Sandra knocks on Cindy’s room to wake her up. –“Cindy, I need to talk to you.”
-“Why so early man? Why do you look so pissed?”
-“I had a thousand dollars in my petty cash box. I was going to use that cash to pay several bills, and to buy merchandise. It’s gone! And you know who took it.” Sandra said with an expression that would not easily be placated.
-“Why do you keep so much cash on hand? You should have that in the bank. I don’t know what to tell you, except that it wasn’t me.” Cindy said this with a sinking feeling.
-“I hope that you haven’t given the loser boyfriend of yours, a key to my apartment. Sometime when you were not looking he broke into my room, come take a look. The lock was forced open since the door frame is scratched.
Cindy, you have to cut ties with losers which are only going to drag you behind. Where was he when you were in the hospital and needed to replace a broken tooth? You can’t rely on that loser, who you know would not hesitate to rob from his grandmother to get cash for drugs!”
-“I’m sorry Sandra. I will talk to him and ask him to return it. Just let me handle this okay?” Cindy said with the sinking realization that Sandra was right. He was not moving forward, just idling the motor, while time passed by.
-“Look Cindy, I’m not one to interfere with your personal life. If you want to continue seeing him, do so, but please don’t ever let him come in here. I will change the lock to the door today.
If you want to sleep with him, just go to his place. Although I would suggest that you wear sandals if you plan to shower there, since those guys never clean.”
-“Oh yeah, I guess he too should look for a subbie to come clean his place, just like you let that rich guy come here to clean while naked, and to even iron your clothes.
It’s ridiculous! Besides, I have no secrets with Ronald. He knows what I did for a living, and he accepted me just the same. What about you Sandra?
Does your well-to-do lawyer boyfriend know that you hook on the side, besides working on your clothing like?”
Seething from being questioned, afterall she was the victim, Sandra said: -“I have ulterior motives for cultivating my relationship with Charles. He is just one of the few selective clients I cultivate to make ends meet while I strive to make this project work.
I am not on the streets or in bars hustling for any new business Cindy. Your accusation is unfair considering that I have to hustle to pay for all the bills, and for your salary as well.”
-“I see, so are you going to throw your help on my face. I am contributing you know, and I am only three months away from obtaining my associates degree in fashion design and marketing.
I am just this close to getting there Sandra. I hope that we don’t throw overboard the entire advances we’ve made over a petty amount of money.” Cindy said with hurt in her eyes.
-“I know Cindy. I’m sorry if I came on too strong; I guess I am just afraid. I am in fact terrified, that if Phillip found out about my side enterprise, that he would grow to despise me.
It’s my fault too. I should not have mixed business with pleasure, nor let this evolve from casual flirting to a deeply loving relationship. I just don’t know what to do, except that I do not want to lose him.” Sandra said with internal agony replacing the anger in her eyes.
-“You are risking too much, especially considering that he works in the law office which represents your subbie Charles. I hope this doesn’t come to back to bite you on the ass.”
-“I know honey, I know. I have created this image of the new me I am becoming, while still not fully detached out of sheer necessity, of the impedimenta which hinders my progress. Regardless, please don’t allow Ronald back in here ever again. He will simply never change.”
-“I know that Sandra, but I keep hoping. Yet, sometimes we think we don’t deserve any better, and it beats being all alone.” Cindy said.
-"This reminds me of something I heard once. There was a man used to cheating at gambling. One day he was found out, and the men playing with him threw him out of the second story window, where he incurred multiple injuries.
So he went to the sage master and told him of what had transpired. Then the master said to him, “Next time my son, make sure that you play on the first floor.”
The others came back to the master and asked him why he did not reprimand the cheater, and even helped him to do so in the future. Then the master said, “Because he will not change his ways. That is the level where he is now.”
Embracing once again, the two women dissolved the brewing animosity among them. Each had to give up what had become a burden, to lessen the baggage on their individual journey of self discovery.
Later that evening Sandra’s cell phone rings. She smiles when it reads Phillip’s name.
-“Hi!”
-“Missed me? I have.”
-“A little bit. How are you?” Sandra inquired.
-“A bit overwhelmed with so much work. Just for that reason, I forgot to tell you that there is a corporate event which is black tie affair. I am short of a lovely woman to take with me, so I thought that I would call on you. It’s this Saturday evening; can you be ready by seven?”
-“I guess so. Yes, I’d love to go with you.”
-“Good, It’s a date then. By the way, I can’t wait to see you.”
-“Me too.” Sandra said with a big smile which was perceived through the airwaves.
To be continued…
"The Creation" by Michael Parkes
