet eater but dropped by the cafe most days for some of Frank's homemade yeast rolls and a cup of coffee.
"Sure do. Can I get you anything else?" Sara asked routinely
"No thanks, dear. Some rolls and butter would be fine." Dana craned his neck to catch a glimpse of his dog waiting patiently in the drivers seat pick up. He had promised his canine companion a roll if he behaved.
"Here you go. Enjoy!" Sara set the small basket of rolls and butter on the table and looked out the front window of the cafe. It was a gray and rainy morning and she hoped the weather would clear before Amy and Daniel got off the bus.
"How are the two little ones?" Dana seemed to read what was on the waitesses mind
"Oh, they're good, thank you. How you doing, Dana? And your pooch?"
"We are both fine. He's a good boy. I think I might drag out some of my paints today and get back into my painting." The old man seemed excited at the prospect.
"Painting? That would be nice. These Maine winters are great for hobbies....not much else to do." Sara looked up as another couple entered the cafe and sent the bell into a series of metal clangs.
"Yup."
Sarah heard the icy rain ping against the window glass and thought of her children once again. Her shift ended at 3:00. If she was lucky she could meet the bus as it dropped off Amy and Daniel.
It seemed like only yesterday Sara was a young horticultural student at Penn State. Her life was filled with promise and she was excited about her future. She met Lester shortly after arriving in PA. He was twice her age and was a phys ed instructor for the university. He was attentive and kind in the beginning, just the type of man Sara hoped to find. There relationship lasted close to 20 years. By the time Sara decided to move on; the relationship had turned abusive and unfullfilling to say the very least. About 9 months ago she decided to pack up a few belongings and leave the dark basement apartment and her partner behind while he was at work. Sara and her two children needed a fresh start more than they needed a partner and father. The kids didn't seem to miss their dad and never asked for him. This surprised Sara especially in regards to 9 year old Amy who was the apple of her father's eye. Her son Daniel seemed relieved and appreciated the distance between he and Lester. His Dad had been hard on Daniel. No more waiting on an unappreciative elderly father and no more watching the abuse of his mom. Daniel was 13 and was perfectly content spending his free time playing on his X-box. Anna was more outgoing and loved drawing, dancing and singing. She hoped to be a model and singer someday.
Sara looked up when she heard the clang of the bell on the front door to see Dana, a regular customer, enter the cafe. She met the older man at his usual spot, a booth intended for four which had seen better days. Sara heard the vinyl squeak and the duct tape patches scratch as Dana slide into the booth.
"Coffee?" she asked and started to pour in anticipation
"Sure.....you got any of Franks rolls today?" Dana wasn't a big sweet eater but dropped by the cafe most days for some of Frank's homemade yeast rolls and a cup of coffee.
"Sure do. Can I get you anything else?" Sara asked routinely
"No thanks, dear. Some rolls and butter would be fine." Dana craned his neck to catch a glimpse of his dog waiting patiently in the drivers seat pick up. He had promised his canine companion a roll if he behaved.
"Here you go. Enjoy!" Sara set the small basket of rolls and butter on the table and looked out the front window of the cafe. It was a gray and rainy morning and she hoped the weather would clear before Amy and Daniel got off the bus.
"How are the two little ones?" Dana seemed to read what was on the waitesses mind
"Oh, they're good, thank you. How you doing, Dana? And your pooch?"
"We are both fine. He's a good boy. I think I might drag out some of my paints today and get back into my painting." The old man seemed excited at the prospect.
"Painting? That would be nice. These Maine winters are great for hobbies....not much else to do." Sara looked up as another couple entered the cafe and sent the bell into a series of metal clangs.
"Yup."
Sarah heard the icy rain ping against the window glass and thought of her children once again. Her shift ended at 3:00. If she was lucky she could meet the bus as it dropped off Amy and Daniel.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
BARRY MOVES ON
ALBERT HAD REALLY SIDE-SWIPED HIM. BARRY NEVER EXPECTED TO BE LAID OFF FROM ATCO BUT I GUESS IT MADE SENSE CONSIDERING HOW BAD THINGS HAD GOTTEN FINANCIALLY FOR THE LITTLE STORE.
"ITS THE ECONOMY, BARRY. WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP YOU ON ANY LONGER. MAYBE IF THINGS PICK UP IN THE SPRING WE WILL HAVE SOME HOURS FOR YOU."
"THAT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN." BARRY WOULD NEVER AGAIN WORK FOR ALBERT AND PETER. THEY COULD GO FUCK THEMSELVES.
