Meatloaf Monday
Meatloaf Monday
Much like staring at the sun, it only took a few seconds for the image of them to be burned into her brain. Her husband out in the open, laughing and caressing another woman; her with her ruby red lips on her husband’s neck. It was the kind of woman she hated; a younger model with her matching ruby red nail color. It made her sick thinking about it. She could hear her husband saying her name. It rolled off his tongue like melting ice.
“Susan!” he snapped his fingers in her face.
She was brought back to reality. “Sorry, what is it?”
He eyed her intensely before speaking. “Are you going to cook or what?” he barked.
Susan jumped. “Jeez, Richard! Calm down, won’t you? Her eyes softened. “We’re not living in the fifties anymore. I have some stuff I need to take care of. Order a pizza.”
“A pizza? I work too ******* hard to come home to nothing ready!” He shot her a look of suspicion. “What kind of stuff you gotta do, anyway?”
“Just— stuff.” she answered innocently. “Anyway, I haven't had much of an appetite lately.”
“Why would I allow you to do anything for yourself before taking care of me?” he licked his lips roughly before continuing. “This is bull! Something has been going on with you all week!”
“Sorry, I can whip something up really quick.”
“You know what? Don’t! I’m going out for a burger.” He threw his arms down and stormed out slamming the door behind him.
She let out the breath she had been holding in.
She fumed off into her room and banged the door behind her. Her eyes puffy and no longer able to hold it in any longer. She walked over to a picture of them on the nightstand. There was a book next to it. She picked up the book and used it to smack the picture frame to the floor. She left the items where they landed as she took a moment to compose herself.
After she calmed down, she sat on the edge of the bed and pulled out a cellphone hidden between the mattress. She stared at it for a while. The screen illuminated her face revealing her aging skin and crows’ feet. Then she saw it, the message she had been waiting for. “Can I see you, tonight?” She smiled as if her entire world suddenly made sense. She attempted to write several messages, erasing it every time. After a few minutes of indecisiveness, she wrote. “We can meet right now; the intolerable one just left.” She smiled defiantly and tossed the phone on the bed.
She pulled her hair into a tight bun, smoothed the flyways with gel. She changed her outfit a dozen times before she found one that made her feel good. An all-black outfit, tight but comfy. She remembered to grab the old trophy from the dresser as she made her way out.
When she finally made it back home that night, she made her way into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. Her hair was messy. The bun had big clumps of hair pulled out. she brushed out her wavy blond tresses and swept the sides behind her ears. She stared at her hands for a second. She scrubbed them fiercely. She knew she had to erase every trace of evidence to avoid her husband finding out what she had done. She wasn’t ready for that kind of conversation.
Later, she sat on the bed thinking. She reached for the phone between the mattress. Seventeen missed calls. Six messages. She opened the last one. “I am almost home. Please call me and let me know you’re ok!” She was about to respond when she heard the front door open. She quickly tucked the phone away and got ready for bed. She laid on her side, her thin legs slightly bent, her flimsy arms tucked under her head She closed her eyes as she waited for the creak of the door.
“Susan,” he whispered. “Susan, are you awake?”
She cleared her throat. “What is it?” She said innocently.
“I stayed out a little longer than usual, we had a meeting with the other professors,” He slowly made his way into the room and closed the door behind him. “Did anyone call the house?” He said hesitant.
“Like who?”
He parted his lips slightly, he wanted to say something but instead he slid his tongue across his bearded lips. He threw his hands up in a subdued manner. “I don’t know. One of my students from my class.”
“No. No one has called, at least not that I know of,” She sat up in the bed still tucked under the blanket. “Why, Richard?”
“Well – remember the student who went missing a few days ago.” He looked at her with regret in his eyes. “she hasn’t turned up. I thought maybe... It’s not important. Go back to bed.”
“No. I’m up. I could use a glass of water.” She uncovered herself and the morning light crept in through the window revealing her pale skin.
“What happened there?” He pointed to a scratch on her shin.
“Oh. I don’t know.” She got up quickly and made her way out the door.
He grabbed her by the arm and tried to bring her closer to him, but she snatched her arm away. “Don’t!” she retorted angrily.
“What? What is it now?”
“Really? It’s almost 5 in the morning and you’re barely making it home. Why wouldn’t I be upset?”
“I told you I was busy. I – I was helping the university look for a student.”
“Looking for student? At 5 in the morning when you have to teach an 8 am class?” She said, as she retreated back to where she had been sitting on the bed; her face almost amused at his jitteriness. She was looking for a fight. She wanted to poke the bear.
“Susy, please. I’m tired. I don’t want to fight about this right now!”
