The Go Around

© Marta Stephens 2008 all rights reserved

Aaron's post on Sunday made me think of this short story. I wrote it a couple of years ago in a writers' group as an exercise/challenge to create a story without a line of narration. The challenge, of course, was to write dialogue in a way the reader would see the action. Yes, yes, it would be better with narration, but it was a challenge.

“I said I’m sorry.”

“You’re always sorry, but that’s as far as it goes. Never seems to stop you from being irresponsible and self-centered, does it? All you had to do was watch the dog for half an hour. I was at the market for half an hour. In that time, you’ve managed to wreck my clean kitchen, knock over my fern, and lose my dog. Some days I just can’t stand to be around you.”

“I mean it. I feel just awful. Slow down! I’m out of breath.”

“You should be ashamed. He’s deaf and out here all alone. For all you know, he’s probably lost by now. He wouldn’t know a car horn from a bullfrog. What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking of getting a glass of water when the dog plowed through the kitchen, slipped on your waxed floor, slid into your blasted fern and dumped dirt all over the room. He got scared. Who knew he could push the door open too? You act as if I let him out on purpose.”

“You might as well have. You were supposed to fix the latch on that storm door days ago. He’s a smart dog. Smarter than you, I might add.”

“Should've asked the dog to fix the latch. Look, I said I was sorry. Obviously that’s not good enough for you.”

“No. It’s not. Not any more. Words are cheap, especially as often as you pull out the apology card and think it will make everything better. That’s the story of your life. All you ever had to do was show mother those weepy brown eyes and she’d melt and let you off the hook. Every single time she let you off with a warning.”

“Oh, for the love of Mike.”

“You always got away with murder. And there I was, left behind to pick up the pieces. Usually the literal pieces of whatever you broke after I got the spanking you deserved. Well, Jonathan, it won’t work this time. Understand?”

“Oh please. I got my share of spankings – this pace is killing me, Agnes. My legs, would you please—”

“Not enough spankings as far as I’m concerned.”

“That’s not fair and you know it.”

“What’s not fair is that you’re a grown man and I still can’t count on you for anything. This time, there’s a real consequence to your actions and he’s out here roaming the streets with no idea how to get back home."

“Your feathers, as usual, are ruffled for no apparent reason."

"You’re not getting out of this one with a simple apology. Do you hear me?”

"Quit pointing that finger at me. It's liable to go off.”

“Where could he be? He’s never been gone this long before.”

“It’s only been an hour. He’s a hound for crying out loud. He’ll smell his way home in no time.”

“I don’t see him anywhere. I’ll never forgive you if anything happens to him—never. And where do you think you’re going?”

“I can see you’re not going to stop with the insults until Wilson comes home. I’m going to look for him in the other direction.”

“And well you should.”

“He's a smart dog. Probably knew you were on your way home--probably why he ran.”

"What did you say?"

"I said he's a smart dog. Probably knows his way home and I'll buy you a new plant."

“Hmf. Wipe that idiotic smirk off your face.”

“Alright, I’m going. It’s the least I can do, for his sake.”

“Jonathan, wait. Where’s your coat and hat? Do I have to remind you of everything? Your hair is blowing all over the place. You’ll catch your death of cold and guess who will have to nurse you back to health?”

“I’m quite capable of deciding for myself if I need a coat or my hat. Thank you. Wilson! Here Wilson. Come on boy.”

“Stop it. You’re such a twit. He can’t hear you.”

“Right, deaf. I forgot ... lucky dog.”

“You wouldn’t forget if you’d pay more attention to things around you.”

“I pay attention. And what do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m coming with you. No point in both you and the dog getting lost.”

“I can’t walk as fast as you. Would you please slow down? Can’t believe you’re so angry.”

“Darn right I’m angry. This rates up there with the time I planned your 35th birthday party. You do remember that one, don’t you?”

“Oh for crying out loud. That was over thirty years ago. How could I forget? You bring it up every chance you get. Hm. It’s colder out here than I thought. Should have brought a sweater.”

“What did you say?”

“I said my legs aren't feeling better. Wilson! Here boy.”

“Planned it for weeks—spent a fortune.”

