Caleb's Story: The Holidays

The Holidays

     How the fight started and who was to blame didn’t matter anymore. Still, that bathroom door needed to open. It wasn’t until the second kick that a sharp crack could be heard mingled with Shelly chucking a shampoo bottle through the opening along with a hearty “Leave Me The Fuck Alone.”

        Through a damaged bathroom frame Shelly franticly tried to hurry up and bend a wire hanger over the curtain rod and around her neck before Caleb could stop her. The sight would have been bothersome fifteen to twenty years ago but after dating half-a-dozen crazy women already and dealing with the mental instability of his female family members there was no surprise in this little pity party.

        The obscenities continued to pour out of Shelly as she was scooped up and carried out to the bedroom. Caleb ached everywhere. The physical onslaught he was forced to endure didn’t end until Shelly was released from his grasp.

        Mom’s nose peered around the corner. “Is everything alright? What was all that racket?” The crystal that used to be part of the bathroom door handle rolled under Mom’s feet as she gathered the courage to inch her way further in the bedroom.

        Shelly grabbed her coat, keys, and bag before storming out. Mom, who suffered from increasing mobility issues couldn’t move out of the way fast enough. Shelly ignored her mother-in-law and proceeded to knock her into the hallway mirror as she headed to the front door. What had started out as an inconvenient disagreement now had Caleb pissed. “You stupid bitch! Can’t you at least watch what you’re doing when you’re around my mom?” The shouting was answered by all three dogs happily barking as they could now exit through the front door and roam the neighborhood.

        Mom was helped to her feet as their silver Sunbird drove off in the cold evening. “What happened Caleb?”

        “Shelly wanted me to fuck one of her friends.”

        “Excuse me?” Mom nearly lost her balance but Caleb quickly caught her shoulder. “Nothing, it’s nothing! Just go back to bed and try not to worry. I’ve got to go after the dogs.”