Meanwhile, Back At Harry’s House… (Man On The Edge Part II) (546 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.75 on 9 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Merlina (View user info) at 2005-04-20 05:50:54 EDT
http://www.ubersite.com/m/56921
Harry's wife Jean yawned as she pulled the dripping tea bag out of the cup and carefully carried it to the refuse bin. She tutted to herself as a little dripped on the side of the bin and grabbed a cloth to wipe it up. "Oh, whilst I'm here", she thought as she emptied the bin and washed it out with bleach. Again. For the second time that morning.
Things just get so untidy, she thought as she went to the sink again to wash her red raw hands as the wind howled outside. It looked like the rain was trying to get in the window, she shivered as she stretched over and pulled the insubstantial blinds over to shut it out and then sat at the kitchen table and sipped her tea carefully.
Things had gotten worse with Jean, not that she'd noticed. All Jean cared about these days was the house. In fact she'd spent all morning cleaning - just as she did every day.
Harry had left for work at 7am as usual. Leaving toast crumbs on the counter as he always did. But every time she told him this, he'd sigh and say that he'd cleaned it himself, with bleach the way she'd taught him to. But Jean saw every little speck. Nothing missed her beady dark brown eyes. Germs. She shuddered.
Harry knew she had a problem but didn't know what to do about it. It had all started so small. He'd initially thought she was just house-proud. But over the years as he saw her pouring a little bleach in her bathwater and screaming if he left his daily copy of The Times out on the settee, he knew that she had that obsession thing. He'd looked it up on the internet. He just wished he could help get her back. The woman he fell in love with that cared more about him than dishcloths and polish. Where had she gone?
Jean looked at her watch and frowned. Harry was never a man to be late and here it was, 7.30pm and not a hide nor hair of the man. She was getting worried now. The weather wasn't too good. He might have had an accident or something. She'd already phoned the office and they said that they assumed he'd left. He wasn't at his desk, so probably, they'd said. Maybe he'd gone for a beer with one of the........ her mind trailed off. No. Not Harry. Didn't seem to have many friends these days. She assumed he didn't need them. His friends were in the refrigerator. Or the oven. She sniggered at the idea and then stopped, feeling suddenly guilty, as if he could hear her thoughts.
She jumped with the sudden ring of the doorbell. Maybe, just maybe he's forgotten his key, she thought as the rain lashed hard suddenly on the doorframe. Maybe it's only that, she prayed as she went to the door...
User Reviews
Submitted by nicballs (user info) at 2007-10-09 08:50:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I read all four before I rated these and the transitions were smooth enough that these could stand together as an awesome short story.
Submitted by Rads_wife (user info) at 2005-06-13 23:20:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/68315
WINNER!!! WINNER!!!
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-05-12 13:22:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
and on to part 3....
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-05-12 07:20:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I hope this has a happy ending.
Submitted by CanucksFan (user info) at 2005-04-22 16:25:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very Good
Submitted by knucklesnelson (user info) at 2005-04-20 09:14:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-04-20 07:30:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked this, it captures all the anxiety and fear of obsessive types, rolls it into a little ball and puts it in a bag with a side order of coke. A Wimpy bag that is, baecause this post was both tasty and nutritious.
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2005-04-20 06:52:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I must admit - I'm a worrier myself and if someones unusually late I think the worst...
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-04-20 06:42:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
She jumped with the sudden ring of the doorbell. Maybe, just maybe he's forgotten his key, she thought as the rain lashed hard suddenly on the doorframe. Maybe it's only that, she prayed as she went to the door..."""
Why this line?
She has gone from thinking maybe he is having abeer with his mates to OMG I HOPE THAT IT SI JUST HIM HAVING FORGOTTEN HIS KEY.
Remember old bean mrs harry doesn't know that mr harry is on a bridge.