* Based on a true story
Lust's passion will be served; it demands, it militates, it tyrannizes.
Lust's passion will be served; it demands, it militates, it tyrannizes.
~ Marquis de Sade
If
Frank Stone used to be attractive, that attractiveness has left little trace. Being a 31-year-old man, he’s not ugly per
se, but even Bradley Cooper wouldn’t be associated with the word “sexy” in any
form or shape if he were 230 pounds.
Frank
is working in a shoe factory. For now. He has to repeat the same motion every 5
seconds from 8 to 5 except a one-hour merciful lunch break. The long hours of sitting makes him heavier
and his butt bigger. Every day when he
walks out of the factory, his puffy face is drenched in defeat, his feet
dragged, and his back crooked. He should
be grateful though, people tell him, because this is his 5th job in the
past 2 years.
“Who’s
dead?” Cecil the janitor mocks. “Cheer
up, would ya? I want to cry when I see
your face.”
“I’m
just tired.” Frank leans on the rusted gate and rubs his forehead.
“Tired
of what? And you walk like a zombie.”
Tired of this shitty job, tired of my pants getting
tighter and tighter, and tired of going back to that gloomy home. I deserve much better. My goodness, is there ever a way out?
Probably not. Not yet at least. He crawls home.
“Mom,
dad’s home!” Frank’s 9-year-old son Luke opens the door. “Where have you been? Mom’s upset.” Luke lowers his voice.
“No
worries,” Frank smiles and pats his head.
He’s a good kid; kind and
lovely. Too skinny though; I should get
him some steaks to buff him up a bit…
“Did
you get the eggs like I told you to?” Frank’s wife, Marie, comes out from the
kitchen. She wipes away some flour on
her somewhat a little bit chubby face. Her
big forehead is covered in sweat; some white and pink stuff sprinkled on her
red hair.
Frank
blushes. “I…I’ve been busy all day; I
didn’t get the time to go to the supermarket...”
“I
knew it!” Marie rolls her eyes. “I knew
it. You never remember a word I
say. I was gonna bake some cake, now I
can’t because of your ignorance.” Her red hair looks like it’s on fire.
“Just
borrow some from our neighbors,” Frank sniffed.
“Neighbor
who? Ever since you lied about your job
they stop talking to us. If you still
have the balls to show up at their front door, be my guest.”
“I
didn’t lie! I’m planning to become a pharmacist,
you know!?”
“Yea,
probably 10 lives from now!”
“Shit! Fuck the god damn cake, you bitch!”
“I’m
a bitch!? I’m the only one who
sacrifices in this house!”
Luke
slips away into his room.
Frank
shouts: “Yea right, you sacrifice! I’m the
one who works like a dog to bring home bread, and guess who wants to stay home
all day doing nothing?”
“Bring
home bread?! Bring home bread!? Are you fucking kidding me? What kind of bread are you talking
about? How long can you hold a job? Six months, top! How many jobs you’ve quitted in the past 2 years? Try 10?
Or 20? Bring home bread?”
“You
shut up! You hear me? I’m not talking to you!”
“You
loser! I’ve had enough!” Marie stomps
her way into kitchen.
“You’ve
had enough? I’ve had enough, bitch!”
Frank storms into the study and slams the door.
Two
days later.
The
cold war with Marie freezes the house.
Frank runs away from home and drives around.
It’s
a beautiful Sunday morning in March. The
sun paints the world a sheet of gold, though the air is still chilly. Flowers on the sidewalk are starting to
blossom.
Frank
spots a coffee shop and decides it wouldn’t hurt to have a good breakfast.
The
moment he opens the door, the smell of coffee mixed with fried hamburger
welcomes him. The radio is playing Adele’s
Someone Like You. There are just a few
people in the shop. Waitresses dressed
in yellow flock together behind the counter talking. Each small round glass table has a white
porcelain vase with a lily.
Frank
chooses a seat next to the window so he can see the cars and people on the
street. For some reason, seeing people
from all walks of life and ages fascinates him.
