Saturday, September 30, 2023

Music Man

Cal lived alone.  His ex, Penny, and their two kids lived three hours away, near the coast.  Now that he had lost his job, Cal spent most of his time at home, watching TV, or down at the local pub.

Long a fan of classic rock, he kept his bedside radio tuned to that station and awoke to it each morning.  Recently, Cal noticed that the first song of the morning set the mood for his day.  Indeed, it seemed to suggest what Cal needed to address or warned of potential problems.  The other night, after a few beers, he told his drinking buddies about this discovery.  They said he was nuts.

Even so, Cal looked forward to that first song and seriously considered what message it offered.  This morning, he awoke to Riders on the Storm, by the Doors.  Since that song was popular when he was dating Penny, he decided that he was being encouraged to visit his family, something he had not done in two years.

So, after having some cereal and a beer, Cal filled an overnight bag with his cleanest clothes and climbed into his rust-splotched pickup.  Just outside of town, he saw a hitchhiker standing in the rain and pulled over to give him a lift. 

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Marriage

   "Do you still love her?"
   She had set down her book between us on the couch, took a few sips from her wine and was staring at the wallpaper across the room.
   "What made you ask that?" I said, looking up from my laptop. "Something in your novel?"
   "No.  Just wondering." She still didn't look my way.
   "We've discussed this in the past.  A few times at least."
   "You never gave me an honest answer."  This time she did look over, no hint of kidding on her face.
   "Like I've said before.  Yes, I did love her and still do.  In my opinion, if you truly love someone, you always will."
   "Have you been calling her?  Have you been seeing her?"  Her voice was a bit shaky now.
   "Of course not.  What makes you ask such a thing?"
   "You've changed lately."
   "What do you mean....changed?"
   "I don't know.  Withdrawn.  Self-absorbed.  Like you're hiding something."
   "I'm not sure what you're talking about.  Work has been stressful lately.  Maybe that's what you've noticed."
   She took another sip of wine and I could tell that my explanation was not sufficient.
   "Look, you get these suspicions because you knew her.  I don't think about you and what's his name..."
   "Kevin."
   "Right.  I don't think about you and Kevin because I never knew him.  No image comes to mind."
   "Well, that hardly matters.  I was never in love with him."
   "Okay.  Well, I have no control over that issue.  I wasn't there.  I didn't drag you away from Kevin."
   "Is that what you did?  Dragged me away?  Like some sort of caveman?"
   "Of course not.  An inappropriate expression.  You know how our relationship developed."
   That led to a period of silence while I, and I assume she, reminisced about our early days together.
   "How come it's always the man who ends up balancing two relationships?" she said.
   "Sometimes, not always."
   "Well, women rarely get themselves in such predicaments." With that statement, she folded her arms across her chest.
   "I suppose human males are not naturally monogamous." I wanted to take back those words as soon as they left my lips.
   "There you go again.  Covering for bad male behavior."
   "You're right.  That was a silly thing to say."  
   Of course, I knew it was actually true.
   Suddenly, her head was on my shoulder and I gave her a hug.
   "Do you want to go down to Carlo's and share a pizza?"
   "Sure," she said, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
   "Love you," I said. "Always will."