Stuck
Her hard-soled shoes made almost no on noise against the moss covered walkway. It was late into the typically wet spring and soon the dry summer would come and kill it all away, But the damn moss was supposed to be dead three months ago. Harlin had promised he’d kill it. Of course, like the broken gate that was supposed to be fixed last year, it was still there.She kicked off her wet suede shoes onto the porch before entering the house like she tried to get everyone to do. With each quick flick of her feet the light above her head flickered. She heaved an exasperated sigh; this had just started up last night and she knew if she didn’t find the time in her schedule to fix it soon it would just be another thing that would never get fixed. But when would she find the time to drag out a chair, undo the cover, replace the bulb, place in the new one, and then work in reverse until the chair was back in the kitchen? It was such a simple task really, but then it dawned on her: did they even have bulbs? That would mean a trip to the store, and if she didn’t even have time to drag a chair when would she be able to drive a car all that way?
Job number one was always waiting for her with a twelve hour shift. Afterwards she'd have to drive the twins to their soccer practice which almost always followed immediately considering the odd hours she worked. During half-time she'd go back home and pick up angsty-Bobby for his therapy appointment thirty minutes away–no matter they only ever had twenty to get there before it was time to drive back to finish out the game, go back for Bobby, then drop everyone off at home with Lisa and Kelly so Ellen could go off to job number two. At least it offered her a kind five hour shift. But it had to work out that way considering Lisa needed to be relieved of her duties watching her younger siblings in order to get her school work done, a task near impossible considering Tyke and Tina, Bobby, and Kelly were all between the ages of five and thirteen. Lisa on the other hand was a responsible twenty-two year-old, going to community college while working a part time job as her mother slept. It didn't earn much, but Ellen was grateful for any additional support for her and her family considering her ever absent husband did nothing to help.
She undid the shaky lock on the door and pushed her way inside with great effort. The house was silent. Unnervingly so. She headed to the fridge and saw Lisa’s note: “took the kids out to park–they get to play, Kelly gets to practice before the big event, and I have the chance to study, so you get to have the house to yourself. See you at the recital! P.S: Dad’s out….”
Eventually I’ll get out, she told herself as she began to get ready for the next event on her calendar. What is it? Right! Kelly’s violin recital. She ran to the shower and allowed the hot steam to burn her skin, watching in relief as it turned bright red. Eventually I’ll save this family by taking the kids and getting the hell out….
Job number one was always waiting for her with a twelve hour shift. Afterwards she'd have to drive the twins to their soccer practice which almost always followed immediately considering the odd hours she worked. During half-time she'd go back home and pick up angsty-Bobby for his therapy appointment thirty minutes away–no matter they only ever had twenty to get there before it was time to drive back to finish out the game, go back for Bobby, then drop everyone off at home with Lisa and Kelly so Ellen could go off to job number two. At least it offered her a kind five hour shift. But it had to work out that way considering Lisa needed to be relieved of her duties watching her younger siblings in order to get her school work done, a task near impossible considering Tyke and Tina, Bobby, and Kelly were all between the ages of five and thirteen. Lisa on the other hand was a responsible twenty-two year-old, going to community college while working a part time job as her mother slept. It didn't earn much, but Ellen was grateful for any additional support for her and her family considering her ever absent husband did nothing to help.
She undid the shaky lock on the door and pushed her way inside with great effort. The house was silent. Unnervingly so. She headed to the fridge and saw Lisa’s note: “took the kids out to park–they get to play, Kelly gets to practice before the big event, and I have the chance to study, so you get to have the house to yourself. See you at the recital! P.S: Dad’s out….”
She knew what that last part meant, but she didn’t want to think about it.
As she chucked the note into the metal wastebasket, one word crossed Ellen's mind, the word that always crossed her mind when it came to Harlin. The same word that always drifted along her thoughts longing to be given a moment’s notice, begging to be listened to: Divorce.
Ellen hated thinking this; with every other stressful issue in her life she couldn’t handle another thing to add to her chores. Not that Harlin wasn’t already a chore. Still, Tina and Tyke had fun enough with him. He knew how to get even angsty-Bobby to laugh. And Kelly, well, if it wasn’t for him she wouldn’t even have a cell-phone. Though if it wasn’t for him everyone would have a cell-phone. But as Harlin liked to say: You win some, you lose some. And she felt she definitely lost with Harlin. And he almost always lost at the casino. Granted his wins did help some, but they were generally sparse and few.
As she chucked the note into the metal wastebasket, one word crossed Ellen's mind, the word that always crossed her mind when it came to Harlin. The same word that always drifted along her thoughts longing to be given a moment’s notice, begging to be listened to: Divorce.
Ellen hated thinking this; with every other stressful issue in her life she couldn’t handle another thing to add to her chores. Not that Harlin wasn’t already a chore. Still, Tina and Tyke had fun enough with him. He knew how to get even angsty-Bobby to laugh. And Kelly, well, if it wasn’t for him she wouldn’t even have a cell-phone. Though if it wasn’t for him everyone would have a cell-phone. But as Harlin liked to say: You win some, you lose some. And she felt she definitely lost with Harlin. And he almost always lost at the casino. Granted his wins did help some, but they were generally sparse and few.
Harlin and Ellen were Kelly’s age when they met and it was the story to end all love stories: they fell in love at prom over sneaking in tequila–then getting caught. They went back to Harlin’s house, stole his dad’s car and drove to Cupid’s Hill. She knew nothing about what they were doing; he knew everything. And nine months the later they had Kelly; the moment Ellen felt trapped with Harlin. She threatened to leave on Kelly's first birthday, but Harlin fought back with threats of lawyers and custody battles. Since then she had been living in the same shack working the same shitty jobs; except now with more kids and more responsibilities.
Eventually I’ll get out, she told herself as she began to get ready for the next event on her calendar. What is it? Right! Kelly’s violin recital. She ran to the shower and allowed the hot steam to burn her skin, watching in relief as it turned bright red. Eventually I’ll save this family by taking the kids and getting the hell out….
Comments
Post a Comment