I was sitting in a parking spot, looking over my hair and face before going inside for an appointment. I looked around, just being nosy, to see if there was anyone I recognized and I saw this nice van sitting beside me.
Nothing special, just navy blue, looked like it is always kept in a garage type of clean. But what got me was a sign in the window. Now this was just an ordinary sign you can buy…
I was sitting in a parking spot, looking over my hair and face before going inside for an appointment. I looked around, just being nosy, to see if there was anyone I recognized and I saw this nice van sitting beside me.
Nothing special, just navy blue, looked like it is always kept in a garage type of clean. But what got me was a sign in the window. Now this was just an ordinary sign you can buy at any variety store. It was the words that got my attention.
It said, Beware, wife buried in trunk. Now first off, there is no trunk in a van. So I breathed a short sigh of relief on that part. I glanced around the parking lot as if I was waiting for the butcher to come get in the monster beside me.
I didn’t see anyone who looked like they may have killed their wife, but who knows what killers look like? Do they have a TM symbol on their forehead? I doubt it.
I clutched my cell phone and my legs tensed up. Should I call the police? Should I get out of the car or wait a few extra minutes? After all I am usually always early by a few. I sat there, barely breathing.
Eyes searching left to right without turning my head. I noticed inside the lady I was to meet was tapping her foot and pointing to her watch. She was wondering where in the world the lady was she was to meet with.
Right here, right here inside me car. Don’t you see me? Can’t you see that i am in a terrible situation right now? Can’t you read the fear in my eyes?
She didn’t seem to notice as she began to pace back and forth on that dull, gray carpet. I choked on my own lack of spit as I realized I had not breathed in seconds. Taking a deep breath I inhaled and licked my lips.
The lady inside was looking out one window and then another. She spotted me. Oh my gosh lady. I am not late. Please realize there is a killer near the two of us. Any moment he is going to come out those doors. He is going to realize by looking at my pale face that I know his secret.
She leaned in a little and recognized that I am the one she is waiting for. She taps her watch face and I can see the formed words on her lips saying, get in here. I want to be able to go to lunch on time.
I slowly put my cell in my purse. Taking the keys out of the ignition I drop them softly inside with my cell. I glance around trying not to let the lady realize that I am a big chicken, too afraid of who may get me.
I take a hold of the car door and start to release it to open when a man in a black suit comes out of the door. He is walking towards me. He gets to the van and he hesitates a moment. He sees my big eyes and my ghost face.
He grabs a hold of his stomach and laughs just like Santa Claus would. I stare at him, my mind going blank.
He comes near me, and then before I know it he is right beside me. He taps on my window. I open the door a smidge waiting to see what it is he wants. He points to the sign in the back of the van window.
” Is that what you are scared about young lady? Don’t be frightened. The kids at my church are always pulling pranks on me. I get used to it. I used to scold them for being so ornery but then I discovered that things like this give me an opportunity to get to know people and invite them to our church.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and a small grin came over my face. I got out of the car and the two of us shook hands and introduced ourselves. He told me what church he was minister over and I explained I was late for a job interview.
This was thirty years ago. My husband and I still laugh at this when we think back to the days of how we met.
It’s Getting Closer and More Familiar
Miles away, days away, a few hours away, half an hour away. Yes, only the world outside my block is…
Miles away, days away, a few hours away, half an hour away. Yes, only the world outside my block is dangerous. You think? None of us are safe anymore. It is so scary to me. Even at my age I imagine you can play the same game at your age.
I can remember trick-or-treating until dark with my friends, and no checking out the candy bag by mom.
I can remember riding my bike in the dark heading home on a Friday night from Grandma’s.
I can remember craving ice-cream and driving alone into the store way past dark and thinking nothing of it.
I can remember when my middle son came home from school one day there was a bully, who broke his glasses. I called the school and they talked to that kid’s parents. The parents paid for my son’s new glasses and the incident was over and forgotten.
I can remember when I heard of shootings it was in some huge inner city. I had no fear, only carried sadness for those families involved.
I can remember each school morning the first thing after attendance was called, we kids along with the teacher all stood up and stared at the flag stating the Pledge of Allegiance.
I can remember when we went to movies and laughed and ate buttery popcorn, thinking nothing but good thoughts.
I can remember the past few years of movie shootings, school shootings, God being taken out of everything possible, being afraid of the dark, trying hard not to go out after dark, locking my car and house doors, (even when I am home.)
School pregnancies were rare, now they are common.
Rape was a hush word, now it is up to the one who spills their guts to prove their innocence.
Life has surely changed. Now we have to be careful no matter where we work, live and play.
Last night a half an hour down the road a young man went into a Martin’s grocery store and killed two employees. Two ladies who will never see their lives lived out. I shuddered and goose bumps rose on my arms as I thought, this is getting too close to home.
