Super Beeu's Inc. 05

Super Beeu's Inc. 04

Working with boss from hell, there's no job security...

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(Pen drawing)
by Sunchaser

 

 

Super Beeu's Inc. 03

Have you ever had a boss from hell?  They come in different sizes, shapes, and characteristics.  One common theme I've seen though is unpredictability--there's no rule to follow.  They do whatever as they please or whatever benefit them.  Some of them are neurotic, some just want to exercise their power.

Super Beeu's Inc. 02

From now on, my pen name is Sunchaser...

Super Beeu's Inc. - comic strip

Several years ago, as I became a victim of someone who had poor management skills and high desire for power and control, I created this comic strip to cope with it.  You might have similar experience to share.

By Mark Chu

A daring adventure

(Click to enlarge)
Pen drawing by Mark Chu

Years ago in one particular summer, my friends and I went together to a lake for a day.

That was when I met Judie.

She was 14.  My friends Woody, Harold, Steve, and I were all 15.  I was attracted to her, and I knew all my friends were, too.  Her short dark hair had a pleasant fragrance, the few freckles on her face made her smile cuter.  She came with her family: her parents, a little brother, and a big dog.  Her father was a big man with a mean-looking face, and a long thick beard to intimidate people.  Overcoming by love, however, we found chance to talk to her.

She loved swimming, along with many other things a typical adventurous girl liked to do, such as canoeing, camping, exploring the woods, traveling.  Though interesting, these things weren't unique for a fun-loving 14-year-old girl.

Except she was almost blind.

You would never guess at first sight, her eyes looked beautiful and lively.  Her left eye could only tell light and dark; her right eye was better, it could tell some shapes.  It was an accident when she was two, she said. 

But that didn't stop her from experiencing life.

She told us a story about a big cave on the deep end of the lake.  Rumor had it that there were strange creatures and plants that people had never seen.  She wanted to go there.  We thought she was joking, until she brought a huge inner tube almost as big as her.  “What, are you going there right now?” My eyes grew wide.

“You bet I am.” Her almost blind eyes were locked on the other side of the lake.

“You’re crazy!” Steve shouted.

“Maybe I am.”

“That’s just a rumor!  You won’t find anything.” Woody said.  “How can you see where you’re going?” Harold shook his head.  “That’s too dangerous!” I tried to grasp her arms. 

“I won’t find out until I get there, will I?” She quickly took off her shoes.  Before we could stop her, she jumped into the lake with the tube.  My friends stood there in awe.  I ran to find her father.  He shook his head, smiled, said nothing.

She came back almost three hours later.  She did get to the deep end of the lake, but she didn’t find the cave.  No strange creatures or plants.  But she managed to bring back some beautiful stones.  So beautiful I’d never seen in my life.  She gave each of us one.

Till today I have no idea how she did it.  How could she tell the direction, find her way to the shore, tell the different colors of stones.  I’ve never seen Judie since, but I still keep that stone.  It always reminds me of a young girl’s daring act. 

Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

Aliens Are Real

* If you are a parent of more than one, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

You hear rumors say that aliens helped build the pyramids, Ester Island’s stone statues, or England’s Stonehenge.  Smart people claim that those silly tall tales are solid proofs of human’s needs for certainty—we can’t tolerate mystery without an explanation.  If we can’t find an explanation, we invent one.

            Well, maybe; but I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the alien theory.  In fact, as a parent of three, I firmly believe the existence of aliens.  They are real; they must be.  If the government wants me to testify I’ll show them all the evidence I’ve documented around my house. 

            For example, who can explain why the kitchen light always mysteriously turns itself on?  Whenever I step into the kitchen, the damn light would always be on, and there would be cookie crumbs on the floor.  I would call everyone in the house to the kitchen.  “I didn’t do it,” the oldest boy would always be the first one to deny any wrongdoing.

            I’ll then look at his brother, and he would look back at me with his particular blank face.  “Well?”  

            “Not me.” He finally says.

            “So it’s you?” I would turn to my daughter.

            “Uh-uh.”

            “Ok, there’s got to be someone!”

            “I don’t know.” They would say.

