Window-sill

I keep your picture on the window-sill

Along with your ashes.

I can’t believe its been six months.

Still doesn’t seem real.

I keep hoping I wake up and you’ll be there.

It’s still hard.

Every time I listen to music it hurts.

You should still be here.

Its not fair.

We barely got started.

And now its gone.

You never got the chance to wear my ring.

Or never say I do.

I try not to be blue.

Cause you wouldn’t want me too.

You knew me, and I knew you.

We were one.

But we’re done.

Not really, but I can’t see you anymore.

You made everything all right.

All I had to do was look into your eyes.

You were my world.

And now my world is shattered.

But I promise to try

No matter how hard it gets.

I know with you looking down

I can go on

I keep your picture on the window-sill

The Fall

The flashing lights were the first thing in sight as Kim turned onto her street. Hoping it wasn’t at her house but the closer she got, her heart pounded harder realizing it was.

Maybe he killed himself, she thought. Kim could only hope, she’d be free.

Years of abuse, Kim thought about killing him many times hundreds of different ways. No matter how hard she tried, Kim just didn’t have the stomach to kill anybody, even if it was her low-life husband who beat the shit out of her every chance he got.

Tim used to be a good man. A job as a Mortgage Broker, which he loved. He loved helping people.

Losing his job about seven years ago, he gave a half-hearted attempt to find a new one. Tim started drinking heavily, becoming mean and bitter.

Kim walked in the house to find a young man in handcuffs kneeling on the floor next to Tim’s body. A hole in the middle of his chest with blood around it.

“Are you Mrs. McKnight, Ma’am?”

Setting the small bag down on the steps, “Yes. What’s going on?”

“Timothy here,” pointing to the man in handcuffs, “broke in and shot your husband.”

“Serves him right for what he did to my mother,” Timothy stouted.

Kim knew very little about Tim’s past. He never wanted to talk about it.

She walked around facing Timothy, “He beat her too?”

“He left when she was pregnant with me,” Kim’s jaw dropped. “She never got over it.”

As she watched Timothy being pulled away, guilt crossed her for letting him take the fall.

The Organization

It was gray and foggy in the late afternoon when Tripp had to meet him. He had never met Butch. All Tripp knew was that Butch was about a foot taller than he was, and Tripp was a little over 6 foot. Tripp guessed Butch would be easy to spot in a crowd.

He arrived at the clearing on time but didn’t see Butch. Tripp wasn’t going to wait around long, he had a expecting wife who could pop any minute. If it was up to him, he wouldn’t be meeting Butch at all. But times were hard, and he needed the money.

He promised Betsy, before they got married, he wouldn’t do anymore jobs for Carlos. Carlos might be a bit shady, but he rewarded loyalty and let Tipp out of the organization.
Butch came walking through the fog and stopped in front of Tripp. He pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Tripp.

“Here.” Butch held out a cell phone, “Call you wife.”

Tripp swallowed hard and too the phone, “What are you doing?”

Butch didn’t say a word.

Tripp begged for his life as he dilled Bety’s number. She answered on the second ring.

“Hi honey,” he managed to say softly.

“I’ll tell Carlos you said hi,” and the phone went dead.

“No,” he yelled, as Butch pulled the trigger.

Casket

Tom took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the casket. A tear trickled down his cheek as he gazed at his wife’s body.

Della looked as if she was asleep. Her red hair perfectly framed her face. The blue lipstick had always been her favorite. Tom bought her the red sweater, she had on, last Christmas. Della wore it anytime they had date night.

Tom shut his eyes to say a silent prayer, and to give thanks for the five years they had together. He went to the front of the main room and sat on the couch. A woman sat beside him.

She leaned over a whispered in his ear, “I got the tickets.”

He nodded, “She went peacefully. Didn’t suspect a thing.”

“Good,” she put a hand on his knee. “I booked the Honeymoon suit.”

Key

The banquet hall was quickly filling up when Paula arrived. It wasn’t going to be easy to find a seat. Fortunately she saw Peter trying to get her attention. He waved her over and told her to have a seat. He was also holding a seat for Wilma Jenkins and her friends, the Cey’s. Paula had only met Karen and her son, Bryce, and was looking forward to meeting Ron. 

