Globusz^® Publishing 

Maria woke up alone. Billy’s jeans and shirt were gone. She slipped out of bed and put on her white terrycloth robe. It was sunny outside and birds chirped through the open window. Springtime was in full bloom.

She made some coffee in the kitchen and stepped outside to fetch the paper. She went back in, sat down to eat her scrambled eggs and toast. The eggs were just like she liked them, slightly runny. She dipped the toast in the eggs. It was good. Good to eat. She was supposed to be on a strict diet these days but she was always hungry. This was bad. She would diet at lunch, she promised herself. She poured another cup of coffee and looked at the paper. She read the local news: Reception for artists planned at museum. Downtown Art & Jazz activities set to resume. She read the article. The first Art & Jazz on the avenue series of events downtown resumes from 6 to 10 pm. Some twenty musical groups will perform on nearly every block of East Atlantic and in the Pineapple Grove. The musical lineup includes Maria, Sweet Justice, Boogie Bob and Cricklewood. Atlantic Avenue will be closed between 4 and 11 pm. The event is free.

She smiled. Yes, she was glad she was in the local lineup to play. She had a couple of new songs she was going to try and see how they went over. She had been playing guitar, and singing most of her life, but performing live had come later in life and she loved it.

She went upstairs to get ready for work. A pair of Billy’s jeans was on the chair and she carried them over to the linen basket. On the way to the basket a piece of white paper fell out. She opened the folded paper. It had an address on it.

202 Benson Hurst Street. She folded the note and slipped it back in the jeans. She thought about where that address could be. Why would he be going there? What was there? Did he have work to do there? Was he seeing someone there? Thoughts raced through her mind as she dissected the information.

She showered and shampooed her hair. The address bugged her. If she asked him about it he’d think she was snooping or that she didn’t trust him. She decided to drive by the address on her way to work. Even though it was out of the way, she might catch a clue about what business he had there.

She drove through the wrong side of town into an area she had never been to before. Older, broken down houses with drooping porches sat in the middle of littered yards with kids running in, fenced in play areas, and old cars in the driveways.

She drove down Gordon Street and turned right on Benson Hurst. She drove slowly, looking at the numbers on the houses. Finally she came across 202. It was a small pink house with some plastic birds in the yard. The windows were shut and the drapes were closed. She looked for any sign of activity but saw none.

She parked the car and waited across the street. Finally a door opened and Billy came out. He was wearing faded denim overalls and was carrying a tool case. A little girl ran up to the door from inside and threw herself at his arms. It was the little girl in the picture. She hugged him and he kissed her and put her down. Maria slunk down low in the car, not wanting to be seen. Then a woman came up to the door. The woman was maybe thirty years old, wearing a housedress and she looked used up. Her hair was bleached and her face was worn looking. Billy let the little girl go and left. Maria could not believe what she was seeing.

She drove to the shop in an uncontrollable rage. She felt betrayed and used. After all this time he had a family and he had never told her! She could not believe it but had seen it with her own eyes. Tears welled up in her eyes. What a bastard! She would wait the whole day and confront him tonight. She was so mad and upset. She pulled up to the shop. Her hand shook as she turned the key in the lock. She stepped in and turned on all the lights. There was a fresh pile of mail and she began to open up letters and bills. There was a pink envelope that she didn’t recognize and she opened it up. It was a handwritten letter. It read: Dear Maria, I have always admired your clothes and would like you to make an appointment to come to my home. Thanks, Theresa 561-243-8606.

Tears welled up in her eyes and she broke down and cried. How could he do this to her? How? She had trusted him so, been so giving and generous to him. She had loved him and cared for him for so many years and this was her reward?

She bit her lip and wiped away the tears. She vowed to be strong. She would not let this man or any man get the best of her. How could she have been so stupid? She should have known. She saw the picture; she just never thought there was another woman...Her heart felt like a stone— hard and cold. This was it. She would never, never trust another man again. What lying, cheating scumbags they were. What desperate, vile creatures they all were. Her anger welled up inside her and she sobbed into a Kleenex paper tissue.

