Morbid - 181 Another Weekend

Arnold finished out the week at college without any problems and went back to the dorm to change and to pack his bag for the weekend. He was going to show up early again, even though Annie knew he was coming and it wasn’t that much of a surprise for her. She still enjoyed seeing him early, so he would keep doing it when he could.

“There’s a rogue cop on the loose.” Dalla said when Arnold came into the room and she held up the newspaper. “This says he killed a couple of teenagers and now he’s dispatched the district attorney.”

“Dispatched?” Arnold asked and Dalla chuckled.

“One of the people the reporter interviewed said that.” Dalla handed him the paper. “They said that the cop was doing everyone a huge favor by getting rid of the corrupt system from the top down.”

“Is that true?” Arnold asked.

“I have no idea.” Dalla said. “I only get the paper for Ida, since it’s part of her project for the Liberal Arts professor. I had to call the newspaper to get copies of the back issues from when she started college.”

“Why?” Arnold asked and handed the paper back. There were almost no details about the crime itself and only had people’s reactions to what happened. They hadn’t even published the address.

“She’s making a Headlines of the Year scrapbook with her observations of our ‘culture’ of information.” Dalla said with a smile. “I tried to tell her how much work that was going to be and how big it could turn out to be. She just laughed and said she would just buy more scrapbooks and fill them.”

Arnold finished packing and then changed his clothes. Dalla watched him as if he was the most fascinating thing ever and then she felt anticipation when he walked over to her.

“Goodbye.” Arnold said and she puckered her lips for him and he kissed her.

“See you on Sunday.” Dalla said and Arnold nodded and walked over to the door. “Arnold.”

Arnold stopped walking and looked at her.

“Thank you for letting me stay over so much.”

Arnold walked back over to her and gave her another kiss for several seconds. “I know how important it is for you to be here as much as you can to take care of Ida.”

“It really is important to me.” Dalla said and cupped the sides of his face. “I appreciate you doing your best to not interfere with that.” She leaned in and gave him a long and tender kiss for almost ten seconds. “Thank you very much.”

Arnold stared into her eyes for several moments, then he stepped back and went for the door. Dalla watched him go and she was glad that she had changed her decision about sleeping with him. It never occurred to her that she could have both a work life that was all encompassing and a private life that she could keep to herself.

Arnold went home on the bus and the bus driver had an enlightening conversation with him. He knew a lot more than the paper did about the crimes that happened, unofficially of course, because it was mostly rumors and whispers from around the building where he worked and where he stopped to take breaks from driving. His details were fairly accurate, which meant information passed through professional channels fairly quickly, no matter the source.

The two hours passed quickly and Arnold was dropped off, with a little regret from the bus driver, because Arnold was such a good listener. Arnold walked over to the other bus stop several streets over and rode the normal line back to a nearby street to his home and walked there.

“Arnold!” Annie said excitedly when he came in through the front door of the house. She gave him a hug and a quick kiss. “How was your week? Did anything happen?”

“It was murder.” Arnold said and Annie laughed.

“It sure was!” Annie exclaimed and took his hand as she led him to the living room. “Everyone is talking about the district attorney and the scandal.”

“Scandal?” Arnold asked, just to see if she would confirm what the bus driver said.

“Beth told me yesterday that the DA’s wife has been sleeping around on him for years and he finally had enough.” Annie said and they settled down on the couch in their normal positions. “I know that they said a rogue cop was responsible; but, you don’t know how jealous some people can get when they think their loved ones are going to be taken away from them.”

“Is it always like that?” Arnold asked as he looked up from her lap.

“No.” Annie said and slowly rubbed his chest. “I bet if it was the DA having the affairs, the wife wouldn’t have cared.”

“Because she was getting it, too?” Arnold asked.

“No, because he had lots of money, fame, and was a part of high society.” Annie said. “Some women will give up pretty much everything to get into a position like that.”

“How do you find women like that?” Arnold asked.

Annie chuckled. “It’s actually really easy. You just need fame, fortune, and be a part of high society. Believe me, they will flock to you.”

Arnold had to think about that for a minute. “Is that related to procreation and continuing the species?”

“In some respects, yes. The woman would have access to food, wealth, and power. It’s the perfect breeding ground.”

“The DA didn’t have children.” Arnold said, sure of the fact. There were no pictures in the house that showed children or teenagers.

“It wasn’t for lack of trying.” Annie said. “I think that was why his wife started having affairs.”

