Fools Rest In Pieces

for 25 years. She had short blonde hair, high cheekbones, a jutting jaw, thin lips, and a five-foot-nine buxom figure. She was known as "the woman with the dogs

and gave names like Sporty, Snooky, and Snoopy. S

r allow them to go hungry. She had a lot of fr

n't see me with the dogs for a day.

ch was located three blocks from her house. She was fluent in six languages: French, Italian, Spanish, Poli

equently went above and beyond to assist recent immigrants, acting as an interpreter in court and for the police. She would assist new

She provided food for the hungry and clothes for the naked. She cherished her husband and yearned to mend the significant hole his passing had left in her heart. He

in Indiana that reminded her of the peaceful, rural neighborhood of their Yugoslavian home. For the remaining eight weeks that her husband was ill and unable to sleep, she remained b

mer Sunday afternoon so that she could show him person

arpet grass that they assumed had been a macadamized drive. Its dark green hue rendered it nearly invisible among the stickers, tall grass, and weeds that had engulfed it. The spot was also obscured by the large tree in front of

round. Well, we want to purchase the house; we don't want to cause trouble, she thought. We're doing someone a favor by taking this hous

dled this gingerly. Mary was more and more excited about a pretty country home. There was a side entrance into the house through what appeared t

om. It had but a single window, an ancient, rusty sink, a small stove, and shelf after shelf of jars of canned vegetables still on the walls. Oh yeah, this'll be great, I remember exactly how to can, and we can ha

n ceiling that joined onto the kitchen. There had once been a fire there. The room was infinitely darker than it would have been at mid-day because the windows on this side were dirty and covered in great hoar of dus

f someone had a huge stack of magazines and simply threw them in the air to catch where they landed. Magazines were all over the floor. Ma

sted toilet next to a stand-up shower that was divided in half by a wall could be observed through the left doorway. A wall

ppeared to be overdue invoices, we speculated that maybe we could determine the previous owners. At least now we would have a name to look for if we decided to look through property record

riting-type daily logs of medications taken for blood pressures, and blood glucose levels. The logs began to change and progressed from line drawings of devils t

ibed how he knew he was reaching the end of his life and how he recalled being a young boy when his mother died. He told her in great

wling faces and read aloud the stranger's memories of his mother to determine if they remained true. She nodded at what she was holding and said, "Well, this just got a whole lot weirder," when she was done. She had continued to dig thro

mages would not be disturbing to some people, but given the situation of their visit, her fear was beginning to get the better of her. She struggled between the desire to

stairway, and a little hall led to it on the other side. They thought about going upstairs to the second floor but decide

c doll arms and heads were here and there. The original fireplace, with a couple of small vases on the mantel, was to the left. In the center was a fr

writing on it. It could be read by anyone who stood outside the home prior to the shrubs overgrowing it. It read, "G

borhood would be highly religious Christians, it was as i

h had been baking them since they'd entered. It was maybe 20 degrees cooler because of the large tree in the front yard

could immediately feel the air change. They felt like they were in a cave. They felt a vague dampness on their skin in reaction to the sm

this part of the floor had rotted out. It was about five feet in diameter and went straight down into the ground, with about two feet of space between the stairs and the rest of the floor. Sunlight was cut

zzle. And then they spotted them: the tattered and outdated social security cards, the multiple knotted-up and moldy driver's li

way under Nick as he attempted to hold back his wife, and he plunged headlong into the gaping hole. Mary woke up having fallen from her chair. The hospital clock caught he

PTE

does life deal different cards to some individuals than it does to others? Mary considered the steps of life as theoretical drops of sorrow strung together sin

rtable in a relationship with Robert. But this one tore her hear

n in, just to get Victoria off her back. She was a lovely, friendly girl whom she adored a lot, who was delightfully ditsy

he chief executive officer in a real estate company she and her husband built since Victoria's high school graduation. Victoria Leith had bee

She was hired the year her husband passed away, and the following year, she married one of the younger editors. With all the possibilities

had recently passed away due to the fact that she felt her own opportunity to remarry would come in good time. She easily joined in the festivities and gave Victoria a lavish wedding shower. Victoria still worked. Then she decided to become pregnant. Nothing w

pregnant, it was after thei

r depression over the loss of the child intensified so much that she had to seek the help of a psychologist. Mary experienced uncontrollable joy in half and anger and guilt in the other half of her. When she saw how thoughtful he was-sending her flowers every day, taking her out for

ercely protective of this new life, determined to shield it from any conceivable harm

toria bubbled away happily, rhapsodizing about her baby's good teeth and sturdy bones. She talked of the crib she had purchased, of the adorable little

peated over and over again, but because she was her friend,

ace an ad under the personals column," she comforte

ld requires idealistic Pollyanna like you wh

yful in my life! It's your turn now. The baby is perfectly healthy, accor

ic, you did, in fact, s

h, honey, I'm such an idiot," she said with a glance in Mary's direction. "The fact that I keep telling you how happy I am when you're all alone

that ever lived. Even if I never do acquire another baby or marriage, I won't die. I'll just be your baby's Aunt Mary." And Vic, for goodness' sake, stop arrangi

e backyard of her mind. Who was she teasing? She wanted to be married so she could reawaken her love affair with a man whom she could also love. She just di

n eyes, and heavy, short black hair,

strong-willed, and mos

sensitive, well-dressed men who almost all said they were good marriage material. She must never have dated any great gu