When he sees a man about his age he imagines himself being that man,
leading a different life: Maybe an engineer devising the cars of the next
generation. Or a businessman going to an
important meeting that’ll settle a million-dollar deal. If he sees a pretty woman it gets kinky: he would
be her lover, they would share a cup of coffee in Starbucks, go to a movie, then
go home and have a bubble bath together…
“What
can I get for you today?” A voice interrupts the daydream. Frank looks up.
She
must be 19. Twenty-two top. Red lips, black hair, and green eyes. Frank stares at her for 5 seconds.
“Sir,
what can I get for you today?” the waitress repeats.
“Yes,”
Frank smiles. “Uh…two jumbo eggs, two
toasted English muffins, three pancakes, smoked bacon, and a Virgin Mary. Tonya.” He looks at her nametag.
“Three
pancakes, smoked bacon...anything else?”
“No,
that’ll be it.”
“Be
right back.” She never looks at him.
Frank
takes off his wedding ring.
When
she comes back with his order, his heart is pounding and his mouth is dry. “Say, Tonya, how long have you been working
here?”
“About
8 months.” She shrugs, still not looking at him.
“How do you like it? I’ve heard the boss is a chucklehead.”
Tonya
smiles. “She’s alright.”
“Totally. You don’t mind if I ask how old you are?”
“Twenty.”
“In
college?”
“Nuh,
never thought about it.”
“College
is overrated anyway. You know, if you want
a better job, I have some connections…”
“Right. Enjoy.” She grins at him and turns away. Frank closes his eyes and smells her
fragrance in the air.
He
doesn’t really know what the food tastes like, because all his senses are
concentrating on her. When he’s
finished, she’s busy talking to other customers. He waits for her to look in his direction,
and when she finally does for a second, he manages to give her the most
courteous smile. She looks away.
He
leaves a big tip for her.
On
Monday morning, Frank gets up an hour earlier to get ready. Marie is still sleeping.
He
first drives to a flower shop. It’s
close. He tries Target. Not open till 8. He finds a Wal-Mart and buys a box of gourmet
chocolates, then goes straight to the coffee shop.
“Hi,
Tonya!” When Frank opens the door, he feels a hundred butterflies in his
stomach. All the waitresses turn to look
at him in surprise. Tonya stares at him.
He
tells his legs to approach her, then demands his dry mouth to open. “I just want to give you this chocolate… hope
you like chocolate.”
“What?”
“You’re
right, forget about the stupid chocolate.” He throws the box on a table. “I just want to say you’re incredibly beautiful;
since the first time I laid eyes on you I can’t forget you. I know I’m nobody, you must have ten
boyfriends and a hundred secret admirers, I mean nothing to you; zip. But… but if you are willing to give me a
chance; just one tiny chance, I promise: I’ll try all my heart, my mind, and my
life to make you smile. Just give me a
chance.”
Two
waitresses start to giggle, another drops her jaw. “Now, sir…” Tonya chuckles.
“Frank. Frank Stone.”
“Mr.
Stone…”
“Call
me Frank. Please.”
“Ok,
Frank. What on earth are you…”
“No,
you don’t have to tell me right now. I
can wait. I’ll wait. Don’t answer me yet; just think about
it. Please. I promise I’ll wait, even if it takes
forever.”
“Well…”
“Just
think about it. I beg you. Please.” He’s looking at her while walking
out of the shop; his right arm is extending as if to reach her.
A
week later.
It’s
5 o’clock sharp. Frank steps out of the
factory. “Look who’s here,” Cecil nudges
a guy next to him while staring at Frank.
“Hey Frankie! What’s the hurry?” Cecil
yells.
“Nothing…just
can’t wait to go home to the wife and kid, you know.” Frank keeps walking
hastily, not even looking in his direction.
“Steve
my man, let me tell ya: this guy is up to something. I can smell it.” Cecil whispers.
“Why
did you say that?” Steve frowns.
“Well,
don’t you see he’s like hurrying to somewhere?
Like this just can’t wait? Let me
tell ya,” Cecil pats Steve’s shoulder and nods, “he’s definitely not going
home. No man married more than 3 years
would go home like that.” Both holler
with laughter.
