Chapter Nine
From the largetree across the street, I waited for her to come home. She’d left a few hours before and I’d thought she would’ve come home by now since she rarely went out. I knew. I’d been watching her for the past several days. A low rumble drew my eyes up to the inky sky, but there wasn’t a cloud in sight, just winking lights surrounding an almost-full moon. The continuous deep, resonant sound came closer, and I clung to the trunk of the oak tree, wondering if a downpour would follow the thunder. Then I saw him round the corner on his Harley, the sound of his bike shattering the normalcy of the neighborhood. A breath caught in my throat.So that’s why she’s late.She got out of her car as he cut the engine, and quietness was once again restored.
They walked up to the porch, and I saw him press against her. The black-haired girl let him touch her. What a slut. A twig snapped under my foot and I held my breath. I couldn’t have them see me. I didn’t want her to know I was on to her. She would find out soon enough what happened when a woman whored around.
My mother had been right about not trusting women. She’d told me they were all wanton whores who’d spread their legs on command. I hadn’t believed it, really. I knew she’d blamed the cunt with the overly made-up face for taking her husband—my father—away from us. I’d blamed her too. My dad had been a great guy who’d always had time for his family until he’d met her at his office. Soon, our family dinners were just Mother and me. At first he’d pretended to be working late, but later he didn’t give a fuck what we thought. All he wanted was his mistress’s pussy. It was like he was a slave and she was the master, commanding what he could and couldn’t do. When he finally left us for her, she used him hard and, in a couple of years, she’d thrown him out when he didn’t have any more money or energy to give.
He’d come back home and Mother took him in, nursing and reminding him every day what he’d done to us. She’d tormented him until he died. I often thought he’d willed himself to die just to get away from Mother, but I never blamed her; he’d broken her heart in the worst way.
Voices murmuring drew me back to them.Is he kissing her? Is she planning to fuck him? If she lets him in, I don’t know what I’ll do, but I can’t lose my head. I’m not ready yet. It’s too soon.
I bet she was one of those women who liked flowers—roses—and demanded that a man give them to her. Blood red ones because it meant that the man had fallen hopelessly under her spell. And I was convinced it was a spell. There were women who knew how to make a man fall in love with them even if he didn’t want to. They were seductresses, and they only wanted to show a man that they could get him. After their little game was finished, they’d chew him up and spit him out.
She was like that. I should’ve known that about her. I should’ve sensed it, but I didn’t. Now I did.
Chuckling, I had to put my hand over my mouth to make sure they didn’t hear me. He was leaving, and she looked so forlorn.Good for you, bitch! Your tight ass and tits couldn’t lure him in, but you’ll try again. Cunts always do.
But wait… he looks mad.I could tell by the way he sped off that he was angry with her.Why do men keep falling for women who are such sluts?I stepped away from the cover of the oak tree, my eyes glued to the picture window, hoping to be a voyeur of her loneliness and possible rejection. But no such luck; she closed the blinds and locked her discontent up.Fucking bitch!She robbed me of the pleasure of her pain, but I’d be back. I had to. I had to make sure things didn’t progress between them.
As I crept down the slight slope onto the sidewalk, a thought seized me.What if she calls him back? A man can’t resist a willing slut. I’m sure he’d come right—
“Oh, I’m sorry.” The elderly woman was apologetic behind me. “I didn’t mean to bump into you. I didn’t see you.”
She looked vaguely familiar, and I scanned her face which was partially illuminated by the moonlight. It took a few seconds for the memory to surface. That’s right. She was the cashier at Bartell Drug Store, the place that still had the lunch counter in the back. I’d eaten there many times, but it’d been a while since I’d been there.Why is she out so late? Don’t freak out. She probably won’t recognize me. Just stay cool….
“No worries. I didn’t see you either.”Don’t engage in any conversation. Keep moving on.
“I was concentrating on Teddy.” She looked to her left and I saw a small white dog sniffing around a bush. “We were out for our walk before we retired. It’s such a beautiful summer night.”
Just be polite.I nodded and turned my face away from the streetlight.
With a wave, she pulled lightly on the leash and walked past me as she made her way down the block. A strangled breath came out through my chapped lips. That was too damn close. I couldn’t be spotted anywhere near the slut’s house.I’ll have to be more careful next time.And there would be a next time, and another one after that until I was ready to kill the bitch. And when I did, it would be so sweet.
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I walked to my car that was parked four blocks away. Using a car would make someone think I lived away from the neighborhood in case the police ever got involved. As I opened my car door, the yellowed glow of lit homes reminded me that it was Saturday night and people were still up. The murmur of voices floated on the warm breeze.
Patricia! That’s the name of the woman who bumped into me. Of course. I’m surprised she didn’t recognize me.Switching on the ignition, I headed out of the neighborhood.
The next time I came out, I’d have to watch out for Patricia. If she happened to bump into me again, I’d have to show her what happened to people who weren’t careful.
I clucked my tongue as I hung a right on Pine Street.It’ll be a shame, but I’m in survivor mode, and the only one left standing will be me.
