Mary's Heartache

Woman Vs. Words Day 5

Mary had spent her entire month’s pay on the photograph from Rensler’s and Ike was sure to love it. He’d been courting her for the last six months, promising her everything wonderful for their future. They’d have six children and he’d build her a house with his own hands. He’d promised she’d be a wonderful mother, and he, a faithful and loving husband.

Leaving Rensler’s studio, Mary’s heart was near to bursting. She almost skipped down the sidewalk, like a happy child, until she collected herself. The day was sunny and perfect, one of those clear summer afternoons that you didn’t want to end. Mary moved so quickly down Main that she almost missed Ike, but there he was, clear as day, walking on the other side of the street. 

“Ike!” Mary called, but he didn’t turn. “Ike, over here!”

The din of the streetcars and automobiles was too loud, and it wasn’t ladylike for her to be shouting like a loon. She was a lady. A lady with a beau and she had to behave as such. Straightening the front of her dress, Mary smiled in anticipation of surprising Ike. She’d gotten the photo for him, something he could keep on his nightstand to remember her by. 

Ike stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and a large smile grew across his face. He held his hands out to an approaching woman, and pulled her into a long embrace. Mary’s face warmed when she realized that Clara Franklin, the same girl they attended school with, was the recipient of that grand grin. Mary inched between two parked cars, about ready to jaywalk, when Ike placed a tender kiss on Clara. He grabbed the pretty brown-skinned girl by the hand, and pulled her into the ice cream parlor.

Mary wanted to cross the street and follow them into the creamery, but her shoes felt full of lead. She’d seen everything with her own two eyes. The embrace, the kiss. It felt like being doused with a bucket of cold water, right there on Main Street. While everyone else still whistled and carried on, Mary’s life stopped right there. 

She bit the side of her lip, then turned to walk home. 

It wasn’t a full hour later when a knock sounded on the front door. She’d been crying since the minute she stepped foot in the house, mourning the future Ike led her to believe they’d have together. Mary had walked in the house and dropped the photograph in the trash, angry at herself for being so foolish.

“Heya Mary, what do you know?” Ike cheesed as she opened the door, oblivious to all she’d watched.

“Don’t play games with me Ike, I saw you.”

“What do you mean? You saw me where?” Ike pulled his hat from his head and swiped at his sweaty brow. The brow Mary once loved to kiss now seemed disgusting.

“I was downtown and I saw you kiss Clara Franklin. It’s over Ike.” The tears she’d been battling for the last hour, started up again, making Mary heat with shame. It was one thing to cry alone, and something else completely to cry in front of the man who’d caused the tears.

“Me and Clara? Don’t cry, Mary. Clara’s only my friend.” Ike stuttered like an old frog, bellowing a sad song.

“I saw you kiss her. I ain’t never kissed friends like that.”

“Come on Mary, you must have been seeing things. I didn’t kiss her. I saw her in front of the ice cream parlor and walked her inside. Had to speak to her about something special for you.”

Mary studied Ike the way archaeologist studied bones. She looked at him carefully, taking in the lines on his forehead and the way he folded his arms. He was lying, sure as the sun rose every morning, but Mary stopped to think. Did she care? Maybe she had been seeing things. The day had been extremely bright. From the expression on Ike’s face, maybe he hadn’t kissed her. The tears subsided and Mary wiped her face.

“I’m going to go inside, Ike and rest. Will you call on me later?” Mary asked.

“Of course I will.” Ike leaned in to kiss her, but she pushed him away when she spotted her mother coming up the walk.

Ike turned at the noise behind him and straightened. “Good afternoon Mrs. Coleman. Nice day, isn’t it?”

“It’s a beautiful day.” Mary’s mother eyed Ike with a fierce cut of brow, making him step down from the stoop. He tipped his hat at the women and promised Mary he’d call on her later. In an effort to keep her mother from seeing her face, Mary took the brown paper bag of groceries from her mother and pushed inside the house. 

 “What’s he doing, sniffing around here?” Mrs. Coleman followed Mary into the kitchen, passing the refuse. She looked down into it to find the photo Mary had hastily thrown away.

“Mary! Where’d you get this?” Mrs. Coleman pulled the still from the garbage, bringing it closer to her face to study it.

“I took it, but I don’t like it. I look silly,” Mary lied. There was no way she’d tell her mother the truth.

“You look beautiful. Why would you throw it away? Can I keep it? I love it so.” Mrs. Coleman cuddled the picture to her chest, then pulled Mary into a hug.

“Of course you can keep it. Do you really think I look beautiful?” 

Mrs. Coleman’s smile completely changed Mary’s entire afternoon. “Yes, I think you’re perfect and so is this picture.” She crossed the kitchen, sweeping into the family room, setting the photograph on the fireplace mantel.

“You’re beautiful and don’t you let anyone else, especially Ike Smith, treat you any differently.” Mrs. Coleman winked and disappeared into the kitchen. 

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This short story was written as part of my Woman Vs. Words Challenge. Learn more here on my Youtube Page.