How can I believe when this cloud hangs over meJacob used to bring all of his paperwork and books into the dining room to work when I played piano. Sometimes I would be very serious, burning through Beethoven, Vivaldi, Borodin. Other times I would hack away at jazz standards or alternative rock songs. Sometimes I played Heart & Soul about five hundred times in a row. It didn't matter what it was, Jake would be smiling every time I stole a glance.
You're a part of me that I don't wanna see
Sometimes I would turn around on the bench and yell WHAT? at him and laugh but he would just chuckle and keep making notes, books spread all over the table, his lap, the floor.
I thought he was happy.
I picked out a few notes on the piano in Caleb's living room this morning and wondered if he truly appreciated Scott Joplin's compositions as I started to play The Sting but I have forgotten how to play it over the years. And he won't stay on the subject anyway so what does it matter, so I cheekily switch to Chopin's funeral march and try to look very fiercely up at the Devil as I play.
Very funny, Princess. Caleb breezes past me, phone in hand. He shows me a photo.
Nice dog, I say and keep playing and he finally closes the lid on my fingers.
It's a horse. No games today, Bridget, I'm trying to get some things accomplished. They can deliver him tomorrow.
Delivered? Like a pizza? That's what I'll call him. I'll call him Pizza.
So yes? You like him?
I know nothing about him! Thick or thin crust? Pepperoni or chicken? Anchovies? Extra cheese?
It's a horse. If you don't want to be here then why are you here?
I want to know if you're going to rat yourself out or if I'll have to do it for you. That's the topic, Diabhal.
The topic should be the ease with which you roll your sordid words around on the internet like a wet finger in a sugar bowl. Your fucking blog-
That was the worst metaphor-
BRIDGET.
He picks me right up off the floor and pulls me in close to his face but then he doesn't know what to say. It's only when there's no space left that he sees how small I am in comparison. It freaks him out.
Your jealousy is showing. I tell him point-blank, false courage blowing a hole through his torso, detonating his heart too (since it runs in the family), knocking him down to writhe in front of me, a victim of his own clear intent. I'll morph into a helpless bystander, rushing away while his life soaks into the wet pavement in the glare of a pool of light from a streetlamp above.
What's gotten into you?
You're trivializing something you have no right to measure the importance of and I think for once you should just let me run this show so they don't kill you.
Ah. The fake courage of a little girl who had to be in charge because everyone let her down. I can smell your fear from here.
Just like a big dog, like that one in your picture. It's a bloodhound, is it?
We're not finished here! Don't you walk out that door!
I'm walking. Watch me! Rolling out the door, just like a finger in a fucking sugar bowl, Caleb!
I'll talk to you later, when you've calmed down a little.
I'll send for you when I want to see you. Don't hold your breath waiting, you'll die.