“Tonya,
you know you are just three roses short of opening a flower shop?” Another
waitress, Mandy, looks at the bunches of flowers on a table. “This is getting ridiculous, don’t you
think?”
“He’s
crazy, I know,” Tonya smirks. “But let
him do whatever he wants. I don’t care.”
“You
kidding me?” Mandy widens her eyes. “Do you like him?”
“Look,
Mandy, I think he’s harmless, and I never promise anything. Nobody gets hurt.”
“You
enjoy the attention, don’t you? But last
time I checked, psychopaths don’t have labels on their foreheads. I think he’s creepy if you ask me. You should let him know what you think about
him, the sooner the better.”
“You
worry too much.”
Mandy
looks at the door. “Speak of the devil.”
Frank
pushes open the door. In his hand there’s
another bunch of fresh pink roses. “You’re
playing with fire, one day you’ll get burnt.
Watch out, you hear me?” Mandy throws Tonya a look, then walks to the
counter.
“Hi,”
Frank looks at Tonya with hopeful eyes.
“You look great today; more lovely than those flowers.” He hands her the
roses. Tonya sniffs the flowers and then
leaves them on the pile.
“Aren’t
you getting off work now? It’s almost
5:30.”
“No
rush here.”
“I
see, I see. I’m just wondering…there’s a
movie…”
“Well,
I don’t feel going anywhere, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“How
about dinner then?”
“I’m
not hungry. Thanks for asking though.”
“Now,
I’m thinking…”
The
TV’s sudden loud volume draws Tonya’s attention. She turns to the news.
The
news reports: “A police officer saved a toddler who was choking on a coin and
stopped breathing. After responding to
an emergency call, officer Peter Smith arrived at a home to the distraught
parents with a 2-year-old in their arms.
The child was not breathing and was turning blue…”
“Mandy,
look!” Tonya frantically waves her hand.
“What?”
“Look! That’s what I told you this morning! The story my great-uncle told me!”
“The
retired-police-officer-and-biggest-hero-of-all-time great-uncle?”
“Yes,
of course! See how that cop saved that
poor kid? He used to work under my great-uncle!”
“Good
for the kid.”
“Men
look so hot when they save lives! I need
men like that to protect me, like Brue Willis and Milla Jovovich in The Fifth
Element.”
“Bruce
Willis is not even a cop in that movie.”
“He’s
in Special Force, close enough. Ok, how
about Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in Speed?”
“Keanu
is no cop in that either, he’s in SWAT…what am I doing?”
“I’m
going to get myself a cop and have his babies!”
“What
did you take this morning?”
“What’s
wrong with cops? They’re hot in their
uniforms and they save lives! What can
be more cool than that?”
“Oh,
I don’t know… how about donut bellies?
Oh, sexy.” She bites her fingertips and purrs.
Tonya
narrows her eyes. “You’re getting good
at mocking me, I’ll give you that.”
“I
am a cop,” Frank suddenly interrupts.
“Excuse
me?” Mandy raises her voice. “What did
you say?” Tonya widens her eyes.
“I’m
a captain. I’ve been working here in
this town several years but never got a chance to come to this area. Now I’m glad I came.”
“Really?”
Tonya gasps.
“Really. A couple weeks ago we just saved a toddler in
a similar situation.”
“No
way!”
“Oh,
yes way. I have quite a lot of other
stories if you want to hear. As a matter
of fact, why don’t we go somewhere so I can tell you all the stories? What time is your shift tomorrow? I can come pick you up at 5:30. How about that?”
“…ok.”
Tonya smiles. Mandy’s mouth drops open.
“See
you tomorrow.” Frank grins, nods at both girls and walks out of the door.
“I
can’t believe it… it’s a captain that’s pursuing me all this time… I mean, a
captain!”
“Whoa,
whoa, hold on, girl! Let’s not get too
excited and lose our heads!” Mandy waves her hand in front of Tonya’s face. “Hello?”
“As
I said, you worry too much,” Tonya throws an apron at Mandy.
