by Joe CasperLove is meant to be love

Love is meant to be Love

Joe Casper

Clutching my hair, she moaned as we rolled on our bed “I should be leaving to office early tomorrow, after all I’m doing this for you.” In the middle of our love making, how does her thoughts drift away to this? I froze for a second before taking down her lips. And you should be going to school with Edward for parent’s meeting, you remember? Is this the time to discuss that? I nestled on her neck. “This is the only time I get to spend with you but you chose to romance.” She nibbled my earlobes. Okay, get away now. I don’t need your sympathy. George, listen, are you satisfied with your life? Housekeeping, dropping Edward school, afternoon naps, sex. Don’t you have any goals in your life? You are spoiling my mood now. I turned aside pushing her down from me. I’m happy for my life. What you want me to do? No, you aren’t happy. You are just cheating yourself. You are trying to be in your comfort zone.Always, safe and secure. Yes I am , we finally yearn for comfort even if we do a million-dollar business. I’m doing what I really like to do. Oh, you like brushing your ass on bed by eating on your wife’s money? Do you even mind what our neighbours say about you? You need to earn something on your own. It’s good for you. You are what because of the neighbour’s. And I’m this because I’m still finding happiness in things I love. Bitch please, then go fuck your things of love. Fed up with your explanations. Okay, pay my salary for housekeeping for the past six years. What? She screamed. And slowly her hands caressed my chest seeking negotiation. Then what followed was salary paid in sweat and pleasure. Come on Ed, we are running late. I threw his bag through the window of the car. I thought mom would take me to school today, since we have a meeting. He shrugged sheepishly. That makes me sad, do you think I don’t fit for the meeting? Yes, you don’t. He took his seat. Why? I asked peeking through the driver’s window. People tell me you are a slacker.

I bumped my palms against the door biting my teeth. Is there something wrong? He looked grumpy. I…… take care of home, don’t you see that. That doesn’t count as a job. I fuck your mom daily and that is a job, I wanted to utter it badly. Take your sweet mom with you who has a bloody job. I walked back inside the garage and flew with my scooter away. Dad!!! I heard a distant whine besides the whiz of my scooter. .......................................................... Where have you been all day? I was at the beach, volunteering some gigs. That sounds great. Shall we? She said undoing her shirt buttons revealing her bosom. Are you serious? I faltered at the unusual invitation. I’m fucking serious. She said rolling her sultry tongue. As I neared her, she held my shirt collar and pulled me closer. Heck, you are one shameless creature I had ever met. She shouted at my nose. You left the home just like that. Ed walked for the bus and reached the school late. Then I got a call from Miss Lesley enquiring about our absence. I felt ashamed. And here you come nonchalantly, baked from beach breathing peace. He wanted you to come. And he was not so proud to have me for the meeting. I whispered biting down my anger. So, I left him alone to decide. He…. is a child, why don’t you stop being one? He was very clear of his need. I stared at her. Mom, I told him not to come with me. Ed spoke from his bedroom. Why would you? Because you told so, he doesn’t have the sense of direction in his life. And that’s what you tell a child. I fumed. No George, I mused it someday out of frustration and I am shocked that he remembers it still. Get inside the room, I pushed her and locked the door. I need my money. I said cornering her against the wall. George, what are you talking about? I need money! money! ……………I curled up on the floor as tears were at brink. Honey, oh my darling. Get up baby, it’s okay, it’s okay. She rubbed my back with her warm hands. She lifted my head to place on her thigh, the silk of her skirt tickled my cheeks. I felt so small in her cup of hands, I cried after many years. Darling, listen to me, you are my life. Nobody could have made me happier than you, and I respect you as a person. Her every word brought more tears as they reminded my past.

George, get up now. I can’t see you like this, please. I sniffled, took a deep breath and got up waving her hands off my hair. Ed shut the main door as I left hastily grabbing the car keys from the dining table. I turned back by the sound of the door, it was obvious that he didn’t like me. We were friends till he started schooling, then he started to hate me, he thinks I’m idle and worthless. You should not do that, she shouted pulling Ed away from the door and opened it. Darling, you got to stay strong. Come back to me. She wailed running down the porch as the car hit the road. What happened to you Ed? Why do you talk like that to your dad? He is a good guy. She spoke kneeling to his height. He doesn’t earn money as you do, I always got nothing to say when somebody asks me what does my dad do. You have got to tell them he is a home maker, a cook and a loving dad. She shook his shoulders dripping tears. I don’t feel like telling that when everybody talks of a scientist, a doctor, teacher and ……. his eyes rolled as his milk teeth jittered rambling for words. She hugged him feeling helpless. It was night and no shadow of George anywhere on the walls of her house. When she entered the kitchen to prepare food, she found chopped vegetables, onions, meat, every other ingredient ready and packed in the fridge. Rain seemed to be her only companion now, with the roof turning a chatterbox. She waited with a hot bowl of soup in her hands, haunted eyes and rumpled skirt. Ed was asleep. She sat at the porch staring at the trickling water from shingles. All night long it rained and George didn’t come back. Ed woke her up from the floor as it dawned. The desolated dining table desiccated with the food made last night, untouched. Come with me, she pulled him along. They left the home in their scooter. She knew where he would be, she drove to the beach. Under the umbrella, there was a whole lot of bottles filled with sand. He lay next to them under the scorching sun. George, get up. Come on, move. She shook his chest. He remained unmoved. Ed checked him with a long twig he found on the shore, prodding him on his neck. Stop that, her eyes seethed. ---coughs---I squinted rubbing my eyes, the blur I saw took my wife’s shape. She ranted lifting me up. I saw the love in her eyes, the love stoned out through separation. Ed watched us walk with desperation. We got in to the car parked crookedly that occupied three boxes. She wept nestling on my chest. Clearing off the chestnut hair from her face, I smooched her lips. She beamed back strongly. Before I closed my eyes savouring her salty tears, Ed appeared behind the door.