She tried not to stare at Peter, looking dapper in is powder blue suit and red necktie. Paula never thought she’d be attracted to a man dressed that way. She always went for the bad boy look. The guys she went out with had more than just the look, though. They turned out to be just plane bad. Some worse than others.

Paula stood as Wilma came toward the table, with Karen following behind holding hands with, she assumed, her husband. Both women had on a dress that went down to their ankles. Karen had on a gold bracelet around her right ankle. Wilma sat in it chair beside Paula and introduced her to Ron. 

Ron reached over and shook her hand, “How do you like living on the island?”

“So far I love it,” Paula nodded. “I love sitting in front of the fireplace on those cold nights. Looking forward to doing the same outside during the summer.”

The disc jockey introduced the Mayor. 

He accepted the microphone from the DJ, “Good evening and welcome to the tenth annual Spring Fling. Before we get started, I’d like to bring Wilma Jenkins up, if I may.”

Wilma was clearly shocked as she walked to the middle of the room, stopping beside the Mayor.

He turned to her raising the microphone below his chin, “For your life long service and deadication to the island, I present you a key to the island.” He handed her a big gold key, “And that’s not all. 

Peter and another man rolled an easel from the kitchen.

“Thank you Peter and Charlie,” the Mayor shook their hands. “Wilma, on behalf of everyone it’s my honor to give you this,” he pulled the cover off and revealed a portrait of her and Harlan on the ferry.

The room erupted with applause. Wilma was visibly shaking with emotion.  The Mayor hugged and kissed her on the cheek, and handed Wilma the microphone.

“Thank you, Mr. Mayor.” Her voice shaking. “I don’t know what to say,” scanning the crowd. “It was our pleasure, and we loved doing it. I know,” she looked up, “Harlan is smiling down on us all. And he was just as proud as I was running the ferry for so long. This means more than words can say. Thank you so much. Let’s all have a great time tonight,” she handed the microphone to the Mayor.

Corner Bar

The day matched Charlie’s mood. Dark, gloomy with a bit of anger. Unlucky at love and tired of being alone. Trying to do the right thing, yesterday at work, got him fired. Charlie was convinced he was cursed.

To take the edge off he walked down to the Corner Bar. The beer was cold and the food was better than average. One of you classier dives.

There was only a a few people sitting at the bar as Charlie sat at the far end. The barmaid strolled over with a friendly smile. Charlie ordered a tall glass of suds, quickly downed it and ordered another.

Lost in thought while nursing his beer, Charlie barely noticed the gorgeous red head drinking an umbrella-drink sitting next to him.

He smiled, “I’m Charlie.”

“Pam,” she shook his hand.

They continued their small talk as they drank. Charlie’s mood flipped like a light switch. By his forth beer Charlie had forgotten why he was such in a terrible mood in the first place. He didn’t know if it was the alcohol or Pam making him feel better.

She whispered into his ear. Charlie nodded, put two twenty’s on the bar and followed her out the door.

He got into the passenger side of her car. She drove for about thirty minutes to a secluded spot along the river.

Pam moved over and began kissing Charlie. Charlie reached his arms over his head when Pam started to pull his shirt over his head. He herd a click and felt something cool around his wrists. He tried to pull his hands down, but his wrists were bound together and was unable to pull his arms down.

“This is for my little sister.”

She pulled his shirt down and slapped his cheek. Charlie begged for his freedom as she climbed out of the car. Before shutting the door, Pam took off the emergency break. The car slowly drifted down the embankment and into the water.

Charlie’s last thought was who was Pam’s sister.

Marshmallows And Wine

Sitting around the fire pit reminded Paula of the summer nights roasting marshmallows with her grandparents here on the island. Now she’s sipping wine around the fire pit in her own back yard while Sherlock lays at her feet. Paula turned her head around to look at her house feeling proud of herself for have the courage to get out of an abusive marriage.

Sherlock raised his head and stared toward the driveway.

“What do’ya see?” rubbing his head.

A golf cart pulled in behind hers.

“Hello,” she heard.

The dog rose up wagging his tail and barking. “Peter?” walking toward the driveway.

“Not too late, is it?”

Too late for Peter Hampton? Never. “No, come on in.”

