A Short Story on the Website of |
Bread on the Water
The handsome English professor, Joseph
Richardson, nodded when the pretty coed stopped at his table. “I loved your
lecture today.” Her painted fingernails tapped the table. Bottom five percent brains, top five in
looks, he thought. “I thought your last novel was the best of
all.” “Thanks.” It was already a best seller, but
it would be nothing when his next book came out. Her
pointed shoe tapped. “How can I raise my grade in your class?” The professor
tossed a bill on the table and stood. “Make up old assignments and turn the
rest in on time and you might pass.” Richardson brushed past her, nodded at the
waitress and drove his Escalade toward home. A
year earlier, He’d swallowed his front teeth when a student on athletic
scholarship punched him when he posted semester grades. Students seemed worse
by the day. He wore false teeth since that event and
he took them out when he got home. He donned a greasy mechanic’s jump suit, a
shapeless hat and blackened his nails with dirt from the back flowerbed. His
’72 pickup sputtered as he drove toward Curly’s truck-stop diner. Curley’s was just off the interstate. “Hi,
Ginny,” he greeted the redheaded waitress with the gray streak at her part, as
he entered. A moment later, she handed him a coffee with two sugars and two
creams. “Thanks,
Sweetheart,” Joseph mumbled as he opened his spiral notebook and borrowed a pen
topped with a fake flower. “How’s
the book coming, Joe?” Ginny spoke in the sugared tone a young woman uses to a
deaf, old man. “Comin’ ‘long.” He murmured. “You’s t’
star, ya know.” He held up the notebook, but his scrawling long-hand was
unreadable to her. “I’m sure it’s grand.” She patted his
shoulder and turned to her paying customers. “Get
rid of that bum.” Curley didn’t lower his voice. “He’s harmless. Cain’t say that ‘bout most
folks.” She lisped a little through broken teeth. Joseph
watched Curley press a slice of ham on the grill. “I’m givin’ Ginny half the
cash when it’s published, ya know.” Curley wagged his head. Ginny grinned. “Thanks, Joe. Maybe I’ll
buy me an SUV.” The customers laughed with her. Joseph
grinned toothlessly. “Whatever you like, Sweetheart.” Joseph Richardson’s “Roadhouse” was a
best-seller in its first week. The famous author resigned his professorship.
Ginny bought an SUV and got her teeth fixed. |
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