Carl Ann by Ron Gibson

Author:Ron Gibson [Bueler-Gibson, Ron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780989998314
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

37

Early September, 1988

Two weeks. Two weeks until the start of school! Ann was anxious to start her sophomore year. The summer was one she’d never forget. She wanted to forget it, force it out of her mind. It was not to be.

IT had not reappeared. Three weeks almost since IT took her on the journey; revealing all the unexplained past events Ann had been unable to make sense of. Horrible, vile things, unimaginable to Ann she’d participated. She actually committed murder! No, wasn’t me, she rationalized; it was the thing, using my body. I had nothing to do with any of it!

The atmosphere at home improved during the summer months. After being arrested fordrunk driving Michael transformed to a different man. He was considerate, non-confrontational, addressing her as Ann, no longer Carl Ann.

He acquired employment which to Ann was beyond comprehension. Someone actually saw value in him. She wondered what moron was responsible for such a fiasco picturing the person with two straws stuck up their nose, coke bottle eye glasses, wearing a beanie with a twirlly thing-a-ma-jig on top.

Ann kept her thoughts to herself as she benefited directly from the extra income Michael’s employment brought to the table. Mom had promised her a shopping trip for school clothes. Not the normal one or two outfits—several outfits.

Ann too glimpsed a personality change within her mother towards Michael. She’s direct, to the point unwilling to compromise. Long over due, thought Ann.

Gail! She hadn’t seen her friend or spoken with her in almost seven weeks. Their last outing—the hiking trip through the hills—or was it?

Unable to recall she realized too much time had swept by, evaporated into thin air. One minute she stood at the curb in front of the school waiting for Michael. The next minute, no, the next second

she’d be back at the same curb, returning.

“And in between—three murders— don’t forget those, sweetie! Don’t forget those bitch.”

Until Michael went back to work the extent of Mary’s depression wasn’t obvious to her.

His employment was approaching four weeks. She felt revived, more energy, a sense of freedom!

Yes, the additional income provided relief from the constant worry of which bill would be paid, which would not. It was more than debt. Mary didn’t want to admit it—liberation—yes, liberation from Michael! A heavy weight lifted from her mind.

Why hadn’t she challenged him years ago? He folded like an old lawn chair when she did. It was one of those If I knew then, what I know now things.

Her position as a cashier at Larsen’s Department Store was about to change. Six years. Six years standing, ringing up sales, accepting returned goods, smiling at the obnoxious, laughing at childish jokes, was about to end. Mary had been offered and accepted a position in the accounting unit. It was not large, a staff of three; including the manager, Jeff Sands. Two others, both women, had tenure measured in centuries, rather than years.

Silvia, the elder of the two was retiring; a forced retirement in a sense. Even with new corrective lenses she couldn’t distinguish a six from and eight.

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