“When then, Richard? You think you can make up all the rules? You deserve that? There are days you don’t even come home at all. I’m just supposed to be a good wife and look the other way?” Her voice agitated and growing louder.
“I’m not saying that, but would it hurt for you to try to make me happy?” His squinting eyes stabbed her like a knife.
“So, then, you admit you’re not happy?” Her voice cracked and on the verge of exploding.
His face exploded into crimson red rage. “It’s not like that! I was out looking for a ******* student! What in the hell do you want from me? I am a good husband. I give you everything you need, and still, you’re never happy.”
There it was. This was the argument she wanted. She turned her face for a second to conceal how happy it made her to try and end things. “You think buying me things is all it takes to make me happy?” She stood up toe to toe with him. Her hair was the only thing separating their angry faces. “I want romance. I want appreciation. I want to feel like you give a crap about me, again!”
“You women! Never happy! I give you everything you want.” His breath and spit bouncing off her face. “You said you didn’t want kids! I gave up the idea! You said you wanted a big house, I bought it for you. You said you wanted one of those bags with the MK crap on it. I took you to the store and let you pick any one you wanted!” He walked over to the floor where the book and the picture frame were still strewn. “What else do you want?”
He picked up the book Titus Andronicus “You think a professor like me makes enough money to buy you all this stuff easily? This ******* picture-perfect life is ********!” He slammed the book down on the nightstand and picked up the picture frame and shoved it in her face.
“You’re not listening!” She covered her face as she spoke defiantly. “I just told you what I want. I need to feel loved. You used to write me poetry and show me off. Now, all you do is complain about me not satisfying you anymore.”
He grabbed her by the shoulders and sat her on the bed forcibly. “DON"T PUSH ME! I’ve had a long night. I don’t need your crap,” He cracked. “You’ll never be happy You should just go find someone else!”
“Would that make you happy?”
“What?! WHY would that make me happy?” His eyes bulged and pulsed from the anger, “You think cheating on you would be my fault? You think I would let you go so easily? I’d kill you first!”
She leaned further away from him on the bed.
She covered her face ready for what would surely come next. “I get upset because I love you!” She took in a deep breath and gently reached her hand out and slowly touched his cheek. “Only you. It drives me crazy thinking about what you do all day. I can’t stand it!”
“Do you, really?” His voice began to calm.
“Yes. You are the only man I want,” she smiled. “Just be honest with me. Are you cheating on me?” She stared at him innocently. Waiting for a true answer.
He hesitated. “No. No I’m not. I’ve been busy with the new quarter, trying to teach Shakespeare to a bunch of little brats who don’t appreciate literature, is pretty hard.”
She knew he was lying. She still remembers the girl with the ruby red lips and nails. She was tired, exhausted, she didn’t want to fight anymore; she didn’t want to provoke further; she wanted to forget all about today. She already had what she wanted anyway. She chose her next words carefully. “It’s settled then. I won’t bother you anymore with it. Tonight, I am going to make you meatloaf. I know how much you love it.”
“That’s it? You’re not going to probe me about it?”
“You say you didn’t cheat, right?”
“I didn’t.” he said with a smile on his face that revealed his boldness.
“Ok, then. I won’t bother you anymore. I promise to start fresh by making your favorite meal, tonight. We can have Meatloaf Monday’s just like your mom used to do. All I ask is that you bring me my favorite flowers. Can you do that for me?”
He smiled and placed his hand over hers. “Of course. See, it isn’t so hard to be a good wife, is it?”
After he left for work. She pulled out the cell phone. She finally had the chance to respond. “I can’t do this anymore. I hope you understand that it’s over. XOXO” She closed the phone and smiled for a moment. She felt content with herself. She smashed the phone up and tossed it in the trash.
Later, she busied herself in the kitchen. She wanted everything perfect. She was especially cheery. She hummed to the tune “Hush Little Baby” as she tenderized the meat for the dinner. She put on her best clothes. She did her makeup. She fixed her hair. She dressed herself in a beautiful red pinup dress she was saving for a special occasion. She felt everything was perfect.
Later in the evening, her husband arrived with flowers. He looked upset, but he had the bouquet she requested and pecked her on the cheek. He took a whiff.
“It smells delicious.” He said, as he placed the bouquet in a vase.
“Sit down dear, it’s all perfectly ready for you.” she said joyfully.
He sat down and she placed a piece of meat loaf on his plate.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” he asked distracted by the meal.
“Oh no. This is special. Just for you, my love. Can I get you anything else?” Her eyes meeting his.
