{"id":2453,"date":"2014-02-02T21:12:06","date_gmt":"2014-02-02T21:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/?p=2453"},"modified":"2017-10-28T05:06:58","modified_gmt":"2017-10-28T05:06:58","slug":"silver-lining-bruce-costello","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/silver-lining-bruce-costello\/","title":{"rendered":"A Silver Lining by Bruce Costello"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"eclipse1\"<\/a><\/h1>\n

A Silver Lining<\/h2>\n

by Bruce Costello<\/p>\n

\u201cThe doctor wouldn\u2019t give me Viagra because of my dicky ticker.\u201d Bill arches his back and struggles to pull up his trousers in the back of the SUV parked under trees. He reaches out to stroke Jessie\u2019s hair. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he whispers.<\/p>\n

Jessie\u2019s face crumbles as she does up her bra.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid your rotter husband do that to you?\u201d mutters Bill, noticing a bruise. \u201cI just wish I could do more for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly days yet,\u201d she says. \u201cLet\u2019s go for a walk.\u201d<\/p>\n

They stand silently for a time on a grassy bank watching two kayakers paddling in the surf.<\/p>\n

They pick their way slowly and carefully down a path to the beach and cross to the sea\u2019s edge over tangled driftwood and slimy seaweed cast up by a recent storm.<\/p>\n

Taking off their sneakers, they stroll hand in hand along the beach, hard work for older feet unused to walking in sand.Bill sits on a log and pats the space beside him. Removing his panama, he runs a hand over his bald head.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess we\u2019re both a bit past it,\u201d he murmurs, out of breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, that came out the wrong way, didn\u2019t it! I meant \u2018the heart is willing but the flesh is weak.\u2019 Nothing wrong with you, my darling.\u201d He squeezes her hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re both getting used to each other,\u201d Jessie says, wiping her face. \u201cAnd we\u2019re not exactly teenagers, to be doing this.\u201d She starts to laugh then falls silent.<\/p>\n

The kayakers are sporting with a dolphin, its slender body piercing the waves as it cavorts around them. Further out, a low-flying formation of Canada geese is speeding to the west. Seagulls battle over a fish head in the shallows.<\/p>\n

Above the roar of the surf and the seagulls\u2019 angry squawking Jessie imagines she hears the kayakers\u2019 excited cries. She smiles and reaches across to Bill.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go back,\u201d she murmurs, stroking his arm. \u201cMy fingers are nice and warm.\u201d<\/p>\n

An hour later, a disheveled Jessie waves down the kayakers as they\u2019re about to drive off.<\/p>\n

\u201cHelp! Help!\u201d she screams.<\/p>\n

They run to the SUV, fling open the back door and recoil at the sight of the naked body.<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019ll have to be an inquest, of course,\u201d the policewoman says to Jessie, after the ambulance has left.<\/p>\n

“Oh my God,\u201d Jessie exclaims. \u201cIt\u2019ll all come out! My husband\u2019s suspicious enough already.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll have to tell him the truth. He\u2019ll murder me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you like us to take you home?\u201d asks the policewoman.<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

Jessie walks slowly up the path to her front door. \u201cEnjoy the afternoon with your sister, did you?\u201d comes her husband\u2019s ice cold voice, then his head with blood red eyes appears from behind a bush. He leaps forward, and stands in front of her, a cricket bat raised above his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s over, John,\u201d she cries, stepping back, as the two escorting police officers throw him to the ground. \u201cAnd so are you.\u201d<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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