            Einstein might have said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results, but I can’t resist that temptation.  “Let me ask again: who did this?”

            “I didn’t do it.”

            “Not me.”

            “Uh-uh.”

            “Well, there’s got to be someone!”

            “I don’t know.”

            To this point I would be jumping up and down like a clown with foams at the corners of my mouth.  “If nobody did it, then what did it?  Aliens?”

            I remotely remember the first time I brought out the possibility of aliens, my daughter, less than three at that time, promptly protested: “Well I’m not an alien!” But the little aliens all have learned the lesson since.  Now, there is absolutely nobody doing anything in the house.  The light and cookie crumbs become mystery of the century, as do the pyramids, stone statues, and Stonehenge.  Sherlock Holmes once says: “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” If nobody in our house turns on the light and steals the cookies, then it must be the aliens.  It’s that simple.

           

            I’m really worried about those aliens.  They not only steal cookies.  I suspect they’re secretly training my kids their language and forsaking humans’.  Or worse: they might have inserted electrodes into their brains to control their moves.  I swear there are several nights I see sparks behind their ears.  I don’t know why those aliens do what they do.  It leads to dire consequences: my children are getting less and less able to understand our language. 

            For instance, I have to repeat myself a thousand times: “Go to bed!” “Take a shower!” “Get off from that damn computer/TV!” or “Pick up your hair in the bathroom sink!” But they won’t understand a word.  It doesn’t matter whatever I scream, twenty minutes later they would still be in the living room, watching cartoons and laughing like hyenas.  “What are you doing?” I question, and I would see 3 pairs of empty eyes staring at me.  They definitely have been brainwashed. 

            Once after I told them to take a shower, my younger boy reluctantly went into the bathroom.  For 15 minutes I didn’t hear a sound.  I went to check him out and found the door ajar.  The kid was still standing in the bathtub; for 15 minutes he stood there doing nothing.  “Aren’t you supposed to shower?”

            “Yeah,” he nodded. 

            “Then don’t you have to close the door, take off your clothes, get into the tub, turn on the water, and use soap to wash your body?”

            Now that was too complicated.  They’ve lost the ability to understand sentences that long. 

            “Take off your clothes first, please.  Then wash yourself.”

            Ten minutes later the kid was still standing there, looking at the mirror, talking and laughing to himself.    

            “What did I just say?” I shouted.  “You don’t understand what I’m saying?  Am I speaking Martian?  What language should I speak for you to understand?  Take that damn shower now!”

            Though he couldn’t comprehend such long sentences, from my body language he knew what I wanted him to do.  The kid grudgingly closed the door: “I know.” I’m so glad the aliens didn’t take this “I know” away.  But what he was doing behind the door I have no idea.  I hope the aliens didn’t take away the ability of cleaning one’s own body. 

            How long are they gonna stay?  When are they gonna take over The Earth?  What would happen to me then?  I don’t feel safe.  I’m scared.

            That’s why when they went to my mother’s house and stayed for a month, my wife and I felt like birds being released from a cage.  Freedom at last!  When I woke up in the morning, everything was in place.  No mysterious light being turned on.  Cookies never disappeared.  No garbage ejected from the trashcan, toys ran away from the bins, or dirty little socks expelled from the laundry.  All the cups were standing in the cupboard in line.  Every day was quiet and peaceful.  I couldn’t ask for more.  The aliens are finally gone, I can rest in peace, I smiled to myself.  And I slept very well for three days.

            On day fourth, however, I couldn’t help but started to feel a bit lonely.  I caught myself thinking: isn’t it a bit too quiet here?  I looked at my wife, she was sitting on the sofa staring at the window.  The clock on the wall said 9:32 am.  It was Saturday.  Usually at this point the aliens would make the kids running around screaming with laughter.  The oldest boy might attack me with his tons of nonsense questions starting with “why:” “Why is the sky blue?” “Why does water boil?” “Why do we breathe air?” “Why is a ball called ‘ball?’” “Why is your hair curly?” “Why are you rolling your eyes?” The younger boy might be singing songs while pushing his toy car as big as him around.  My daughter might be creating her own music by hitting pot lids with a spatula.  When they were sleeping, those faces would remind me of little angels in heaven…

            Wait, what am I doing?  I can’t believe that I would miss those aliens!