ALBERT'S WORDS RANG OVER AND OVER IN BARRY'S HEAD. HOW WAS HE GOING TO TELL HIS WIFE THAT HE NO LONGER HAD A JOB? BARRY HAD ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST IN COMING BACK TO THE STORE....NOT IF HE WOULD BE WORKING FOR ALBERT. HE DIDN'T SEE MUCH OF PETER, THE ACTUALLY OWNER, BUT HE KNEW PETER WAS THE ONE PULLING THE STRINGS. ALBERT WASN'T DOING ANYTHING THAT WASN'T PETER'S IDEA OR , AT LEAST, APPROVED BY PETER.
HOW CAN HE BREAK THE NEWS TO KELLY? IT WAS EXCEPTIONALLY POOR TIMING....NOT THAT IT IS EVER A GOOD TIME TO LOSE YOUR JOB. TYLER HAD JUST TURNED A YEAR OLD AND HIS FATHER WAS JOBLESS. DAMN!
BARRY PULLED HIS PICK-UP OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND UP TO THE INTERSECTION. LEFT AND HE WAS HEADED HOME TO HIS FAMILY AND HIS RESPOSIBLITIES. RIGHT AND HE COULD DISAPPEAR? BARRY TOOK A LEFT. HE SHOULD OF KNOWN IT WOULD ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HE WOULD BE LET GO. CLIFF'S GROCERY HAD CLOSED LESS THAN A MONTH AGO. THINGS WERE NOT GOOD IN ALBIEVILLE OR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY FOR THAT MATTER. BARRY WAS SURE HIS MOTHER, SUSAN, WOULD BE LAID OFF THE NEXT MORNING WHEN SHE SHOWED UP FOR WORK. IT WOULDN'T BE AS BIG A DEAL TO HIS MOM. SHE ONLY WORKED AT ATCO PART TIME, JUST TO SUPPLEMENT HER RETIREMENT. STILL, HE HATED TO SEE HER LOSE HER JOB. SHE LOVED HER JOB BUT SHE ALSO HAD RESERVATIONS CONCERNING THE MANAGEMENT. BARRY'S MOM WAS VERY RELIGIOUS AND THREATENED TO QUIT WHEN PETER AND ALBERT TOOK OVER THE BUSINESS. SUSAN BELIEVED THE RUMORS ABOUT THE TWO MEN AND THEREFORE, FELT THEY WERE IMMORAL. SHE COULD NOT WORK FOR THEM. IN THE END HER ABILITY TO EAR SOME EXTRA CASH OVERRODE HER STRONG RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. NOW NONE OF THIS MATTERED. IN THE END, BOTH BARRY AND HIS MOM WERE GOING TO BE WITHOUT A JOB. HE CONSIDERED CALLING HIS MOM LATER TONIGHT TO PREPARE HER FOR WHAT MAY GO DOWN IN THE MORNING.
BARRY PULLED INTO HIS DRIVEWAY AND SHUT OFF THE MOTOR. HE EXHALED AND TOOK IN THE SIGHT BEFORE HIM. NEW HOUSE......PAID FOR. BARN....PAID FOR. KELLY'S VOLVO....PAID FOR. HIS OWN FORD PICK-UP....PAID FOR. MAYBE THINGS AREN'T AS BAD AS THEY COULD BE. HE AND HIS WIFE HAD LIMITED DEBTS. HE WAS SURE HE COULD PICK UP ENOUGH ODD JOBS TO PROVIDE FOR HIS WIFE AND YOUNG SON. THANK GOD KELLY WAS WORKING AS A PRIVATE DUTY NURSE 3 DAYS EACH WEEK.
AS SOON AS BARRY ENTERED THE HOUSE HE COULD SMELL DINNER. SOMETHING SPICY COOKING ON THE STOVE. MAYBE HIS FAVORITE? SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS?
"GEEBER! GEEBERRRR!" TYLER YELLED THROUGH THE WOODEN SPOON HE HAD IN HIS MOUTH. BARRY PICKED UP HIS SON AND COULD IMMEDIATELY SMELL THAT HE NEEDED CHANGING
"HEY" KELLY WALKED OVER AND KISSED BARRY ON THE CHEEK "I'M MAKING YOUR FAVORITE."
"I SMELL IT. SMELLS GOOD. TYLER ON THE OTHER HAND...."
"I KNOW, I KNOW....I WAS JUST ABOUT TO DO THAT." KELLY REACHED FOR TYLER BUT BARRY RESISTED.
"I'LL TAKE CARE OF HIM. YOU FINISH DINNER" BARRY HEADED UPSTAIRS WITH HIS SON IN HIS ARMS.
"YOU OK?"
"YAH, KEL, I'M FINE....JUST TIRED!" BARRY SOUNDED AGGITATED
"OK! OK! DON'T GET PISSY! GEESH"
"GEEEEBERRRRRR!"
