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Cheap
by Clive Aaron Gill Bill and Maxine sat opposite each other at the round, kitchen table in their five-bedroom house in Carlsbad, California eating TV dinners bought at the Dollar Store. Bill watched Maxine chew then he stared out the wide, front window at the palm trees and rolling ocean waves. “What would you like for Mother’s Day?” Maxine recalled the skeletal images of her siblings with sad, dull eyes and sunken cheeks. She remembered hunger pangs not allowing her to sleep; eating loads of wild berries that resulted in the runs; waiting anxiously for food at a town-sponsored Independence Day picnic. “I have a ‘two-fer’ coupon for George’s Burgers,” she said. “Buy one meal plus two drinks and the second meal is free.” Bill thought, I remember times when Mother, my brother and I were always hungry. Mother had to take us to a convent for orphans. I’ll never forget the day she left us with three nuns wearing black dresses, white collars and white bibs. He said, “How about a nice restaurant?” “George’s Burgers is just fine,” she replied, pursing her lips over her broad mouth. She sighed impatiently and blew strands of black-dyed hair from her face. “I checked into prices for a three week cruise from Barcelona to France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia. The ‘two-fer’ is $19,799 for a room with two beds and a private verandah. If we book six months in advance we’ll get a twenty percent discount. Do you think we can afford it?” she asked, biting her lower lip. Bill stretched his thick neck from side to side. “With our retirement incomes and my job we can come up with the money.” “You should give up your job.” “Why?” “You’re getting too friendly with that young flirt,” Maxine said, glaring with wide eyes at his pear-shaped body. “Must you hug each other every day?” “I give hugs to the other drivers.” “I don’t trust her!” said Maxine, banging her fist on the table. Her facial veins grew large. “Calm down…” Silence filled the room. Maxine drew a long breath and turned her head sideways momentarily. “I’ll email Antonio and Dolores.” “Who?” “The nice old couple from Barcelona we met on our last cruise. I’ll ask them if they can let us know of a reasonable hotel near them for a couple of nights before this cruise starts.” “O.K.,” Bill said, stroking his pointed chin. “After they reply that we should stay in their home, I’ll tell them we plan to extend our stay to a week.” “We’ll feel freer in a hotel.” “Don’t argue! Staying with them will not be a problem.” Bill wiped his bald, shiny head. He studied her severe eyes, like someone who examines his reflection in a mirror, and shrugged. “Remember the time I changed my order from salad to steak and lobster, when Mark said he was gonna pay?” Maxine slapped the table. “You’re so cheap!” Bill laughed and gave a satisfied sigh. Maxine sniffed, tapped her thin fingers, made fish-lips and slowly revealed a crooked smile. |
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