“ Aw Mom,” Danny whined, “you said I could stay up ‘til Dad got home.”
“Just go.”
“But mom”
“Now!” Sandy almost shouted. She couldn’t take any more. She grabbed her son and shoved him toward his room. “When I tell you to do something, you do it. Now!”
Danny whimpered as he stumbled against the wall but did as he was told.
Sandy took another drink of her beer. How many did this one make? She couldn’t remember. Too many, she knew that. Where was Ralph? He was later and later each night. What was his excuse going to be this time she wondered? The pain of loneliness whipped through her like a hot poker.
********************************************
After he pulled into his driveway Ralph continued to sit, head resting against the steering wheel. Exhaustion filled his body adding to his emotional turmoil that was heavy on his mind. Each night the struggle to come home intensified. He purposefully sought the harder workload and longer hours; anything that kept him away from what awaited him once he walked through the door.
When had it all gone so wrong he wondered for the hundredth time? His mind took him back to the beginning, when he and Sandy had first met at a beach party. He was bowled over by this cute, sparkly woman with short black curls and chocolate colored brown eyes. It was her vitality that drew him, her enjoyment of life.
How long had they been married now? Ten years? Yeah, it would be 10 years next week.
Sandy was no longer sparkly, full of vitality. She had become a shrew, a drunk. Everything had started to change after Danny was born. Sandy had a difficult pregnancy. The medical bills had pilled up due to some unforeseen complications. Ralph had to work work more hours and weekends as a result, leaving Sandy without physical or emotional support. Danny had been a difficult baby and the years had not changed his disposition. He was still a whining crybaby. Between Danny and Sandy, Ralph didn’t know how much more he could take.
Dragging his weary body from the cab of his truck, Ralph held his breath, expecting the night to end as badly as usual. As he opened the door he immediately sensed a difference. Sandy did not meet him with her dreary complaints about how hard her day had been, how lonely she was, the burden of Danny, no one to help or even care for that matter-and on and on. He was just sick of it all.
The silence hit him full force as he headed for the kitchen. Sandy was sitting at the table with her usual beer in hand. No smiles, no screaming accusations, just a silent, blank stare. “What the hell?” Ralph had conditioned himself for her assault and wasn’t prepared for this change.
“Hi sweetheart” he said tentatively “ you doing better today?” It was the wrong question to ask. With no warning Sandy sprang from her chair and rushed at him, screaming, hitting and kicking.
“Who is she? You bastard, tell me.” Out of control, Sandy grabbed anything she could reach to attack him with. A kitchen knife found it’s way into her hand and she stabbed at him.
Danny, crying, came running at the sounds of their fighting. Ralph was desperately trying to avoid the knife.
“Call 911, Danny. Now and hurry,” he gasped, fighting for a breath.
When the 911 dispatcher answered all Danny could do was give a sobbing, garbled plea for help. By the time the police arrived the danger was over but not without injuries.
“Cut and it’s a wrap.” The director advised the actors to be prompt tomorrow for shooting the follow-up scenes for Shattered Lives. “Great job everyone.”