What is it going to take? When is it going to stop? I fear for my grandchildren. I fear for all babies. Who is going to help them with so many divorced families and two-person work people and no word of God is in the house? Who is going to take the needed time and let these youth know they are loved?
Is it our job as the employee,employer, neighbor, school counselors, ministers, parents, siblings, policemen to help nurture these kids? You bet it is. It is our land, the land we live and play in. We thrive here together. One for all and all for one.
Just a last added tidbit I just heard on the news just now. A priest once again resigns as his secret became public that he has been molesting children.
Take God out of everything? You decide…………
Paul went about his business and went in his bathroom and took a nice, hot shower. He thought about the woman who had just left his apartment, and he smiled to himself as he thought of how good she tasted to him. It had been some time since he had held a woman and let her excite him the way that she did. After getting out of the shower, he dried off and went to the kitchen and poured himself a night cap and taking it with him; he walked over to his desk, to see what clients he had appointments with the next day. Ah yes, here was one that looked pretty easy. A little old lady named Sara. She was trying to make it so her kids could not come over to her house when she was a way and take what they wanted, while she was still alive.
Poor old lady, not even dead yet and here was the kids and grandkids trying to rip her off before her feet were in the grave. He mumbled to himself, that he didn’t know what was wrong with people today, but at least they kept food on his table. He finished his drink and burped out loud and then wandered into his bedroom, and flipped on the news to see who was killing who.
There was nothing really exciting and since the beauty had wore him out he decided to call it a night, and with the remote in his hand, he flipped the television off, and with darkness blanketing him, he fell off to sleep.
The next morning, he didn’t feel like cooking, so he got dressed and headed out to his car. He pulled up in front of the little restaurant that served the best looking waitresses and their cooking was pretty good too. He walked in and one of the waitresses flashed him her biggest smile, and nodded towards an empty table in her section. He smiled back and went to the table and sat down. She brought him over a steaming hot cup of coffee, and asked him what she get him this morning, and he told her she would do.
She slapped him on the shoulder in a flirty way and said that he knew she was married, what did he really want, and realizing he wasn’t going to get anywhere with her, he ordered a couple of scrambled eggs, with a steak on the side, and a couple of slices of toast. She nodded and took off towards the kitchen to deliver the ticket order. Paul looked around to see if there was anyone here that was worth talking to, and seeing no one, he walked over to the top of the trash can, and grabbed the morning paper and went back and sat at his table, flipping the pages for interesting news.
Soon his breakfast came, and also came a long tall gentleman, and when the plate was placed in front of him, and his coffee refilled, the guy sat down, without an invitation, and said, “Do you know a woman by the name of Slim?” Paul said, “What’s it to you? I don’t know you so get the hell out of my way!” The guy ignored his request and continued with his conversation. “I hear you been spending some time with my wife, Slim. I hear she wants to hire you for some job. What is it that she wants you to do?” Paul looked him straight in the eye and without blinking said, “Kill you.”
The guy sat there and said nothing for a moment, letting Paul attack his food before it got cold. Paul acted like there was no one sitting across from him and buried his head in his plate, and the guy then got his breath back, and said, “What did you tell her? Did you tell her you would do it?”
Paul looked at him and said,” Get the hell out of here, can’t you see I am busy? I didn’t come here to be bothered by the likes of you. I am not going to discuss whether I told her yes or no, because it is none of your darn business, you hear me?”
The guy stood up and said that Paul better watch his back. He knew of his type, big macho men who think they know it all. He continued with how he wasn’t afraid of him, so he better is watching out, and with that, Paul raised his hand and shooed him away, and went back to his breakfast.
After he cleaned his plate up, the waitress came back and asked if that man was bothering him, because if he was, she could tell her boss, and they could have that guy banned from this place. Paul told her, “No, it was just some pesky fly trying to make an ass out of himself by buzzing around. He had swatted him, and the guy was gone, but thanks doll, for trying to protect me.” With that, Paul got up
Slim wasted no time in getting to the point of why she had wanted to meet with Paul.
She came out with the words that she wanted her husband dead, and she didn’t care how it happened, as long as no fingers were pointed at her. He looked at her over his glasses, and then took a big swig of his coffee.
Slim glanced around the room to see who may be within hearing distance, and then looked back at Slim.
He said lady, who the hell do you think you are talking to? I am an investigator. I look for people like you. That is what I get paid for, picking out criminals, and now you come to me, asking me if I can help kill your husband?
Slim said, no doll, not you. I don’t want you to do the dirty work, find someone who can do it for me. Paul started chuckling out loud, and Slim glared at him through stormy eyes. He was laughing at her because although she was beautiful, she was one dumb dame, and she was livid with him, because he was laughing at her.
