Prompt: Photograph
Genre: Drama
Check out the rules: https://rachaelritchey.com/blogbattle/
Image by Pixaby. No attribution required.
Broken
Shoulders curled, Marlene dropped a wobbly chin. “How has it come to this?” Leaning back into the kitchen counter, her voice dropped to a whisper.
“Shocking and a long time coming, but I’m not surprised—are you? Hey, this is a nice place. ” Alice peeked into the living room.
Marlene’s chin shot up, brown eyes bulging, accusing. “What are you saying? Not surprised.”
“Easy, sweetie. You have to admit Charlie has been mutating for years—even before you thought he might be fooling around.” Alice flicked pensive, Barbie-Doll lashes over her girlfriend’s anaemic complexion. Child-like hands dropped to narrow hips.
“Mutating.” She sniffed. “Good word. In equal parts, I’m tired of thinking about him and can’t stop. If I wasn’t eligible for the government pension… If my son hadn’t found this place and moved me in to help cut expenses… I don’t deserve this.”
“Nobody does, sweetie.” Alice reached for her sturdier friend. “The kids are grown and making their own way. You will too. The worst is over.” The women hugged; neither spoke. Alice pulled back. “Tea? Sit.”
“Remember the first little house we bought. Charlie was so house proud. Tore down and put up walls, painted, cleaned. And then… Marlene’s mouth quivered. “The babies kept coming and a prouder father you’ve never seen until…” Resolute tears drifted to her chin though she swabbed them with a shirtsleeve. “When did he begin to resent them? Us?”
“Hey. Change of subject—what did the discovery process shake out?” Alice grinned and helped herself to a sip of tea, pushing back into the kitchen chair rails.
“He’s ignoring e-mails, letters, and telephone calls. My lawyer says a court order will force him to hand over financials. Don’t know if he’s hired his own yet. Did I tell you Breann found a wad of bills stuffed into a jar in the basement rafters? I should have pocketed all of it.”
“What?” Alice set the mug on the kitchen table with a thwack. “You didn’t? Not like you—what about for decent groceries for you and Breann?”
“I mock-handed him the jar after I lifted all but $100.00 wrapped around strips of newsprint—I’m no saint.” She snorted into a palm. “Thought he’d have a stroke. Reminded him the stove didn’t work, the furnace needed replacing—it hadn’t worked for three winters—the ensuite toilet didn’t work… Thought he’d hit me. Grabbed the jar hard enough to break but didn’t, and slammed out of the house.”
“I’m your best friend. You never said. What an actress. I wondered why we met in spurts, in coffee shops—how did you stay warm?”
“Electric heaters. Expensive, but I wasn’t paying the stupid bills. The kids left one by one before the first winter was half over. Breann was the last.”
“What if he skips town?” Alice paced the narrow kitchen, her short legs stabbed at the floor like chopsticks at an empty plate.
Marlene shook her head. “He’s hanging on to the house, though it’s falling down in pieces.”
The other woman stopped, hands in her hair. “I’m amazed you hung in so long. What made you cave?”
Marlene rose to plug in the kettle again. Back turned, she shook her head, running plump, ringed fingers over the electrical cord. The silence stretched until the kettle’s noisy heating element sputtered. “I died a little after every lie and every calculated promise till I didn’t recognize him anymore, or me. The screaming fights—you don’t want to know.”
“I knew you were having problems—doesn’t every couple—why didn’t you say? Did you talk to anyone?”
“Yeah. The oldest, Cathy, the one with all the kids. Forcing my children out was the worst. I wanted to leave, but where could I go—no money of my own? Remember when Charlie, Jr. came out? I told you, right?”
Alice nodded, fading copper curls bounced around her creased, waif-like face.
“That man went crazy roaring this was no son of his. Tore up the house, broke everything in his path if it wasn’t already broken.”
“But Junior is his splitting image. What did he have in mind? Send the boy back?” Alice cackled and slapped her knee.