Sherlock jumped on him as Peter came through the gate, almost looking him in the eye.

“Sherlock, get down,” Paula firmly said.

The dog obeyed, and wondered out in the yard out of sight.

“Brought you a little house-warming gift,” Peter reached into his attache case.

“Marshmallows,” Paula said, after Peter showed her.

They finished the bag of marshmallows along with the bottle of wine. The fire seemed to be warmer with Peter by her side

Island

“Peanut, it’s me.” Paula cocked her head trying to place the man. He continued, “We hung out together when you spent the summers here.”

Paula covered her mouth with her hand, “Oh my God! Peter Hampton,” she threw her arms around his shoulders.

Peter was basically Paul’s only friend that first summer she spent here with her grandparents. She wasn’t thrilled about it, but her mother insisted. It might have been the best thig for a teenager trying to find her way.

Over those three summers she got real close with her grandmother, with lots of hart to hart talks. Something Paula had trouble doing with her mother. After that first summer she looked forward to coming back to the island. A couple months after they threw her a party for her sixteenth birthday, both grandparents died two weeks apart. She hasn’t been back to the island since.

Peter must have grown at least six inches, and filled out quite nicely. His hair was more brown than blond when Paula saw him last. She thought his eyes were blue, not hazel, but she could be wrong. It’s been almost twenty years. Still it was comfortable to see him.

“You still live on the island?” Paula pulled on the leash to keep the Great Dane from jumping on Peter.

“I do,” he rubbed the dog’s head. “I’m the carpenter and the President of Council.” Nodding toward the dog,” What’s this guy’s name?”

“Good for you, I always knew you’d do something in politics. This is Sherlock,” she scratch the dog’s ear. Got him after the divorce.”

“I heard about it.” Peter nodded, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, it’s a good thing.” She smiled at him, “You want to come in and I’ll tell you about in. I’ll make some coffee if I can’t find any wine.”

“He smile back, “Lead the way. We have lots to catch up on.”

Half Sister

The sun was coming up. For the third night in a row Harry could not sleep. He didn’t know if it was because of the job, or he couldn’t get Brandy off his mind. Most likely, a little of both,

Harry loved being a homicide detective but mentally it takes its tool. Harry did a good job of handling it. He has his partner to lean on. Him and Bobby grew up on the same street and we’re best friends. Bobby kept him from falling apart after Harry respond to a body found behind the Playhouse. It turned out to be his high school girlfriend.

Tina was the only girl he loved. But he let her go so she could chase a dream. A dream she accomplished, and won a Tony Award for her portray of Sandy in Grease. Harry kept her senior picture in his wallet.

When he met Brandy, Harry had the same feeling he did when he met Tina; stomach tied in knots and his head spinning. Of all women, it had to be Bobby’s half-sister. Why?

Harry wasn’t sure if he wanted to pursue it, let alone tell Bobby that he might be in love with his sister. How do you have that conversation?

Bobby didn’t even know he had a sister untill Brandy showed up at the station last month, after being raised by Bobby’s great aunt in Wisconsin. For all anybody knew Brandy could be running from something. Or worse, not who she said she was.

Harry wasn’t exactly the kind of guy who jumped into something, but he couldn’t deny his feelings. He looked at the clock hoping Bobby didn’t sleep late on his day off and picked up the phone.

Play Pen

Brandy stared into the mirror at her bruises and just sobbed. Not because her body was black and blue. But the marriage she was trapped in.

The tears slowed and the fear turned to anger. Brandy was tired of living in fear and said to herself, its time.

Twelve years ago, Brandy met Vince while pole dancing six nights a week at the Play Pen, south of Milwaukee. She thought her dream had come true when he asked her to marry him and get her out of that life. Little did she know about the secrets he kept from her.

Those secrets were revealed, shortly after the wedding, when Vince threatened her into doing a few jobs for the organization. Pimping her out three nights a week, while being a drug mule.

Before serving him a Martini, that evening, Brandy crushed up two sleeping pills and mixed them with the drink. An hour later Vince was snoring loudly, now was Brandy’s chance.

She snuck out of the house and made it to the bus station without anybody noticing her. Brandy boarded a bus bound for Pittsburgh to find her brother she never knew.