Writing Attempt: Dahlia Story Continuation
His hair was perfectly lit by the fire. Dahlia took her mug
to her lips and gulped in the cold anise tea and took in the scene. She
remembered the first ballet she ever saw, Romeo & Juliet, and let the music
flow over the slow, pained movements of the lit man in front of her. Dahlia
took in another long sip and smiled. She liked to watch.
***
Hero’s tail had been amputated after he was hit by the Chevy
Astro. Which was only hours before his name was changed from Bailey to Hero.
The kids seemed to take to him more after the whole
incident. Jillie was finally happy to seek his affection and Jackie took on the
role of caretaker and friend. Dahlia watched the three of them from the car,
Jackie throwing the ball for Hero and Jill tackling him as his jaws clamped
around the fuzzy green sphere in triumph. It had been three years since Kyle
had left and seeing the ease of play in the girls that afternoon made Dahlia
finally feel like things were moving on.
***
The phone call came around 2am. Jillie, following a long
temper tantrum had just fallen asleep, Jackie had conked out four hours before.
Dahlia weighed her options. If she left now, she could be back home before the
girls woke up, but since Jillie had devoured a Popsicle only 30 minutes before
bed she worried that she would be beckoned much earlier than that.
After the third phone call, Dahlia realized there was no one
coming to watch over the girls. Decision time. Dahlia mentally calculated the
funds for the month. After rent, after groceries, after the car payment and
less the child support…they were in the negative. The call came again. She
hesitated to answer, but did.
“Sweet Caroline to your rescue.” She crooned.
“I’m starting in 15. Tell me you’re coming now.” The voice
over the phone was intriguingly gruff. The dashboard of the car graced her mind
and reminded her that it was almost at “E”.
Dahlia took in a deep breath.
“Postpone for 10 and I’ll leave in 5.”
“You’re toying with me.”
“I’m doing what you want. I’m giving you orders.” She could nearly
hear the goose bumps she had given him. Dahlia rifled through her underwear
drawer. “Defy me and the cost goes up.” She lit the blunt she was looking for.
“I’ll give you 5.” The voice had changed its tone.
“You’ll give me 10, and allow for 15.” Dahlia exhaled
directly into the receiver. “Right?”
“See you then.” The voice hung up.
Dahlia took 3 minutes to check each room. 2 minutes to put
on her Kevlar. 1 minute to get in and start the car and arrived exactly on
time.
***
Dahlia parked the car across the street from the building
and turned off her lights. She checked her mirror to verify the address.
“Fuck.” She said. “Fucking doorman? Are you kidding me?
Fuck.” She dialed the contact number.
“Hello?” Said the voice.
“There’s a doorman. I don’t do doormen.”
“What?”
“Let me re-phrase
that. I cannot allow doormen. I cannot enter a building wherin a doorman dwells. Make sense?” Dahlia
grabbed the knob of the stick shift hard and rolled it in a circle.
“I’m starting.” The voice was definitive.
“What? No. Do not-I’m not going to be there to help-hello?” The voice was gone. “Oh no, no
no you moron, I am not saving you like this.” Dahlia started the car and peeled
out onto the road. “Fucking moron. He knew the rules. Why doesn’t anyone listen
to the GODDAMN RULES.” She smashed her palm against the horn and blew through
the red light.
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