            For the rest of the month, every five minutes I uttered something about those little aliens.  “I’m surprised that you miss them more than I do,” my wife said. 

            “Nonsense.  I’m enjoying my freedom.” I sniffed.  “By the way, I’ll get some Kit-Kat tonight.  They always love it.”

            “They won’t be back for another three weeks, hon.”

            I couldn’t believe how difficult that month was for me.  By the end of that month, I was count downing by seconds.  I was afraid they would prefer staying with my mother to coming back, but when we got there to pick them up, they were ready to go.  I hugged them tight.  At that point I realized: guess I don’t mind those little aliens taking over The Earth.  I can handle those mysterious lights and disappearing cookies.  Or kids not taking showers.

            So I thought.

            The first three days were alright.  The aliens, probably being shy, did not show up as often.  Or maybe I overlooked.  On day fourth, however, they all came back alright.  The mysterious light, the cookie crumbs, the difficulties in communication, the garbage, toys, cups, dishes, books that running all over the places.  It finally got on my nerves.  I found myself talking louder and louder.  My face distorted, smoke came out from my nostrils.  I caught myself googling “how to cast out aliens.”

            Why do you torture me like this, aliens?  Why me? 

            No matter how hard I pray, those aliens seem to determine to stay.  There’s no sign of them leaving.  This mixed feeling of love and hostility is to stay with me till the day The Earth surrenders.

            Guess I just have to learn to live with that. 

Desire (2 of 2)

            Six weeks later.

            “You fucking what!?” Mandy yells.  Everybody in the shop turns to look at her. 

          Tonya is so excited, her hands are flapping up and down like a bird.  “I’m pregnant!”

            “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god… I’m dizzy, I have to sit…” Mandy slowly sits down.

            “Aren’t you happy for me?”

            “Happy!?” Mandy’s eyes are as big as two headlights.  “Happy?  Are you out of your damn mind?  How can you be happy?”

            “I know you don’t like him, but give him a chance.  You’ll like him.  Remember your first day in this city?  You said you hated it, but it grows on you, right?”

            “He’s growing on you, that I’m sure.” Mandy looks at Tonya’s belly.  “How can you let him…”

            “Mandy!”

            “Tonya, you don’t even know him!”

            “I know him!” Tonya is irritated.  “He’s a nice policeman who loves me to death.”

            Mandy rubs her forehead and sighs 3 times.  “Your mom and dad know?”

            “We’re going to tell them tomorrow; Frank is meeting my parents…they’ll be thrilled to meet Frank!”

            “Yea, I’ll bet; that’s a thriller alright.”

            Frank comes in to the shop.  “Hi honey,” Tonya and Frank kiss.  “I told Mandy,” Tonya says, looking at Mandy.  Mandy struggles, but finally manages to say it between her teeth: “Congratulations.”

            “Thanks.” Frank smiles. 

            Mandy looks away.  Tonya looks at Frank.

            “Say… Mandy, I heard you’re buying a car?” Frank asks.

            “Mm-hmm.”

            “What’s your budget?”

            “Well, like $16,000, if the car is real good.”

            “Is there a particular brand you’re looking for?”

            “I like Toyota…”

            “Toyota?  Hey, no problem!  I’ve got some connections, a brand new Toyota Camry for $15,000, how about that?”

            “$15,000?” Mandy narrows her eyes in suspicion.

            “If you want hybrid, that’ll be like $18,000.”

            “Really?”

            “Of course; c’mon, I’m a cop, I know all the car dealers!  And I’m not talking about compound cars, believe me.  You give me $5,000 as down payment, two weeks later I’ll give you a new Toyota.”

            “That’ll be nice,” Tonya holds his hand and gives him a kiss.  “Wouldn’t that be nice, Mandy?”

            “Yea… yea, ok, I’ll give you the money.”

            “Two weeks later you’ll have a brand new car, I guarantee.” Frank takes a glass of water on the table and gulps down the whole thing.

