Runner Up: JeanMarie Olivieri
Durham, NC
Congratulations, JeanMarie!
JeanMarie's Bio:
Jean Marie Olivieri is a single, unemployed technical writer who's seeking a new career. When asked what she wants to do when she grows up, she said, “I have no idea. I'm just tired of geek speak, techno babble and editing SOPs from SMEs who can't write a good grocery list.” Well let's hope she continues to turn out original and entertaining fiction while finding fulfilling work in the service sector of the economy.
(We hope you do too Jean! – WOW!)
Pom and Circumstance
By JeanMarie Olivieri
“Honey, this was on the stoop with your name on it,” my husband said as he came into the kitchen carrying a box. “There’s no address,” he shook it, “and it rustles.”
I looked it over. It was an ordinary cardboard box, slightly crushed with nothing on it but my name scrawled in black marker.
“Martha James. That’s my maiden name. OK, that’s weird. Someone
knows where I live but doesn’t know I’m married? We’ve been home all day. Why didn’t they ring the doorbell?”
Greg took the box, “Here, you better let me open it.”
“Why? So you can get blasted with anthrax instead of me?”
“You’re a middle school teacher, not a terrorist target. Other than the kid you flunked last year, what enemies do you have?”
I bit my lip. My darling and I were the perfect couple with no
secrets. Yeah, right!
“So, do you want to call the police or just open it?”
“Open it.”
He broke the tape and pulled out a single orange and black pom pom. I fainted. When I opened my eyes, Greg was hovering over me. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah… I uh… I thought I was done.”
“Done with what?” his voice suspicious.
“My squad…”
“Your squad? You were a cheerleader?” Greg sat back in disbelief and horror.
“High school… before I knew you…” My voice suddenly squeaked.
“You were the treasurer of the We Hate Cheerleaders club! You heckle the Laker Girls!”
“It was a dark period in my life. After I got the Scoliosis brace off, I … I lost my mind!”
“I opened my heart. You said you were an outsider too.”
“I do! I was!”
He couldn’t hear me. “We were two-geeks-in-a-pod. We co-chaired the math and science fraternity. All this time you had been popular?!”
“No. You don’t understand.”
“I understand that you lied to me!”
“I’m sorry!”
He stood and looked at me with disgust, “Our relationship is built
on a lie. I can’t trust you anymore.” Then he left.
I lay there sobbing. I had gone to great lengths to hide my past and now I had been outed… and abandoned… again.
A week later I was banging on Mary Kate Ashley’s door. Finally she
opened it. A thick layer of paint made her look almost like she did at
senior year homecoming. “Well if it isn’t Most Likely to Maim.”
“How did you know he would leave me?” I shook my fist at her, still clenching the divorce summons.
“Know thy enemy dear!” her voice was sibilant.
I pushed her out of my way to get inside. She laughed and let the
door close behind me. I remembered the accident like it was yesterday.
Mary K. A. was the flyer. I was a base. The slick floor, the accusations and lawsuit, the guilt and harassment, all tumbled through my memory. “But, why?” Haven’t I paid enough?”
She smiled, spun around and wheeled into the living room. “Now you have.”
***