- all rights reserved, copyright 2000, by Dirk Craig -
As Bill went inside, Lisa stared into the distance. Her face was illuminated off-and-on by the approaching light show and, oddly, she smiled. It wasn't a smile of happiness, but more a smile of self preservation--her way of dealing with a seemingly hopeless situation.
Next door, Dan Gibson lay in his bed, watching the dark wings of the ceiling fan follow its endless orbit. Above the soft drone of the electric motor, he could hear the heart-wrenching sobs of guilt emanating from his wife's room. Were there no limits to the anquish, he thought? How were they going to make it?
He closed his eyes and prayed--praying for his wife, praying to his son, and praying he could keep his sanity for at least another day. Before long, he drifted off into another night of restless, dream-filled sleep.
The railroader was a volcano about to erupt, his face the color of hot coals, obviously humiliated in front of the jeering crowd. At first, it appeared he would back down when he turned and lowered his drink to the table. But, it was only a feign, as, in an instant, he pivoted and slammed the glass of beer against the side of Bill's face, showering spectators nearby with pieces of glass and brew.
Bill's cheek was cut, a thin streak of blood lined his face, but otherwise he seemed totally unfazed by the blow. A wide smile grew ominously below crazed eyes. "Son, that's the third mistake you've made tonight--strike three."
Brady cried and ran up the steps. Bill waited until the bedroom door slammed, then squatted beside his wife. A huge right hand cupped her neck tightly and pinned her head against the wall. His face was so close she could hardly breathe. "I don't know what's gotten into you lately. You seem to have forgotten who's in charge around here," he said, tightening the grip on Lisa's neck. "I've warned you enough. Now you see what can happen when you fuck with me."
He checked the steps, and then lowered his voice to be sure Brady couldn't hear. An even darker shade of evil came over his face. "Don't you ever cross me again, or I'll make sure nobody ever finds your body."
As the overcast began breaking overhead, mobile pillars of moonlight cast down upon the earth. Dogs barked at shadows while other night creatures slithered about. A soft, cool northwesterly breeze whispered through the catalpa trees standing like sentries in front of the house. Dan and Lisa were oblivious to everything but each other; embraced again, kissing, touching, and absorbing the moment. A spectograph would have been able to record the aura of blue light that was developing as one around them.
The full moon was like a grapefruit as it climbed slowly above the treetops in the eastern sky to replace the fading light to the west. The air was calm and slightly cool, perfect for sleeping in a tent. Crackling sparks from the burning wood drifted with the smoke like glowing pixies dancing away into the night. Lisa sat quietly, eating a blackened marshmallow or two, watching her son sitting cross-legged, as close to Dan as he could get. She knew Brady had never known such attention, and affection from an adult male before.