Running Blind (Road Runner continued)

“Oh my goodness, I didn’t get anything to drink”.

The food was so satisfyingly tasty, the mere thought of setting it down to quench her thirst, was not an option. The one thing that Carla did forget to do, while in the kitchen, would alter her mood tremendously.

“An ice-cold, flavored, seltzer water would top this meal off wonderfully”. She thought.

As the tomato sauce ran down her chin, the yellow pepper that protruded out of the side of a golf ball side meatball, stained her smock like gown. The yellow pepper appeared to eject off of her over-stacked fork as she attempted to fill her mouth with more than would fit. Manners were non-existent.. the fly away pepper was retrieved and depowered, along with the onions that protruded from the corners of her mouth. Carla’s actions mimicked a wild dog with a bone.

“I seasoned this like a champ” She said out load to a nonexistent ears.

One fork, one napkin and one bowl filled with enough for two. The spaghetti and meatballs didn’t have a chance. Not a trace of parsley was left in the bowl.

As she returned to the kitchen with her empty bowl, full stomach and parched pallet, a flavored seltzer was all she could think about. A plastic bottle of water would have to do. The flavored seltzer she craved , was still stacked three cases high on the floor under the cabinet.

As she grasped the case on top, out came her alter ego.

“WHAT THE FCK” she screeched

“THIS CASE IS EMPTY!”

He did it again, she thought to herself, as she held back the desire to pick up the phone and demand answers to a merry ground of excuses. She chose to pause, vent and be thankful that he was now just an option to fill the time when there was nothing else to do. Five years of empty excuses was long enough.

The entire, would be conversation, played in her head and out of her mouth, until the thought of being attached by the hip resulted in a massive headache.

Unlike the food she crammed into her mouth, as she drink the ice cold water, his personal information and details excreted out of her pores. Every tasty mouthfull she consumed, replaced the details of Eric. Every intricate detail, that made him a part of her existence, for the past five years, began to evaporate faster than a refreshing deep breath in the cold of winter that followed a warm , creamy mug of hot chocolate.She sat with her empty bowl with one antagonizing ,dumbfounded hole in the pit of her inner most being.

“What the Hell was I thinking , he has been the same self righteous thorn in my side, that I just can’t get over.”

Eric has been a part of her being for over 35yrs. There was something about that unpolished, lying sweet , hulk like , irresponsible, irresistible man. Whether near or far his wellbeing was a concern of mine. 35yrs ago she should have kept walking when he stop her, beneath the earth, on the platform within the Astor St train station.

He appeared to be an honest eager young man. This was due to the fact that he revealed his marital status almost immediately.

We were very compatible, I thought. Quiet, well spoken handsome, well built young man. Or should I say, younger man. You see, she was 31/2yrs, his senior. Not that I really matters, in most cases however, in this case, when it came to common courtesy, he behaved like a 3yr old.

His idea of addressing an issue, discussing it, analyzing the root discrepancy, moving forward with intensions of resolving, it was to walk towards and through the door. If Eric was humble enough , he would have made that corner his man cave, until Carla regained her composure and stopped looking for his, well deserved, Dunce Cap.

“Where were you?” she yelped

“It took you 2hrs to go to the store for a hero sandwich!”

“Oh, you found a local Chicken Head to do you , cause I won’t give you none”

The two beeps of a horn startled Eric Carla grabbed her belongings, and stormed out of the door. There was no way her cab driver was getting paid wait time.

As she exited the cab, in her mind, she said “NEXT!”.

Through the years, Eric had crossed her mind. She never really got over him and she never told him about the twins she lost as she tripped over her bag, trying to get as far away from him as she could.

“Oh my goodness, Eric!’ she screamed to at the top of her voice.

“You mean, he has had the same cell number all this time, and he’s on Watts up social app

“I could have reached out years ago!”

Carla was excitedly skeptical. As she looked at his profile, the butterflies in her stomach would not settle down.

The phone rang 2x and sure enough, that smooth easy going voice responded to the app alert he received on his end.

5yrs later, his presence and dirty clothes cluttered her laundry bag. And occupied her bed .

“What took you so long to go the store?” she asked.

“What, you thought I was at some chicks house, like before.”

As he said it, he backed away from me.

“So you did go to some chicks house when you had me waiting in your house?” she asked.

“The only other time I’ve asked you that was at your house, years ago!”

“I knew it would come out sooner or later!”

Carla was furious. Eric would have taken that disrespectful indiscretion to his grave.

“Do you realize what you lost, because you wanted your cake and eat it too?” she screamed.

“You didn’t want to be with me, you wanted to talk. I didn’t feel like talking. So I went and got my shit off, what’s the big deal? That was years ago.”

Eric had a sinister smirk on his face, as he headed towards the kitchen.

“I was pregnant you fool. You showed me no respect, showed you none. I tripped when ran out of your house and lost them” she screamed.

“No, I never told you!”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to about! They were twins.”

Eric now had to deal with his misfortune. Two toddlers, one on the way and twins that never saw the light of day. If only he knew her government name.

For years he declared and claimed the first two. However, she was now thirteen and the judge said..

“You are the Father”

“Damn, I didn't even know the mother's real name.”

He didn't put two and two together until she walked into the Judges Chambers. Eric suddenly felt faint.

“Damn, I wondered what Happened to her. At least now I know. “

Eric said within a quiet belly laugh.

After his head cleared, he grabbed his crouch and smiled. Under his breath he silently whispered “I gotta keep a muzzle on you.”

“ Well at least until I know not to call her Pookie in public"

“Damn Pookie, what the hell was I thinking” he said to himself, as the head on his shoulders rummaged for bits and pieces of movie lines to bring to life.

He didn’t have to rummage long. Cutting room floors was Christmas. Abstract, assorted puzzle pieces, to Eric, was a verbal Buffet. Complete with salad, desert and a doggie bag.

This time he put the apple pie and ice cream on top of the spaghetti and the other puzzle pieces just didn’t fit.

“I guess Carla was right when she said, NO LAMBSKIN!!”

“I should a listened”

“I gotta stop acting like a DICK!”

“Last call for Eric Foster” the Judge said sternly

Eric didn’t realize his name was called three times already.

His bubble popped and he began giving what wasn’t asked.

Instead of just standing up, answers to abstract questions rolled off his tongue. Before his Catchers Mitt was stabilized, the words had gone too far. As he dug himself into a deeper hole, the Judge pounded his gavel.

“One more word Mr. Foster and you are in contempt. You are lucky, that takes too long and have lunch in ten minutes.”

The Judge took one look at Pookie Jr and began calling her Little Miss Eric, and passed an astronomical amount to be paid to Miss Pookie (Shaquanika Johnson).

Eric had to pay $25 a word which amounted to $150 per misplaced puzzle . Spaghetti $150, Apple Pie $150 and the ice cream $150. 18 words were never so expensive.

“Damn, now what am I gonna eat for dinner, he wants a down payment. I guess it’s bacon and eggs for dinner with a side of Roast Beef and Mashed potatoes. “ He whispered as the Judge added $50 for saying. “HUH”