Paul had to know what was making her so crazy, so he asked her what did your husband do to get you all in a tizzy, that now you have no choice but to see him dead. Slim came back with that her husband had cheated on her. He had an affair with her only secretary. She went on to explain that she had given this man everything she had. Her time, her money, her undying devotion, and had helped him to build a successful business, and this is the way he had of thanking her?
Paul had to admit that this was a pretty shitty deal, but still, it didn’t warrant a murder. What about a divorce? Slim said that was too easy. He could still have all that he had and maybe get more from her, than she was willing to let go.
Slim rubbed her leg up against Paul’s leg and let it find its way to his crotch, and then she gave a firm push, letting him know that she was willing to do what it took to get her own way. Paul pretended he didn’t feel her foot against him and continued to talk. He asked her what her plan was to get this done. Slim said that she had thought of a few things, but she didn’t really care, as long as it was simple and clean.
Paul took his glasses off and laid them on the table. He asked Slim if she minded if he lit up his cigar, and she shook her head no. He lit it up nice and slow, letting a couple of rings escape from his lips, letting her know that he could do tricks also.
As he was inhaling his cigar, Slim became impatient and removed her foot from his crotch and got up and excused herself to the ladies room. As she walked away, Paul watched that natural wiggle and the shape of those hips. This was some dame, and he knew that she could prove to be very dangerous to men if left in a room alone with a bed.
When she came back, instead of sitting where she was, she came over to his side of the booth, and without asking, sat down beside, him forcing him to have to move over, giving her room, but also he was able to feel the heat radiating from her body. She wrapped her around his neck, and with two fingers started playing with the fuzz on the nape. This sent shivers down his spine as the fingers felt like silk, and a woman touching his neck was a big turn on for him.
He looked her in the eye, and asked her when she wanted this job done, and how much was she willing to pay for it. Slim said she wanted it done by the end of the month, and that she would make it worth his while. Money was no object, and if she wanted more, she was sure she could find some way to accommodate him. He smiled his biggest smile at her and then nonchalantly told her he would have to think it over, but he would get back in touch with her in a couple of days.
Slim pouted for him, making those lips form into something that he just wanted to reach out to and suck the life out of him, but business was business, and this was not part of the deal. Secretly, he knew that his mom would never approve of this doll.
He stood up and threw some cash on the table and said with a tip of his hat, see you later Slim. He walked out the door not looking back, not wanting to keep the memory of what she looked like, or how she smelled, or the touch of those long, slender fingers.
Before he went back to his apartment, he stopped at the grocery store and got a few groceries he needed. A case of beer, some orange juice, a box of eggs, some cheese, a box of cereal, a couple boxes of macaroni and cheese, and milk and bread. What a way to live, not very healthy, but damn well easy enough.
After arriving back home and placing the food away, he kicked off his shoes, and turned the television on to see if there were any games on. There was one, so he grabbed his blanket, and sat down in his comfy chair to watch the game, but before he got interested in it, he was dreaming about the beautiful dame.
The next day came, and he was busy at his desk, when he got a knock on the door. He got up and went over to open it, and it was the sweet little lady that lived across the hall from him. She said that her room was cold and she wasn’t sure if the heater was still working. Could he come over and take a quick minute to look at it. Slim said sure, Mrs. Miller, anything for a sweet lady like you.
He grabbed his slippers and put them on and followed her over to her place. He did think it felt a little chilly in here, and so the first thing he did was go to the thermostat and check to see what the reading was. It was set on 55 degrees, and he asked Mrs. Miller why was it set so low? She came over and squinted, taking her glasses off so she could see the small numbers better, and said, oh my, I have turned the lever the wrong direction. Oh, Mr. Paul, I am so sorry. I feel like such a fool. I bothered you when you were busy working, over something so silly. Paul said, don’t worry, honey, it was an honest mistake. I will just turn the lever back up to about, let’s say 72? Mrs. Miller shook her head in agreement to that number. She didn’t move around too much, so she got cold quickly. Paul waited for the heater to kick on and then looked at her smiling, and said it is all fixed now. You are going to be warmed up in no time.
Mrs. Miller went over to her cupboards and pulled out a big container that had peanut butter cookies in it and grabbed a few and walked back over to Paul, and asking him to hold his hands open, she placed the cookies in his hands. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead, and said thanks, anything for you neighbor. With that she smiled back at him, and walked him to the door, and let him out. She made sure to watch him walk through the hall and into his own apartment. When she saw his door close, she closed hers also, thinking, what a nice man, he deserves a nice lady friend.
Paul sat back down at his desk to go back to work, but smiled as he thought about the sweet, little, old lady next door. If she was forty years younger, he would ask her out, and just then, his phone rang. He picked up the receiver and saying hello, Paul here, he heard the gooey voice of Slim.
