Sam Wilson

Lee Parker

Lee Parker opened her green eyes, letting the sun flow through her hollow body.

“Uhg. Who created mornings?” She rolled over and hit her husband Gary sharply on the arm “Get up.” She’d been this man’s personal alarm for the last five years. “Get up. You big oaf...” He didn’t move. She hit him a final time, and he rolled to face her.

“Well, good morning, sunshine.” Gary said, his melancholy chuckling filled the room. He sat up to peck her on the cheek, but was surprised to find her already out of the room. He didn’t know why it surprised him, it had been like that for the last three years, ever since she’d been promoted to secretary of the top CEO of the Staples Office Supply Company. She was bringing in more money than his sorry ass now. He worked at a box company...where they made boxes. Now, they made a lot of boxes, mind you, but now China was making their boxes and Gary was unemployed just like the rest of the country.

Lee Looked around at the shabby 300 square foot apartment, and a wave of nausea swept over her. The plaid couch in the corner cost them five dollars, and went well with the floral wall paper. The gentle winter breeze coming through the crack in the window chilled her to the marrow. It blew at the She knew he wanted to give her more. More clothes, more shoes, more food, a better apartment, or even a house. Until he got a job; however, it was all out of the question. With the economy the way it was, her white picket fences were crumbling around her.

“Oh, crap!” She had been lost in thought and annihilated the eggs for the third time this week. He would be so angry with her. She was close to tears as walked into the bedroom and handed him the plate. “I’m really sorry.”

“Whatever.” He grabbed the plate and fork from her hand and sawed through the egg. Lee was still visibly upset that they could afford to throw the ruined eggs away. She let out a mournful sigh. “You’re working today, right?”

“Unlike you.” She snapped.

“Oh, thanks, you know that makes me fell fantastic when you say that.” She was silent. “Lee?”

“Hm?”

“Are you going to leave me for that CEO?”

“What kind of question is that, Gary?”

“A serious one.” She didn’t answer for fear that she would say yes. She had been thinking about it, it made much more sense than living here with the laziest man alive.

“His name is James.”

“Of course it is.” He rolled his eyes.

“I can’t leave you. You’d die. I care too much about you to let you die.”

“If you want to leave, Lee, Go ahead. Don’t let my failure stop you.

“I can’t, Gary, I can’t leave. I’m bad at that jumping thing.”

“What jumping thing?”

“Y’know. When you are standing on the edge of the bridge, looking down. I can’t jump, I don’t know how.”

“Are you going to make me push you?” He asked sheepishly.

“Maybe. But not yet. Not today.” She straightened up. “Now get ready, I’m gonna drop you off at Taylor’s bakery, maybe she’ll let you help her out while her sister is on Maternity Leave.”