Dancers & Other Short Stories, Page 3

  *****************

 

  As I neared the house, I cut through the alley and parked in the back yard. I entered though the mud room to avoid Fiona and Eddie. When I opened the door, Biscuit jumped at me snarling and growling low in the throat. I said, "I'll bury you in a shoe box in the back yard, you mutt." I pushed him away with my foot and he backed into the kitchen.

 

  I heard Fiona and her latest conquest as they entered the house, laughing. I had to be up in a few hours to go to work, so I went into the bathroom and took a quick shower. When I finished, I opened the bathroom door and heard a flurry of French, then laughter. I dried off, slipped on an old pair of shorts and a T-shirt and went down the hallway to check on the lovebirds. I stood in the shadows just outside the arched entrance to the living room. Fiona perched on one end of the couch with her knees drawn tightly together, her hands folded in her lap, and her head lowered demurely. Eddie sat in the center hoping to get close enough to make a move.

 

  She said something in Fiona French. To me it sounded like, go home Eddie.

 

  Eddie said, " I don't understand."

 

  "Par done Monsieur Eddie," Fiona said as she got up and headed toward the bathroom. When she saw me in the hallway, she pushed me into my room and closed the door.

 

  "You've got to get rid of that idiot," she whispered loudly.

 

  "Why me? You started this. I'm going to bed. I have to be at work in three hours."

  Fiona glared at me as she left the room. For the next hour, I could hear her mumbling with Eddie asking questions in an increasingly frustrated voice. Realizing there would be no sleep tonight, I went in and sat down in a wing back chair.

 

  I leaned forward and said, "Eddie. You've got to go. Fiona and I both have to go to work in a couple of hours. Anyway, I don't think that this is going to work out since neither of you can understand the other. I don't know of any way to help."

 

  A crestfallen Eddie stood up, extended his hand to Fiona and pulled her to her feet. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and walked him to the door. I returned to bed.

 

  Thank the Lord, I thought as I rolled over and tried to go to sleep.