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By chris Date: 2007 Jun 13 Comment on this Work [[2007.06.13.03.58.28451]] |
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"What do they say? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Sully was pleased - in a way - at finally landing himself in a situation where that nugget of wisdom made at least some sense. And there in the frozen food asile that day, it did. Sort of, anyway. She laughed. "I would have thought a lame cliche like that would be beneath you." She was brutal. No doubt. "But in every cliche there's - " "Of all people. Jesus." "a grain of truth! Look, it's US I'm talking about here, baby." "What doesn't kill US just makes me bitchier." Her eyes bored into his. And she wasn't going to be the first to look away. They were the most beautiful deep brown he had ever seen. "Um. You know I never quote the President except in extreme circumstances, but I think what he said after 9/11 is relevant here." "And?" "If you stop going shopping the terrorists win." "What the hell? Aren't we getting groceries now?" "Exactly! I think..." A Devo song had come on the store speakers. He couldn't help but smile. The 80s were the shit. No doubt. "Do you want beer? Sam Adams is on sale." He half-nodded, busy wondering precisely when mullets became the height of ridiculousness. Yes, the ice was finally melting. She was warming to his rather pathetic entreaties. But Sully really did like the line about defeating-terrorists-through-shopping. His mom always said he should have been a lawyer. Too bad he had to settle for toll-taker on the Mass Pike. Unfortunately the Devo song ("Whip It") was followed by Cyndi Lauper singing "She Bop". The masturbation song. Which conjured images in his head of - not Cyndi Lauper - but maybe the shapely Dominican babe handing out cracker samples at the end of aisle four... "What are you thinking of?" She manhandled the bananas. "Crackers. We're out of Saltines." She uttered a bad word. He feigned shock. "Do you kiss your mom with that mouth?" "My mom is in a nursing home in Springfield. She isn't kissing anyone these days." Then she smiled. But it was a smile that knew everything. "Of course..." Sully knew she knew everything but, since he knew considerably less, it all evened out in the end. Funny how it worked out that way. They held hands and made for the salty snack aisle. |