Moving On

Part one of two

The silence was filled with a gurgling sound. The sound liquid makes when being forced out of a bottle by air. Quickly it was followed by the splashing sound of liquid filling a glass. Then came the plunk of a bottle being set on a hard surface. After a second or two of silence, there was the gentle clink of a glass being sat on the same surface.

“Well Charles, I’m soo sorry you missed lunch with dad. You missed a real treat.” From the tone of Kelly’s voice and the way she strung out so, it had been no treat at all.

“Lunches with dad are usually a little intense but what did I miss?” Charles asked. 

“Well,” the glass clinked against the countertop again. “Dad wanted to tell us both. But he understood why you couldn’t make it.” She said understood in kinda of a sideways manner. To indicate that maybe dad was put off by Charles not being there but understood. “He wanted to inform us that he has a…..” there was a moment of silence before Kelly spat it out. “Girlfriend.”

“Really?” There was a hint of excitement in Brad’s voice.

The frigerator door opened and closed.

“Yes, they have been seeing each other for almost a year now. He thought it would be better to wait and tell us once he thought they might be getting closer. As he put it.” There again was that hint of distain. “How can you seem excited about this?”

“I think it’s great your dad is dating.” Bradley chimed in.

“I thought you were on my side?”

“Honey, I’m always on your side. I just happen to disagree.”

“Mom has been dead ten years. Dad deserves to be happy. Get out there and mingle. I’m excited about the prospect of meeting the woman that was able to get him to look up.” Charles spoke. 

“Thank you Charles.”

“So what’s the big deal? Dad has met someone?” Charles shrugged. 

“I’m sure she’s a little prosta-tot; just graduated from college with her ass cheeks hanging out. I’d bet she’s a social worker,” Kelly changed the tone of her voice to a squeak; “I just really want to help people and I want world peace. Giggle. Giggle.”

“I’m a social worker.” Charles puffed. 

“This isn’t about you Charles.” Kelly snapped.

“What did your dad say about her?” Brad asked. 

“Nothing.”

Brad wanted to know, “what questions did you ask?”

“Yeah, maybe dad didn’t give extra information because you were disinterested?” Charles questioned. 

“Your dad is never very forthcoming with information.” Brad volunteered. 

“That’s true. But what did you say?” Charles asked. 

“Okay.” Kelly was very flip about it.

Brad was shocked, “okay? That’s all you said was okay? I’m amazed honey. You are never one to mince words.”

The glass clinked against the counter, “this is true. I guess I was in shock. And the more I think about it, the madder I get.”

“What’s the real problem here sis?” Charles asked. 

*Author’s note. I had an old satchel under my night stand; covered with 20 plus years of dust. It contained page after page of stories I had started. This is one example.