“It cost you fifty dollars. I know—you told me that a million times too. Can’t believe you’re still holding it against me. My legs, Agnes, please ... slow down.”

“I cooked all day, had a houseful of your worthless friends waiting on you for hours, and you never bothered to show up.”

“The thought of turning 35 was depressing enough without being reminded of it. I didn’t need you to rub my nose in it. You never got that. Instead, you insisted it would make me feel better. So what did you do? You plowed right through with your plans in spite of my protests.”

“You would have had fun if you’d been there.”

“Tell you what, 35 looks pretty good now.”

“And if that wasn’t bad enough, there was the weekend trip to Charleston. Remember that little fiasco?”

“Here we go again. You’re not going to rehash that old thing, are you?”

“And why shouldn’t I? I suggested the trip to perk you up. Made all the plans, took a day off work, and even gave you the money for the plane tickets. All you had to do was buy two two-way tickets for us. But no. You couldn’t even do that much for me—your only sister.”

“My 35th birthday wasn’t the greatest, okay? I just wanted a few days alone—to think.”

“You could have told me before I made my plans. Warned me instead of letting me find out at the airport that you didn’t buy my ticket. And then you had the nerve, the very nerve to ask me to pick you up at the airport on your return. Why are you panting?”

“I asked ... asked you to ... slow down.”

“Stupid me. Should have left you stranded. My one chance in life to get rid of you and I didn’t take it. I can’t believe I actually picked you up. I’m such a softy.”

“Softy my asparagus. The truth of the matter is, if old Jonathan here wasn’t around, you wouldn’t have anyone to listen to your ranting. Just how many hours a day do you spend trying to figure out ways to stir the pot? Because that’s what you do, you know—inflate things out of proportion. Then if it’s broken, you can fix it and make yourself feel ever so much better by virtue of your boundless kindness.”

“You’re such a sarcastic fool. What a nasty little person you are.”

“I may be, but you know I’m right. Do you see him anywhere?”

“No. It’s getting too dark. Darn it, I swear I’m done with you.”

“Agnes, just what makes you think you’re so saintly anyway? When did you ever really think about me or anyone else for that matter?”

“I’ve always thought about you.”

“Only when there was something in it for you. Listen to yourself. It’s all about how much you’ve done and how unappreciated you feel. Who asked you to do anything for me? No one, that’s who. Never asked you for a damned thing.”

“Well of all the nerve. Quit cursing. I’m not listening to another word.”

"Yeah, you are. From the time you were able to open your mouth and spew out an opinionated syllable, you’ve been a committee of one. A bossy know-it-all. And when things didn’t go your way, it was automatically someone else’s fault. Sister, that is one twisted sense of kindness you have there. Hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s not polite to do things for other people and then throw it up in their faces over and over again?”

“I’ve never done that!”

“You just did! See, it’s so much a part of you; you don’t even know you’re doing it.”

“When have I ever been selfish? You’d be out on the street right now if it wasn’t for me.”

"My moving in with you was your idea, not mine. Shouldn’t have listened to you—should never have listened to you.”

“Wish you hadn’t.”

“But if I wasn’t around, you couldn’t go to church and tell your periwinkle hair lady friends how kind you are to me.”

“I really hate you, Jonathan. You know that?"

"You can't. It's a sin."

"As far as I’m concerned, you can pack up your… Oh! There he is! Here boy! Come on Wilson! Oh, good boy—I was so worried about you. There, there, where have you been?”

“Have you got him?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Good. I’m freezing my buns out here.”

“Well, don’t just stand there stomping your feet. Hand me the leash. I left all the groceries on the counter because of you. The frozen vegetables are probably thawed by now.”

“So. What’s for dinner, Aggie?”

“Thought I’d make some salmon steaks with white rice and peas.”

“I don’t like fish.”

“Of course you do.”

“No I don’t.”

“Yes, Jonathon, you do.”

“No, Agnes ... dear. Never have, never will.”

“Well, you’ll like these—paid a pretty penny for them. Lock the door behind you this time, will you? And do try to fix the latch on the storm door tomorrow.”

The End

Marta Stephens
SILENCED CRY (2007)
THE BLACK PEARL (2008)