“Worse. My fault, he said. Wished my boy had never been born.” Eyes dull, bruised half-moons sagging underneath, Marlene stared into the distance. “Broke young Charlie’s heart.
“Computers saved me. I took classes at the library. Printed out reams of his chats and he still lied to my face. To. My. Face. My kids were gone, nothing in the house worked, only a microwave for frozen dinners. I’d had it. With only the clothes on my back, I took a cab to Cathy’s and her houseful. Where else could I go?”
“I’m starving. Anything to eat? You’re no mouse. What took you so long?” Marlene stuck her head in the fridge. “Not much here. Let’s order pizza.”
Lips compressed, Marlene gathered bleached hair, snapping on the elastic from her wrist. “Avoiding temptation. Sorry.”
“Oh? Expecting young Charlie for supper?” Alice opened cupboards till she found dinner plates.
“Don’t know. We’re free spirits. Wine?” Not waiting for an answer, she sauntered into the living room. Alice found wine glasses and pulled out her cell for pizza delivery.
“So, how is it on your own—I mean with Charlie, Junior?” Alice grabbed the wine bottle on her way to the living room.
“Fine. You bet I’m mad, though. This isn’t the life I’d pictured.” She snatched the remote and plopped into a chair. “CNN, okay?”
“Wait. Your couch, right? Coffee table. How’d you get them out?” Alice appraised the room and chortled.
“He changed the locks, but the kids and I broke in while he was at work. Took what I needed.”
Alice smiled wide. “Oh-oh. Trouble’s coming. Does the lawyer know?” She leaned to fill her friend’s offered glass.
“Funny enough, I have his blessing. No one suggested we were splitting up before I left. He locked me out. Simple.”
Alice poured what little was left in the bottle and tossed it off. I have a couple bottles in my overnight bag. “Girls’ night. Wait there.” She grabbed her bag by the front door.
“Use the back bedroom on the left, second door.” She heaved herself out of the chair, followed Alice down the hall, and gave her a tour of the rest of the house. Another bottle relieved of its cork, they settled back in front of the television.
Alice swung round as if struck by lightning. “Shh. Turn it up.”
“What?” Marlene sloshed wine over the back of a hand in her haste. She licked it up and thumbed the volume button until the sound blared too loud. She thumbed it down. “No way.” Mesmerized by the image on the screen, she tore her attention away and centered on her friend. Tears obscured her vision though she made no sound. Mascara streaked her cheeks. Alice set down her glass. Grabbing Marlene’s hand, she unpeeled her fingers from the goblet and set it down, too.
“Where’d they get that photograph? Wait. Cathy took it of her father on our 25th anniversary. I thought she’d burned it.” Marlene wavered and would have sunk to the floor had Alice not pushed her into the sofa. Mouth flapping without words, she turned her attention to the television screen.
The words tumbled out of the excited news reporter as if he had to tell it all in five seconds.
This just in. Police stopped a suspicious driver on old Highway 99 as his car wandered from one ditch to the other. No additional traffic on the road at the time. Incoherent when apprehended, his blood alcohol level was well below the limit. On checking the car for drugs, a dead body—not yet in rigor mortis—was heaped like rubbish in the trunk of this man’s Mustang.
A close-up of Charlie in his best suit filled the screen, hair fuller by six years and eyes clearer and present.
“Crap. What about our divorce?”
Alice pursed her lips. “And your assets? He’s given you the shaft again, hasn’t he?”
“No way. I want a divorce before his case goes to trial.”
“Call your lawyer. Now.”
The End
I have been challenged by Gary here, another #BlogBattler, to capture the wife’s POV following Week 61 found here.
© 2015 Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles. All Rights Reserved.
June 6, 2016 at 11:22 pm
Great post. I am also a grandma and have plenty to say and or write about. You are not alone, so keep on writing and I will be back to enjoy your offerings. :o)
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June 7, 2016 at 7:58 pm
Thanks SO much for the visit and for reading. Writing is the best fun I’ve ever had. You too? Glad to be in such good company. 😀 ❤ ❤
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June 7, 2016 at 12:37 am
Wow Tess there i was on the edge of my seat again. You would think I would learn to sit back and enjoy it but I can’t help myself to race through the find out what happens.