Have you made any decisions yet about the job I want completed, she was asking through the phone. He could almost vision her standing in the shower, with droplets of water running over her silky body, her voice was so steamy. He answered back with a no. He had not had a chance to go over it yet, and he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to consider this deal, whether he did the work or hired some goon to do the dirty work.
He heard her croon over the phone and said that there had to be some way of changing his mind. What’s your address honey? Tell me where you live and I will be right over. Paul knew this was not a good thing. The last thing he needed in his apartment was this dame and no place to run. He told her to give him one more day, and he would give her a call, and with that, he hung up, leaving her hanging on the other end.
Today, I am writing for Ermilia, at http://ermiliablog.wordpress.com
She had been held captive for so long by her dead husband, and now she was expressing to the world who she really was. She had lived for seventeen years with a controlling husband. She had done all he had said, followed all of the rules, but it was never enough.
He got satisfaction of seeing the terror in her eyes each time he came after her with a broom handle, or a fire poker. When he said jump, she automatically asked how high. If his meal was not prepared the way he wanted it, he would take the plate and shove the meal in her face, break the plate over her head, and demand that she start over and fix it right.
Inside she screamed tears, hating him, loving him at the same time. She had married young. She had dreams of for ever after, but soon after the vows were said out loud, and the papers signed, she became his property.
She could always remember the night before their wedding, as they lie in each others arms, hearing him profess his love for her, promising to take care of her for the rest of her life. This was the last night she ever remembered smiles and love flowing from her heart.
The animal that had been hiding for so many years, had shown itself, the insecurities of this man, called her husband. He was afraid that she would leave him, as his own mother left his father. He was determined that this would not happen in his own marriage, so he started the abuse of holding her hostage, never letting her go.
If she received a phone call, and he was home from work, he would sit so close to her, so he could listen to every word that was said, waiting to see if she was trying to make plans to be with another man. When they went to bed for the evening, instead of holding her in his hands, he was picking out her clothes for the next day, making sure she was not going to be able to draw attention to herself.
Bill paying and getting simple things like groceries, she could always guarantee, that her shadow would be next to her. She could not even take her own bath, as he was always found sitting near by, reading his paper.
Who she thought she was had been ripped apart and now it was hiding in the background of her mind, never knowing if she would ever reappear again.
The one friend she had for so many years, would sneak over to her house by foot, and enter through the back door, so no neighbors would see her. Her husband had met all the neighbors and had warned them that if they ever saw someone drive in to their drive way, or saw her outside, to please call him, because as he explained, his dear wife had suffered an emotional break down and was in a fragile situation. With his smiling face and sparkling teeth, they had no reason to question him, and so helped him to keep an eye on his house for him.
As the best friend observed more black eyes and bruises the two would plot on how to get her out of the house unharmed, but never being able to quite pull it off. The phone would ring, her husband calling to check up on her, scaring the girlfriend enough to go home.
One evening, he did not come straight home from work, and when he did unlock the front door he was drunk. There had been a birthday party for the boss, and after work the bunch of them ended up at the local bar celebrating. Although he was drunk, he was not so much that he ignored her and what she was doing.
She was found to be sitting by the window where she had been watching head lights go by, wondering what he was doing and where he was. He immediately asked her who she was waiting for, and when she replied that he was who she had been waiting for he became enraged.
He raced towards her and grabbed her and threw her on the couch. He grabbed her hair and with his other hand started slapping her over and over in the face, bouncing her head back and forth. She reached out and grabbed his hands and bit him. He was not prepared for this attack from her and he jumped back in pain, inspecting his bite marks.
This gave her time enough to run to her bedroom and slam the door locking it behind her.
She jerked open her night stand drawer, and there lying hidden in the shadows at the back of the drawer, was the revolver that her best friend had given her only a few days a go. Her friend said use it, please use it when he hurts you. Please don’t let him kill you.
She quietly took the revolver out and cocked it and aimed it at the bedroom door, as her friend had taught and instructed her. She could feel her breathing choking her lungs, and sweat was pouring from her brow as the fear rose inside of her.
She wanted to live, and she was going to live. She had enough of this so-called love. The door knob was being rattled as she heard words being yelled at from the other side. Let me in. I know you have someone in there. Let me in you untrustworthy bitch!
She stood still aiming the gun as he thrust his body against the door until it came slamming opened. She didn’t hesitate and shots could be heard, echoing from within the walls of the house. He fell to the ground, and silence bursted from the room. She dropped the gun, and went and called 911.
The cops came and arrested her for the murder of her husband. A trial was placed and with the help of her girlfriends testimony, she was let go and found to be innocent against the crazy man.
A few years later, she was holding her brush, teaching her class of students, showing them how to tilt the brush and to gently let it glide down the paper, to make the vines from the rose. With the right pressure being held, students were being taught how to express themselves. The topic for this art class was called love.
Who I am 