Lovers Tryst

Shirley looked into the tank and talked comically to the carp that swam towards the glass as she walked up with their food can in her hand. Vern would scold her playfully when she referred to his friends the fish as carp. He insisted that though they were technically carp, they were properly known as Goldfish.

“Who wants some food? Do’s yous wants some foods… huh, do’s you, you little smelly fishies?” She spoke as some self demeaning adults do when they speak to small children while making a ‘baby talk’ voice and messing with the language in ways it shouldn’t be messed with and only shows the person’s true lack of intelligence.

Snails were making their way across the glass, one larger selection of the armored tank life was crossing a rock on the bottom. A fish Vern had found in a bag of bait when he and some friends tried fishing for the first time peered out from under the fake hollow log. It had whiskers and sharp fins with bones that would lance your hand if you screwed with it. Shirley had received a taste of the spikes the fish wore one time when she disturbed the fish when she was cleaning the tank.

The puncture wound stung for three days. She washed it with hydrogen peroxide right away like Vern taught her, then wiped it down with rubbing alcohol. She cleaned it several times a day with the alcohol, the red ring was almost gone now.

“Stupid fish.” She snarled at the thing when it poked it’s face out with it’s wide mouth.

Neither of them had ever seen a live fish outside of an aquarium in the pet stores they would visit when she talked Vern into taking her because she wanted a kitty. Their apartment complex didn’t allow pets except for birds, fish, and anything stuffed. The manager had meant of the plush cuddly type of stuffed, however Vern took it a different route and purchased a large stuffed Jack-Alope; which was the body of a Jack rabbit with antlers sticking from it’s head.

She had complained enough that he finally put it in their storage locker in the basement.

Then he showed up one day with a large aquarium and three bags of fish with snails. She had to help him carry all the rock and other fixings up from the ground floor the car was parked at in front of the building up the four flights of stairs into their apartment. He would have to pick the one day that the elevators were down for annual inspection and service to buy the damn thing. The filters and food, light, little figurines, those she didn’t mind so much and the fish were cute. All the bags of rock though, those were a bugger.

She slowly lifted the front of the split lid in front of the lamp across the top of the tank as she continued her mocking taunting talk to them. She held the lip fully up and leaned back and released her fingers with caution until she was sure the lid wasn’t going to flop down.

“Here it comy-wummy-ees. Yes yous wants it don’t-chya? Oh yes, here it comes, you know you want it, what-ya gonna do for me, boobums going to dance for me, yes you is, yes you is.” She bantered at them as they swam to a corner then paddled to the top and snapped their lips on the surface begging for the tasty flakes of food.

This was the only time she actually enjoyed the fish. Even the thing with whiskers that lived in the hollow log would come out when she dropped in the flakes. It was rather fun to watch and Vern said it kept the bottom of the tank clean. The first time he said this she considered what that meant, how exactly the fish kept the bottom of the tank clean. It was in the middle of the night, and naturally woke her up with the thought. The fish ate shit from the other fish.

“Yeah you like these flakes don’t you Shit-Lips, lot better than carp shit ain’t it.” She said looking to him as she opened the can. She looked to the top of the tank as she put her hand in the can and picked up a nice helping and dropped the finger full of fish food onto the water.

The lip smacking increased as the carp went wild. Soon Shit-Lips blasted from the log and headed for the surface to grab some of the choice morsels before the carp downed them all.

Shirley watched them for a few moments then returned to the cupboard that held the fish stuff and put the can of food away.

She went back over by the fish tank and sat down on the sofa it was beside, flipped on the TV and picked up her magazine. ‘Modern Bride’ was the current selection she was reading in preparation for her pending nuptials. Vern had proposed a year ago last week, and Shirley and her mother had been planning the wedding for a month now. She had finally picked a date the day her mother started planning, which was why she started after Shirley called her and told her the date.

Shirley suspected her mother had been mentally planning her wedding the evening Vern proposed.

She was half heartedly looking at the pictures on the pages as she listened to what was being said on the television. She wanted a more traditional dress than what were being modeled in the magazine. Vern had suggested a theme wedding, he would dress as Bat Man and she could go as Laura Croft.

