Melissa

Glen knew it was Melissa. It was her time to call. She called when it got dark. He picked up.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Glen.”

That was all. Then silence. It stayed like that, always, until he said the next thing. What if he didn’t say anything? What if he hung up?”

“Hi, Melissa. What’s going on?”

The thing with Melissa’s mom was over. Glen met Judy in a bar. She needed a lift home. It was understood he’d be coming inside.

“I miss you, Glen”

“I miss you, too, Melissa.”

“Then come over.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not your mom’s boyfriend anymore.”

“But you’re still my boyfriend.”

Melissa worried about things. Her mom couldn’t take care of herself, let alone a little kid. What Judy could do was attract men, but all the wrong kind. The night Glen and Judy met she’d already been in a car crash. She was drunk and ran into a tree. She walked back to the bar.

“Melissa, we talked about that.”

“Talk about it more.”

Glen did like her, but Melissa liked him too much. It was his fault. He brought her candy and presents. He spent time with her. He let her sit on his lap. Judy was a problem from the start. She did drugs. She drank too much. She went out and left Melissa alone. Melissa slept on the couch. She was afraid of her room. Not all the time. Only when it got dark.

“How was school?”

“School was fine. I hate it there.”

“If it’s fine, why do you hate it?”

“Because everything is fine and I hate everything.”

“What did you have for supper?”

“Fish sticks, but they were still cold inside.”

“Did your mom cook them?”

“No.”

Judy was out again. He should go over there. He should buy a bag of groceries and go over there. But then what?

“Are you alone?”

“Not if you come over. Bring a Happy Meal.”

There was something wrong from the accident. Something broken inside. Cracked ribs? A spine injury? Sex hurt. Judy cried out in pain, or bit her lip and whimpered.

“Let’s stop,” Glen said. “This is too much.”

“Don’t,” Judy said, “it’s the only thing that makes sense.”

Judy always wanted to go out. Glen offered to pay for a sitter. It never happened. Neither of them knew any babysitters. So Glen brought liquor and Judy shared her drugs. They watched TV. Sometimes they fought. Often it got ugly. One time the drugs ran out and Judy blamed Glen. He had to buy more. He had to go out and come back with drugs.

“I can’t do that.”

“Then give me some money and I’ll go.”

“How much?”

“Fifty.”

Glen gave Judy the money, and she left, but not right away. First she changed her clothes and put on make-up.

“How long will you be gone?”

“I don’t know. An hour, maybe two.”

Glen had a pizza delivered. He and Melissa watched TV. They fell asleep together on the couch.

“Who is this joker?” Judy was back, but not alone.

“Nobody,” Judy said, “the babysitter.”

“Then it’s time for the babysitter to leave.”

Melissa woke up and covered her face with her hands.

“Melissa,” Judy had her by the arm. “Go to your room. Now!”

The guy took a twenty from his wallet and tossed it at Glen.

“No, thanks.”

“Hey, if you’re the babysitter you get paid. If you’re not the babysitter, who the fuck are you?”

This was a big guy. Glen wasn’t a fighter. He took the twenty and left.

The calls started a couple day later. They always ended the same, with Melissa crying, and Glen wanting to kill himself.

“What kind of Happy Meal?”

“I don’t care,” Melissa said, “nuggets and a girl toy.”

“I’ll be there.”