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June 7, 2016 at 7:57 pm
Glad you enjoyed the read, Sue. Sorry if you feel an urge to race to the end. (tee hee hee) 😀 😀 😀
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June 7, 2016 at 3:18 am
Very entertaining, like the meeting of a reality show and CSI. 😊
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June 7, 2016 at 7:23 pm
Thank you. The CSI part is inspiring. You do know this is a mirror response to previous challenge in Week 61? 😀
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June 7, 2016 at 8:21 pm
I don’t remember there being a crime scene in your week 61 post but I’ll check. I just read and write my initial feelings so that’s quite peculiar I shouldn’t have written the same thing twice unless it’s the word ‘entertaining’ apologies. 😊
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June 7, 2016 at 3:21 am
Brilliant. Enjoyed this as an early morning read. And laughed at the phrase “her short legs stabbed at the floor like chopsticks at an empty plate.” Great stuff Jx
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June 7, 2016 at 7:53 pm
Ha ha. Thank you, Judith. ❤ ❤ I pictured this tiny, helpful friend clomping back and forth in the kitchen wanting to be helpful but already tired of the whole story. Guess her family life isn't this complicated. 😀
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June 7, 2016 at 3:38 am
Whoa! Didn’t expect that! Fantastic, Tess 🙂
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June 7, 2016 at 7:50 pm
You didn’t? Even after the previous Week 61 story? Thank you for reading, Cathy. Always pleased to see your here. 🙂
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June 8, 2016 at 3:47 am
No, you catch me out every time 🙂
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Pingback: #BlogBattle 61 “Surfer” Entries & Voting | BlogBattle
June 7, 2016 at 4:36 am
Once again drawn in and enjoyed. edge of the seat stuff.. I am going to sit on the floor in future so I have nothing to fall off. 😉
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June 7, 2016 at 7:49 pm
Ha ha ha. You’ve made my day, Gerry. Thank YOU. 😀 ❤
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June 7, 2016 at 4:45 am
Lovely story, Tess. Enjoyed reading it! 🙂
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June 7, 2016 at 7:49 pm
Thank you. Tickled pink you enjoyed it. Happy Day. 🙂
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June 7, 2016 at 6:04 am
Another good one! You sure can create some nasty characters.
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June 7, 2016 at 7:44 pm
Ha ha. I admit nasty characters are so much FUN to create. Thank YOU, Darlene.
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June 7, 2016 at 6:12 am
This is so brilliant I love hearing both sides of the story… glad they caught the shit red handed but I hope she gets her money !!!
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June 7, 2016 at 7:43 pm
Thank you, Willow. I wonder about men I’ve heard about who have even quit their jobs so they / he doesn’t need to support a wife and child. Don’t the courts see through this ruse?
I hope she does too. I have done no research to back this story now that he’s avoided supplying financial information when the wife filed for divorce and now that he’s being charged and jailed. Will assets be frozen. Will he still be forced to produce information so the divorce can be finalized, I have no idea. Interesting idea. I hope he gets the book thrown at him and she given the assets.
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June 7, 2016 at 9:39 am
Tess, you never fail to pull me deeply into the ebb and flow of your stories. Then i’m hopelessly caught in the undertow if I try to put it down. You’re a riptide goddess of words. 😀 Mega hugs.
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June 7, 2016 at 7:40 pm
Teagan, you’ve made my day. Thank YOU. I’m still experimenting and hope the writing is improving.
When challenged last week to write the wife’s point of view to the husbands’s rant in Week 61, I balked, but then thought I’d try it. 🙂 😛 ❤
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June 7, 2016 at 10:33 am
Oh my goodness. You are the master of doling out details. Still, I’m so sad this poor woman has such a lousy husband. I’m glad she has at least one friend (though I kept expecting a turn on that one too).
