When Gwen first fell under Al's spell, she never would have thought she'd end the relationship, certainly not so abruptly after so many years. He arrived home, unexpected -- unexpected because normally he would have called from the airport, "I'm getting my bags, come pick me up. I'll be waiting." But today, today he just appeared at the door. A shadow. "I got a ride," he said, and she looked over his shoulder and saw the car pulling away, the drift of auburn hair through the driver's side window. No grey. That was the thing Gwen would remembered later, no grey at all. "I didn't want to bother you," he said, "since I got the ride, you know."
"Sure, I know. Thank you."
He stood there and for a moment neither knew what to say. Then he set down his bags beside the door and drew a breath. She smelled mint. "Are you hungry?" she said.
"I ate on the plane."
"Oh. Fine."
He went to the couch, dropped down heavily. "I have to go again tomorrow. They want me in Anaheim."
"Already?"
"Yeah, a new pitch." He hesitated, and she thought he felt unsure of himself. She expected him to say something right then, but he only shrugged a bit and said, "Cut my hair? It's been too long, and I need to make a good impression on these guys tomorrow."
The thought of his hair in her fingers made her hands shake. Lots of grey in his hair now, like hers. "Oh, I don't know," she said. Then she thought of the scissors, the smooth cool sensation of the metal in her hands. The crisp sound of blade against blade. "Of course," she said, thinking of auburn. "I'd love to cut your hair."
3 comments:
Hehehehe!! I love it!!
Am I the only one who thought, for just a moment, that his line was, "a new bitch"???
I guess I need glasses, but then again, maybe you meant it that way.
Really liked this. Have you ever thought about being a writer?!
I thought I might someday try to write a book, but for now, well, you know, there's E! Entertainment Television filling my days!
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