Glass Menagerie: A Narrative Fiction

She's been acting weird since the night of the play... we made plans for lunch easiler, and I need to get there a little early so I can talk to Andrea about the plans for Melinda's birthday.

"Hey," I say walking inside.

"Hey!" Andrea exclaims and walks toward me. "I don't think we're going to be able to do Melinda's party."

"I was going to say the same thing," I sigh and look to see Melinda on the phone in the back.

"I don't get it at all. I mean, she's not vain in anyway," she says quietly. "Why does she dislike her birthday so much?"

"Something to do with her mother. They had a falling out before we even got together." I explain. "I've only met the woman myself once. And it was on accident at the supermarket when we were engaged."

"Wow,"

Maybe I should call her. Yeah, calling her would end better than her finding out later on.

"Hey Jim, is everything okay?" Melinda says, answering on the first ring.

"Yes, everything is fine Mel. I just need to tell you something." I say, trying to focus on the road.

"Alright... what?" She asks, the mumbling of music in the background.

"Your mother called," I reply.

"You called to tell me that...? Couldn't this have waited until dinner?" She asks, her voice sounding more agitated.

"Well she asked me to come and see her for some reason." I say softly. "I just wanted to make sure you're alright with it."

"If you want to go, then go. I'm not gonna stop you," she sighs. "But now I have a migraine."

"I'm sorry." I say exiting the highway.

"Don't be," she says softly. "I know you only called so I wouldn't be mad later. And I love you for doing that."

"Well do you blame me?" I laugh uneasily.

"I've been a bitch lately haven't I?" She sighs.

She sounds remorseful, not that she needed to be... her mother put her through hell as a child.

"I wouldn't use that word... but you haven't been in the best of moods." I note.

"Sorry..." She

"And the price or size doesn't matter to her. She'll love it."

"You don't-" She mutters.

"I do know... I'll make sure of it." I say softly. "Just apologize, explain why you did what you did. She's the most forgiving person in the world and has the biggest heart."

"Alright..." She sighs. "You probably have somewhere to be."

"I'd like to beat her home and make dinner." I laugh.

"Well have a good night. Tell her I say hello." She says opening the door.

"I will," I say walking down the steps and my phone rings. "Hello?"

"Where are you?" Melinda asks.

"Just leaving your mother's why?" I say unlocking my truck. "Where are you?"

"In Hamilton, I need you to meet me at the Viewpoint Hotel." She explains. "It's downtown. You'll see my jeep."

"And why can't I just meet you at home?" I laugh.

"Because if you don't hurry... just get your ass over here. I'm in room 14." She mutters.

"Yes sir," I say hopping inside the car and waving to her mother before driving off.

I am excited.

Melinda and I hadn't been intimate since that night last week where I carried her from the kitchen.

She'd been so stressed and I was working night shifts.

But, room 14 here I