September 24th: Third Party by BBM-Cat
She fixed her hair, put on a dab of lip color, and one of her better dresses to meet Ennis friend from Texas; a reddish-orange, one-piece knit, matching the reddish highlights in her hair. It was also a bit clingy, showcasing her feminine breasts. Alma was very excited to think they were going on a social outing, and with a Texas gentleman. She couldnt remember the last time she and Ennis had gone out together, much less taken a guest out to eat. She planned to suggest the Knife and Fork to Ennis.
Alma thought Ennis was behaving particularly nervous. Shed never seen him down so many beers and chain-smoke in such a short period of time. He sat staring out the window as if compelling his friend to materialize. Alma realized she didnt know much about Ennis friend. She wanted to ask Ennis, but he didnt look like he wanted to be bothered with a bunch of questions or with small-talk. He was also getting rather drunk. The afternoon dragged on. Jenny was getting hungry. It didnt look like Ennis friend Jack was going to show after all. By late afternoon, her suggestion of going to the Knife and Fork was rejected.
Alma felt rejected too. She finished feeding the last bites of Jennys dinner at the table. She was silently brooding about not getting to go out. It seemed things always had to be Ennis way. Just in case, Alma decided not to change out of her dress so that she could still look her best if Ennis friend arrived. And maybe Ennis would change his mind. Alma got up to clear the dishes from the table. She heard Ennis jump up and bolt out of the apartment door. Alma thought that maybe she too should go outside to greet Ennis friend, though it was certainly more proper to bring a guest to the door.
Alma put the last of the dishes in the sink and dried her hands on a kitchen towel. Making her way over to the apartment door, she wondered why Ennis had not yet brought his friend up to meet her. She opened the inner door of the apartment, expecting to see Ennis barging up the steps with his friend, or to hear their boisterous greetings. Instead, it was strangely quiet. She put her hand on the screen door. She stopped suddenly, after pushing it open with a slight creak.
Completely stunned, Alma could see Ennis in the far stairwell with a man in a red shirt. A cowboy hat lay on the ground. They were pressed up tightly against each other, Ennis' shirt untucked, hands touching each other's faces, kissing passionately. She didnt want to look, but at the same time, she couldnt tear her eyes away. She wasnt exactly sure what she saw. She knew she didn't want them to see her. Alma thought that maybe if she crept back quietly into the apartment, the images would go away, though the sudden sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach did not.