A Little Fun

She had relied on the beauty of the biological imperative to bolster her insecurities. Brooding vampire eyes from across a room, the way she slowly chewed on a pen at work behind her desk, the walk that never failed to summon many a hard-on–had all been motions that managed to manipulate the opposite, and the same (at times), sex. Her designer-hand mirror was now revealing the age in her countenance. Aching had begun at her knees at the end of every week. At lunch break, she developed a curious ritual, in which she would work on her last bite and study her hands in the midst of it. She studied the crack and folds in her fingers, the bedding of her nails, the beating of time and the scorching of the sun upon them. The laughter of children sounds like chirping birds, she thought, and was amazed at how it no longer bothered her…she liked it and admitted it to herself out loud. Their smiles filled her with a warmth she was unaware was lacking. Or perhaps, it was a recent development, she thought. The monkey bars across the street in the distance from where she sat eating her sushi outside her office, appeared…somber. It looked almost obscene without those terrible creatures crawling all over it. Tears began to form in her eyes and she would smile them away as she looked at her phone out of habit, searching for something, someone, anything…anything that would break the spell…this new found spell which invokes emotions once thought crippling.

“Friday today. Any plans, Glenn?”

“Christ, you scared me Jordan. Don’t do that.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“No, it’s ok. I was just…in deep thought.”

“Oh? Do tell.”

“Oh, no, it was nothing.”

“C’mon, Glenn, you can tell me. Is it that guy your slapping bodies with?”

“Which one?”

“Oh, goodness. I envy your life, I really do.”

“Geez, you’re sweet,” she said rubbing her hands and squeezing out a smile.

“Well, not all of us have perfect lives.”

“That is true. What are you doing this weekend?”

“Taking care of my little angels. I got three of them, as you know and Tom is away for work in Louisiana again.”

“Oh, really?”

“I love them and all, but cheese and rice can they drive me up the wall.”

“Well, if you ever need a babysitter, just let me know. I don’t mind,” she said sitting up and drawing her knees together.

“Oh, no, I couldn’t put you out.”

“What–why?”

“Well, you’re just so outgoing and men love you everywhere you go…and that body of yours…I’d kill for a body like that. But like I said, three crazy kids later, the body isn’t what it used to be.”

“I think your life–“

“Jesus, look at the time, I gotta pick up my kids early today. See Monday, Glenny Glen. And have a little fun for me, ok?”

 

“You know I will, girl,” she yelled out after her waving goodbye.

 

∞