Arnold closed his eyes and took a deep breath, let it out, then opened his eyes and looked up at his mother. “Why am I an only child?”

Annie was surprised for only a moment, then she smiled a smile that was as angelic as the one Arnold used. “That answer is as easy to say as it was for me to have you.” She leaned down to give him a quick kiss. “Once I had a son like you, there was no other room in my life for another child.” She said and her hand kept rubbing his chest. “I knew I needed to give you as much attention and love as I could. If I had another child, that would mean I couldn’t do that.”

“So, if I wasn’t me, you would have had more kids.” Arnold said.

“If you weren’t you, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” Annie chuckled. “There would be no point. Our lives might be different or they might be the same, just without you in it.” She said, then she gave him an intense stare. “However, you were born and I dedicated my life to you, and not once did I ever doubt my decision to do that.”

Her hand rubbed his buzz-cut blonde hair and she smiled at the two very different sensations her hands experienced.

“I also don’t regret it.” Annie said. “You are, and always will be, my smart little boy. If I had to do it all over again, I would still make the same decision to take care of you.”

Arnold stared up at her for a moment. “Thank you.” He said and puckered his lips.

Annie chuckled and leaned down to kiss him, then they spent the rest of the afternoon and evening watching television, with a short break for supper in between. After that, they changed for bed and cuddled together. Annie always slept better with Arnold home and she cherished her time with him.

The next day, the next door neighbour Beth needed help cleaning out one of her bedrooms. She had bought a new armoire and wanted an extra pair of hands. Annie volunteered Arnold, since she was doing a little baking and couldn’t do it herself. Arnold spent several hours at Beth’s place and came back freshly showered.

“Just in time.” Annie said and pulled a large pan of homemade tea biscuits from the oven. “The only thing better than eating hot tea biscuits is having them slathered in butter and then eating them.”

Arnold sat down at the kitchen table and he and his mother had tea and pretty much made a meal of the freshly baked tea biscuits.

“Why don’t you bring over a plate for Beth?” Annie asked when they were done eating their fill.

“She’s sleeping.” Arnold said. “I can bring some over later.”

Annie nodded and she and Arnold spent the rest of the day lightly cleaning. After the intense cleaning they had done under a month ago, only maintaining the house’s cleanliness didn’t take much work at all. Arnold brought over the tea biscuits to Beth and came back ten minutes later. Annie didn’t ask what happened and just assumed that Beth had talked to her son about something, probably about the possibility of doing more work around her house.

In actuality, Beth had been on her knees the entire time pleasing Arnold. He had asked her if she wanted it done to her and she said he could do it tomorrow, after he helped her with cleaning out some of the attic.

Arnold spent the evening with his mother and they talked about what to do next weekend, if he was still available. They planned for both eventualities, just in case, and Annie promised to not get her hopes up. Of course, she was lying through her teeth because she wanted to spend the time with her son while she had the chance and he wasn’t too busy. She knew all too well what it had been like with him busy and working every second or third weekend.

They slept in the same bed again and Annie wallowed in the uncomplicated warmth that her son gave her. She had felt guilty about it at first, since it wasn’t really what she should be doing; but, she loved him and he was all that she had in this world. Both her parents had passed away before Arnold was born and Gerald’s mother had run out on him when he was a teenager.

His dad was still alive; but, the man never approved of Annie and had disowned Gerald when he moved out to be with her. He hadn’t even come to his own son’s funeral, just to spite her. She hadn’t told Arnold any of that, though. Which was fortunate, because if she had, Gerald’s father wouldn’t have stayed in the world for much longer. She didn’t know that, though.

The next day was spent just hanging around at the house and they kept each other company. They cooked some, cleaned some, laid on the couch for a while, then they both grabbed books to browse. Annie’s was a dirty romance novel and Arnold’s was his quantum mechanics textbook. He struggled with it, just because it wasn’t really something he was interested in.

After a while, Arnold discussed with his mother about dropping the subject after getting the credit for the term. He would get a decent mark in it and that was all. He wasn’t going to follow up with anything that branched from it.

“Then there’s no point in continuing it.” Annie said without looking up from her book. “At least it will look good on your resume.”

Arnold nodded and closed the book, decided that he only needed to read the next chapter, which he had already done, and he moved over next to his mother on the couch and snuggled into her side. Or tried to. He wasn’t very successful.