Vern was officially off the wedding planning committee after that idea. Shirley wondered if he had planned it that way?

She heard his keys in the door. She looked up and waited for him to enter. He’d been away on business for a week. His job required constant travel. Her field offered that, but she had taken to working at a museum last year. She wanted a break from travel for a while. While Vern’s job kept him in the states, hers took her to places with big bugs, and snakes.

She heard the door finally open after he wrestled with the lock and his keys. It usually took him a while, he always started with the wrong key. She even put a colored ring on the apartment key, he still tried one of the others first.

“Hey dirt girl, your man is back. Miss me?” Vern called out as he entered the hallway the door opened into.

“I don’t dig in the ground anymore telephone repair man!” She called back, letting him know where she was in their dwelling.

She heard him laugh. “I’m not a telephone repair man.” Came his normal reply.

Vern worked for the hub network company that all the cell phone service providers purchased their access through as well as internet providers, standard telephone lines and international communications. If it was a form of electronic communication, the service originated where her fiancé worked.

He maintained the vast array of equipment that kept the nation and the world talking, faxing, texting and gaming. It was a good solid secure job. Unless every telecommunications company in the world went out of business, he’d have a job. They linked all the other companies together. She liked the idea that he would always have a high paying job with very good benefits, and a fat pension when he retired.

Her plans were to work the museum for another few years then return to going out on digs again unearthing the mysteries of the past. She would quit that when she was forty then go to work for some college as a professor and teach until she could retire.

As Vern walked into their living room, she hoped their marriage would last that long, but now days, who knew.

“What’d ya bring me super tech?” She asked with a smile as he set his luggage down by the entry to the living room and pulled the laptop case from his shoulder.

He looked over at her. “What if I say ‘nothing’? Will you love me less?” He asked.

She returned a mock scoffing laugh. “I’d say you’re sleeping on the couch tonight mister.” She stood up from the couch, turned and dropped the magazine on it then faced her man and waited for him to come to her.

Vern walked to her and wrapped his arms around her neck, she wrapped hers around his waist then he leaned in and kissed her.

“So, how’d it go in Portland?” She said as she leaned her head back and looked at him.

He scoffed and released her then started taking off his coat while he looked at the rug in front of the couch on the hardwood floor. “What can I say, more mess than I know how to fix. I keep telling them we need to upgrade this antiquated crap, think anybody listens to me?” He tossed his coat at the ottoman in front of the Queen Ann chair along the wall beside where the couch sat.

Shirley went back to the couch and sat down picking up her magazine. “Hook up with any hot babes there Mr. Majestic?” She turned a coy smile to him. “Any hot Portland babes?”

He laughed at her as usual as he went to the couch to sit down beside her. He gave her another peck on the lips. “Nope, you weren’t there.”

He nuzzled the side of her head as he held her close for a minute. It was good to be back home. Vern hated the constant travel, being gone weeks at a time often. The upside was that after he was done, the company would let him take a few days off to relax and be with Shirley.

“So what’d ya bring me?” She asked again as she sat back from him and held his hand. He always brought her something. She rather insisted.

He smiled at her.

“Is it bigger than a breadbox?” She started their game. He shook his head.

“Is it bigger than a pop can?” She continued. He shook his head.

She bent her head back opening her mouth in thought and made an ‘ah’ sound. “Is it bigger than your brain?” She giggled.

Vern rolled his eyes at her and gave her his usual ‘oh please’ look. She laughed again at him.

“Come on already, what’d you bring me?” She begged.

He returned a light chuckle and pulled the hand he had hid behind him out. A long white box in his hand. He held the box out to Shirley and she smiled as she took it. “What is it?” She asked.

“A chocolate bar and a bag of nuts.” He responded. Shirley made a face at him as she inspected the box closer.

“And what did the garage sale magician stumble upon this time…” She bantered as she lifted the top of the box off. Inside was a long white flute looking thing. She raised her head and looked at him with question.

He smiled at her. “It’s hand carved ivory from eighteen-eighteen. It’s a flute.” He waited to see if she approved.

