PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7 | PART 8 | PART 9 | PART 10

Phone rings.

“Hello.  Oh hey Rita.  Yeah.  I’m okay.  Man drama.  You know.  No, he can’t come up missing yet.  I haven’t checked on that life insurance policy.  Stop girl.  You know I’m kidding.  I know you aren’t. What’s up?  Yeah Devon can come down.  I have to cook first.  You know his stomach is forever on empty.  Sure, I’ll bring him.  Are you alright?  Yeah, we can talk.  Give me about 30 and we’ll be down. Cool.”

“Who was that?”

I jump.  I did not hear Allen come in.

“It was for me.  Why?  Since when do you inquire about my calls?”

“Woman, you are just full of venom!”

I open the fridge.  YOU HAVE NO IDEA. WAIT ‘TIL I STRIKE.

“Why are you so mean Lisa?  I hate that we always fight!  What happened to us?”

“Do you want the short or the long version?”

“I really want to know what is your problem?”

“MY PROBLEM?  OH THAT’S IT!  MY PROBLEM IS YOU AND THOSE OTHER WOMEN YOU SLEPT WITH!”

“What are you talking about Lisa.  I keep telling you that I have been faithful since the first time.  There hasn’t been anyone else.  You are . . . ”

“I am just what?  IMAGINING THINGS?  You and I both know that your eyes aren’t the only things wandering. Just get out of my kitchen?  Please? I don’t have time for your victim of life song.”

I walk past him to the stove, he grabs my arm.

“WHAT THE . . . YOU DONE LOST YOUR EVER LOVING MIND.  GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF MY ARM . .. NOW!
Allen quickly releases my arm and steps back.

“Oh God.  I am so sorry Lisa.  I just don’t want to lose you and Devon.  Why can’t you just listen to me?  I need. . . I need you to be there for me.  You spend time at work, church, with Devon.  I get nothing.  You are my wife and I need.”

“Just shut up with what you need.  I will tell you what you need.  You need to understand that you married ONE wife years ago.  You NEED to remember that you cheated on this wife MULTIPLE TIMES.  You Need to know that I am sick of your lies.  You NEED to know that I am NOT going to leave this world by some disease that you contracted from one of your freaks.  Yeah, I will tell you what you NEED.  YOU NEED TO LEAVE ME ALONE.  THAT’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO! OH, AND FOR THE RECORD.  IF YOU EVER PUT YOUR HAND ON ME AGAIN. . . YOU WILL NEED SOME MEDICAL ATTENTION BECAUSE I WILL DO MY LEVEL BEST TO KILL YOU!!”

“I said that I did not mean to grab your arm like that.  Calm down before Devon hears you.”

“Too late dad. Me and the rest of the neighborhood heard both of you.  I’m gonna walk to Aunt Rita’s house Mom.”

The back door shuts.

“Now look.  Lisa you have a big problem.”

I watch Allen walk up the hallway.  DID HE JUST SAY THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM?

To be continued. . .