When
Frank comes to the shop to pick Tonya up, he’s wearing a police jacket. “Hi Tonya my dear, are you ready?”
Looking
at the police jacket, Tonya raises her eyebrows at Mandy, who puckers her
eyebrows and stares back at Tonya. “Let
me get my purse,” Tonya says.
Since
the moment Tonya gets into the car, Frank has been telling stories non-stopping. “There hasn’t been much action lately. A few weeks ago we caught a drug dealer,
that’s all. But boy, this guy surely was
armed! One of our men got a bullet in
his leg. Luckily it wasn’t serious.”
“That’s
horrible! Have you ever got hurt?”
“You
mean throughout my career? Twice, no big
deal though. The first time was when we
responded to a bank robbery which led to some car-chasing and
gun-fighting. That one was brutal; I got
shot in the chest, but I had the vest so only got some bruises. The second time was my fault: I just became a
sergeant, and I wanted to make a good impression, you know? I was patrolling the area along and saw this
guy in the car. He looked suspicious and
might have been armed, but I didn’t call a backup; I acted alone…that’s a
mistake. I wanted to be the hero, like
those cops in the movies, right? Like
Bruce Willis. Anyway. I approached the car, and he must have been
high or something, he pulled out a gun and pulled the trigger! Can you believe it? Luckily it jammed, but that already scared
the shit out of me, you know? He panicked,
opened the door and slammed me on my side and took off. I fell to the ground but quickly got back on
my feet, pulled out my gun and shouted ‘stop!’ before he tripped. Later I found my arm and leg was bleeding. I was just purely stupid.”
“You’re
not stupid; maybe a little bit over-confident.
That’s all.”
“I
appreciate that. But if that gun hadn’t
jammed, I wouldn’t be here talking to you.
That’s quite stupid if you ask me.
I’ve learned my lesson though: never try to be a hero. Ever.”
Tonya
smiles and nods.
“Tonya,
if you don’t mind, I have to go to my office and take care of some
business. It’ll be very brief, I
promise.”
“Ok.”
They
arrive at the police station. Frank
parks the car and turns to Tonya: “Ok, I would like to take you to meet my
buddies, I really would; but you have to understand we can’t do that. It’s for security reasons, you understand?”
“I
understand… I know security, my great-uncle talks about it all the time. He’s a retired officer. Someday you should meet him.”
“Absolutely. Now stay put, ok? Be right back.” Frank opens the car door and
walks into the station. Tonya takes out
a small mirror and a lipstick from her purse.
About
5 minutes later, Frank is back. “Done. Let’s go now.
You fancy a quick drink?”
“Sure.”
“Where
have you been, dad? It’s almost 10!”
Luke opens the door. “Why are you
smiling?”
“Nothing.”
You better wipe away your smile when you
get home, Frank; seriously. He
reminds himself the 10th time.
“Where’s mom?”
“She’s
watching TV. She didn’t say a word all
day.”
Frank
feels his stomach in knots. He walks
into the living room. Marie is sitting
still without any motion.
“I,
uh… was talking to some friends….”
Marie
tilts her head a bit and looks at him for a second, then turns back to the TV
screen.
He
quietly walks into the study and closes the door.
“Hi,
Cecil! What’s up!?” Frank loudly greets
Cecil the moment he walks out of the factory.
“You look nice today. Lose some
weight?”
“What
in the name of…” Cecil widens his eyes.
“How’s
the family? I heard your oldest is going
to college this year?”
“He’s
going to college alright. You ok?”
“What? Me?
Sure!” Frank happily pats Cecil’s shoulder. “Fantastic!
Can’t be better! We should get
together and have a drink someday. Ciao!”
“What’s
his deal?” Steve happens to walk by and sees everything.
“Now
it’s official,” Cecil leans toward Steve as he watches Frank walking away
humming. “He’s either stealing or
cheating. Maybe both.”
“Give
that guy a break, would ya? Maybe he’s
just having a happy day. Don’t you
sometimes have a happy day? Everything
is just right?”
“Yea,
right. You’re too young to know shit.”
Cecile sniffs.
(to be continued)