           

            Frank and Tonya stand in front of Tonya’s house.  He’s wearing his best deep blue suit and light blue shirt; his black shoes are shining like mirrors.  He spent $60 to have his hair well-trimmed.       

            “You smell so good,” Tonya says.  “This is new cologne, no?”

            “Yea, new one.” Frank forces a smile.  His hands are holding a bottle of champagne—and they are shaking. 

            “Honey, are you nervous?” Tonya looks at him.

            Frank laughs uneasily.

            “Don’t be; you’ll be fine.  My mom and dad are going to love you.”

            The door opens.  Tonya’s mom is short and chubby, her black hair is mingled with some grey.  She’s smiling.  Tonya’s dad is a big man, bald, beer belly, and big grey beard.  He is not smiling.

            “Frank?  Tonya tells me so much about you,” mom goes to Frank and hugs him.  “Call me Lea.”

            “Nice to meet you, Lea.  Tonya always talks about you.”

            “Call me Tom.” Dad sticks his hand out, Frank shakes his hand.  “Frank.  Nice to meet you, Tom.  Hope you guys like the champagne.”

            “It’s alright.” Tom waves his hands and goes into the house.  Frank looks at Tonya for a second.  She’s busy talking to her mom.

            “Dinner is ready, come sit at the table.” Lea says.  Everybody sits.  “It smells so good, Lea.” Frank says.

            “We’re so glad to finally see you,” Lea says.

            “Thanks, Lea.  You have a very lovely house.  I really like the décor.”

            “Mom’s spent a lot of time on that.” Tonya says.

            “Thank you, Frank.  I have nothing else to do at home anyway, especially in these hot days.  My, it’s getting warmer, isn’t it?”

            “Indeed it is.  It’s just too warm.”     

            “Right.  Even Tom sometimes complains it’s too hot to go for his morning walk.  Right honey?”

            Tom is quietly eating his corn.  Tonya bites her lips and looks at Lea.      

            “Dad, Frank likes watching football too.  He’s a Green Bays fan like you.”

            Tom raises his right eyebrow, shrugs: “Green Bay alright.”

            “I really like McCarthy; I think he’s a good coach.” Frank says.

            “Hmm.” Tom keeps his eyes on his corn. 

            “This corn is so good, Lea.” Frank says.

            “I cooked them.” Tom says.

            “Oh, sorry… they are real good.  Real good.”

            Silence.  Frank twists his feet. 

            “So, what do you do?” Tom asks.

            “I told you he’s a police officer; a captain.” Tonya says.

            “I’m asking him; let him talk.” Tom puts down the corn in his hand.

            “You like chicken?  Hope you like it.” Lea says.

            “Yes, thanks.  I love chicken.  Your chicken is just amazing.” Frank grasps another big piece of fried chicken and turns to Tom.  “Yes sir, I’m a cop.  I’ve worked in this department for 5 years now.  Oh, by the way, I heard Tonya says you are the deep-sea fishing champion?”

            “You bet I am.” 

            “People say that’s the most brutal fight on this planet.  It’s the ultimate challenge; only a real man can stand up to the challenge.”

            Tom’s frowned eyebrows smoothed.  “I won two years in a row.”

            “That’s awesome!  That’s like twice of a real man.”

            Tom sniffs.  “You won’t believe how many people there don’t know a shit.  That’s a real sport if you ask me.  You see this scar here?” Tom rolls up his sleeve and starts talking. 

            Lea and Tonya exchange a smile.                                                                                 

            Three days later, a wedding date is set: exactly one month from now.

            “Dad, can you help me with this question?” Luke walks into the study.  Frank hastily puts away things on the desk.  “Yes?”

            “I don’t understand this question.” Luke points at his math homework.

            “Where’s your mom?”

            “She’s not home.  She went to grandma’s.”

            “I’m in the middle of something, come back later.”

            “But…”

            “Go now!” Frank waves his hand.

            Luke bows his head and slowly walks out of the door.  Frank sighs: “Oh, for Pete’s sake!  What’s the question?”

            Luke comes back.  “This,” he points at one question. 

            “Wait… “ Frank looks at the red on the homework, “you got 38% for this homework?!  How did that happen?  What’s going on?”

