Pretty Stories for Ugly Children #3
#2 of Pretty Stories for Ugly Children
A short and dark look into a relationship gone wrong.
Dead wrong.
HE HATES HIS WIFE
SHE GOES SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES
TOO YOUNG FOR HER AGE
RIDICULOUS
SHE'S PAST 50 AND PALE
ORANGE-PEEL SKIN WITH FAT ROLLS AROUND HER BELLY
HE WATCHES YOUTHS GO BY
SHE SQUEEZES HER WINE GLASS INTO THE SAND
I'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT
GETS UP AND WALKS TOWARDS THE SERVICE BUILDING
CAUGHT SIGHT OF SOMETHING INTERESTING
LIKE A NEW HAT
HE WATCHES THE WINE GLASS IN THE SHADE
RIGHT UNDERNEATH THEIR PICNIC HAMPER
COVERED WITH A CHEQUERED TOWEL.
A SMALL SCORPION CLAMBERS SIDELONG UP THE TOWEL,
PAUSES AT THE EDGE OF THE GLASS
FALLS
AND SINKS
SLOWLY TO THE BOTTOM WAVING ITS LEGS
AFTER A STRUGGLE IT LIES
DEAD
AND COLOURLESS STUFF OOZES INTO THE WINE.
HE WATCHES WITH MALICIOUS PLEASURE,
SHE'LL NEVER NOTICE
ONLY INTERESTED IN CLOTHES
BAGS
AND HATS
HE IN
LEGS
BREASTS
AND YOUTH
SHE'LL JUST SWILL HER WINE
AND SCORPION STUFF
SERVES HER RIGHT.
SHE DRINKS WITHOUT NOTICING
TAKES A GREEDY DRAUGHT
HE WATCHES WITH GLEE
SHOULD I TELL HER NOW?
SHE HAS ANOTHER SWALLOW
BEGINS TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE
AN UNAPPETIZING SIGHT
IN THE CAR
SHE BEGINS TO SWEAT
ANYTHING THE MATTER, DEAR?
FEELING FUNNY.
SHE LEANS OUT OF THE CAR
AND RETCHES VIOLENTLY
PALE
CAN'T BREATHE.
THIS LOOKS SERIOUS
HE ALMOST PANICS,
ALMOST
BUT HE'S FREE
HE LAUGHS
HIS HEART STRUGGLES
TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT
HE SWEATS
PAIN
GOD, THE IRONY OF A
HEART ATTACK
HE STARTS THE CAR AND SPEEDS
TO A PHONE BOOTH
HE CALLS THE HOSPITAL
FAST NOW
THE DOCTOR ESTABLISHES
POISONING
AND ADDS A LATIN NAME
FOR THE SCORPION
AND YOU TASTED A BIT OF
DEATH YOURSELF
AND NEARLY FOLLOWED YOUR WIFE INTO THE HEREAFTER.
BUT YOU SAVED HER LIFE
BY RUSHING HERE
- - AND YOUR OWN
THE DOCTOR DICTATES
TO THE NURSE
FOR THE JOURNAL
HESITATES A MOMENT.
IT'S TOUCHING TO SEE
HUSBAND AND WIFE WHO WILL STAY TOGETHER
AND GO TOGETHER ALL THE WAY.
WHEN DID WE STOP CARING ?
THEY WALK BACK TO THE CAR
SHE STARES AT A DRESS IN A SHOP WINDOW
HE HATES HIS WIFE.