Monster vs. Monster

Word Count: 888



Monster vs. Monster



         Karen sat slumped in a chair, staring into her now empty coffee mug.  She didn’t understand how she could be so tired.  It had been her day off.  She thought they were going to have a pleasant day.  A little shopping, a little lunch—how hard could that be?

         They hadn’t even made it to lunch.  They barely made it to the mall.  And, to be honest, she didn’t understand how they had actually made it all the way out to the car.

         Her husband came through the door cautiously, as if he was afraid of what he might find.  When he saw they were alone, he gave her a weak little smile.  “Want some more coffee, hon?”

         “I don’t need any more coffee.  I’m shaking now.  What I need is scotch—intravenously!  Just hook me up.”  She lifted an arm limply for emphasis.

         “You are shaking.  Why?  What happened?”

         “What always happens?”  And she slid even further down in the chair.

         “I don’t know how much more I can take, Jim.  I really don’t.”

         “It can’t be that bad, Karen.  I don’t have any trouble.”

         She sighed deeply and then let her breath escape again slowly, dramatically.  “You know, probably the last thing I need to hear is that ‘you don’t have any trouble’.”

         He went into the dining room, returning after only a minute carrying a large on-the-rocks glass with a splash of amber liquid in it.  Then he added a handful of ice cubes and filled the glass with club soda.  “Here you go—one scotch.”  And he handed her the glass.

         She took it, and for a minute just breathed in the aromatic vapor before she took a tentative sip.  “God, that taste good.”  She smiled at him and with a raised eyebrow asked, “Could we go out for dinner tonight—ALONE?”

         Jim reached over and gave her hand a reassuring pat.  “I think I could arrange that.  Now you just sit here and relax.  Why don’t you try those breathing exercises your sister tried to teach you?”  He walked through the kitchen, to the foyer and slowly began mounting the stairs.

         She watched him, wondering to herself if maybe they had waited too long.  Perhaps, they were just too old to be parents.  Yes, that must be it.  Because the only alternative would be that they had produced a monster.

***

         Susie was lying on her bed with her sock-covered feet walking up the wall.  She wore an old tee shirt, a pair of sweats and a sour face.  She pulled her feet back from the wall when she heard the knock, and after flipping around, gave out a disgruntled, “Come in.”

         “Hi, sweetie.  How was your day?”

         “You don’t want to know!”  She grabbed a pillow and punched at with a surprising vehemence before she went on, “It was unbelievable.  I simply cannot go on like this.”

         Her father grabbed her desk chair, flipped it around and squatted on it wrong way round—his arms crossed on the back.  “Why?  What happened?”

         “What happened!?  What happened?  I’ll tell you what happened.”  She jumped up and stomped across to the window where she dropped dramatically onto the window seat.  “SHE happened!”

         “I mean, what was the problem?”  He was cringing now.  Maybe he wasn’t cut out to be a father.

           “I already told you, Daddy.  She did.  She’s just unbelievable.  It was bad enough in the car.  She kept asking about school, and had I finished my homework…  As if!  I mean it’s only Saturday.  It’s not due until Monday.  What is wrong with her?”

         “But, honey…” 

         She cut him off.  “Why would I waste my Saturday on homework that’s not due until Monday.  That’s just stupid.”

         “You really shouldn’t call your mother ‘stupid’”

         “I never did…” Susie insisted.  “I said the idea of doing the homework early was stupid.”  And she gave self-satisfying smug little smile.  She wasn’t going to caught up in name calling—that led to grounding.  She hadn’t lived sixteen years without learning how to skirt punishable offenses. 

He couldn’t possibly get mad about her calling an ‘idea’ stupid.  Still, a little insurance couldn’t hurt.  Her voice assumed a honey tone, “But Daddy…”

                He stood up, took out his wallet and produced a twenty-dollar bill.  “Here, call Nan, and have her come spend the night.  You two order a pizza and have fun.  Your mother and I are going out for dinner and a movie”  He was almost to the door when he turned and added, “You two could at least start your homework, couldn’t you?”

                “All right, Daddy.”

                She had dialed the phone before the door had latched shut behind him.  “Jan…?

                “Hey, did you have fun at the mall?”  Her friend asked in a snide voice.

                “Of course not.  How could I?”  She looked out the window as her parents walked out and got into the car.  “Come spend the night.  My dad gave me money to get a pizza.”

                “Great, I’ll grab my stuff and pick up a DVD.  What are you in the mood for?”

                “I don’t care—whatever you want.  Just not a horror movie.”  She gave a little wave as the car pulled out of the driveway.

  I mean, I already live with a monster!”