Picking it up she started her inspection. It was ivory, and the yellowing did show age. She inspected the holes and the ends. Light cracks, lack of use would cause that. The oils from human hands using it would have kept that from happening, but they told the story of the pipe.

It was indeed very old, it had seen its fair share of use before it became a showpiece and sat collecting dust and dirt. She turned it slowly in her hands as she continued her inspection determining if he had brought her a real find or if it was another piece of garbage that had been pawned off on him.

“Well?” Vern pushed, he always tensed up at the defining moment. Would she be pleased, or had he fumbled again and bought someone’s trash for a present?

“How much?” She asked looking to his face.

“Two bucks.” He answered with a quirky grin. “So?” He really wanted her to tell him her opinion.

“Find.” She finally told him with an affirming nod as she closed and opened her eyes at him. “Ivory flute from mid eighteen hundreds, confirmed find and excellent price. You’re improving.”

Shirley got up from the couch and walked over to the curio cabinet, opened the door and made a place for the flute on one of the cluttered shelves. If she determined it was a legitimate find on his part, it would make it into the cabinet. If not, it went into the boxes they had stored up for their own yard sale with the price he had paid for it marked so they could get a return on his failed investment.

“How much?” He asked once she closed the curio cabinet and was on her way back to the couch.

She looked off and mused working her mouth around as she thought. What did she think it was really worth. It wasn’t in perfect condition, but very good conditions. “Seven, eight hundred. Might get twelve from the right buyer. African origin, so that makes it worth more.”

He nodded and smiled. He felt good knowing he had made a good find. Not that they ever sold any of the things that went in her cabinet, he thought of them as a nice retirement fund. Hopefully the items would triple in value or more by the time they reached that age.

Lunchtime was coming soon. Shirley was more than ready for a break from the museum. She had finished with another tour of prospective donors and was talking with the curator about some new pieces that had come in for display and what was needed to get them ready for showing.

Vern was meeting her at the museum, he was already here over by the entry to the place talking with Twyla. She had detained him again, as she always did with her idle chitchat and blatant flirting. She did that with every man that came in that was under fifty and didn’t look like a bum. Shirley sighed, she didn’t know why it bothered her when she did this with Vern, it was just the way she was which was why she was good at her job as greeter for the museum.

She’d been there for quite a few years now. Twyla arranged and scheduled all the tours and events. She handled the advertizing for the museum and was always at the front door during business hours flirting with everyone.

“Right, I can have that ready in a couple days. I’ll see to that piece personally doctor Baker.” Shirley answered her boss.

He grinned at her pleased. “Excellent, then I know I can count on it being perfect.” He told her. “Keep an eye on your help, make sure every piece is cleaned right, especially that Ben guy, he always likes to take shortcuts.”

Shirley pulled her attention from trying to watch Twyla with Vern from her peripheral vision. “I will sir, there’ll be no shortcuts taken while I’m here.” She assured him.

Doctor Baker patted her on the arm with a smile as he turned and headed off someplace else in the museum. He was very happy she’d come to work at the museum. She had the field experience the place needed. Most of the people that worked in the museum had only been to college then either taught or worked in other museums. Having someone with real world experience was a blessing to him.

Vern tried to make his escape from Twyla again now that Shirley was done talking. She caught him again and tried to drag him back over to talk to her. She could see he was working on pushing past her, Shirley decided to pick up the pace and help the poor man out. She could tell he was suffering by the constant flicking of his eyes towards her begging for help.

“Twyla, are you hitting on my man again?” Shirley chirped when she arrived where the woman guarded the velvet rope path people had to follow to enter the museum after they paid their entrance fee.

Twyla giggled at her and gave a small wave. “Oh you know I am. How could I resist? If you ever decide to upgrade, I’ll gladly take him off your hands for you.” She teased.

“Not a chance, this bloke is mine. Keep your mitts off him.” Shirley said mostly playfully back. She looked at her man. “Ready to treat me to lunch stud-muffin, or are you going to stay here and hit on Twyla more?”