            “I just don’t get it… I’m no good at math.”

            “Nonsense!  You’re my kid and you should be good at math!”

            “But I have nobody to ask!  Mom’s always busy and you’re not home.”

            “I’m home!  Ok, maybe I’ve been a bit busy lately; but you should have told me earlier!  What on earth is your mom doing?  She’s supposed to take care of your homework, now look at this!” Frank waves the paper in his hand.

            Luke becomes quiet and looks down.

            Frank shakes his head.  “Ok, ok, sit down.  This question: An unknown number plus 386 equals 580, what’s the unknown number?  Think something simple: there’s a number, when I add this number with 2 that equals 3, what is the number?”

            “…one?”

            “How did you figure that out?”

            “Three takes away 2?”

            “So this question is the same, right?  What would you do?”

            “You mean 580 takes away 386?”

            “Right.  Get it?”

            “Yea.”

            “Good.  Next.”

            After they’ve gone through all the questions, Frank asks: “You get all that?”

            “I think so.”

            “Ok.” Frank is about to dismiss Luke.

            “Dad, where have you been lately?”

            Frank flushes.  “Well, I’ve been busy.”

            “Busy for what?”

            “It’s an adults’ thing.”

            “If I have questions I don’t understand, can I come ask you?”

            Frank flushes again.  “Why don’t you ask your mom?”

            “I want to ask you.  She’ll get mad if I don’t understand.  Besides, I think you explain better.”

            Frank sighs and nods.

            “Thanks.” Luke smiles and walks out of the room. 

            Frank looks at the door for a while.  Then he takes out something from the drawer.  It’s a piece of paper with some designs of wedding invitations.  He stares at it for a long time.

            Frank is watching TV when the phone rings.  “Hello?”

            “Frank?  This is Mandy.”

          Frank looks at Marie at the far corner.  She’s not looking.  “What?  I can’t hear you,” he stands up and walks outside.

            “Can you hear me now?” Mandy asks.

            “Yes.  Go ahead.”

            “I’m calling to ask about the car.  You said you can give me the car today.”

            “Yes, yes; I’m sorry, something came up, I was totally swamped, and I couldn’t even find a time to call you, it’s just outrageous.”

            “So, now…how do I get my car?”

            “Your car, of course.  You know, I’m kind of in the middle of something right now... how about this?  Let me call you; I’ll call in a day or two.  Just wait for my call.”

            “Wait for your call?” Mandy raises her voice.

            “Alright, alright; how about Thursday then?”

            “That’s 3 days away; I thought you said you have the car already.”

            “Yes, yes, don’t worry; I just…these days we’re very busy, we’ve got some big things going on, you know?  Cop things.”

            Mandy gives an annoyed sigh.  “Ok, what time?”

            “What time?  Let me see… damn, I really don’t know.  How about morning?  I’ll call you first thing in the morning on Thursday.  I hope that’s ok.  I promise you’ll get the car by Thursday.  It’s just… you know, being a cop, I don’t know when I’ll be where, surely you understand, don’t you?”

            Mandy pauses for a long time.  “Thursday.  By Thursday I need to see my car, or else.”

            “Definitely, definitely.”

           

            “I feel so happy.” Tonya is holding Frank’s arm.  They’re walking in a park.  It’s a sunny afternoon, some ducks are swimming on the pond, birds are chirping, breezes are rustling the tree leaves.  Dandelions carpet the meadows. 

            “I hope I can live this moment forever.” Tonya smiles.

            “Me too.”

            “You want a boy or a girl?”

            “I’d like a boy.”

            “So you can play baseball or football together?  Father-and-son time?”

            “That’s right.” Frank grins.

            “How many kids do you want?”

            “How many do you want?”

            “At least 2.”

            “A boy and a girl?”

            “That’ll be perfect.”

            “We’ll make it happen.”

            Pause for a while, Tonya holds tighter.  “Honey, you have to promise me: always come home to me and the kids.”

            “What?”

            “I’m not saying you should not do your job, but… when things get dangerous, I want you to think about your family.  I want you to come back instead of being a hero.”