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June 7, 2016 at 7:37 pm
I like to think every woman has at least one close friend she can turn to. Thank you, Jacqui. YOu lift me up. ❤ ❤
I was challenged to show the wife's point of view to Week 61 prompt (Surfer) this prompt.
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June 7, 2016 at 10:59 am
You sure have a way with the twists. Another great offering.
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June 7, 2016 at 7:35 pm
Coming from the lady who does exquisite banter in her stories, I’m tickled pink. Thank you.
The twist already happened in the previous Week 61 prompt. Someone challenged me to do the wife’s version. 🙂 ❤
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June 8, 2016 at 11:18 am
Aww, thanks.
I saw your note about the challenge. Didn’t realize it until then. What fun to tell the same tale through different POVs.
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June 7, 2016 at 11:46 am
That was a surprise ending!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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June 7, 2016 at 7:32 pm
Do you think it’s a surprise? This began in the previous week challenge, Week 61. This is just the wife’s side of the story till her husband has been ‘caught.’ 😀
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June 8, 2016 at 2:17 am
You always keep the reader guessing, eager to turn the “next page.”
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June 7, 2016 at 1:42 pm
The men always get it.
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June 7, 2016 at 7:30 pm
Maybe, but this one has now lost his marbles by the sounds of things. Don’t know how the wife will fare when he has refused to provide financial information when the proceeding for divorce were started and now he’s a murder suspect.
😀 😀 😀
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June 7, 2016 at 1:51 pm
You always have a surprise in your stories. Hope there is another chapter brewing.
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June 7, 2016 at 7:29 pm
Thank you. I’m tickled you enjoy a surprise. ❤
I do believe /hope the wife gets a divorce settlement before the husband goes on trial but how will that happen if he refuses to provide financial information. Of course there is the court order trick but I have no knowledge of law and how that might play out once he's charged with murder. Maybe all assets will be frozen?
I've had it with these characters. I was challenged to show the wife's point of view after Week 62, when the husband had a rant. Did you notice?
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June 7, 2016 at 8:00 pm
I remember the story and what a feel sorry for me complainer the husband was but didn’t know someone challenged you to write the wife’s side. Glad you did. They are both sort of whiners aren’t they!
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June 7, 2016 at 5:52 pm
Nice surprise ending, Tess. The story was great.
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June 7, 2016 at 7:25 pm
Thank YOU, John. This is a different POV (the wife’s) in answer to the previous weeks #62.
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June 7, 2016 at 9:09 pm
Yes. Well done.
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June 7, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Damn him!!!! 😉
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June 7, 2016 at 7:24 pm
That’s for sure. Thank you, Colleen.
He you recognize he was in the previous week’s challenge? 😀
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June 8, 2016 at 1:13 pm
I started reading this morning, ran out of time and left for work a bit confused! When I came back to it I spotted the link back to last week and then it fell into place and it’s brilliant, very clever, just as I wold expect from you Tess. I also hope it isn’t over yet?