He laughed. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe we can bring her along. You two can fight over me, there’s a place down the block that has an oil wrestling ring, I wouldn’t mind watching you know.”

Groaning at him Shirley pushed him forward to leave for lunch. “I bet you wouldn’t.” She commented as they left.

After both were home from work they watched a little television then went and showered together to get ready for their Friday night fun. The usual suspects would be gathering at one of their homes for a mild party. Drinking and talking with a little finer flavors of party favors served and the usual buffet of snack foods.

After socializing for a bit they would migrate to the living room or game room and conglomerate for a movie. After that the boys would put on a sports channel while the girls would move to a room and either chat or work on beauty techniques. Or both. Then the evening would wrap up and they would catch a taxi home.

Another standard Friday night.

She made Vern change his shirt twice insisting she would not be seen in public with him wearing ‘that thing’ followed with some comment about how hideous it was. She’d bought most of the shirts he had for him, she just liked making him change.

Vern locked the door and they caught the elevator down and hailed a taxi then headed off to Heather and Leroy’s house for tonight’s gathering. Shirley was hoping it was either their place or Melanie and Roger’s. They had nice large family rooms with several couches and sixty inch flat screens. They also had wet bars in their family rooms and no children.

Shirley had no desire to have kids, neither did Vern and was all too willing to get the snip. Some of their friends that used to hang out with them would always tell them they would regret not having spawn. Shirley would make a point of rubbing their noses in those comments when they couldn’t make the parties because of their kids being sick or some other reason.

Eventually the parent types evaporated from the gatherings and new friends took their place. The group had the original three core couples, theirs, Melanie and Roger and Heather and Leroy. The others all passed away from the group replaced by others that also vanished as they had kids. One other couple was becoming a regular and appeared intent on staying. The husband was going to get the snip himself to prevent ‘accidents’ from happening.

They were the second couple to arrive at the party. Barb and Tom were the first. They were the other couple that had been around the longest besides the core three couples. Tom had been reluctant to come, they had missed the last Friday fling, as they now found out, he had his vasectomy and was still a bit sore.

“Good for you Tom. You won’t regret it.” Shirley assured him.

“Hear that, all the fun without any of the burden. Only way to fly!” Vern said to him as he gave Shirley a squeeze with his arm around her shoulder.

“You know Peggy is pregnant?” Barb interjected.

Shirley put a hand up to her mouth. “Oh no! What did Sid do when he found out?”

Barb chuckled. “Oh, lawyers you know, he swore he was going to sue the company that made the pills she was on. Said it was all their fault. But they have that disclaimer you know.”

“You watch, six months after that kid pops out, we’ll never see them except on holidays, if even then.” Heather stated.

The others nodded and agreed.

Melanie and Roger arrived next, the core players always arrived first. The rest trickled in and everyone was present and accounted for by eight, including the now pregnant Peggy. As everyone milled around and talked, Vern had the other ladies laughing. Barb was flirting with him again. He did seem to be the life of the party for their female friends.

Shirley rolled her eyes at her friend as she toyed with her man. Heather would also play her games with Vern. Sometimes Shirley would get in on the action and flirt with the men, but she just wasn’t the flirting type. She noticed none of the men ever flirted with her. Heather seemed to get most of the male attention with her boisterous natural flaming red hair.

There were about ten couple in all that showed. Once Leroy had a couple fingers of scotch in his craw and smoked some bud that Wesley was sure to bring he’d be talking smack. Heather would hit on Vern and Leroy would tell him they should take her into the backroom and tag team her.

Vern swore they were secret swingers the way they carried on at times. Shirley assured him it was all just fun and games and neither had any interest in actually following through on their banter.

“Have you seen some of the things they have in their bedroom?” Vern had questioned her once after he insisted they were swingers.

She told him just because they had fun toys and dungeon equipment didn’t necessitate they were swingers.

After the movie ended the girls went to the deck and sat out there while the men watched sports recaps. Tonight’s topic was fashionable dress to tease the wayward male. Heather told Shirley if she threw a little slut in her ensemble she would have plenty of flirting from the boys club of their friends.

“It’s all in how you accessorize and enhance girl, strut your stuff and the men will flirt!” Heather laughed.

