Season1/Chapter5
"Privacy"
Eleanor Kingston was in the kitchen. She was preparing dinner for herself and Atlas Kingston. Preparing dinner was always a chore for her. It reminded her that she was setting the table for two instead of three. Atlas walked in and sat at the table. he said, "Hi. It's going to be a wet one tonight." Eleanor said, "Yes, the weather channel said it was going to pour like cats and dogs tonight." Atlas took a glass and filled it with ice-tea. He took a second glass and filled that one for his wife. He said, "What are we having this evening?" Eleanor opened the oven and said, "Roasted chicken and vegetables. I also picked up an apple pie for desert." Atlas smiled and said, "Sounds delicious." They sat down and ate. As they ate, they both had thoughts about the empty third seat at the table.
"He would have been seventeen this October," said Atlas. Eleanor lowered her head and said, "Don't dwell on it. It will only tear you up further." Atlas got up and went to the refrigerator and got the apple pie. He came back to the table. Eleanor had two smaller plates and utensils waiting. She cut a slice for her and then one for Atlas. They each took a piece and started eating. Eleanor said, "When we are done with him, he will wish our son had never taken his class." Atlas looked at his wife and saw the steel demeanor. He said, "Yes dear. I believe you are right." Eleanor finished her pie and stood up. She gathered the rest of the empty plates and utensils. She placed them in the dishwasher and turned it on. Atlas said, "What about my plate?" Eleanor said, "Put it in the sink. I'll clean it later."
They went to the living room when Atlas was finished with his pie. They sat down and faced each other. Atlas said, "Is there something bothering you?" Eleanor said, "There are many things bothering me?" Atlas shifted in his seat and said, "I mean more than usual. You seem a tad out of sorts." She smiled and said, "I'm fine. We have a full plate and I worry sometimes. I'm sure things will work themselves out." She reached over to the coffee table and got the novel she was reading. Atlas watched his wife and said, "Are you sure? If it's our friend in the cellar, I wouldn't give it much thought." She smiled again and said, "Something has come up at work, I'll handle it." Atlas was keen to his wife's moods and he said, "If you need my help, please let me know." "It won't be a problem," she said. "Just a nuisance and unfinished business." Atlas was silent for a little while and then he said, "Is it going to be messy? You tend to make a mess." Eleanor shook her head and said, "You handle things your way and I'll handle things my way." She stop reading and looked at him. She then said, "Makes for a strong and healthy marriage. Don't you agree?" Atlas shook his head and said, "Yes dear. It does."
Atlas went to bed early as usual. Eleanor continued reading her novel. Once she was sure Atlas was fast asleep, she got her cell phone and dialed Anderson Reed. He answered on the first ring. He said, "Hello beautiful. How goes it?" Eleanor was not in the mood and she got right to business. She said, "I got the money. Where and when?" Reed said, "Hold up. Not so fast. Let's talk a little." Eleanor said, "This is not a social call. Let's get this done so I'll never have to see you again." Reed started to get angry. He said, "Well, if that's how you want to be, so be it." "When and where," said Eleanor. Reed said, "The Motel Six out on U.S.1. We'll have our privacy." He then laughed and was amused with himself. Eleanor said, "That's where, when?" "How about tomorrow night, say around 7:00 PM. Is that good for you?" Eleanor said, "Fine, I'll be there." She hung up. She felt relief because Reed was still predictable. She leaned back in her chair and thought, "Yes, we will have our privacy."
"Privacy"
Eleanor Kingston was in the kitchen. She was preparing dinner for herself and Atlas Kingston. Preparing dinner was always a chore for her. It reminded her that she was setting the table for two instead of three. Atlas walked in and sat at the table. he said, "Hi. It's going to be a wet one tonight." Eleanor said, "Yes, the weather channel said it was going to pour like cats and dogs tonight." Atlas took a glass and filled it with ice-tea. He took a second glass and filled that one for his wife. He said, "What are we having this evening?" Eleanor opened the oven and said, "Roasted chicken and vegetables. I also picked up an apple pie for desert." Atlas smiled and said, "Sounds delicious." They sat down and ate. As they ate, they both had thoughts about the empty third seat at the table.
"He would have been seventeen this October," said Atlas. Eleanor lowered her head and said, "Don't dwell on it. It will only tear you up further." Atlas got up and went to the refrigerator and got the apple pie. He came back to the table. Eleanor had two smaller plates and utensils waiting. She cut a slice for her and then one for Atlas. They each took a piece and started eating. Eleanor said, "When we are done with him, he will wish our son had never taken his class." Atlas looked at his wife and saw the steel demeanor. He said, "Yes dear. I believe you are right." Eleanor finished her pie and stood up. She gathered the rest of the empty plates and utensils. She placed them in the dishwasher and turned it on. Atlas said, "What about my plate?" Eleanor said, "Put it in the sink. I'll clean it later."
They went to the living room when Atlas was finished with his pie. They sat down and faced each other. Atlas said, "Is there something bothering you?" Eleanor said, "There are many things bothering me?" Atlas shifted in his seat and said, "I mean more than usual. You seem a tad out of sorts." She smiled and said, "I'm fine. We have a full plate and I worry sometimes. I'm sure things will work themselves out." She reached over to the coffee table and got the novel she was reading. Atlas watched his wife and said, "Are you sure? If it's our friend in the cellar, I wouldn't give it much thought." She smiled again and said, "Something has come up at work, I'll handle it." Atlas was keen to his wife's moods and he said, "If you need my help, please let me know." "It won't be a problem," she said. "Just a nuisance and unfinished business." Atlas was silent for a little while and then he said, "Is it going to be messy? You tend to make a mess." Eleanor shook her head and said, "You handle things your way and I'll handle things my way." She stop reading and looked at him. She then said, "Makes for a strong and healthy marriage. Don't you agree?" Atlas shook his head and said, "Yes dear. It does."
Atlas went to bed early as usual. Eleanor continued reading her novel. Once she was sure Atlas was fast asleep, she got her cell phone and dialed Anderson Reed. He answered on the first ring. He said, "Hello beautiful. How goes it?" Eleanor was not in the mood and she got right to business. She said, "I got the money. Where and when?" Reed said, "Hold up. Not so fast. Let's talk a little." Eleanor said, "This is not a social call. Let's get this done so I'll never have to see you again." Reed started to get angry. He said, "Well, if that's how you want to be, so be it." "When and where," said Eleanor. Reed said, "The Motel Six out on U.S.1. We'll have our privacy." He then laughed and was amused with himself. Eleanor said, "That's where, when?" "How about tomorrow night, say around 7:00 PM. Is that good for you?" Eleanor said, "Fine, I'll be there." She hung up. She felt relief because Reed was still predictable. She leaned back in her chair and thought, "Yes, we will have our privacy."
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