BARRY LAID TYLER ON THE BASINET AND UNDID HIS DIAPER. HIS SON STILL HAD THE LARGE WOODEN SPOON FILLING HIS MOUTH, SOMETHING HE MUST HAVE ACQUIRED FROM HIS MOTHER AT SOME POINT DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE YOUNG FATHER PEELED BACK THE DIAPER TO EXPOSE A LARGE AMOUNT OF BROWN FECES.
BARRY MIMBLED TO HIMSELF "SHIT, SHIT, SHIT"
"ITS THE ECONOMY, BARRY. WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP YOU ON ANY LONGER. MAYBE IF THINGS PICK UP IN THE SPRING WE WILL HAVE SOME HOURS FOR YOU."
"THAT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN." BARRY WOULD NEVER AGAIN WORK FOR ALBERT AND PETER. THEY COULD GO FUCK THEMSELVES.
ALBERT'S WORDS RANG OVER AND OVER IN BARRY'S HEAD. HOW WAS HE GOING TO TELL HIS WIFE THAT HE NO LONGER HAD A JOB? BARRY HAD ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST IN COMING BACK TO THE STORE....NOT IF HE WOULD BE WORKING FOR ALBERT. HE DIDN'T SEE MUCH OF PETER, THE ACTUALLY OWNER, BUT HE KNEW PETER WAS THE ONE PULLING THE STRINGS. ALBERT WASN'T DOING ANYTHING THAT WASN'T PETER'S IDEA OR , AT LEAST, APPROVED BY PETER.
HOW CAN HE BREAK THE NEWS TO KELLY? IT WAS EXCEPTIONALLY POOR TIMING....NOT THAT IT IS EVER A GOOD TIME TO LOSE YOUR JOB. TYLER HAD JUST TURNED A YEAR OLD AND HIS FATHER WAS JOBLESS. DAMN!
BARRY PULLED HIS PICK-UP OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND UP TO THE INTERSECTION. LEFT AND HE WAS HEADED HOME TO HIS FAMILY AND HIS RESPOSIBLITIES. RIGHT AND HE COULD DISAPPEAR? BARRY TOOK A LEFT. HE SHOULD OF KNOWN IT WOULD ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HE WOULD BE LET GO. CLIFF'S GROCERY HAD CLOSED LESS THAN A MONTH AGO. THINGS WERE NOT GOOD IN ALBIEVILLE OR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY FOR THAT MATTER. BARRY WAS SURE HIS MOTHER, SUSAN, WOULD BE LAID OFF THE NEXT MORNING WHEN SHE SHOWED UP FOR WORK. IT WOULDN'T BE AS BIG A DEAL TO HIS MOM. SHE ONLY WORKED AT ATCO PART TIME, JUST TO SUPPLEMENT HER RETIREMENT. STILL, HE HATED TO SEE HER LOSE HER JOB. SHE LOVED HER JOB BUT SHE ALSO HAD RESERVATIONS CONCERNING THE MANAGEMENT. BARRY'S MOM WAS VERY RELIGIOUS AND THREATENED TO QUIT WHEN PETER AND ALBERT TOOK OVER THE BUSINESS. SUSAN BELIEVED THE RUMORS ABOUT THE TWO MEN AND THEREFORE, FELT THEY WERE IMMORAL. SHE COULD NOT WORK FOR THEM. IN THE END HER ABILITY TO EAR SOME EXTRA CASH OVERRODE HER STRONG RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. NOW NONE OF THIS MATTERED. IN THE END, BOTH BARRY AND HIS MOM WERE GOING TO BE WITHOUT A JOB. HE CONSIDERED CALLING HIS MOM LATER TONIGHT TO PREPARE HER FOR WHAT MAY GO DOWN IN THE MORNING.
BARRY PULLED INTO HIS DRIVEWAY AND SHUT OFF THE MOTOR. HE EXHALED AND TOOK IN THE SIGHT BEFORE HIM. NEW HOUSE......PAID FOR. BARN....PAID FOR. KELLY'S VOLVO....PAID FOR. HIS OWN FORD PICK-UP....PAID FOR. MAYBE THINGS AREN'T AS BAD AS THEY COULD BE. HE AND HIS WIFE HAD LIMITED DEBTS. HE WAS SURE HE COULD PICK UP ENOUGH ODD JOBS TO PROVIDE FOR HIS WIFE AND YOUNG SON. THANK GOD KELLY WAS WORKING AS A PRIVATE DUTY NURSE 3 DAYS EACH WEEK.
AS SOON AS BARRY ENTERED THE HOUSE HE COULD SMELL DINNER. SOMETHING SPICY COOKING ON THE STOVE. MAYBE HIS FAVORITE? SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS?
