Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20A | 20B | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25-26 | 27 | 28-29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35-36 | 37 | 38A | 38B | 38C | 38D | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42-43 | 44-45 | 46 | 47 | 48-49A | 49B | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57A | 57B | 58-59| 60
PART II
ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS
61
“THANK YOU FOR dinner, Marina,” Mr. Carville said, politely patting the corner of his mouth with his napkin. “It was delicious, as usual.”
Marina blushed with a pleased smile. “Thank you.”
Her tutor’s brow wrinkled. “There is something I need to ask because I care about you and I’m concerned, as any decent man would be, and I hope I am not stepping on any toes, but … Does your husband treat you well?”
The question shocked her. “Oh, yes.”
“Well, I doubt you would tell me if he didn’t. Good women don’t speak ill of their men. But I am hoping that you understand, if he is cruel to you, that you can come to me.”
Marina blinked, confused. “I … didn’t, but … thank you? Do I seem unhappy to you?” she asked worriedly.
“No, but you don’t seem happy, either.”
“I don’t want to be happy,” she blurted, then wondered where that came from.
He looked shocked. “Why not?”
“I don’t want to be unhappy, either. You see, I had never been happy before I met Trey, but I didn’t know it. Then I was. Then I was heartbroken. Now I just want to be content, and I am. Happiness brings unhappiness behind it like a train and I would rather not be happy if it means I will then be unhappy.”
Mr. Carville thought about that for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Then, if you are ever unhappy, please tell me.”
“But what would you do?”
“Take you away from here to somewhere safe.” Marina’s mouth dropped open. “From the Machine,” he added hurriedly. “I do believe your husband is kind to you—” He looked around and gestured to the book on the table, which they had been discussing. “—but he runs with dangerous people, you see.”
“Uh, oh. Oh, yes. But Boss Tom would never let anything happen to me.”
“Boss Tom made—”
Marina waited for him to finish the sentence, but he flushed and looked away instead. “You know about the bet,” she murmured, arising to take their plates to the sink.
“Well. Yes. I … was curious why you couldn’t go to school this fall.”
“I see. Did you also know I was drugged?” He hemmed and hawed a little. “Yes, you had to have, because you’re here alone with a pregnant sixteen-year-old not passing judgment and offering to rescue me. Trey put it all over town what he’d do when he found out who did it.”
“Are you sure he didn’t?”
Considering how he felt about being indecent with her, she was absolutely certain and nodded firmly. “Did he threaten you if you were untoward with me?”
“Why, no,” he said, his tone confused. “I am not that sort of man.”
“All right.” Satisfied, she glanced at the clock and gasped. “Oh my goodness! You’re going to be late for your singing practice!”
He looked at the clock then and scrambled for his coat, hat, and briefcase. “Thank you again for dinner, Marina!” he called on his way out the front door.
“You’re welcome,” Marina muttered at the sink.
Why did everyone want her to hate Trey? It was as if the more people said it, the more she wanted to be with him, but that made no sense. Nothing Dot or Mr. Carville said was untrue. The possibilities were exactly what they both said. But she sighed and finished the dishes, then fetched her mending.
And what was the first thing she picked up?
Her thumb drifted over the lipstick stains on Trey’s shirt, the collar, the shoulders, the placket. She wasn’t sure how lipstick would come to be on his chest, but there it was along with some blood. That, too, was frequent. She threw that down and picked out another one. More lipstick.
Marina didn’t want to be indecent with her husband, although she was willing to because he was her husband, but she didn’t want him to be indecent with anybody else, either. She couldn’t imagine having his … body … inside her after it had been inside someone else. It made it even more filthy than it already seemed.
All that talk about best pals and skillets and how it was supposed to be that way for best pals who were married … She had grown up with a prime example of how men found whatever their wives weren’t giving them, going out comforting female parishioners, and Mother looking on because she had her own dirty little secret.
Chore or whore.
She didn’t know what to do. If she confronted him, he would once again demand she participate as if she were enjoying herself even though she didn’t know how, and he would wake up seeing her as loose as whoever he was being indecent with at work.
He spent most of his time in a den of iniquity, although Marina really had no idea what that looked like. She wanted to see it, to understand, but she didn’t want to go there and be tainted with the filth Trey came home stinking of. She also didn’t know how she’d go there and not be caught.
He had given her everything she could have dreamed of and more, but only two rules. He had given her his word he would not be indecent with anyone else, but here was the evidence in front of her.
If he could break his word, why shouldn’t she?
61
If you don’t want to wait 2 years to get to the end, you can buy it here.
Donations can be made here, if you so desire.
I feel like we’re foreshadowing a “lost” I Love Lucy episode.
I hate to admit this, but I don’t understand.
