The taste still lingers on my palette… I hear the sizzling of the golden oil, and feel the suffocating heat. We survived, three kids and a dog. My meagre income, working twelve hour shifts, six days a week ensured a roof over our heads and meal to eat each day!
The hooting of impatience, like tinnitus in my ears. Scowling lines across your forehead, a memory I’d much rather forget! Your upity attitude, had me use all my will to NOT put boogers on your gherkins or spit in your diet coke!
Like clockwork on a Friday, anxiously waiting for you to collect your order at my window. The extra fries your signature mark. No thank you, or smile. Only a vacant stare as memories flashed me by. Thankfully, I never worked the orders window…imagine having to engage with you for 30 seconds, while thinking of scenarios that could lead to a “fatal accident”.
My colleagues stopped asking questions long ago. They knew it was like talking to a brick wall…Why would I want to share a story that would have me showered with pity? I had my pride!
As the years crawled by, I watched your wedding band mark fade as I handed over your take-away order with extra fries. You, my weekly reminder of the fearful life I once led!
How could I be so stupid! What did I ever see in you? How could I allow you to seduce me and use me? How could I have been so blind to your infidelity and abuse? Why did it take a near death experience at YOUR hands for me to finally walk out YOUR door?
My mother warned me, but I knew better! Now, years later, my “innocence” came at a high cost! Having watched you flaunt your latest fling at me on a weekly basis, while I scraped by to raise our three kids. The fury of watching you swipe your debit card while your child maintenance has gone unpaid for thirteen months!!
You the man I once called my husband, a ball of anger, disgust and regret I keep locked up. Today, standing here, remembering your extra fries as I shake off my past and look at your boss with tenderness and say “I do”…
“Extra Fries”, is this week’s title of a tandem blog, 3 bloggers 1 title. All published on the same day at the same time. Read my fellow tandem blogger’s interpretation by following the below links. Comments are welcome!
Love this! Life goes on and how it does 😀
Life, so unpredictable!
This is just sooo good!
Thanks!
Clever.