            “Sure, sure thing, honey.” Frank kisses her forehead.  “No problem.”

            “I can’t wait to marry you… I can’t wait to start a family of our own.”

            “Me too.”

            “The wedding invitations are lovely!  My mom says she loves them.  Have you mailed them yet?”

            “Yes, 100 copies of them.” He pats her hands.

            Tonya leans her head against his arm.

            Frank is having lunch when his phone rings.  He picks it up.  Shit, Mandy again.  It’s Thursday already?  Shit.  “Hi, Mandy.”

            “Frank?  It’s Thursday noon already, you said you’d call in the morning.”

            “Yes, I’m sorry, I really apologize.  I’m just way too busy, you won’t believe it.”

            “Well?”

            “Yes, the car.  Listen, the car dealer says there’s a tiny problem…not the car itself, it’s just some paperwork.  It won’t be today.”

            “What?  Why?”

            “I know you’re upset; I’m sorry.  Just another couple days.  I promise.”

            “Another couple days?”

            “It’s… it’s an accident.  But don’t worry, the car is great; I’ve seen it myself.  It’s ready for you, just need some more paperwork.  A couple days later it’ll be yours.  I swear.  Trust me.”

           Frank can hear Mandy’s breaths.  Finally she says: “I want my car Saturday morning.  If I don’t see the car…”

            “I promise.  Seriously.”

            Hanging up the phone, Frank shakes his head and let go a long breath.  Maybe I shouldn’t have put my foot in my mouth.  I just want to impress her, but gee, this gal is a damn tough cookie.  Will she report me?  Then he laughs: how could she?  She thinks I am a cop.

            Mandy throws the phone on the sofa, then goes into the kitchen and smashes some pots and pans.  “I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it.” She whispers to herself.  “This is shit.  I don’t believe it.” She opens the fridge, fixes herself an icy drink, and sit on the sofa to cool down.

            “This is not right; fucking not right.  I’ve got to do something.” She grasps the phone book, finds a number, then dials her phone.  “Hello?  Is this police station?  I have a question…”

            When Frank comes home, Marie and Luke are playing a board game.  “Dad,” Luke smiles.

            “Where have you been these days?” Marie out of the blue asks.  Frank is caught off guard: “I…uh, I’ve been busy.”

            “Busy?”

            “Friends invited me for a drink.”

            Marie shrugs.  She obviously isn’t buying.  Frank steals away into the study.

            Three minutes later, there’s a knock on the door.  Marie is at the door with a cup of tea and some cookies in her hands.  “Cookies?”

            “I’m a bit tired…”

            “Please.” Marie stares into his eyes.

            Frank lets her in.  She puts the tea and cookies on the table.  “Look, Frank, we’ve been fighting for like months now.  This can’t go on; it just can’t.  If not for ourselves, at least for Luke... you know what I’m saying?”

           Frank is quietly looking down at the cookies.  He’s got a little moist on his forehead.

            “I don’t care what you’ve been doing right now, as long as it doesn’t involve another woman.  I care about this family.  I care about Luke.  And our marriage.  It’s not that I don’t support you and your work, ok?  You’ve been bringing home bread and I see that.  I’m a bit quick-tempered, I know.  Sometimes I got frustrated, that’s all.”

            Frank slowly sits on his chair.  Marie is waiting for him to say something, but he’s not even looking at her.  She finally frowns and takes a deep breath.

            “I’m not saying we should pretend there’s no problem between us.  We know we do; a heck of a lot of them.  But we might as well try, don’t you think?  At least for Luke’s sake.  We’re a family.”

            The last sentence pokes him like a needle.  He’s almost startled. 

            “So, what do you say?”

            Suddenly his cellphone rings.  Frank picks up the phone.  “Hello?”

            “This is Mandy.”

            Frank almost falls out of the chair.  He quickly stands up: “Sorry, I can’t hear you, hold on a minute…” and walks straight out of the house. 

            “I thought I told you to wait for my call?” Frank lowers his voice.  

            “I need to see you.  Tomorrow.”

            “Tomorrow?”

            “Six o’clock at the Starbucks, a couple blocks away from the coffee shop.  You know where it is?”