Heather drug her off to the bedroom and had her try a few things on just to show Shirley what she had to work with. She had to admit, a small change in style did give her an entirely different look. They changed her makeup a touch also. When she made her pass through the living room Leroy and Roger both flirted with her.

She gave Heather her clothes back. “Thanks, but I prefer the egg-head librarian look.” She told her. “But I’m keeping the makeup changes. Makes me look dark and secretive.” She said with a sexy voice.

On the ride home her and Vern joked and laughed about the antics they had with their friends. It was all in good fun and was relaxing after the long week of work.

Monday hit like a wrecking ball. They both were running late after watching Sunday football followed by a long movie that Vern’s sister insisted they watch with her and her boys after she invited herself over.

The night ended up mostly being his sister crying on Shirley’s shoulder about her deadbeat husband spending his nights on the town with other women while she was home with the kids. Shirley was glad she didn’t have to worry about that in her life. Vern was left watching a movie that sucked with his sister’s spawn. Lucky him.

Vern caught a taxi while Shirley hopped the bus. She’d just made it in time for the bus, Vern left at the same time she did, he was late. He was tight with his boss so he’d have no issues and could always blame a bad taxi driver. He was going to be leaving for another job in another state again today. But he’d make the trip home Friday to spend the weekend with her.

It was a bit expensive for him to trek back home every weekend, even if he was close enough to take a bus, he opted for flying. The people on buses…

The company would only pay for his trip home if he’d been out three weeks and needed to go back. They paid for about two trips a year, always pulling him back after two weeks even if it meant sending him out again the next week. Three weeks involved additional per diem pay.

Shirley told him he best find her something extra special this week. It was their own personal game. Whenever he went out on business trips, he would hit garage sales. It began when he brought home some art piece that she identified as a rare piece. The money paid their rent that month. They were just starting out back then.

Now, he was one of the top paid people where he worked, with stock options. But he still hits the garage sales just for her.

Her week was hectic. Since she was such an asset to the museum, Doctor Baker put more responsibility on her. She was now in charge of setting up the next big showing they were having which featured both an Egyptian Pharos display as well as a royal jewelry display on loan from Buckingham Palace. Some of Princess Dianna’s collection would be displayed right in her museum.

Security would be extra tight naturally, and she was expected to put on one hell of a showing. Twyla would be busy with the advertizing campaign and she would have to help due to the size of the showing. They would need to employ an outside firm to help with that also, which meant more fundraisers before the show to cover the cost. That meant a lot of ass kissing from herself and Doctor Baker.

Vern called Thursday, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to make the trip back because of work that needed to be done by Monday, but he would try. It was rare that the company asked him to work Saturdays, but if they did, he had no choice.

She told him to work extra hard so he could make it. They were having an abortion party for Peggy. Shirley and Heather had convinced her it was the right thing to do with Sid’s help. There was no way either of them were cut out to be parents.

As fate would have it, flooding in the area Vern was at had everyone that didn’t need to be there evacuated. So he was home midday on Friday. He had the living room set up with lights shining on his apparent find. He seemed very pleased with himself over the piece he had found when she arrived home a bit later than usual.

Doctor Baker and her had a lot of work ahead of them for the display, and Twyla was doing double time with her end of the job, she had to have volunteers handle the front for her.

She started laughing when she came into the living room, Vern was being a showman and acting like a big time art somebody as he talked about the piece he had picked up for her. He had it on a stand in the middle of the living room, covered in a towel for dramatic effect. He had no doubt that he had a find.

“It’s a piece from the gothic period, the man I bought it from said it was from the early fourteen hundreds.” Vern told her.

She gave him a skeptical look from the tops of her eyes. “Fifteenth century? Sure, at a garage sale? How much did you pay for this relic?” She asked with serious doubt. He’d been jived again.

“Only a hundred and fifty dollars.” He informed her with a smile.

She crossed her arms and leaned back from her waist as she looked at him with a raised eyebrow. How many times did they have to have this conversation. Nobody sells things like this at garage sales if they know what they are. “Okay, again, why would someone sell ancient artifacts at a garage sale? You’ll never learn will you.”

