AUGUST TO AUGUST, a short story by Linda McMullen

He wondered briefly if fleeing the scene of an accident was a misdemeanor or a felony, and decided it didn’t matter. The park wasn’t much more than a mile and a half away. And he would turn himself in afterward.

He turned away, and started running.

He stripped off his jacket off by the end of the block; his dress shoes were lacerating his feet by the second stop sign, and he suddenly remembered that he hadn’t run since college – but on he went.

MacArthur Park had— deliberately, obstreperously— quadrupled in size since his last visit. And of course the gazebo was in the far corner. His dress shirt clung to him in odd patches. He felt a blister burst—his lungs burned—and there, there she was... …recessing down the brief aisle between the rented folding chairs, hand-in-hand with her exuberant new husband.

“Lance?” she inquired; he was doubled over, despairing of his ability to stand. “Are you – all right?”

“I…” Wrong, entirely wrong. He straightened, painfully. “Congratulations, Jane.”

Those Agnes eyes again. “I want to hear the full story sometime,” she said, and pressed his hand. Then the twittering cloud enveloped her, ‘Oh Jane, best wishes, you make such a beautiful bride, I’m so happy for you.’

When he was out of sight, he eased off his now-fragrant shoes, and hobbled back to his car, suddenly aware of the rest of his life yawning ahead. His car, its fender a drooping mustache, was on the Tonka-yellow tow truck. Jessica was talking with the officer, but broke off mid-sentence when she spotted him.

The officer turned to Lance. “You’d better have a good story.”

Lance waived his right to remain silent.

“Tough break. But I’m going to have to take you in anyway,” the officer said, pulling out a pair of handcuffs.

“I know. I’m ready.” •

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda McMullen is a wife, mother, daughter, diplomat, and homesick Wisconsinite. Her short stories and the occasional poem have appeared in over one hundred fifty literary magazines. Find her at: @LindaCMcMullen - Twitter @lindacmcmullen81 - instagram Linda Silverman McMullen | Facebook