lemieuxster's Stories

A Father's Duty

2008-06-06T02:11:27Z

John was not a brave man, but he was a thrill seeker. After doing the dishes he would always stick his hand in to the garbage disposal to check for wayward utensils. This sent chills up his spine.

He felt the same way about heights. At lunch he would go up to a balcony in the Phelps Dodge tower in downtown Phoenix, where he was a PR specialist, just to feel alive.

He lived in Laveen, a suburb to the South. It was a quiet place with a distinct smell. Livestock, manure, and left over city pollution combined to create an urban-rural atmosphere. John’s house was at the end of a long dirt road.

One night, after putting the kids to bed, he played some online poker. He never used real money. After losing all of his points he went to bed. John awoke to the sound of two distinct clicks. The first was the light, the second he couldn’t place.

“We aren’t here to hurt you but don’t move.” said a man with a gun. The man may have said other things, but John’s mind fixated on one thought: “I have to protect my family.”

No More Clean Towels

2008-05-21T23:09:53Z

There is this sort of help desk in the men’s locker room at the gym. I can only imagine that it is the same for the women’s locker room. They call it “the cage.” The help desk, I mean. It has a cage around it, though I am not sure what purpose the cage serves. Maybe they are afraid that a mob of naked men will try and steal all the regulation gym clothing. Did I mention the regulation clothing? Anyway, if you don’t want to check out clothes for free you can buy your own set at the gym’s store, but not in the men’s locker room. There are also washing machines and dryers back there.

Along with clothing you can check out towels. That was what I was trying to do as I stood in line. I was dripping with sweat. I wanted to get out of my sweaty regulation gym clothes and wash up.

I go and run four miles every week day. My wife asks “why not five?” and I say, “because that is too many, four is enough.”

“We’re out of clean towels,” I heard the man behind the cage tell a sweaty guy in front of me. I frowned.

Love Theme (Park)

2008-05-20T21:46:54Z

“Oh no,” I thought as she walked in.

She was wearing her hair up in curls. The way the curls moved happily making her hair tickle her ears was hypnotic. She had her nails done with clear nail polish, which, I am sad to admit, was always a turn on. To ensure my total captivity she wore a shirt that was just a little too low cut; not nearly enough to be obscene but a tad lower than business casual. It was the kind of shirt that makes you stare but conceals enough to keep you curious. She hit all my weak points, and I feared that I might not be able to be stern.

“You can’t let her soften you. Focus soldier!”

Unfortunately, my fears were justified. I was quickly reminded of all the things that attracted me to her. Her voice, her charm, and her British sense of humor. The memory of her recent unfaithfulness was suddenly thrust aside like it had been a bad dream. She won, and, right then, I didn’t care.

We had met to say goodbye, but, instead of stopping, the roller coaster started its second loop.

Ryan's Deal

2008-05-20T01:47:48Z

He was ready. Not a moment went by that Ryan didn’t torture himself with his selfish past. At least, not since he almost drowned four months ago, trapped in a sinking car that had been pushed off a bridge by a swerving semi truck. Ryan was given another chance at life.

For those four months he didn’t sleep. Instead he spent his time remembering. Remembering the dark water surrounding his entire body. Remembering his attempts at escape, growing increasingly desperate as time moved on. Remembering his longing for breath; his body screaming for oxygen, arguing with his head to give it a try. “You can’t breath! No! No! Why won’t you just listen to me?” Remember the light that suddenly appeared.

“What was that light?” Ryan was obsessed with it. He could not remember anything after the light, except waking up on the river bank and calling out for help.

What was that light? After months of endless self torment, Ryan was ready to find the light, no matter the price.

Ryan was ready to sell his soul.