“Hey, the guy was an old professor, his wife just died and we got to talking. I told him about you and said I was hunting garage sales for a find for you. That’s when he said everything he had out was junk, he invited me inside and showed me some real stuff. Said he was giving me a great deal since it was for my future bride.” Vern said with all sincerity.

Shirley knew he’d been taken again, this wasn’t the first time he’d been duped because he spouted off about trying to make a find for his archeologist fiancé. Barnum said there was one born every minute, and she was in love with one of those ones. “Okay, let me see this ‘treasure’ you’ve been roped into.”

“You are going to fart the alphabet when you see what I have, probably be the most valuable piece I have ever bought you.” He said with valiant belief. He reached over and lifted the cloth he had draped over the small statue.

She looked at it, raised one eyebrow then looked at him with a ‘you got took’ look. It was a strange piece with two nude people, a man and woman that appeared to be lovers, with her hair covering the offensive parts except for her one breast. They were standing by what looked like was supposed to be a castle tower in the background with a pointed top that rose above the lovers.

“And you paid a hundred and fifty dollars for this?” She said then scoffed. Vern’s features dropped. “I think this is from the early K-Mart period in the aquarium section.” She said belittling the piece as she leaned in to look it over better.

Vern was always falling for some line about a special piece that the person having the garage sale was willing to part with at a steal price. She thought he must have ‘sucker’ written on his face when he went out shopping.

“So its not from the gothic period?” He asked timidly. It hurt him that he disappointed her when he failed to find something she’d put in the curio cabinet.

“Well, it is gothic, and supposed to look like something from that time, but I have serious doubts about it being authentic. Did you look for the made in China stamp?” She said as she looked around the back of the piece. She’d yet to pick it up. She fully expected it to be plastic when she did.

“Very funny. I hardly think K-Mart was around when this was made. Feel it, it’s heavy.” He encouraged her, still holding on to the hope it wasn’t a fake and he’d been ripped off again. “I thought you’d like it.”

Shirley sighed as she reached for the small statue. She was surprised when she lifted it from the stand Vern had placed for it as to how heavy it was, he wasn’t kidding. It had the look of pewter and the weight of it also, but was it authentic. She took it in both hands and started looking the piece over.

“He said it’s called the ‘Lover’s Tryst’ and told a story about two lovers who had to meet secretly… shit, now I can’t remember why, anyways, it was an interesting tale.” Vern informed her.

“Lover’s Tryst, huh? Well, I’ve never heard of anything called that, sounds plausible though from the time frame, but honestly Vern, I think it was made in the sixties. Look, see this seam here, I think that’s from a modern mould. Doesn’t even look like it was hand cleaned.” She announced.

Vern’s hopes dropped like a stone. He sighed loudly. “Are you sure?” He asked with heavy depression in his voice.

She scratched at the surface of the statue, then licked her finger and rubbed where the seam was. “Well, I think this seam will clean up, it’s pewter for sure, but from that age, I don’t think so. I’m not familiar with this type of statue. I would expect it to be carved from some sort of stone, not pewter.”

She rolled the piece in her hands and looked at the bottom. There were dimples in the bottom that could be from being cast, maybe pitting from age, but it defiantly wasn’t as old as Vern was led to believe it was.

Shirley set it back down on the stand. Aside from being a fake, it was hideous. “Put it with the garage sale stuff. We might be lucky enough to get ten bucks from another sucker. I think you may have broke our garage sale bank with this one Vern.”

Vern picked it up and set it on the top shelf of one of their short bookshelves then looked at it with admiration. “I like it. I’m not going to sell it for ten bucks, for what I paid for it, I’m going to keep it. It looks good here.” He announced then stepped back for a better view.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” She retorted as she walked up next to Vern in front of the statue. “If you love me, you won’t leave that out where anyone can see it.” She said then put her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss. “The only tryst for that thing, is the locker with the rest of the junk we need to unload.”

His face became somber. “You won’t let me keep it here?”