"GEEBER! GEEBERRRR!" TYLER YELLED THROUGH THE WOODEN SPOON HE HAD IN HIS MOUTH. BARRY PICKED UP HIS SON AND COULD IMMEDIATELY SMELL THAT HE NEEDED CHANGING
"HEY" KELLY WALKED OVER AND KISSED BARRY ON THE CHEEK "I'M MAKING YOUR FAVORITE."
"I SMELL IT. SMELLS GOOD. TYLER ON THE OTHER HAND...."
"I KNOW, I KNOW....I WAS JUST ABOUT TO DO THAT." KELLY REACHED FOR TYLER BUT BARRY RESISTED.
"I'LL TAKE CARE OF HIM. YOU FINISH DINNER" BARRY HEADED UPSTAIRS WITH HIS SON IN HIS ARMS.
"YOU OK?"
"YAH, KEL, I'M FINE....JUST TIRED!" BARRY SOUNDED AGGITATED
"OK! OK! DON'T GET PISSY! GEESH"
"GEEEEBERRRRRR!"
BARRY LAID TYLER ON THE BASINET AND UNDID HIS DIAPER. HIS SON STILL HAD THE LARGE WOODEN SPOON FILLING HIS MOUTH, SOMETHING HE MUST HAVE ACQUIRED FROM HIS MOTHER AT SOME POINT DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE YOUNG FATHER PEELED BACK THE DIAPER TO EXPOSE A LARGE AMOUNT OF BROWN FECES.
BARRY MIMBLED TO HIMSELF "SHIT, SHIT, SHIT"
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
DANA PAINTS
DANA HAD ALWAYS ENJOYED PAINTING LANDSCAPES BUT IT HAD BEEN YEARS SINCE HE HAD PICKED UP A PAINT BRUSH. HE KNEW JUST WHERE ALL HIS PAINT SUPPLIES WERE STORED. DANA HAD PACKED THEM AWAY SHORTLY AFTER HIS WIFE LEFT HIM FOR ANOTHER MAN. THE OLD MAN DIDN'T GO DOWN INTO HIS BASEMENT VERY OFTEN, ONLY WHEN IT WAS NECESSARY, BUT GETTING HIS PAINTS WAS WORTH A TRIP DOWN THE CREAKY WOODEN STAIRS AND SOME JOINT PAIN.
DANA OPENED THE WOODEN PANEL DOOR WHICH LED DOWN TO THE BASEMENT. DOG LEASHES, FLY SWATTERS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS CONTRAPTIONS HUNG FROM HOOKS ON THE BASEMENT SIDE OF THE DOOR AND THUD-CLUNKED AS HE OPENED IT AND REACHED FOR THE LIGHTSWITCH. A FLOURESCENT LIGHT HUMMED AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS WHEN DANA FLIPPED THE SWITCH. THE CELLAR STILL APPEARED DARK DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF ELECTRIC LIGHTS. EACH STAIR TREAD MOANED AS DANA PUT HIS WEIGHT ON THEM. THE SOUND OF EACH STAIR ASSIGNED AN AUDIBLE REPRESENTATION OF THE PAIN DANA FELT IN HIS KNEES AS HE DESCENDED BEHIND CHAMPY. ONCE IN THE BASEMENT, HE WIPED THE COBWEBS OFF HIS FACE AND SLEEVES LOOKING AROUND THE SPACE AS IF SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE CHANGED SINCE HE HAD VISITED THE BASEMENT SIX MONTHS AGO. THE WORKBENCH WAS STILL LITTERED WITH OLD HANDTOOLS LEFT FROM WHEN DANA USED TO FREQUENT THE WORKSHOP AND DO SMALL CARPENTRY PROJECTS. THE OLD POSTCARDS, PHOTOS AND LISTS REMAINED TACKED ON THE WALL ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE BENCH. DANA PULLED AN OLD POSTCARD WITH THE IMAGE OF A HEALTHY FEMALE WATER SKIER ON IT. THE MESSAGE ON THE BACK HAD FADED AND THE SIGNATURE BARELY LEGIBLE. HE SET IT ON THE BENCH.
IF MEMORY SERVED HIM, HIS PAINTING SUPPLIES WERE UNDER THE BENCH IN ONE OF THE CUBBYHOLES IN WHICH DANA STORED HIS PROJECTS. HE SLIPPED OUT THE NARROW WOODEN CASE HE USED AS A PAINTERS BOX AND SET IT ON THE BENCH. DANA BLEW SOME OF THE DUST OFF IT AND SWIPED THE SURFACE ONCE WITH HIS HAND TO CLEAR OFF SOME OF THE REMAINING DUST.
"RUFF! GRRRRRRR!" CHAMPY HAD CORNERED SOMETHING IN THE SHADOWS OF THE WORKSHOP BUT LOST INTEREST ONCE DANA TOLD HIM TO STOP. CHAMPY HEADED UP THE STAIRS BUT STOPPED MIDWAY AND WAITED FOR DANA TO FOLLOW.
