short story

[maren]

The girl sat on the orange vinyl chair. She could feel the backs of her thighs sticking to the seat as she squirmed. She was the only child on the long row of ugly yellow and orange chairs. The others waiting were all men, husbands mainly, trying to be patient while their wives marathon shopped. The store was one of those huge discount places that sold designer clothes at reduced prices. Sometimes, the girl would wander, going in and out of the dozens of racks of clothing, but she had the feeling that it might be possible to dissapear forever, lost and forced to stay among the hanging clothes that all had that smell unique to new things. Some of the men read newspapers, some dozed, and many periodically sighed although not one was brave enough to say enough is enough and find his wife and leave. This store was in a southern town and men were expected to be gentlemen and women were referred to as ladies. The girl's mother was able to shop for hours on end even in her Chanel heels. Her father resented these shopping trips, but because he was an alcoholic he felt that he had no choice; he had to try to make up for his fault. The girl knew this and she also knew that whatever he did would not be enough. Sometimes she felt sorry for him. She could see that her mother took pleasure in her dominant role. Though her father loved her mother he also hated her and he lacked the strength to leave her. The girl sensed that her father wanted to be dead, but she knew that he would never follow through with suicide. He had to stay alive and complete his penance.

[doomgirl]

How sad

but good job

Welcome to the Forum Maren

[imorningsun]

Increadable! You need to gather your thoughts and compose a novel!

[Gerry]

POWERFUL WRITING. KEEP IT UP!