“Not a chance, like I said, it’s hideous.” Shirley repeated then looked over at it. “As far as lovers, I think the woman looks like she’s ready to stab the guy.”

They were hosting the get together this time. They had a very nice sized apartment. Though they didn’t have the huge family room Heather and Leroy had, they still had plenty of space for everyone. Shirley insisted they splurge and have a caterer bring in the appetizers and other food for the night. It was a party for Peggy, it was the least they could do.

She had to twist his arm, and he questioned her on where they were going to get a caterer at this hour and on such short notice. She laughed and informed him she had already hired one.

“How much?” He asked.

“Three hundred, and a better deal than your find was. You owe me this for that one.” She told him with ribbing chide.

Vern made a face at her when she said this to him. “Fine, but I get my sports party then, sometime, maybe.” He said as he watched her face when he suggested the sports party.

The party for Peggy was a smash. Everyone had a good time and plenty to drink and smoke. Some additional party favors were provided by Wesley this time, good coke was lined up at this party. This helped the event last well into the small hours of the morning.

Saturday was their private day together. Vern’s sister had called, several times but they let the machine take it when the caller ID said who it was. She called both of their phones, several times. Vern said maybe he should just take her call, that it might be something important since she had called so many times.

“It’s always important with her.” Shirley said with vexation. “She doesn’t have the sense to leave that hustler, screw her, every time something blows up in her world we shouldn’t be expected to give up our only alone time for her and her damn kids. She either wants to come over and mooch off of us or ask us to babysit for her Sunday.”

Vern’s face clearly showed he agreed with Shirley on this. “I know, but she’s my sister and she’s going through some rough times. I feel bad not helping her.”

“She’s a big girl now, if she can’t see her husband’s a scum sucking bottom feeder that screws anything that will let him, that’s her problem, we can’t be expected to give up all of our free time for her you know.” Shirley steamed. She was getting fed up with his sister always expecting them to help her out and to watch her kids every weekend.

Shirley won the discussion and they never answered the phone, or let her in the building when she buzzed them. She didn’t know for sure if they were home, they had a life of their own, they could be out of town for the weekend. They were planning a wedding after all.

Vern had to leave early Sunday anyways and Shirley wanted some time with just him. He had to be in Houston bright and early Monday which meant he had to leave Sunday. They stayed in most of the day Saturday and slipped out for a movie together after his sister left the door downstairs.

Shirley was sick of her just showing up.

Monday was hell for her at work. Twyla ended up being hauled out of the museum, her appendix apparently burst while she was in her office. She was in rough shape, they wouldn’t know how bad until tomorrow. She would definitely not be working for a while and wouldn’t be able to help with the work needed for the show that was coming. All of Twyla’s duties fell on Shirley now.

The rest of the week was a mess, she didn’t know how she was able to arrange everything and still have time to work on the pieces for the display. She had to jump Ben’s ass several times. He kept trying to make shortcuts to make up for the time he spent flirting with the other ladies that were working on the display.

The man was a complete gigolo from what Shirley saw. She didn’t know what other woman found so attractive in the man.

She was glad when Friday arrived. That is until Vern called telling her he’d be in Houston all weekend and probably the next weekend too. He said everything was a mess and they had systems down and backups that were strained to their max.

Shirley wasn’t in the mood for a party that weekend. It had been a bad week. Twyla’s appendix caused a severe staff infection, she passed away on Thursday. Melanie and Roger were supposed to have the party at their place, but several of the other couples had canceled and Peggy and Sid weren’t able to make it either so for the first time, Friday night fun was canceled.

Since she had nothing to do she went into the museum Saturday for part of the day. Vern’s sister called, needed a shoulder to cry on and someone to watch the kids. She figured what the hell, it might keep her mind off of work for the evening and from missing Vern so she agreed.

The kids proved to be a distraction alright. They practically demolished their apartment by the time Vern’s sister showed back up Sunday morning. After that Shirley spent the rest of her weekend cleaning up the apartment.

Once she had the place in order again, she picked up the Lover’s Tryst statue that she thought she’d told Vern to pack away and took it down to the storage locker herself. The thing was ugly.

Monday had to be a better day.