"JUST ONE MINUTE, BOY."
DANA REMOVED A SMALL CANVAS FROM THE NEXT CUBBYHOLE. HE CLEANED OFF THE DUST TO REVEAL AN IMAGE OF A WOMAN SITTING BY A WINDOW. SHE HAD A BOOK OPENED ON HER LAP AND WAS GAZING OUT THE WINDOW AT THE MOON. DANA DID NOT REMEMBER EVER SEEING THE PAINTING BEFORE AND CERTAINLY DID NOT REMEMBER PAINTING IT. DANA WAS MORE INTERESTED IN PAINTING SOME OF THE LOCAL LANDSCAPES THAN PORTRAITS. IN FACT, HE NEVER REMEMBERS PAINTING ANYTHING BUT THE HILLS AND SEASCAPES OF MAINE. DANA COULD SAVE SOME MONEY AND PRIME OVER THE YOUNG LADY IN THE PAINTING RATHER THAN BUYING A FRESH CANVAS. HE CHECKED THE BACK OF THE PAINTING FOR THE ARTIST'S SIGNATURE. THE ONLY NAME ON THE BACK WAS "RHIANNON" IN A SEEMINGLY FEMININE SCRIPT. DANA WAS NOT SURE IF THIS WAS THE NAME OF THE ARTIST BUT THOUGHT IT MORE PROBABLE TO BE THE NAME OF THE WOMAN IN THE PAINTING.
"WELL, RHIANNON, LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO GET A MAKE-OVER!" DANA TUCKED THE PAINTING UNDER HIS ARM AND HELD THE WOODEN CASE WITH ONE HAND WHILE USING HIS OTHER HAND TO STEADY HIMSELF AND CLIMB THE STAIRS BACK TO THE FIRST FLOOR. ONCE THERE HE LEANED THE CANVAS AGAINST ONE OF THE CHAIRS IN THE BREAKFAST ROOM. IT WAS MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE THIS ROOM THAT HE WOULD USE AS A STUDIO BECAUSE THERE WERE LOTS OF WINDOWS AND GREAT LIGHT. DANA WALKED OVER TO THE KITCHEN SINK AND DAMPED A CLOTH SO THAT HE COULD SPONGE CLEAN THE PAINTING. WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE PAINTING ONLY A FEW MINUTES LATER CHAMPY WAS ASLEEP AT THE FOOT OF THE CANVAS AND WAS ALREADY INVOLVED IN A CANINE DREAM, MAKING MUFFLED YIPS AND MOVING HIS PAWS IN IMITATION OF A BRISK TROT. DANA TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WOMAN IN THE PAINTING WHO APPEARED TO HAVE CHANGED HER POSE SLIGHTLY. HE DESTINCTLY REMEMBER HER LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AT THE MOON. NOW SHE APPEARED TO BE LOOKING DOWNWARD TOWARDS THE BOOK ON HER LAP. PERHAPS HER GAZE WENT BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CANVAS?
"WELL I'LL BE." DANA MUMBLED TO HIMSELF. IF HE DIDN'T KNOW BETTER, "RHIANNON" APPEARED TO BE LOOKING BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE CANVAS TO CHAMPY LYING AT HER FEET.
DANA OPENED THE WOODEN PANEL DOOR WHICH LED DOWN TO THE BASEMENT. DOG LEASHES, FLY SWATTERS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS CONTRAPTIONS HUNG FROM HOOKS ON THE BASEMENT SIDE OF THE DOOR AND THUD-CLUNKED AS HE OPENED IT AND REACHED FOR THE LIGHTSWITCH. A FLOURESCENT LIGHT HUMMED AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS WHEN DANA FLIPPED THE SWITCH. THE CELLAR STILL APPEARED DARK DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF ELECTRIC LIGHTS. EACH STAIR TREAD MOANED AS DANA PUT HIS WEIGHT ON THEM. THE SOUND OF EACH STAIR ASSIGNED AN AUDIBLE REPRESENTATION OF THE PAIN DANA FELT IN HIS KNEES AS HE DESCENDED BEHIND CHAMPY. ONCE IN THE BASEMENT, HE WIPED THE COBWEBS OFF HIS FACE AND SLEEVES LOOKING AROUND THE SPACE AS IF SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE CHANGED SINCE HE HAD VISITED THE BASEMENT SIX MONTHS AGO. THE WORKBENCH WAS STILL LITTERED WITH OLD HANDTOOLS LEFT FROM WHEN DANA USED TO FREQUENT THE WORKSHOP AND DO SMALL CARPENTRY PROJECTS. THE OLD POSTCARDS, PHOTOS AND LISTS REMAINED TACKED ON THE WALL ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE BENCH. DANA PULLED AN OLD POSTCARD WITH THE IMAGE OF A HEALTHY FEMALE WATER SKIER ON IT. THE MESSAGE ON THE BACK HAD FADED AND THE SIGNATURE BARELY LEGIBLE. HE SET IT ON THE BENCH.