            “I know.  But I told you you’ll get the car soon, is that necessary…”

            “Yes.  We just have to talk things through.  Please.”

            “…Ok.”

            She hangs up.

            Frank walks into the house.  Marie is playing with Luke.  “Look, I’m a bit tired; about the things you said…”

            Marie and Luke look at him.

            “This is some serious thing, but I just got a call from work… they, uh, they want me to do some extra work… I mean, right now I can’t totally concentrate, you know?  Let’s have a good talk when I come back from work tomorrow.”

            Marie sighs.  “Sure.”

            Frank nods sheepishly.

            The next day, Frank goes to pick Tonya up at her place after work.  “Hi, honey,” he kisses her.  “So, where are we going tonight?” Tonya gives him a hug. 

            Frank looks at her beautiful face beaming in the sunlight while feels her warm arms pressuring around his body.  Her smile is so full of hope, like she’s on top of the world and is not afraid to fly. 

            Frank kisses her again.  God, she smells so good.  This is the love I want.  This is the life I’ve always wanted.  I don’t care what’s gonna happen, I want it.

            “Oh, it’s 5:20 already.  I have to see Mandy at 6, so why don’t we go get some drinks or sweets first?  After Mandy we can go see a movie.”

            “You’re meeting Mandy at 6?  Why?”

            “She wants to talk about the car she bought.”

            “I see.  Oh by the way, my dad wants me to ask you if you have mailed the invitations.  I told him you mailed them a while ago already, didn’t you?”

            “Yes, I did.  Why?”

            “It’s just none of our relatives have received them yet.”

            “Must be the post office.  I’ll go ask them tomorrow.”

            “Ok.”

            They go to a mall for ice cream, then head toward Starbuck.

            Frank can’t take his eyes off Tonya.  She’s so beautiful.  And I feel like a superman whenever I’m with her.  It’s so nice to have someone loves you and trusts you so much.  We’ve finally found each other.  I want to be with you, Tonya; I can’t live without you…just can’t.

            “Honey, I’ve made an appointment with the doctor for the ultra sound next Tuesday.  Can you come with me?”

            “What time?”

            “Seven.”

            “Sure.”

            “Do you want to find out the sex?”

            “Do I want to find out?  Well,” Frank smiles, “I don’t know.  Do you?”

            “Yea, I want to.”

            “You don’t like surprises?”

            “Actually, I don’t mind.  If you want to wait I can wait.”

            Frank holds her hand.  “Let’s find out.”

            Tonya leans her head on his shoulder.  “Here is the Starbucks…” she frowns, “what happened?  What are those cops doing here?  Must be roadblocks?”

            Mandy is behind those police officers.  When she sees Tonya, she covers her mouth: “Oh no, poor Tonya…”

            One police officer waves at Frank to stop the car.  Looking at the cops and Mandy behind them, his eyes wide open, his mouth is dry like fire, his heart sinks to the bottom, and he feels his knees weak and trembling.  No, this is not happening…

            “Did we do anything wrong?  Why don’t you tell them you’re the captain so they’ll let us go?” Tonya says.

            The police office approaches.  Frank rolls down the window. 

            “Are you Frank Stone?”

            “Yes.” Frank’s throat hurts.

            “Step out of the car, please.”

            On the other side, a cop knocks on Tonya’s window.  “Ma’am, may I ask what’s your relationship with this man?”

            “He’s my fiancé, and a police captain.”

            “Your fiancé, ma’am?”

            “Yes.  What’s going on?”

            An officer handcuffs Frank: “You have the right to remain silent…”

            “Hey!  What are you doing!?” Tonya shouts and pushes open the door.  “Honey, tell them you’re a captain!”

            Mandy comes and holds Tonya.  “Tonya honey, I have to tell you something…”

            Some officers search the car.  One of them pulls out a bunch of wedding invitations from the trunk.  Tonya gasps.  “You didn’t mail them?  Why?  What’s going on?  What’s happening here?  Frank?”

            Frank lowers his head.  He’s pale like all his blood is drained.

