Page 17 of Defined and Defiled
“You definitely did not disappoint me, Richard.”
If I thought returning home after work with Richard would be awkward, coming home with ink stains on my thighs feels worse. Melon starts barking the second we return home, like the tattletale she is.
Twyla is laying on the couch watching videos but she pokes her head up when she sees mewalk in. I watch her eyes go wide as she sees Richard follow behind me.
“Shirley, I thought we'd talked about your thrifting ban.”
“He's not cursed!” I look at Richard who just remains hovering by my ear. “I mean, technically he is but-”
“Shirley!” Twyla shouts and Melon barks along with her, the adorable little traitor.
“I'm sorry for intruding.” Richard starts, he gestures to me and I open him up to 'M' and the little doodle I drew after we’d gathered up my clothes. It appears I’m a pretty crummy artist. He activates his stick figure, and even though I know what he's going for, I don't have the heart to tell him he looks ridiculous. He takes a few uneasy steps, and barely manages to not fall.
Twyla looks horrified as she watches him step forward, her blue eyes wide. Twyla grew up here so she has a high tolerance for weirdness but seeing a stick figure hand reaching towards her might be a bit too much.
“I'm Richard.”
Twyla looks at me and I hope I'm making a reassuring face and not looking like I'm about to piss myself as she shakes his skinny hand.
“Hi Richard. I'm Twyla.”
Twyla shoots me a 'help me' glance.
“Well now everyone has met, and we're all so tired we should be going to bed, I think.”
They both look at me with disappointment in their eyes. Twyla releases Richard's hand.
“Do you smoke?”
“No.”
“Have a job?”
“I'm volunteering at Shirley's school, I guess.”
Twyla nods.
“Figure out a way to pay rent and you can stay.”
God bless lesbians and their ease in accepting new roommates.
“I'd normally say if you hurt her I'd rip your balls off but I guess pages will suffice.” Twyla smiles showing all of her teeth. When she gets scary like this, I remember why I was so in love with her. I moved here after two weeks.
“Understood.” Richard says, and Twyla reaches out to wipe some of my lipstick from where it was attempting to stain his cover.
“Good book.”
8
To-do list:
Plan Twyla’s birthday party
If Melon was put out by Richard taking up her space in my bed, she doesn't show any signs. I thought we'd gotten to the school early, but clearly not early enough. When we pull into the school Mike’s already in the front talking to Tony.
“Tell your kids to be more careful with the crickets, I spent my whole afternoon chasing down Toad-O's lunch yesterday.”
Another reason my class will never get an amphibian class pet. A jumping animal that eats jumping bugs? No thank you.
