DIRT IS BEAUTIFUL

“A co-worker apologized to me at work today,” Mark announced as he entered the living room still dusting the snow off his long wool coat with his leather gloves. His wife was on the couch flipping the pages of a “Better Home and Garden” magazine. “Honey, whats the hurry? You’re getting the carpet all wet with snow, like a five year old. Go hang your coat up!” “This co-worker acted like you told her I had cancer, even patted my shoulder.” Mark turned into the kitchen, “Do you want a glass of wine?” Diane put the magazine down. “What do you mean, I, told a co-worker of yours that you had cancer, I don’t know anyone at your work, well besides Charles, but I haven’t talked to him since our last dinner party.” She sat left leg over the right leaning on the couch with her right arm stretched out over the back. Her red sweater clashed with the burnt orange upholstery. Mark emerged with two glasses of wine, “My co-worker recognized your last name and asked me my wife’s name and whether she was taking an online writing course.” Diane gracefully grabbed her glass and twisted herself to face forward. “Why do you keep, saying “my co-worker” does your “co-worker” not have a name?” “My co-worker,” Mark emphasized, “has nothing to do with this.” Diane picked up her magazine, and with the wine glass at her lips, she softly shook her head back and forth dragging her bottom lip across the rim before taking a sip. “Don’t act like you don’t know what I am getting at.” Mark tapped the bottom of her wine glass spilling Merlot down her red sweater. “What the hell?” She stood up with her arms stretched out and head cocked down watching motionlessly as the wine dripped down the chest of her sweater. She looked up with heat in her eyes; he leaned against the fire place mantle, still in black slacks and a white shirt. Diane tossed the remains of her wine at Mark. “Diane, I did not deserve that!” Mark sounded like his father. “Oh and I did?! What the fuck is on your mind?” “When my co-worker patted my shoulder, she apologized about our marriage.”

- Alexandra Lovell (written September 27, 2010)

Short Short Fiction - “Discovered”

July 4, 2011