IF MEMORY SERVED HIM, HIS PAINTING SUPPLIES WERE UNDER THE BENCH IN ONE OF THE CUBBYHOLES IN WHICH DANA STORED HIS PROJECTS. HE SLIPPED OUT THE NARROW WOODEN CASE HE USED AS A PAINTERS BOX AND SET IT ON THE BENCH. DANA BLEW SOME OF THE DUST OFF IT AND SWIPED THE SURFACE ONCE WITH HIS HAND TO CLEAR OFF SOME OF THE REMAINING DUST.
"RUFF! GRRRRRRR!" CHAMPY HAD CORNERED SOMETHING IN THE SHADOWS OF THE WORKSHOP BUT LOST INTEREST ONCE DANA TOLD HIM TO STOP. CHAMPY HEADED UP THE STAIRS BUT STOPPED MIDWAY AND WAITED FOR DANA TO FOLLOW.
"JUST ONE MINUTE, BOY."
DANA REMOVED A SMALL CANVAS FROM THE NEXT CUBBYHOLE. HE CLEANED OFF THE DUST TO REVEAL AN IMAGE OF A WOMAN SITTING BY A WINDOW. SHE HAD A BOOK OPENED ON HER LAP AND WAS GAZING OUT THE WINDOW AT THE MOON. DANA DID NOT REMEMBER EVER SEEING THE PAINTING BEFORE AND CERTAINLY DID NOT REMEMBER PAINTING IT. DANA WAS MORE INTERESTED IN PAINTING SOME OF THE LOCAL LANDSCAPES THAN PORTRAITS. IN FACT, HE NEVER REMEMBERS PAINTING ANYTHING BUT THE HILLS AND SEASCAPES OF MAINE. DANA COULD SAVE SOME MONEY AND PRIME OVER THE YOUNG LADY IN THE PAINTING RATHER THAN BUYING A FRESH CANVAS. HE CHECKED THE BACK OF THE PAINTING FOR THE ARTIST'S SIGNATURE. THE ONLY NAME ON THE BACK WAS "RHIANNON" IN A SEEMINGLY FEMININE SCRIPT. DANA WAS NOT SURE IF THIS WAS THE NAME OF THE ARTIST BUT THOUGHT IT MORE PROBABLE TO BE THE NAME OF THE WOMAN IN THE PAINTING.
"WELL, RHIANNON, LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO GET A MAKE-OVER!" DANA TUCKED THE PAINTING UNDER HIS ARM AND HELD THE WOODEN CASE WITH ONE HAND WHILE USING HIS OTHER HAND TO STEADY HIMSELF AND CLIMB THE STAIRS BACK TO THE FIRST FLOOR. ONCE THERE HE LEANED THE CANVAS AGAINST ONE OF THE CHAIRS IN THE BREAKFAST ROOM. IT WAS MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE THIS ROOM THAT HE WOULD USE AS A STUDIO BECAUSE THERE WERE LOTS OF WINDOWS AND GREAT LIGHT. DANA WALKED OVER TO THE KITCHEN SINK AND DAMPED A CLOTH SO THAT HE COULD SPONGE CLEAN THE PAINTING. WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE PAINTING ONLY A FEW MINUTES LATER CHAMPY WAS ASLEEP AT THE FOOT OF THE CANVAS AND WAS ALREADY INVOLVED IN A CANINE DREAM, MAKING MUFFLED YIPS AND MOVING HIS PAWS IN IMITATION OF A BRISK TROT. DANA TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WOMAN IN THE PAINTING WHO APPEARED TO HAVE CHANGED HER POSE SLIGHTLY. HE DESTINCTLY REMEMBER HER LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AT THE MOON. NOW SHE APPEARED TO BE LOOKING DOWNWARD TOWARDS THE BOOK ON HER LAP. PERHAPS HER GAZE WENT BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CANVAS?
"WELL I'LL BE." DANA MUMBLED TO HIMSELF. IF HE DIDN'T KNOW BETTER, "RHIANNON" APPEARED TO BE LOOKING BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE CANVAS TO CHAMPY LYING AT HER FEET.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sarah Comes Home
It had been a long day at Frank's and Sara was more then ready to get home and relax. If she played her cards right she could be home for nearly 15 minutes of solitude before her son and daughter arrived home after school. Fifteen minutes would be precious and enough time to slip off her shoes, crack open a Coors Lite and relax.
