Life at 32 Beecham
Street
Melinda’s fingers flitted through
the iridescent peacock colors on her dressing table, searching among eye shadow
dust, bottles and brushes for the next weapon in her arsenal. Her reflection glowed in her pride and joy –
the theatrical make-up mirror with its ring of lights, a castoff from a theater
closing. I wonder… Finished with her
lipstick, she snapped the cap back on, slipped from the bench and stood back,
examining her reflection. Is this the night? She shivered and smiled in anticipation. Jack would be there soon and maybe, before
the night was over, she would have cause to say ‘yes’.
Hours later, her new ring on the
third finger of her left hand flickered when she turned the key in her
lock. Jack stepped close behind her,
anxious to be inside to celebrate their new commitment. Melinda opened the door, allowing a narrow
blade of light to slice the darkness of the shared hallway.
* * * * * *
In the room across the hall, Mark
stroked Shelley’s belly. The passing of
his fingers lifted the hairs on her skin, which rippled. She moaned, pressing
herself closer against him.
“Oh.” A breath, caught when she moved again,
spreading her knees and lifting herself to accept more of her husband, her
lover.
Mark shifted, lifting up, pressing down,
his naked skin gilded by light filtered through the curtains. His lips found hers, and she kissed him back,
giving all of herself to him and to the sensations of their sharing.
* * * * * *
A soft creak from the floor above
noted the passing of Janice as she paced the small room she shared with her husband. “I’m not ready for this, Eddie. How are we going to raise a kid? I’m only twenty-three. I’m not ready to be a mother.”
“You’ll be fine, Jan, a great
mother.” Eddie caught her by the waist
when she came close enough, before she could turn to pace the room in the other
direction. He fought her onto his knee,
kissing her neck. “We’ll manage, just
like your sister did.”
“Yeah, great. She moved back home last year, remember?”
“Only because that jerk live-in
loser left her. I’m not leaving you like
he left Karen. We’re together, forever,
remember? Like we promised each other,
okay?”
She sighed, and relaxed against
him. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” He kissed her again.
Her lips curled under his as she melted,
“This is what got us into this situation in the first place, remember?”
He chuckled, his hands moving over
her familiar terrain. “I remember.”
* * * * * *
Across the hall, Norm sat by
Millie’s side, his long face longer than usual as he listened to her labored
breathing. Her hand in his was still
warm, but quiet. Ranged around the small
room were their children and young in-laws.
On the night table, the clock showed three minutes past two,
rhythmically ticking her life away.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Have a lovely day!
Best~
Philippa
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