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This writing was accepted for publication in the 84 page perfect-bound issue... Down in the Dirt magazine (v085) (the August 2010 Issue) |
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Order this issue from our printer as an ISSN# paperback book:  or as the ISBN# book “clearing the debris”:  |
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Cough Drops and Lies
Christa Ward
John and Mary sat across from each other on a train traveling through the countryside. The rolling green hills they could see outside their window gave the illusion of comfort.
“John,” said Mary.
“Hmm?” He was back to reading his newspaper and did not look up.
“I have,” Mary’s voice cracked and she coughed lightly into her handkerchief. “Excuse me, I think I have a bit of a cold coming on. I’m going to see if the snack station has any cough drops.
“That’s a good idea,” John said, laying the newspaper down on his knee for a moment and looking up at his girl. “I love my mother, but she is a bit of a hypochondriac and I can’t imagine what she would diagnose herself with if you show up sick.” He smiled at Mary before he picked up his newspaper again. He liked to be informed of the worlds events so he could impress people with his intellect at dinner parties.
Mary smiled back at him, but her smile it seemed misplaced and quickly disappeared. Mary crossed the short distance between her seat and the door and slid the compartment door closed behind her. She began walking slowly down the hall towards the snack bar focusing on the small patterns in the design of the carpet.
“Can I get you anything, ma’m?” the round man behind the snack bar asked.
“No,” said Mary, surprised she had already made it to the counter. She stared at the chips and soda cans for a moment trying to collect her thoughts then turned back down the hallway to her compartment.
She took a deep breath before sliding open the door to help calm her nerves. She did not know how to tell him and her worst fear was not rejection; it was that he would propose. John wasn’t a bad guy but he wasn’t the type of man she wanted to raise a child with and the only support she would even think about requesting from him would be alimony.
“Did you get the cough drops?” John asked as she returned to her seat.
“No,” said Mary. “They were out. But I don’t really think I’m coming down with anything I won’t be able to sleep off.”
“You can’t sleep now. We’ll be at my parents house in less than an hour.”
“I just need a little catnap,” said Mary folding her jacket to use as a makeshift pillow and closing her eyes.
“Mary. Stop being childish.”
“John, how many children do you want to have?”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“I’ve always wanted three. Two boys and a girl.”
“There may be some cough drops in my pocket,” John said letting the newspaper drop to the floor and methodically digging through his clothes for a throat lozenge.
“I don’t want cough drops. I want- I want- I don’t know what I want,” Mary said softly. She opened her eyes to look at John.
“I love you,” she said. But she felt nauseous as she said it knowing it was another lie.
“I love you too, Mary,” he said, getting down and kissing her on the forehead and dropping a cough drop he had managed to find into her hand.
Mary closed her eyes and shifted around trying to find a somewhat comfortable position to try to get some rest before having to discuss her unborn child with this man she did not want to marry.