Sara pulled into the driveway of her trailer and turned off the engine of her car. The drivers side door creaked with opening and closing and reminded the driver that she needed to grease that door....a thought that passed through her head everytime she got in and out of her car. The housekey slipped easily into the front door. The trailer was not exactly her dream home nor was it "house beautiful" but Sara always loved arriving home, especially when she had the house to herself.
"MERRRROWWWWW! MERRRROWWWW!
Henry-Puss was a large orange tiger cat that had adopted Sara and the kids as his family shortly after they arrived in Maine. The cat was like no other that Sara had ever met....more like a canine than a feline and very vocal. Henry's cries were like conversation and he was pleading to go outside and prowl as he always did when Sara or the kids returned home.
"MERRRRROWWWWW!"
"Fine, Henry-Puss.....Hold your horses!!" Sara slammed the door behind the cat after watching him dissappear in the underbrush
Sara slipped off her shoes and replaced them with her slippers in one stride as she crossed the vinyl flooring which designated a small area of the trailer as "the kitchen". The refrigerator door sounded errily like her car door when she opened it. She reached in for a can of beer. Sara wondered if 3:00pm was too early to crack open a beer and took a large sip before deciding. Before leaving the the kitchen she reached into the freezer and removed a frost-covered block of mystery meat placing in the sink to defrost for dinner. Sara looked at the clock on the wall as she shuffled to her easychair. Eleven more minutes before the kids arrived from school and shattered her sanctuary. She was now in the small carpeted area which designated the "livingroom" from the rest of the trailer. Sara took another sip of beer as she looked out the window by her chair. The trailer made for a pretty dark home but the chair that Sara sat in most of the time was by one of the few windows. She noticed a bright red cardinal in the trees outside and she thought of her deceased mother. Sara's Mom always had birdfeeders outside her window at the nursing home before she passed away and the cardinals were her favorite visitors.
Another flash of red caught Sara's eye. The blinking light on the telephone answering machine beckoned across the small room. She didn't have the energy or interest to get up and check out the messages. More than likely it was either a credit card company or her ex with some unreasonable request. He never called to speak with the kids unless he had another agenda, most likely involving money.
Sara heard scratching at the frontdoor and stood up with a sigh. She opened the thin metal door to see Henry-Puss waiting to come in or was he just letting Sara know her children were arriving home from school? The safety yellow bus slowed down and flashed red and yellow lights as it came to a complete stop. Daniel and Amy hopped off the bus and looked both ways, just as Sara had taught them, before running to the house. Daniel was ahead of Amy in what appeared to be a race to their mom.
"DANIELLLLL!!! WAAAAAAIT!" Amy yelled at her older brother as she ran with the pink bookbag flopping over her shoulder. Daniel slowed slightly but continued at a swift power-walking pace to stay ahead of his little sister. "MOMMMMM! Tell Daniel to WAAAAAIIT!"
"Daniel! Wait for your sister!"
Sara stepped back inside the doorway of the trailer and took one last sip of her beer.
"So much for the solitude.' she whispered to herself as the frontdoor opened.
Sara pulled into the driveway of her trailer and turned off the engine of her car. The drivers side door creaked with opening and closing and reminded the driver that she needed to grease that door....a thought that passed through her head everytime she got in and out of her car. The housekey slipped easily into the front door. The trailer was not exactly her dream home nor was it "house beautiful" but Sara always loved arriving home, especially when she had the house to herself.
"MERRRROWWWWW! MERRRROWWWW!
Henry-Puss was a large orange tiger cat that had adopted Sara and the kids as his family shortly after they arrived in Maine. The cat was like no other that Sara had ever met....more like a canine than a feline and very vocal. Henry's cries were like conversation and he was pleading to go outside and prowl as he always did when Sara or the kids returned home.
"MERRRRROWWWWW!"
"Fine, Henry-Puss.....Hold your horses!!" Sara slammed the door behind the cat after watching him dissappear in the underbrush
Sara slipped off her shoes and replaced them with her slippers in one stride as she crossed the vinyl flooring which designated a small area of the trailer as "the kitchen". The refrigerator door sounded errily like her car door when she opened it. She reached in for a can of beer. Sara wondered if 3:00pm was too early to crack open a beer and took a large sip before deciding. Before leaving the the kitchen she reached into the freezer and removed a frost-covered block of mystery meat placing in the sink to defrost for dinner. Sara looked at the clock on the wall as she shuffled to her easychair. Eleven more minutes before the kids arrived from school and shattered her sanctuary. She was now in the small carpeted area which designated the "livingroom" from the rest of the trailer. Sara took another sip of beer as she looked out the window by her chair. The trailer made for a pretty dark home but the chair that Sara sat in most of the time was by one of the few windows. She noticed a bright red cardinal in the trees outside and she thought of her deceased mother. Sara's Mom always had birdfeeders outside her window at the nursing home before she passed away and the cardinals were her favorite visitors.