            Mandy says with tearing eyes: “I’m sorry, Tonya; I wanted to tell you, but… it’s just… he kept on making all the excuses about the car he promised, so I called the cops… I just want to make sure about… you know?  And they told me he’s no cop; they ran his name in the system…”

            “What are you talking about?”

            “Tonya… he’s not a cop… and he has a record of medical fraud.”

            “What?” Tonya starts shaking.

             “He’s not a cop… and he’s married.  He has a son.”

            Tonya covers her wide open mouth.  For a long minute she can’t utter any sound.  Then she bursts: “No!  No!  Frank,” she runs to him and tries to look at his face.  “Frank honey, tell me it isn’t true, please… tell me you’re a cop, tell me…”

            He looks away.

            “…you lied to me?” Tears start pouring down her cheeks.  “You lied to me?  What am I gonna do?  What am I gonna do?”

            “Tonya, I’m sorry…but they’re taking him in for his fraud and my case… please don’t hate me…” Mandy hugs her.

          “Why did you lie to me!?” Tonya shrieks.  “Why!?  What should I do with our baby!?  What will happen to our baby!?  How am I gonna face my mom!?  My dad!?  Everyone!?” She collapses and wails.

            An officer pushes Frank into the car.  Frank looks behind at Tonya, who’s sitting on the ground weeping.  Her image is getting smaller and fainter till it disappears.  Like a tiny bird falls into the sea, her fragile body is slowly swallowed by darkness. 

            “I ain’t lying.  I’m going to get her a car.  I’m working on it.”

            “You are.” The officer sitting next to him raises his eyebrows.  “What about the $5,000?”

            “What about it?”

            “You still have it?”

            He didn’t answer.  He’s shaking, looking out the windows.  The streets are packed with people and cars.  They’re all moving on their own lives indifferently.  They look so unreal.

            “Mom, what happened?  Where’s dad?” Luke is puzzled and scared. 

            Marie wipes away tears on her face.  “He won’t come back.  He lied to a lot of people and now will go to prison.”

            “Prison?  Who did he lie to?”

            “A lot of people.  You and me.”

            “What did he lie about?”

            Marie sighs.  “He has a baby with another woman.  And he took someone’s money.”

            “Why did he do that?” Luke is in tears.  “Who’s gonna teach me math?  He promised he’ll teach me math.  He promised.”

            Marie holds him in her arms.  “Mom will teach you.  I won’t get mad.  I promise.”

           

           “My god!  Did you hear about Frank?” It’s lunch time, Steve and Cecil are gossiping. 

            “Remember what I said about him?” Cecil’s face is glowing with wisdom and pride, it has “I told you so” written all over.

            “What was he thinking?  That’s just stupid if you ask me!” Steve shakes his head like it’s about to fall.  “Was he really gonna marry that poor girl?”

            “That was one stupid girl,” Cecil sniffs.

            “That’s not a nice thing to say.”

            “I say what I say.  What would you call her then?”

            “Naïve maybe.  But love is irrational, you know?  There’s no logic about love.  Everybody is somebody’s fool.”

            Cecil shrugs.  “Whatever.  I’m nobody’s damn fool.”

           

            In jail, Frank crouches at the corner while staring at the floor.  A police officer comes near him. 

            “Your girlfriend…well, x-girlfriend, is suing you for $50,000.”

            Frank gives out a long sigh.  “Must be her dad.”

            “You called your family?”

            “They weren’t there.”

            “You shouldn’t be surprised.”

            “I didn’t mean to lie to her.”

            “To your wife or your girlfriend?”

            Frank pauses.  “I wanted to get a divorce and marry her.  I swear.”

            “Why did you lie?”

            “Look at me: I’m 260 pounds.  She worships cops.  I had to maximize my chance.  I love her.  She must hate me now… what am I gonna do?  How should I make it up to her?  How should I make it up to her?”

            The officer smiles and shakes his head.

            “I…I just wanted a new life, you know?  I wanted to marry her.  I swear I wasn’t lying…”

            “You better rest.” The policeman knocks on the iron bar several times then leaves.

            “I just wanted a new life, to start all over again…I deserve it…I deserve it…” Frank whispers, buries his head in his hands.  

(The end)