Quitting

Smoke rose from the forgotten cigarette in the ashtray.  A pack of newly opened Marlboro Menthols lay next to the ash laden bowl.  Cassie stared at her untouched vodka tonic watching tears of condensation puddle on the green coaster.

 

Running her hands through her sandy blonde hair, she glanced up towards the neon clock above the shelves laden with bottles of assorted drink.  She shook her head.  Was it only an hour ago she had told Sam?  Only an hour ago he replied it was over?

 

She gently rubbed her abdomen. 

 

Raising her hand she singled to the bartender, “Hey, Jim.”

 

“What do ya need?”

 

She shoved the ash tray, cigarettes and drink towards him, “Toss this stuff, will ya?”

 

As Jim walked away, she dialed her office.  Sam would be in the sales meeting, but she didn’t care.

 

“Margret, it’s Cassie, I need to speak to Sam.”

 

“Cassie, he’s in a meeting.”

 

“I know about the meeting, they’re my clients.  It’s important.”

 

“Ok, please hold.”

 

She listened to the clicks of the transfer.

 

“This is Sam.”

 

“Hi, Sam, it’s Cassie.  I quit.”

 

 

Going Solo

“Mom, think about what you’re doing?”

“I have given it a lot of thought, dear. Does this dress make me look fat?” her mother said holding a white floral number to her body.

Feeling defeated Karen sat down and sighed, “No, Mom, its fine.”

Karen’s mother neatly folded the dress and placed it into her red suitcase.

“You shouldn’t make that face, it shows all your wrinkles,” her mother joked.

“I’m just worried about you. This is a big deal and Dad’s only been gone for six months.”

“Honey, I loved your father, but he never wanted to go anywhere. I’ve always wanted to see Italy and now I will.”

“But alone, Mom?”

“Yes, honey, I got married when I was 17. I’m 71 and have been surrounded by a loving family for all these years. I love you all, but I think it’s time I go solo for awhile.”

Fair

She made her way to the middle section of the bleachers.  Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, taking to memory the smell of nachos and turf in September. 

 

A north wind swept through the stadium making her shiver.  This time of year was her favorite and she was going to miss the Friday night lights, cheers from the crowd and the noisy state fair that carried on behind the football field. 

 

Ferris Wheels and Hammer Rides popped up from behind the visitor stands, muffled music could be heard, along with the screams of happy children.  She looked down at her boy standing on the 20 yard line.  Tears cascaded over her cheeks as she waved to the son she would never see again.

 

She knew it wasn’t fair, but she didn’t belong here, she had to leave.  She turned praying, one day he would be able to forgive her.

Fortress

“No, I will not move in with you.  I can’t believe you had the nerve to ask,” Kathleen said with a cold smirk.

 

“Why wouldn’t I ask? I love you.”

 

“Honestly honey, women like me don’t live with boys like you.  This “thing” between us was never serious.  On your income you can’t afford serious.”

 

Kevin shook his head, “I don’t understand.”

 

“Oh, you silly thing, you were just something to pass the time, like a card game.  Why would I want to live with a pathetic excuse like you?”

 

“So why go out with me at all?”

 

“Because you were good in the sack,” she said laughing, “By the way, good doesn’t mean great, Kevin.  You might want to work on that.”

 

Kathleen gathered her purse and coat, keeping her head down so she wouldn’t see Kevin’s desperate face.  She exited his apartment feeling triumphant.  No man would ever hurt her again. 

 

She was a single woman and her fortress was strong.

Excess Baggage

Mark sat in the overstuffed chair and studied her body.  Her raven hair cascaded midway down her back, with the starch white sheet laying just above her perfectly rounded behind. Her mascara had collected heavily under her eyes from a night of perspiration and lust.  The awkwardness of her left arm bent just slightly blocking her exposed breast.  A work of art he thought.

 

A knock at the door roused him from his vigilant stare. 

 

“Have fun last night?” asked the bald man nodding at the girl as he entered.

 

“As usual, Frank,” he said with a smile.

 

“The car is downstairs and here is the cell,” Frank said handing Mark a bag.

 

Mark headed to the door twirling the keys around his finger.  

 

“You can’t just leave her here, she’s excess baggage.  Nobody can know you were here.”

 

“I took care of it, Frank.  Now do your job and let the appropriate people know where to find her.”

 

“You mean she was the hit?”

 

“No, she was just a bonus.”

Nonprofit profile: Anna’s Legacy

In October of 2004, many who lived in the Darrouzett, Follett and Booker communities were shocked by the diagnoses of Anna Michelle Collar with a rare form of leukemia. Though confronted with a challenging diagnosis, Anna was never one to give up hope; even after the doctors told her there would be a two year recovery period following several rounds of chemotherapy and possible remission.  To occupy the recovery time, she and her mother, Cathy Collar of Darrouzett, planned to make jewelry out of Anna’s collection of stones. Unfortunately in the early morning hours of December 22, 2004 Anna lost her battle with leukemia.

 

Determined to keep Anna’s dream of a jewelry line alive, her mother and two sisters, Brandy Collar of Darrouzett and Jennifer Collar of Borger, decided to start a group in Anna’s name benefiting young people struggling with the disease.  Anna’s Legacy was formed in 2005 with a mission to bring joy, laughter, and hope to young people struggling with leukemia by giving Gifts of Hope to those in the hospital undergoing treatment.

 

The group started by attending arts and craft shows in the neighboring towns selling handmade jewelry made from semi-precious stones under the jewelry lines Mystique and Anna’s Legacy.  The Anna’s Legacy line featured Anna’s Birthstones, Carnelian and Peridot, which are also the colors for leukemia awareness.  Twenty-five percent of all sales from Mystique and one hundred percent of all sales from the Anna’s Legacy line were donated directly to Anna’s Legacy.  By 2007 the group was attending arts and craft shows in three states and had four jewelry lines donating twenty-five percent of their profits.  In May of 2008 Anna’s Legacy opened its online store, www.annaslegacy.com. 

 

Though still in the fund raising phase, Anna’s Legacy hopes to start producing Gifts of Hope by January of 2009.  Members include: Cathy Collar – president/designer, Brandy Collar – customer service/designer, Jennifer Collar – public relations/designer, Tina Laurie – travel team/designer and Kinsey Laurie – designer.  For more information or to donate to Anna’s Legacy please go to www.annaslegacy.com.