“I think you’re too big for that to work.” Annie said with a chuckle and tried to accommodate him. It still didn’t work, so Arnold changed tactics and waved for her to snuggle into his side instead. Annie laughed and tried to tuck herself under his arm and turned slightly away as she laid against him, then she was pleasantly surprised that she actually fit and was comfortable.

“I can’t believe that worked.” Annie said, genuinely surprised. “You’ve grown a little bit more than I thought you did.”

Arnold had her in a half-hug and Annie took several relaxing breaths. She went back to her book and Arnold held her as he shared his body warmth with her. If you asked Annie at that moment what made her happy, she would point at the current situation and say ‘this right here’.

Arnold’s phone beeped at him and he took it out of his pocket and checked it. “Beth changed her mind and doesn’t need me to come over.”

“She might have someone coming over.” Annie suggested.

Arnold typed with one hand and sent the message. “She says an old friend from college.”

Annie looked up from her book, thought about it, then shrugged. “I didn’t go to college, so it can’t be anyone I know.”

“Okay.” Arnold said and typed it as well, then ended the conversation.

*

“Well, damn.” Beth said and looked at the last word Arnold sent to her and sighed. “I just hope he can forgive me for breaking our date.”

There was a honked horn and she stepped out of the house to wave at the older man. What Beth hadn’t told Arnold was that it was one of her old professors from college. He had tenure, a very high salary, and he didn’t mind showering her with jewellery and expensive dinners. He had called at the last minute to say that he was free and she pretty much dropped everything for him.

Beth would soon learn that it wasn’t a smart thing to do. The food was going to be sub-par and not very appetizing, the conversation was going to be dry and not inspired, and the sex was going to be the same as it had been the last two times they had been together. She would get a new pair of diamond earrings out of it at the end of the night and it still wasn’t going to be worth it.

Her snap decision had cost her Arnold.

*

Arnold and Annie had a late supper and Arnold left her with a kiss and a promise to be good. He rode the bus line back to the main line to the college and was surprised to see Heather waiting there.

“Oh, hi!” Heather said and gave him a hug. “I missed you on Friday’s bus.”

“I left at lunch.” Arnold said.

“Just my luck!” Heather laughed. “That would explain riding the bus pretty much alone.”

“Where’s Eric?” Arnold asked.

“The idiot volunteered for an after class project to construct a viable business model for a made up product.” Heather said with a sigh. “I was supposed to be spending the last two weekends with him and all I got for my troubles was sitting at the college last weekend and sitting at home this weekend.”

Arnold didn’t see anything wrong with that, so he stayed quiet.

“I’m thinking of breaking up with him.” Heather said and waited to see if Arnold would ask her why.

The bus they were waiting for came to a stop in front of them and they climbed aboard.

“Hey there, Arnold.” The bus driver said. “How’s your mom?”

“Happy.” Arnold said and swiped his bus pass.

“Having you home for nearly three days and all to herself? I can imagine so!” The bus driver laughed. “Howdy, miss.”

“Hi.” Heather said and paid the fee, a little confused. She put her bag on the rack next to Arnold’s bag and sat down next to him and whispered. “How do you know him?”

“He’s the bus driver.” Arnold said. “I’ve ridden the bus nearly every weekend since high school ended.”

Heather opened her mouth to respond, then what Arnold said hit her. “N-n-no, you… you didn’t…”

“Mom said I was lucky that I had to work the weekend that Brad and his friends wrecked the place.”

“A-Arnold, I… I’m so sorry.” Heather said as tears came to her eyes and she put her arms around him. “I didn’t know that you came home on the weekends during the summer.” She said and held back the sobs that tried to escape. “I thought you were safe at the college. I didn’t know that you were really in danger!”

Arnold nodded and didn’t say anything.

Heather let him go and used a tissue as she wiped at her eyes. “Are you…” She stopped herself before she asked if he was angry at her. “Are you going to ask me why I want to break up with Eric?”

“No.” Arnold said, because he assumed it would be a stupid reason, just like when she broke up with him.

Heather was a little surprised by his answer, then shrugged. “Well, anyway…” She started to tell him all about her Liberal Arts course and all of the wonderful things Miss Josephine was teaching her.

Arnold sat there and tuned her out, just as if he was watching television.

The bus driver had to stay quiet and he felt really bad for the poor kid having to listen to the pretty and self-important girl babbled into his ear for the whole two hour trip.