Sam paced through the apartment, beside herself with rage. She had already cleaned the apartment from top to bottom. She always cleaned when she was angry, a trait she inherited from her mother.
He said he was just going to grab a quick beer with Brian after work. He said he would be home shortly. But that was nine hours ago! Where the hell was he? I swear if Chad is not dead I am going to ring his neck, she thought as she scrubbed the kitchen counter for the second time that evening.
A rustling of keys and off tune singing jarred Sam out of her mental tirade. She threw down the Clorox bottle and stomped towards the door just as Chad burst through still singing some godawful song.
“Sammy baby! How’s my gorgeous girl?”
“Gorgeous girl? Are you freaking kidding me! Do you have any idea what time it is? Where the hell have you been?”
“Well, I was with Brian my love, just where I told you I was,” drunkenly nodding.
“You told me you were going for a drink. A. Drink. Chad.”
“Well yeah… but then…..” Chad swivelled on his heel and fell to the couch. “Then, the the band came!”
“The band came?!? And this is the reason you weren’t answering your phone? The reason you didn’t have the common decency to call?”
“Oh yeah, my phone. Where is my phone?” Chad continued singing his song while he searched through all his pockets. “It’s not here!” As if shocked by the revelation.
Sam couldn’t even begin to process what was unfolding in front of her. Chad got off from the couch and began to get undressed as he made his way towards the bedroom – still singing his song about cows.
“Oh I’m going down to cowtown cause he’s a friend to me. Lives beneath the ocean right where I can be.”
“What on earth are you singing?” Sam demanded as she followed behind, picking up all his dirty clothes.
“A song from the band honey. Isn’t it great?!”
As Sam stormed away to clean the kitten’s litter box she shouted, “No, it is not great. It is one of the dumbest songs I have ever heard!” Sam walked back towards the bedroom, litter scoop in hand, “And if I ever….”
But Chad was already passed out on the bed.
For the Scriptic prompt exchange this week, Jester Queen gave me this prompt: Chad followed me from room to room singing his cow song while I picked up dirty laundry and cleaned litter boxes.
I gave Diane this prompt: Use this metaphor to spark a poem or short story: a chest of childhood.
That is totally awesome!! I was envisioning a Mom with her irritating child. This is SOSO much better. And what a great song! Sam is totally believable as the outraged clean freak. That apartment is going to be spotless by the time Chad’s hangover kicks in.
Oh. And if They Might Be Giants just turned up at a bar where I’d stopped for a single drink? Yeah. I’d totally lose the phone and never remember to have a family. So I believe Chad, too.