A customer was looking in the window. Maria tried hard to compose herself. The woman came in. “Hello” said Maria. “Just taking a look dear” said the customer. She browsed around the sale rack and pulled a few garments from the rack. “I think I’ll try these!” said the woman. Maria let her into a change room. Just then the phone rang. “Maria.” She answered. There was silence on the other end. “Hello.” The phone went dead. “Dear, do you have a size ten out there? This is a bit tight.” Maria went to the rack and returned with a size ten skirt. She handed it to the lady.

She went around the showroom and nervously straightened up. Her nerves were shattered and it had been a bad day so far. The lady came out of the change room with two dresses. “I’ll take these,” said the lady. Maria folded the dresses up and put them in a bag. Her hands were shaking and she started to cry. “Oh, what is it honey?” asked the lady. “Oh, it’s just.... Its just a...a...man!” said Maria. “Oh, honey, listen to me sweetie. Men are like streetcars: they come and they go.”

“Yeah, I know. I know. Thanks. Sorry. I’m so sorry. It’s just been a rough day, that’s all!“ The lady looked at her. “You’re a beautiful talented girl. You’re going to do just fine!” Maria gave the lady her bag. “Thanks. Please, come again!” The lady walked out of the store and Maria sat down at her desk. She looked at her pile of sketches in front of her. She didn’t feel like sketching now, she felt like going and killing someone. The phone rang. “Maria”, she said. “Maria! Honey, it’s me.” She froze. It was he, the cheating bastard. She tried to control her voice. “What’s wrong?” Billy asked. “Oh, nothing, I must be getting my period or something!” She paused. “Sorry about running off this morning, I had an errand I had to do.” Silence. What a fucking liar he was. She shook with rage. “Listen, I have to go, alright?” She slammed the phone down.

Maria ran her hands through her hair. It was no use. She had to confront him soon. She couldn’t go on like this much longer. Oh God! What a mess it would be when will leave. His clothes, his knickknacks, him not being around any longer, his hair gels not clogging up the bathroom, his clothes not cluttering her closet, his weird cooking and funny eating habits, one less egg to fry— she will miss him a lot. And she wouldn’t just run out and latch onto the next guy that came along either. She would take her damn sweet time and find someone worthy of her love— someone who she knew who he was. Not some cheating, two timing liar that had cheated and lied to her. Ahhhhh! It was hurting so much. Her heart was aching. Her head was throbbing.

She couldn’t work. She couldn’t think straight anymore. She decided to close the shop and go home for the afternoon. Maybe go home, open a damn bottle of wine, and finish off the whole damn thing. She felt so sick. God! What a fool, she had been.

She turned the key in the door and put up the closed sign. She got in her car and drove home. Billy’s car was in the driveway. She opened the door. He wasn’t in the living room. She walked in and put her bag down. “Billy? Billy are you home?” She looked in the kitchen; he wasn’t in there. “I’m in the bedroom” he called out.

She opened the door to the bedroom and he was there, his shirt off, lying on the bed. She looked at him, feeling sicker by the minute. “We have to talk.” Billy said. She was surprised. “Okay, shoot. You talk.” He motioned for her to sit down beside him. She was frozen.

He looked her in the eye. “Look, I haven’t been entirely honest with you. I’m married.” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What? How could you? How could you?” She pounded on his chest and burst into tears. “Baby, baby...The marriage was over a long time ago. I have a kid.” Maria looked up at him. “I know.” He looked surprised. “How do you know?” “I saw her picture.” Billy relaxed a bit. “She’s seven years old Amanda. She’s the cutest thing, smart too. I love her more than anything. I just didn’t want to tell you about all my baggage.” “Why?” Maria asked. “I don’t know. I just kept it hidden for so long.” “Why didn’t you get a divorce?” Maria asked. “Because there were so many complications. My wife, well, she’s not my wife anymore; she’s just a nutcase. She said she’d never give me any custody of Amanda and she’s get me for child support. It’s all fucked up.”

Maria got up. Men! What pieces of shit they all are, every last one. Oh sure, in the beginning they’re all nice, but then, watch out!