Another flash of red caught Sara's eye. The blinking light on the telephone answering machine beckoned across the small room. She didn't have the energy or interest to get up and check out the messages. More than likely it was either a credit card company or her ex with some unreasonable request. He never called to speak with the kids unless he had another agenda, most likely involving money.
Sara heard scratching at the frontdoor and stood up with a sigh. She opened the thin metal door to see Henry-Puss waiting to come in or was he just letting Sara know her children were arriving home from school? The safety yellow bus slowed down and flashed red and yellow lights as it came to a complete stop. Daniel and Amy hopped off the bus and looked both ways, just as Sara had taught them, before running to the house. Daniel was ahead of Amy in what appeared to be a race to their mom.
"DANIELLLLL!!! WAAAAAAIT!" Amy yelled at her older brother as she ran with the pink bookbag flopping over her shoulder. Daniel slowed slightly but continued at a swift power-walking pace to stay ahead of his little sister. "MOMMMMM! Tell Daniel to WAAAAAIIT!"
"Daniel! Wait for your sister!"
Sara stepped back inside the doorway of the trailer and took one last sip of her beer.
"So much for the solitude.' she whispered to herself as the frontdoor opened.
"CLICK"
It all happened so fast. Albert knew the store was not doing well financially but the closing of Atco Hardware still took him by surprise. He was the manager of the store but Peter, his partner and the owner of Atco, kept a lot of the financial details to himself. All the signs were there. He hadn't ordered any stock for months and the number of customers crossing the threshold was at an all-time low. Still, when Albert finally got the official call from Peter, it took him by surprise.
It had been 2 weeks since Peter decided to close the business. It was time to cut his losses and start fresh. During the last couple weeks the store had a massive 50% off sale which culminated in a one day 75% off clearance sale. If you want to make enemies into friends......mark your hardware down 75%. It amazed Albert how people came out of the woodwork to take advantage of the sale and Albert. There were a few customers that were sincere in their sadness but a large majority were there to take advantage of Albert & Peter's misfortune.
So now Albert stood in a nearly empty store. The echo was disconcerting. The empty aisles and paper-littered floors reminded the ex-manager of a miniature ghost town. Albert had left the store many times over the past four years but this was going to be the last time. This was going to be it. One last click and he would never have to come to the hardware store ever again. Peter was being transferred to Massachusetts and Albert would join him once he secured the farm and made arrangements for the animals. By the end of the month he should be in a completely different place both physically and mentally....ready to start fresh, as if the last four years never happened.
Albert walked to the back door, opened it and stepped through for the last time. the door closed solid behind him. He slipped the key into the metallic orifice and turned it. "CLICK".
*****************
Six months ago Barry never imagined he would be where he was right now. Six months ago he was happily married, gainfully employed and had the respect of his community. So much had changed since then and it was because of two faggots that blew into town. Before Albert & Peter he had a pretty good thing going, and so did Barry's friends. As assistant Manager, Barry was in charge of ordering, shipping and receiving and inventory. No one would ever miss the items he helped himself to or that he gave to his friends. Not to mention the petty cash he pocketed as he needed it. Barry deserved these perks. Albert & Peter were lucky to have him. The inventory he took home was a small price to pay to have Barry run the store. Besides, the new owners would never miss it...or so Barry thought.
After Barry was laid off it became apparent that inventory and cash was missing and that Barry had helped himself to well over $30,000 in cash and stock over the last 4 years. When it all came to the surface Kelly had taken Tyler and left to stay with her family. Barry & Kelly had lived their lives as Christians and when the truth about Barry came out, Kelly could not stay married to him. She filed for divorce which would be final in 90 days. In addition, the days of Barry being a "local hero" on the volunteer fire department were over. Barry had been forced to resign given the problems he had at the store. Kelly was living in the house that Barry built and he had been living in a single room in a guest house in Albieville. Fortunately, his former bosses had decided not to press charges but the outcome had been the same. Barry was living in his own prison without the support of his family, friends or the community. He did not leave the room he was renting very often but when he did he could feel the eyes on him and see the disapproving looks. All because of the faggots.
Barry had started to drink on a regular basis and spent most of his time either inebriated or sleeping it off. Kelly wouldn't let Barry see his son because of his new hobby which made Barry drink even more. He heard that things would get better once he hit bottom but Barry had been waiting for some sign of improvement with no changes on the horizon.
Barry basically left with the clothes on his back.....and his guns. He always thought of suicide as a cowards way out or the act of a mental case but lately it was a pretty appealing option. Barry just wanted out. One "CLICK" and this mess could all be over.
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