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June 10, 2016 at 9:26 am
Thank you, Gilly. If I continued, I’d need to get into the legalities of what comes first and if assets get frozen because he’s charged and jailed etc. Know what I mean? So long as everyone roots for the right person, I think that’s enough, right? ❤
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June 8, 2016 at 1:26 pm
Wow–what a nightmare. And I thought my divorce was bad. Vividly conceived as always, Tess. 🙂
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June 10, 2016 at 9:23 am
Thank you, Cathleen. I appreciate your kind support. I almost forgot to use the prompt word. Ha ha. Wouldn’t that be funny? 🙂 ❤ ❤
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June 8, 2016 at 6:07 pm
Great ending. Love how you brought the photograph into this. Bravo. 🙂
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June 10, 2016 at 9:22 am
Thank you, Sarah. I almost forgot about the photograph, I was so caught up in the story. Wouldn’t that be a surprise–if I forgot to use it. I’ve done that once. Didn’t use the prompt. 😀 😀 ❤
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June 12, 2016 at 2:23 pm
I’ve done that with Twitter prompts! LOL! Trying to cut the word count to 140 characters and cut the prompt word out. *publish* Oops… 😀
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June 8, 2016 at 10:44 pm
Razor sharp twists in true Tess style, keeping us gripping till the end! 🙂
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June 10, 2016 at 9:21 am
😉 Thank you for your kind support, Debby. My aim is to plug away until this becomes easier. ❤ ❤ ❤
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June 10, 2016 at 9:49 am
Does it get easier? I’m not thinking so. Every creation is like starting over. That’s what keeps us in the think tank. 🙂 xo
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June 10, 2016 at 11:18 am
Exactly. You start over again with every project. Must keep improving though. 😀 😀 ❤
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June 9, 2016 at 5:54 am
Finally getting back to reading and what do I find? Your sharp wit and wonderful stories! This was fabulous. You simply get better and better Tess. Loved the reaction, “What about the divorce”, indeed. 😉
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June 10, 2016 at 9:19 am
Val, you do my heart good. Thank YOU and happy to see you in blogworld again. ❤ ❤ ❤
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June 10, 2016 at 7:07 am
I like seeing the other POV from the last story. And I love the ending. I hope she gets that divorce! 🙂
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June 10, 2016 at 9:17 am
Thanks so much, phoenizgrey. I hope she does too. I wouldn’t know how to figure out the legal proceedings in a story like this but I don’t have to, right? 😀
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June 10, 2016 at 10:26 am
That’s the benefit of a short story. 🙂
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June 10, 2016 at 10:58 am
Such a grisly scene at the end, viewed on TV. Too many men are cads, irresponsible and selfish. You’ve really created memorable characters in this one, Tess.
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June 10, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Thanks, Bonnie.I’m tickled you enjoyed reading and liked the characters. I enjoyed not liking the husband. 🙂 ❤
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June 10, 2016 at 10:59 am
Oops – meant to add that this one is a murderer. Beats having no manners, doesn’t it?
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June 10, 2016 at 12:02 pm
Ha ha. You bet! 😀
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June 10, 2016 at 11:50 am
Tess, I feel like I always jump into the deep end with your writing and love the cool, sweet waters. 🙂
Writing rules! Always happy to be here. 🙂
Hope this weekend treats you well. 🙂
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June 10, 2016 at 11:59 am
Thank you, kind friend. Always warms my heart if you like my scribbles. ❤ ❤
Hope you are well and the weekend ahead is kind and soothing. 🙂
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June 12, 2016 at 2:33 pm
I love your stories Tess! You are such a good writer. Loved this. Loved the ending!
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June 14, 2016 at 11:04 am
You sure know how to make my sun shine brighter. Thank YOU. ❤ ❤ ❤
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June 20, 2016 at 8:39 am
❤ ❤ ❤
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June 14, 2016 at 9:43 am
Fantastic story and I love your dialogues. You really make us see the people! Thanks, Tess.
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June 14, 2016 at 11:03 am
Thank YOU, Olga. I’m pleased you enjoyed reading my story. ❤ ❤ ❤
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June 17, 2016 at 8:58 pm
I like the wife’s POV even more. Great writing, Tess!
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June 20, 2016 at 8:38 am
Thank you, E.E.for your kind comment and for reading. ❤ 🙂
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June 20, 2016 at 3:51 pm
How terribly slack of me….I blame school exams and a mind attempting to do too many things of differing thought requirements all at once. My sincere apologies indeed….and the wife’s POV….yes….or have I replied to this already and have amnesia…demand vu has just visited at the point of typing wife’s POV….Either which way I shall say….excellent piece of writing…always two sides to the coin…. Know this too….I am going to rejoin the battling very shortly….time has proper kicked me of late 🤕
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June 21, 2016 at 5:26 pm
Life is busy. No problem. 😏
Tess
On Mon, Jun 20, 2016 at 3:51 PM, How the Cookie Crumbles wrote:
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