He turned and began to run. I jumped off the car immediately and ran for him. He was fast, he ran straight through the sea giving no heed to the waves. Edward, we screamed running behind him. For the first time ever, I feared the sea and then I dived in with a heavy heart. By the time she reached the boundary of waves they both had vanished from her vision. She kneeled on the wet sand crying her stomach out. The life guards arrived next minute and they picked her along in to the sea for the hunt. As the time passed, her throat was becoming sore and dry patches of tears filled her face. George, Edward she shouted breaking the noise of the waves. At that particular spot, the waves rose higher and higher, water splashed on their faces from all the sides. That’s when she saw an anchor tattooed arm pedal out of water. Holding Ed on one of his arms he has swum all the way with his other arm. There he is, she shouted. Men in blue jumped in, they rescued Ed from his hands and swam back to the boat. Ed who was unconscious looked pale and had wrinkly palm, she brushed his hands as George climbed the boat holding the rope tied on the gunwale. She threw herself to him as soon as he stepped in and she sobbed still stuck in fear. George lifted Ed from the floor and kissed the water out of his mouth. He coughed heavily before he opened his red eyes, George put him on the other guy’s hand to delude Edward that he was not saved by his dad. She kissed his cheeks with her mushy face, he looked around averting his dad’s eye. Why did you do that? She slapped him. He sat grimly without a blink. Don’t you ever think of it again. She added. George pulled her away from him. There was no need for that. They settled down. Elsa, the lady in the crew was sitting next to Edward. She asked him “what’s wrong?” He pointed his hand to George. His mom got up to smash him, George pulled her back. What’s wrong with George? You know him? Of course, how come do we not know the man of ocean, we all know him, everyone at the beach know him. Man of ocean? His wife asked skeptically. Yes, that’s how we call him. Wait, you don’t know anything? Elsa rolled her eyes in surprise. No, what you mean by anything? The guy on steer laughed. George turned to Elsa with a taut face which she ignored. Alright, that’s the biggest shock of my life. I can’t stop myself from revealing this now, it’s such a rush you know. I’m sorry George, I can’t help it. Tell us, she stared at her mouth in anxiety. George Orwell, as we call him the man of ocean, he is the Best volunteer life saver of the year, not just for this year for the past five years, so he was awarded the “Best life saver of all the times”. He is blessed from all around the world. Elsa spoke happily as she got a chance to

light up a family. She watched their face turn awestruck by her words. Tears swell from her eyes as she nibbled her lips in guilt. Edward didn’t know how to react and sat still leaning on her shoulder. Why didn’t you tell me? She mumbled tugging his arms. You never gave me fucking time to tell any of that. You ran behind your job and we only made love at nights. He spoke calmly.I’m sorry. Yes, I agree. It was my mistake, I’m sorry George. He rubbed her tears and kissed on her hair. Go tell sorry to dad, Elsa gave him a nudge. He curled his fingers tight on her tux. It’s okay Ed, dad always loves you. Go to him. Unsure, he retreated and his mom pulled him to their seat. He snuck his face on her stomach. Slowly, he looked at his dad to ensure he wasn’t looking at him. Tell sorry to dad, now you know who he is, he is a life saver. She pushed his head away, he stared at him dolefully thrusting his lips out. George pulled him to his chest and patted his back. I’m sorry dad, he uttered and finally drops of tears washed his face too. It’s okay Ed. Now what would you tell all? His mom asked. “My dad saves lives, not money.” She let her tears of joy flow smoothing his hair. Listen Ed, learn to love without expectations. Don’t love me because of what I do, love me just because I’m your dad. Is that clear? Yes dad, I always had loved you from my heart, but at school…… I had no escape. Everyone asked me the same question and I had no answer. I was ……exhausted. Sorry dad, I had hurt you. He bent his head down. I understand Ed. Okay okay, stop the sad stories. Let me tell you all a healing story, Elsa acted up for the occasion. There lived a man who lived in peace while we all lived to attain peace someday. He never took money for a job, he could have joined the professional life savers crew but he didn’t, he loved cooking for his small family of a wife and son, he was blessed from all around the world every time he saved strangers, yet he couldn’t make his son love him, he cried all night with the rain on the shore and now he smiles in the sun with his life doing summersault in a boat. Everyone giggled as the boat parked on the shore. Ed now ran down to the car, George walked her wife resting his hands on her waist. The next day she woke up on their bed naked at twelve in the morning and cursed about her job.