Contributor: Ava Wilson
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“Two beds? What’s with the two beds, Martha?”
“Just because there are two beds in the room, doesn’t mean anything, Joe.”
“I mean look in there, Martha. Even from a distance, the beds look like time-out corners, thought we were here to work things out.”
“We are,” she said.
Joe ran his hand over his slicked back hair, and plopped down in the fabric-covered patio chair. He leaned forward, sighed deep, and lowered his head.
“You flustered, Joe? Oh yeah, that’s right. Your version of working things out never involves any talking. Never does, Joe. We need to talk.”
“See now, there you go Martha, jumping to conclusions. I want to¬¬¬— talk.”
Martha squinted through the light-grey cloud of smoke, and tapped the train of limp ash from her cigarette.
“Want a drink, Joe? I’m having one.”
“No.”
“Suit yourself,” said Martha.
Joe loosened his tie, and sat even deeper in his chair.
“I just don’t see why you couldn’t get a different set-up.”
“We’re sitting out here, Joe, in the beautiful outdoors mind you: birds chirping, sun shining, nice breeze blowing the plastic, plant-like thingy in the corner. But what’s the first thing you start talking about, Joe, huh? The beds. What am I supposed to think?”
Joe motioned for a cigarette. Martha four-finger flicked the half-smashed pack to him.
“Just not right to start off a reconciliation with two beds, that’s all.”
“Says who, Joe? Where’s the rulebook on reconciliation? Let me guess, in your pants. Front pocket.”
“Now is that fair, Martha? Sheesh.”
“Says who then, Joe?”
“Says who? Says, says every man who…”
“Who, what? Thinks screwing is the relationship patch-up drug? Is that the ‘who’ you’re referring to?”
Joe fidgeted in his seat, cold cigarette in hand; mouth open for words, but nothing came out.
“You better light that thing, Joe, before it turns back into a tree.”
Martha gave him a light. Joe double puffed his cigarette, searching for the right answer before he exhaled. Nothing.
“Well, you have an answer? No? Didn’t think so. You know what, Joe? This little get-away wasn’t such a great idea. Why don’t we just leave things the way they are? You know, keep the bye, goodbye.”
“No, Martha, wait. I mean, just look in there. Now tell me, does that double monstrosity look like a picture of working things out to you? Not to me Martha, nope. Doesn’t look a bit hopeful, can’t wrap my head around it. There are— two of them.”
Martha stabbed out her cigarette, and took a full, deep breath.
“Joe, if you even had the brains of a cucumber, you’d think about the fact I booked a hotel room, two beds or not. Stop and think. If I planned an encounter by a cliff, or some train tracks, you’d have reason to question reconciliation practices. That’s the problem, Joe, you and your stupid one-track mind. One. Track. You never think past your—well, do I need to say it?”
“So, Martha, you’re saying we are going to sleep together, or no?”
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Ava Wilson is currently acquiring her BFA in Creative Writing for Entertainment at Full Sail University. She is also a published author and illustrator of the children’s book entitled, Crunky McBunky, a published poet and playwright, her plays include, For the Love of Friends, and Feathery Heights. Ava is a professional spoken-word artist, and actor of stage and film under her stage name, Nailah Blu.
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“Two beds? What’s with the two beds, Martha?”
“Just because there are two beds in the room, doesn’t mean anything, Joe.”
“I mean look in there, Martha. Even from a distance, the beds look like time-out corners, thought we were here to work things out.”
“We are,” she said.
Joe ran his hand over his slicked back hair, and plopped down in the fabric-covered patio chair. He leaned forward, sighed deep, and lowered his head.
“You flustered, Joe? Oh yeah, that’s right. Your version of working things out never involves any talking. Never does, Joe. We need to talk.”
“See now, there you go Martha, jumping to conclusions. I want to¬¬¬— talk.”
Martha squinted through the light-grey cloud of smoke, and tapped the train of limp ash from her cigarette.
“Want a drink, Joe? I’m having one.”
“No.”
“Suit yourself,” said Martha.
Joe loosened his tie, and sat even deeper in his chair.
“I just don’t see why you couldn’t get a different set-up.”
“We’re sitting out here, Joe, in the beautiful outdoors mind you: birds chirping, sun shining, nice breeze blowing the plastic, plant-like thingy in the corner. But what’s the first thing you start talking about, Joe, huh? The beds. What am I supposed to think?”
Joe motioned for a cigarette. Martha four-finger flicked the half-smashed pack to him.
“Just not right to start off a reconciliation with two beds, that’s all.”
“Says who, Joe? Where’s the rulebook on reconciliation? Let me guess, in your pants. Front pocket.”
“Now is that fair, Martha? Sheesh.”
“Says who then, Joe?”
“Says who? Says, says every man who…”
“Who, what? Thinks screwing is the relationship patch-up drug? Is that the ‘who’ you’re referring to?”
Joe fidgeted in his seat, cold cigarette in hand; mouth open for words, but nothing came out.
“You better light that thing, Joe, before it turns back into a tree.”
Martha gave him a light. Joe double puffed his cigarette, searching for the right answer before he exhaled. Nothing.
“Well, you have an answer? No? Didn’t think so. You know what, Joe? This little get-away wasn’t such a great idea. Why don’t we just leave things the way they are? You know, keep the bye, goodbye.”
“No, Martha, wait. I mean, just look in there. Now tell me, does that double monstrosity look like a picture of working things out to you? Not to me Martha, nope. Doesn’t look a bit hopeful, can’t wrap my head around it. There are— two of them.”
Martha stabbed out her cigarette, and took a full, deep breath.
“Joe, if you even had the brains of a cucumber, you’d think about the fact I booked a hotel room, two beds or not. Stop and think. If I planned an encounter by a cliff, or some train tracks, you’d have reason to question reconciliation practices. That’s the problem, Joe, you and your stupid one-track mind. One. Track. You never think past your—well, do I need to say it?”
“So, Martha, you’re saying we are going to sleep together, or no?”
- - -
Ava Wilson is currently acquiring her BFA in Creative Writing for Entertainment at Full Sail University. She is also a published author and illustrator of the children’s book entitled, Crunky McBunky, a published poet and playwright, her plays include, For the Love of Friends, and Feathery Heights. Ava is a professional spoken-word artist, and actor of stage and film under her stage name, Nailah Blu.
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Ava Wilson
