PaulJacinta (Part 1)
May 17th 2007 03:56
Tom sat hunched in the middle of the lounge room, chain smoking and trembling sporadically. With Jacinta running late, Sarah had managed to do almost everything - asking only that her co-host make a fire.
This Tom had done in surly silence, savouring the vision of his severed head on the courtyard bricks as he laboriously chopped.
There had been tears, more tears, words, fresh tears and a pardon given solely for expedience.
Tom was not the only one at the end of his tether.
Sarah bustled past, hurling wet tissues and cigarette butts onto the flames, all but killing them. Automatically she shot a plea to Tom, then thought better of giving it voice.
Only the tension between them rekindled as she inexpertly separated young coals and piled on too much wood.
Tears and mucus hissed feebly on the grate. The couple’s inquiring cat was curtly dismissed. The front sensor light came on, followed by a light shuffle and knock.
Tom writhed with panic and dismay as Sarah moved down the hall.
Jacinta was a fully-fledged fairy, having taken five years to complete her metamorphosis. She had joined Tom’s first share house as a charcoal-suited executive for an industrial conglomerate.
On experiencing her new bohemian suburb, however, she soon decided to abandon corporate life forever. Stunning all with the ferocity of her resolve, she dyed her hair, then cut it, then shaved it; assembled a kaleidoscopic wardrobe of hemp and silk and embraced juggling, meditation, body piercing and vegetarianism.
Leaving her workplace of 14 years she then toured the world by circus, returning at length to find that few of her friends could still recognise her, let alone relate.
It was with rare pleasure, therefore, that she embraced Tom who had trodden a similar though far less extreme path.
Moments into their hug, Jacinta pulled back and frowned at Tom’s face. Then she glanced at Sarah and got another shock.
‘Jeeez, you guys; heavy shit! What’s been happening here?’
To be continued...
This Tom had done in surly silence, savouring the vision of his severed head on the courtyard bricks as he laboriously chopped.
There had been tears, more tears, words, fresh tears and a pardon given solely for expedience.
Tom was not the only one at the end of his tether.
Sarah bustled past, hurling wet tissues and cigarette butts onto the flames, all but killing them. Automatically she shot a plea to Tom, then thought better of giving it voice.
Only the tension between them rekindled as she inexpertly separated young coals and piled on too much wood.
Tears and mucus hissed feebly on the grate. The couple’s inquiring cat was curtly dismissed. The front sensor light came on, followed by a light shuffle and knock.
Tom writhed with panic and dismay as Sarah moved down the hall.
Jacinta was a fully-fledged fairy, having taken five years to complete her metamorphosis. She had joined Tom’s first share house as a charcoal-suited executive for an industrial conglomerate.
On experiencing her new bohemian suburb, however, she soon decided to abandon corporate life forever. Stunning all with the ferocity of her resolve, she dyed her hair, then cut it, then shaved it; assembled a kaleidoscopic wardrobe of hemp and silk and embraced juggling, meditation, body piercing and vegetarianism.
Leaving her workplace of 14 years she then toured the world by circus, returning at length to find that few of her friends could still recognise her, let alone relate.
It was with rare pleasure, therefore, that she embraced Tom who had trodden a similar though far less extreme path.
Moments into their hug, Jacinta pulled back and frowned at Tom’s face. Then she glanced at Sarah and got another shock.
‘Jeeez, you guys; heavy shit! What’s been happening here?’
To be continued...
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Comment by Terry
MysTerry's Mansion
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Terry
Comment by Paul
Surreal Short Stories
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
Tears and mucous hissed feebly on the gate.
Loved that! lol
Well done! Where's part deux???
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Paul
Surreal Short Stories