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The Night of Fire & Light (Part 8) |
| Written by Dave Bottoms | |
| Tuesday, 01 April 2008 | |
Thelma answers the phone, "Hello?" "Hi, Thelma?" says Helen. "Have you got a minute? It's about Andy and Barney." Thelma looks up and out at the street through the curtains. "Yes, Helen, what about Andy and Barney?" "I don't really know how to ask you this, but...Have you noticed anything?" Thelma wants to blurt it all out, but the thought terrifies her. She doesn't think her mind would hold together if she was forced to put everything she's been thinking into words. "Noticed anything?" "Yeah. Like ahhh... Well... I don't know. Like, just things. You know," Helen stumbles. "Things? You mean about our guys," she asks. Thelma wants to scream at the top of her lungs. She wants to run away as far as she can run. A trickle of sweat tracks a course from her brow to her chin. "Yeah. Things are...awkward. I mean between myself and Andy. Ever since last week. And ah...I thought, maybe you've noticed things with Barney, you know. Like has he been acting strange?" Helen asks. "Not really. I mean, no stranger than usual, I guess. But you know Barney, it's kind of hard to tell," says Thelma. Helen laughs. It comes out dry and humorless. "It's probably just me. I shouldn't have called." "No. That's all right. Whatever it is, it will pass, don't worry," Thelma lies into the receiver. Helen agrees, and they exchange goodbyes. As Thelma sets the receiver into its cradle, a lone tear pops out from the lid of her left eye and runs down her cheek. From the mantle, she picks up a photo of Barney. In it he's wearing his loose-fitting uniform and a big smile. She wipes away the tear, then moves across the room. With his picture held tight against her bosom, she falls into the chair, rocks back and forth, and sobs quietly. Copyright 2008 Dave Bottoms |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 01 April 2008 ) |
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