She was reminded how handsome he could be, and how sturdy he was. How could she look into the eyes that melted her every time he met her gaze, and yet, look into those same eyes and know the warmth was gone and tainted with ice cold betrayal.
“How about a strawberry shake like your mother used to give you?”
He nodded. “This is delicious. This is the best meatloaf you’ve ever made.”
She said smiling as she handed him the drink.
He gulped it down as quick as he could without provoking a brain freeze. “Can I get another piece, dear?”
“Of course,” she responded sweetly.”
As the meatloaf gently landed on the plate he looked up at his wife. “My tongue feels funny. What – what’s happen…” his words slurred.
“Oh, don’t worry about that, my angel. In a moment you won’t feel a thing.” She flashed a million-dollar smile as she showed him the sludge of poison still in the bottom of the cup.
His eyes darted toward the meatloaf. Sticking out like a clear indication of treachery, he saw it. The ruby red color. It was his mistress’ finger nail. He fell back in his chair, slumped to the side, and hit the floor hard. He couldn’t move anymore.
She peacefully made her way over to him and smiled. “Dicky, my darling, are you alright? Of course, you are.” She raised her brows at him. “You should know why this happened. The last time you saw her, you two were on the park bench kissing like a couple of horny teenagers.” She cupped her hands as she tried to be discrete with the last part. She walked over to him and gently rubbed his ribs with her foot as she laughed. “Out in the open, she didn’t even care you still had on your wedding band,” She calmly and lovingly ran her fingers through his hair and spoke with confidence. “Right. In. front. Of. Everyone. My arrogant, naughty, husband!”
A moan of fear barely escaped his lips.
“You see, you didn’t care who saw you because all you could think of was getting some from a woman half my age.” She stooped down to meet his eyes. She ogled him with the biggest look of love on her face. Her breath warm against his paralyzed face.
His eyes barely able to blink, a single tear slowly escaping, All he could do was listen and take it all in.
“You made me do this, honey! I didn’t want to lure her out. She was just a young girl. I surely didn’t want to tie her up till her hands turned blue and purple from the ropes. It hurt me to punish her this way. Gosh, I didn’t want to make her suffer as I did. I didn’t take any joy in smashing her body in with your old trophy, but I had to teach her. I needed her to understand that I was your trophy, once. I didn’t want to slice her mouth from ear to ear. I took no happiness in her screaming as I used that old taser on her body, but she had to feel shock that I felt that day,” She coquettishly swept her hair out of her face and continued to state her case. “I can’t believe you never figured out that it was me writing to you on her cell phone.”
“I thought about how I would hide her body then I remembered you had rambled on and on about this piece you were having your class read. ‘Titus Andronicus.’ I remembered how excited you were as you read it to me. I did this because I know how much you loved reading it, honey.”
Her mascara blackened her eyes and ran down her cheeks. “I know what you’re thinking. Why now? The truth is you have always been a terrible person, but you were faithful. I always thought to myself, I can deal with his attitude because at least he isn’t a cheater, but you turned out to be one of those too! Gosh, I didn’t like that! Then I started thinking, there isn’t any way you had never done this before. I was just too innocent to believe it.” she stopped talking for a second and seemed to be deep in thought, again. The imagining is what kept me senseless.
“I knew she was your student and that’s when it dawned on me. I would chop her up into tiny little bits and bake her special for you. I even left some of the fingernails intact. I wanted you to see it. It seemed very poetic and you know me; I have always been theatrical like that.” She smiled.
“I guess now would be as good as any to tell you that I only went looking for you in the park because you sent me that message instead. I could tell you how you’re such an idiot at times, but that wouldn’t be healthy, dear,” She caressed his face as she continued talking calmly. “You said ‘I’m running late. Just wait at the park bench. Love you.’. I thought, wow, he finally noticed the morning sickness and the loss of appetite. I mean, why else would you send me that message when you had just left home? That’s right, honey, I decided to give you that baby you wanted so bad. I guess I was just a little too late and you were a little too impatient...”
“You should know I’ve been practicing lullabies for when the baby comes.” She placed her hand over his mouth and nose. “Practice with me, Dicky. ‘Hush little baby don’t say a word, mama’s gonna buy you a mocking bird...’” Her hands strongly placed over his nasal passage as she continued humming. He was slowly losing consciousness. “I think I’ll bake a nice Shepard pie for your mother, next. I mean, after all, it’s because of her you turned out as wonderful as you did, right? Oh, and one last thing before you go. You were right about that Shakespeare, he really knows his stuff.”
His eyes dilated, and she removed her hands gently. She brought her hands up to her face and stared at her nails. “Maybe I’ll try a ruby red color this time, I know how much you loved it.”
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