AahJesus  he groaned

                         flashed immediately to his daughter asking her Is tha a thing

   What have I told you?

If I have to ask it is

See.  Not hard.

Easy for you to say baby

Jesus was an ad he saw at Outlook

                                       Cryochoice   a romance novel  wasnt

“America’s #1 Choice he wouldnt know if there was a second or third or if it was a sole entity but then of course #1  Choice for at-home sperm testing and freezing.”

                                       keep it away from the ice cube trays

These are the cutest little ice cubes . .

. . Gimme your drink back pleaseNow

it was too late to call his daughter and share

                                               Can you believe this is a thing

shed get a kick out of it or

                            she might not know it was a thing which would be a kick

him actually ahead of the curve

2107,  Thursday,  6  2. 25

was nearlyperfect with the fire last he placed wood in the fireplace it was measured

the blaze had only gone on another twentyminutes after she went to bed

                                                                              he was in town she put him up

her daughter went to bed an hour earlier

it had been a long busy day traipsing here and there old neighbourhood old friends cemeteries dead family  friends

   closed it out with pizza beer 

                                   before the fire her wine his whiskey

her daughter surprised him  enjoyed whiskey

Redbreast! she said breathlessly

Youre familiar

I’ve only read about it.

it was his treat

he poked the fire a couple more timesspread ash put up the screen crossed back to the couch where he was sacking it out

a paleblue moonlightheightened by fresh snow outside the window wafted across the floor embraced him on the couch

   he thoughthe knew  he was in his element again

an element he did not treat himself too often

otherwise

             wasnt a treat

the coals crackled occasionallyPOPped

Hey.  Hey are you awake?

lying on his backopened his eyes  Yes

I can’t sleep.

              she reminded him of his kids coming into the bedroom I can’t sleep. he told them to go back to bed hed be right there put on shorts laid beside them rubbed their butts listened to their breathing they rarely made ten minutes out like a light

               he was tempted

she shortcircuited him

                        said again she couldnt sleep stepped nearer the couch

her pajama bottoms fell as if weighted

                                          Give me your hand.

held it up she took it put it between her legs

                                                I’m wet.

My Mom told me you used to rub your children’s butts to put them to sleep. I was wondering what I could rubwhat you could rub . . to help us . sleep.

Sleep he thought was the farthest thing from either of their minds

                                                                        his imp imagined before he did

in the morning

                 Did you sleep well last night?

overnight,  Wednesday,  5  2. 25

1337,  Thursday,  6  2. 25

Look who finally comes walking in. she was the only one in the room

                                                                              coming into the kitchen through the back porch door beginning to shut it hearing her he casted an errant glance over his shoulder said Speak of the Devil

   You’re home again?

Have I missed any of my obligations

he hadnt

          which only emphasised his absencehis not being at her beck and callshe could do either with the best of them but a sibling would have to perform them when she rather he did

You look like the Wreck of the Hesperu . .

. . Been on the move roving

                             As Dad says Hard to hit a moving target

Where have you been?

Around

Where’s around?

he wasnt in the mood any more than she was he turned in a complete circle

                                                                                 Been around

Do you have to be so . so . . . SO?

I do

You’ve younger brothers and sisters who’l . .

. . Learn from my example meet your obligations an theres nothinreally Mom can complain about lest she complainin for complainings sake

                    Which you cantwont tolerate out of the mouths of your babes

Wha does it get ya

Am I right

she didnt care when he was right

                                    Why are you talking to me in this way?

Why are you complaining I not do something you hadnt asked me to do

What?

Something I didnt do you asked me to

  No.  But aside from your chores you’re not around.

You miss me  he smiled  let the subtlevenom subside

                                                          You miss me charmin youfraid Ill charm the pants off someone

Get knockedup Thall be the day

The day I get knockedup will be a day I actually want to be an it a longlong way off

You miss me

Id rather you say  Look wha the cat dragged in

                                                   We havent a cat I coud get you one I can get my hands on lots pussy  cats

Would you stop? STOP.

                          she shed her crustydemeanor  smiled   Look what the cat dragged in.

Thas better

             he walked over to where she sat with a tea grabbed her by the shoulders kissed the back of her neckrubbed a threeday stubble at the side of her neck

giggling she ran her shoulders uphigh tried to crook her head stop him

                                                                           which was useless

sitting in the chair beside herelbows on the table a Nono

                                                                  Whasup baby  I miss you too

afternoon,  Monday,  3  2. 25

1450,  Thursday,  6  2. 25

Oh shit they blew it

                       they were asked to be part of a text chain among countless people that was the brainchild of a wellintended good friend of theirs

a friend they both wanted to bed

  :  :  Can you do this?  she asked

  :  :  I can he answered  You

  :  :  It will be problematic.

  :  :  Problematicsquared

she laughing  :  :  You’re good at writing. Are you on the prowl?

  :  :  It seems I am even when Im not

  :  :  What? You didn’t stalk me? he imagined her laughing gayly cherished her dimples

  :  :  We were mutual

  :  :  Insanely so.

 

in theirsilence they were at each other again that first time  eight hours   afterwards he made waffles

 

  :  :  Yes

 

 

they blew it

he eventually texted personally  :  :  Sorry Was getting laid  Forgive me

likewise she texted  :  :  I am terribly sorry, I started a movie and nodded off. Let’s meet. Make it a date. I’ll make it up to you.

I think you know what I mean.

she didnt write him back

                           wrote her  :  :  I think you know what it means when you feel no one’s there . . . you make me feel that you’re only one there.

Yes.

 

she wrote him

he wrote her

they admitted it

she copied and sent him what she wrote her

  :  :  Aw thats awfully romantic

  :  :  Isn’t it? I think we’re forgiven.

  :  :  You are

Favor

  :  :  What?

  :  :  Give her an extra lickin for me

 

 

  :  :  I laughed. Dropped the phone.

I’ll let her know you said but since you’re better at it I’ll let her know you owe her one.

  :  :  Or two or three  She can be a greedy bitchparticularly  when owed

  :  :  Amen, brother.  Amen.

overnight,  Thursday,  6  2. 25

1228,  Thursday

looked up   exasperated Not you again.

Look it you still here  Related to Prometheus

ignoring the remark  How did you end up back here?you don’t believe in reincarnation.

I didnt I don

But your back.

I am  Obviously

                  I believe the term rather than reincarnation  is   reincarceration

What did you do?

Lived Ever occur to you that all the souls you believe you’ve been reincarnating aren’t?

his agedface twisted  ugly informedsmirk

                                            OUCHhuh  Life sentences

As they say in the Twentyfirst Centurywhich I just left REBOOT

                                                                      Or as I like to say

Kicked to the curb

Im reincarcerated

   So step aside you know how this goes

Maybe I don’t.

If I remember you remember or Ill remind you

                                                Everything topshelf  Returned to a white family

Say   Whashall I call you

                             Last we met we were sure we werent friends an we woudnt meet again

You can say that again. saw him draw a breath to be a pain in the ass  Rhetorical.

Again Name   Because apparently well be seeing each other time an time an time again

                                                                                               Jeeves

Don’t be crass.

   Crass

           Take a quick peek in a mirror youll see crass in-person 

Call me what you will, I’ll have forgotten once you’re off.

Then  Jeeves

                Long memory I wont forget an Ill remind you just to irritate ya

You’re holding up the line.

Topshelf packed up

It is. handed him a wafer   You have to let it melt . .

. . In my mouth don chew I remember

                                         Thanks Jeeves  Catcha next lap

Which, whenever, will be too soon.

I love you too

overnight,  Thursday,  6  2. 25

1119,  Thursday