Susan Winters Smith

Susan Winters Smith

The Other

I told her I didn’t want to go to the beach, but Darcy insisted, so of course we got badly sunburned and I had to listen to her complain all night that she hurt more than I did.

“Well, silly, you know better, but it’s your own fault,” I said, “That’s what happens to blondes, especially when they wear teeny bikinis.”

“Well, you look like a pink grapefruit with a few white lines,” she answered.

“Well, maybe so, but I’m not in pain.”

“Go ahead, rub it in, Marcy,” she said. “You always do. You have to be selfrighteous.”

“I don’t know why I bother, because you never learn.”

I made her a healthy breakfast-a poached egg, dry rye toast, and a fruit cup, but she whined and slammed the table. “I wanted blueberry pancakes! I told you that last night, but you don’t care what I want, do you? You have to be controlling. I always win in the end, though,” she grinned.

“Honey, I knew you would want sausage and lots of butter, but I seriously care about your health.”

“Yeah, right, Marcy,” she snarled. “You only care about your own health, not mine, or my happiness.”

“Well, I eat whatever you eat, and if you’re happy and healthy, it’s easier for me to be, so shut up and eat.”

“Oh alright, but will you put some of that pure aloe lotion on my back and shoulders?”

“Indeed I will, after breakfast, Darcy. We can’t have our skin falling off or causing cancer.”

“Well, don’t hurry or anything,” she whined. “After all, I’m the one in pain, and could you please give me some aspirin?”

I laughed. I have no way to get through to her, and Lord knows I’ve tried. Her compulsions have caused us to gain weight, and take frequent trips to the doctor, and the dentist has a chair with our name on it. At least I can doze off in the chair, and she can’t.

“Are we going to the boardwalk today?” Darcy asked. “You promised.”

“Yeah, I know I did, but it’s out in the sun again. I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

“Sun, schmun. We’ll get one of those strawberry soft serves that you love, Marcy dear. Remember that feeling of the cool creaminess sliding down your throat on a hot day, and the flavor of fresh strawberries. Ahh, that’s to die for.”

“Stop that, Darcy! Yes, it’s delicious, but we don’t want to die now, do we? I’m not getting sweets today, I’m determined.”

“Well, we could die happy!” she laughed. “That reminds me. I think I need a haircut. How about we go to Lulu’s Doos? We can get two for the price of one,” she laughed.

“No. We don’t need a haircut! I hate when you do that. It looks terrible.”

“Says you! I like the rough look,” said Darcy, laughing.

“Yeah, well rough this, Darcy,” I said, wondering why I ever let her in. Living alone had its perks.

“You know I’ll get you to go.”

“No. None of your tricks. You do that and it will be a long time before you go to the boardwalk again,”

Later that evening I kept looking in the mirror at my horrible haircut and wished I were bald. My skin was a bit redder, and my belly felt bloated from ice cream and pizza. At least she didn’t get me to the casino.

“Marcy, my love,” called Darcy, “I’m going to order some Chinese takeout while we watch TV. Join me, SVU is coming on.”

I stormed off to the living room and yelled at Darcy.

“Did you change my programming? I set Grey’s Anatomy to record last night, and it’s not here.”

“It’s so boring!” Marcy said. “You’re killing me with boredom. I recorded Special Victim’s Unit instead. We need a little excitement, some blood and gore, not that hospital stuff where they save everybody. We need to get a little wilder around here. Tomorrow we’ll skip the boardwalk and go to the casino.”

“No, Darcy, not that again. We’re not going to the casino. I’ll take you to the boardwalk and we’ll get ice cream, but no casino. Last time you blew our rent money.” I found myself steaming.

“Well, Marcy dear, we’ll see who’s in charge tomorrow. I can find a way to get you to do anything I want.”

“We’ll see about that, Darcy. I’m going to bed. Don’t bother me all night!”

“Wait, aren’t you going to turn off the TV on me, like you always do?” Darcy laughed.

“Turn it off yourself. I don’t care. I’m taking sleeping pills.” What a mistake to think this would work with her.

“No, no, don’t. No pills,” Darcy begged.

“If I hear your voice again tonight, there will be a few of those blue pills you hate.”

In the morning, Darcy was awake making blueberry pancakes in her cowgirl outfit to wear to the casino. She ordered me to sit, and then poured the coffee. I ate in silence while she babbled on.

“I figure we’ll go to the boardwalk first, and then the casino a bit later, after we get some spicy tacos for lunch, with chocolate milkshakes.” Darcy laughed, dancing around the kitchen, bouncing her cowgirl fringe.

“I’d rather just stay home,” I said, “I’ll make a great lunch and watch TV violence with you later.”

“Nope, too late, Marcy dear. We’re going to have a fun Darcy kind of day. You better wear some bling.”

“Fine, you win. Just let me finish my pancakes, but I can’t take much more of this wild frenzied life, Darcy!”

I put my head down on the table to think about what I wanted to do, then reached into my pocket for the blue pills and put them in the coffee.

Darcy screamed. “Nooooooooo! You bitch! What did you do to me?”

Darcy squirmed and thrashed, but she couldn’t win. Soon it was quiet. This is peace. I guess I’d rather just be single.