Read Joe's Black T-Shirt Online
Authors: Joe Schwartz
“Fuck what you think. How much longer are you going to keep doing this?”
“Doing what?” She smiled pretending Steve said something amusing. Jeannie looked over his shoulder toward Vincent, hoping to catch his attention.
“You listen to me,” Steve said, “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry, and I’ll do anything you want.”
“I don’t want anything from you.”
“I’m serious goddamn it. Let’s go somewhere for the weekend. We can get a nice room at some bed and breakfast, order room service, do whatever you like. Quit ignoring me, baby. I can’t take another night without you.”
Jeannie smiled and waved to Vincent over Steve’s shoulder. Through her smile, she said, “It’s over.”
“It is, is it?”
“That’s right asshole and you don’t have anyone to blame except your own dumb self.”
“Maybe I should tell pizza face about what a slut you are?”
“Go ahead,” Jeannie said. The bathroom door opened and she stepped inside. “I don’t give a fuck whether you do or you don’t. I’m not the one who is going to lose shit. Think about it, Steve.”
She closed the door in his face and locked the handle.
Steve backed away from the door in shock. His every threat had been futile. Of course he wouldn’t say anything. She knew that and now he knew it too.
Next week was Halloween, the month after that Thanksgiving, and then Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and so on. Steve cursed himself at what a perfect idiot he had been.
Jeannie was right that it was over. He could accept that it was the truth simply because there wasn’t any other reasonable alternatives. Besides, he consoled himself, it was only a matter of time before another trailer park whore came along.
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About the Author
Joe Schwartz is a lifetime resident of St. Louis. He has lived as far south of the city as Hillsboro and as far north as St. Charles.
He has been variously employed as an offshore oil rig worker, a paralegal, a home delivery driver, and is currently employed with the St. Louis Public Library.
Joe lives in High Ridge, Missouri with his wife of fifteen years and their two children.
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