Dot and Marina are going to put on some crazy disguise to try to get into the speak, much like Lucy and Ethel would do to be in one of Ricky’s shows at the Tropicana.
I didn’t envision Dot’s participation but yeah that’s the gist.
Hijinks ensue.
Spoiler: Hijinks do, in fact, ensue.
😀👍🏻
I like the idea of a Lost/Lucy combo even better.
“I Lost Lucy” where Ricki wanders around a jungle screaming “Lucy, where’s home?!”
Dot’s got her eye on the dress and wants to play grown up.
“So these two teenage girls walk into a speakeasy, see”?
🤣
“you got a lotta splainin’ to do!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci-ikmPVpvM
Not … quite … like … that …
John Madden, a true Thanksgiving hero.
I lost it when he hand-carves the turducken.
LMAO
Thanks, Moj, I was out in the woods last Friday, deer hunting. I got caught up now and look forward to another exciting page in the lives of Trey and Marina next Friday
Chore or whore.
Ah, the binary simplicity. Yeah we do love that don’t we?
The Madonna-whore complex.
With Rodman involved, I can see that similar to the Military Industrial Complex.
I ❤️ auto salesmen.
Stopped at lot, sales does the pressure trying to get a sale right then, texts me after I leave to think about it “oops, it’s actually an ordered truck and sold, but call me tomorrow to discuss comparable inventory”.
To be fair, would you want that job?
Maybe its an area that AI can make a difference…
I’ve had three interactions with car salesmen.
The first was a young guy, and was pretty condescending towards me due to my financial situation and low budget. I did not buy from him.
Second was a more seasoned salesman who maintained a more amicable demeanor and was more subtle with the persuasion, I did buy a used car from him because I needed to get to work.
The third wasn’t even supposed to be at work that day. He basically did nothing but let me test drive a few cars. I bought the one that was most comfortable to drive.
If I ran into a hard seller, I’d refuse to do business with him, because I hate that approach.
Car salesmen are one big reason why I tend to hang on to my cars until the wheels fall off. (Once that was all but literal: As I was pulling into the parking of one of my employer credit union’s branches, I suddenly couldn’t control the steering and discovered I had a broken tie rod. “Close enough,” I decided.)
Didn’t make it to 400,000 in the last truck, but close before getting hit in an accident. It was a good vehicle and I think I got more than full value out of it.
It’s a game to be played. It’s easier to play with some salespeople than others. Some you just walk away from.
Be prepared to walk away. I told one salesman I’d go over to the next town. He made a quick trip to the “sales manager” aka bathroom or lounge, came back and we made the deal where I got hosed a little less. Been driving that same truck for 20 years.
When we bought a car a year ago, I found it online, reserved it online, and called the dealership to set up an appointment to pay for it and pick it up. The “salesman” did zero selling in any sense of the word. Really nice guy, said they sold probably half or more of their cars online. Their financing person tried to upsell me on an extended warranty, but that was it.
I’m at the most annoying phase of this cold – painful coughing. Oh yes, I cough because the last cough has irritated the throat, causing new irritation…
That phase is the worst. Well stocked for cough syrup and cough drops?
Just took the insurance off the Nissan because the struts were failing. Today we learned that the alternator on the Tacoma is gibbled. I could cry and and I have… I can’t even fix my own damn vehicles any more. Just about ready to pack it in, Dear Glibs…
Good morning all!
Today, some Awolnation
Hollow Moon.
Sail.
Share and enjoy!
Good morning! The store was sold out of pumpkin except for the double-sized cans.
So I have two pumpkin pies. That’s a lot of breakfasts.
(IT Lady and I are having Thanksgiving today.)
Does Lily like pumpkin pie?
Good morning everybody!
☕😃
Let’s try a different speed this morning:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7p9DpNrHUdQ
🎶🎶
Safe for all ages. More or less.
Mr. Carville was waaay out of line there.
I played https://squaredle.com/?puzzle=thanksgiving:
128/128 words (+57 bonus words)
📖 In the top 9% by bonus words
Got a little tough towards the end there and used hints.
suh’ fam
whats goody yo
GO BUCKEYES!
Michigan by two touchdowns. I should see if I can bet that.
YOU SHUT YOUR FILTHY WHORE MOUTH!
Doesn’t matter, the winner goes to the CFP and gets whipped there.
by Florida State? Maybe
‘Bama
Its already been decided.
Seems fishy….
Woman Asks Cops Not To Seize Her Adult Toy
What, they were trying to grab her by the pussy?
*checks link*
Oh. Never mind.
SWAT was deployed for that? Fishy indeed.
“These flashbangs are going to expire soon. We should use them up.”
Test only: ⬅️
Test 2:
🇦🇺
I see a tiny antipodian flag. But it’s hard to tell which one with the scale of the image