intimidating. Mary flatly refused to be the vulnerable woman that so many of these men see

y her? A possible lifetime friend. However, the choice was deceptively taken o

ngle male between thirty-eight and forty-five is sought by a stunning career woman thirty-eight with a reli

e language lady?" Her playful scowl made her chuckle. "Victoria, I'm looking for a decent, respectable man of like interests. That adverti

ound awfully amusing. "Only serious gentlemen,

eplies I receive. I can always place a second ad, one with a little more punch, as you recommended, if there's no interest

happy that you're taking a step in the

eight years as if I'm new at that game. You just

u're just jealous. I bet you'll get pregnant on you

ld discuss this a bit first, Vict

d said, "Well,

not find her "expected lifetime companion," she could still have fun. She had not been on an interesting date in a long time. Early responses left Mary disappointed. She had high expectations for t

or their mail at the post office tu

Saturday night and was an immense fan of the theater, movies, and classical music. His spelling and grammar were perfect, as one would expect from a writer, but she knew from her own writing that numerous writers had only a surface understan

rday worked well. I'm prim, yes, but I'm also prime; I know that we'll have a great time! She appended

itely had a sweet enough voice, but Mary was shaking and doubting her judgment right away. She had been on blind dates pr

s pleasant voice and friendly

ith some of my friends? I know you had

Considering you might be a relative of Lizzie Borde

nd she would like to join them for dinner and a quick trip to the neighborhood

p.m., Robert arrived punctually to pick up Mary. He had a smile that was familiar. He was six feet tall, and muscular. Mary was certain she had seen him before when she first opened the door, but it instantly vanished as fast as a flash of a camera. They smiled at each other. Mary appeared extremely thin and cute because she was wearing a white dress, had worked out sincerely, and l

tting about his new position. They were comfortable around

to a serious relationship with this guy to an even higher level. Mary's loins ran hot and blood

ng annoyed Mary. Enjoying themselves and appearing out of place, Robert and Mary walked around the carnival grounds. Mary shrieked like a little kid when Robert won her a cuddly plush koala b

rt, and he ran a soft finger down her chin before bestowing a warm kiss on her lips. Mary kissed him back eagerly, with her arms wrapped around his neck and a passionate kiss bestowed on him. It was a gentle kiss. When they laughed, it was a wonderful sound of unadulterated joy as he had h

re Victoria and Julius were waiting for them. They ran the last distance before coming

in a rush, his face p

id that she may have the baby tonight-she always was lat

ily, placing his trembling

n the backseat. Robert drove skillfully, calming the terrified couple with his words. As Mary quietly examined his beautiful profile, he sque

ling that the intensity of her labor had increased. Mary gave her a

ugh admissions, motherhood would become a reality. Robert and Mary huddled in two plastic chairs to wait for the announc

met Victoria and Julius, after all. She considered it, but finally concluded that she wouldn't

eep thinking you're a beautiful spiri

thinking about him in

ary watched him hopefully, hoping she hadn't destroyed everything by being so impatient. Mary's hidden strengths were being revealed to him! He must have pulled some good ones because the smile on his face blazed like a signal. They clasped hands and said nothing t

roblem, but they're not," he said to her. "You, Mary, make me feel li

me feel safe. But there is one odd thing:

iths?" A nurse caught th

om his seat in agitation.

Is the bab

amiliar. When Mary tried to say something, her jaw snapped shut once more. The moment was

given birth to a seven-pound, nine-ounce boy, sq

d to the nurse's arms as the two of them trailed behin

my first gift to you, little one. Robert won this koala bear for you. Hello, world!" Before all the helpless babies in the window, Robert swept her up in his arms and kissed her with a pa

oftly as he murmured, "Oh, I agree." "Vi

m and whispered

her room. Both of you will need to wear masks and gowns because we're taking the baby in. As the nurse

bed with his arm around Victoria's neck and their precious little boy in her arms. Robert and Mary walked t

the fact that she seemed to be tired, she said, "So, when

eplied Robert

ntaneous, don't you agree?"

oing to rule my life." Fixing Mary intently with h

om now, Robert. Alright, let us give Victoria

s part of Mary's mental devastation and misery. Two months la

d, aren't you? You've been attempting to drive a wedge between me and him for days. You don't

ou. He'll only bring you greater har

nuation! How is that even possible?

He is a hustler and a gold-digger. I'm not a fan of such people. He's the k

did I bury the gold that men would want to dig? Instead of standi

tly specializes in pushing all the wrong buttons! To hell with Uncle Bob! To hell with him! I do not want anyone to come here

at it? What

other day. He made disparaging comments about my room, boyfriend, clothes, hair, and beddin

old and you claim to know everything? This merely d

e to himself. I don't want them," She was screamin

ading up to their rift. Laura unexpectedly returned from college one

vored a life in the wild. She would shout and slam the door before my face whenever I wanted her to do something. She used to stay out late. I would lie in bed, unable to sleep because I was wondering where she would

g, 'Get lost!' while she fumbled around in the loft searching for her backpack. 'Laura, you must return to school. You have not chosen the

to gather herself together, stop acting like an ove

was so distraught and needed a hug from me and my sympathy. She was my own kid. She claimed

had just purchased for her. She did not even give me a goodbye kiss before she drove away. I