Sharon answered the door, feeling certain that she'd simply pass out again and awaken in bed...with some other changes in her reality. The worst part was that she didn't feel...odd at all. That she was apparently now a shorter, obese version of herself - heavily pregnant and lazy as heck, with the sort of fashion sense you usually associate with hookers or tramps. Why else would she wear a scandalously short, red nightie like this, or have her once modest nails grow out to blood red, inch-long talons like this?
She opened the door...
Jim stood there...and looked at her...
"Hey, Sharon...uh, are you feeling okay?"
"Why would you ask that, Jim. Do I LOOK any different to you?"
Jim looked a little peevish, rolling his eyes and huffing "Well, I called to remind you that I was coming over to take you out to lunch and a movie today at noon. You said you were free...but apparently you couldn't be bothered to get dressed. I mean, come one, Sharon! I know your pregnant, and I know that's my fault...but can't you at least TRY and help with this relationship?"
"You mean...the baby's yours', Jim"
Jim threw his jacket on the ground, yelling "Damn, Sharon! You come sailing back into my life after all these years in jail, you act all lovey-dovey and sweet to me, and afterwards...when the condom broke...and we were so fucking drunk...I mean, I offered to pay for an abortion, and you said no...that you'd have this ch1ld as a way of making up for all the shitty stuff you pulled with your parents after you got expelled..."
"WAIT A MINUTE!!!" Sharon screamed, having no desire to go on with this litany of failure.
Jail?
Broken Condoms?
Drunkenness?
"...all the shitty stuff you pulled with your parents after you got expelled..."
"How...h-h-how could I have...let my life...get..."
Sharon sank heavily to her knees, crying and pressing her face into her hands. How could this be happening to her? She'd graduated top of her class, gone to college, had a good job in a law office...she couldn't have been expelled or gone to jail!
And yet, phantom memories - as gossamer as moth wings - fluttered and batted about her mind. Memories of blowing off school...of being one of the local "Bad Girls" and of robbing convenience and liquor stores for fun money...of being caught, and sent to juvenile hall...and finally to jail for 5 years. Being denied parole, and forced to serve her full time...then once she got out, she had a huge argument with her folks about how she thought THEY had screwed-up her life! The drinking...the casual sex with her old boyfriend Jim (who'd gone to college and gotten work in the computer field) and the condom breaking on them. Of being told she was pregnant, then telling her parents that she wanted to be able to give them a grandchild...and...
Sharon looked up at Jim, and she realized that he was assuming that she was on drugs or something. Why not...it was what girls like Sharon had become did to mellow out.
"Jim...I know this sounds crazy...but..."
If she told him about what she'd experienced this morning...he'd assume she was nuts and leave...probably never to return.
"...but...could you help me get dressed? I over slept this morning...and I'm sorry about acting like a fool."
Jim cleared his throat, then swallowed. It was plane that he hadn't expected to hear her say something as sane as that.
"Well...sure, Sharon...I guess so..."
Sharon turned around...and saw that the hallway...the room...heck, EVERYTHING behind her had changed! Though it had been her regular house when she walked down the hall to the door, now it was obviously a dingy, little efficiency apartment. It made sense in a way, because HOW could THIS version of Sharon afford her nice, cozy home.
They closed the door, but could still hear the sound of distant police sirens and loud arguing going on elsewhere in the apartment building. Sharon glanced out a window, and saw with no surprise that she was now living in a residential slum. Her heart almost broke when she remembered how proud she'd been of her nice, little home.
A half-hour later, and they were ready. Sharon tried to look at least somewhat respectable, but instead looked like a knocked-up strumpet on the make. She was squeezed into a pair of red stretch pants that clung to her wide hips, chunky thighs and huge butt like a sausage casing. She wore a faux-silk maternity blouse, with three top buttons missing so her immense cleavage was on display. Her hair had been full of curlers and wrapped in pink netting, but when removed...her head was abounce with piles of silly-looking blond curls. They bounced and looped with every toss of her head, and the thick, tarty make-up she'd felt compelled to apply (foundation, blush, shadow, mascara and thick, red lipstick) made her look like a not-very-intelligent slut...
...the cheap jewelry and large, red purse didn't help much either. Nor did the gaudy-looking stiletto-heels she was squeezed into.
And yet...she felt COMPELLED to dress like this! Jim certainly didn't seem to notice that anything was out of the ordinary, and the only thing he said was "Aren't those shoes uncomfortable?"
They weren't. They felt fine. And though she was disgusted with herself, she did love the way they made her thick hips and fat bottom wiggle as she walked along.
But...she had to get out of this. Either by finding out just WHAT had happened to her in the first place, or by taking her GED (she felt just as smart as always). getting her equivalency and going back to college. She'd rebuild her life if she could...
First things first, though...
As they slid into his car (much nicer than the other cars in this neighborhood) she asked "Jim...do you think there's any chance for us? For you and me? I mean...we've certainly grown apart...but, could we get back what we once had?"
Jim looked VERY uncomfortable with that question, and Sharon wished she could take it back. It was obviously too soon to bring up subjects like this. Shit, what a mess her life had become! For that matter...how was she able to afford her apartment? What did she do for money? She knew she'd hate the answer to that question...
Sharon feels herself waking again...
Suddenly remembering that she'd gone to bed while wearing that absurd, little nightie Jim had just given her, she decides to ask Jim where he bought it.
Sharon and Jim have lunch, then go to the movies like they'd intended. Sharon tries her best to make this 'date' as pleasant as possible, but once back at her place...she feels compelled to invite him up to her bed for some...fun...
Something Else
Fri Aug 15 09:04:20 2008