[STORY] TRAPPED IN THE MIDDLE (Episode 10)

Episode 10.

Mama was kind enough to have served me another plate of food.

I settled down to eat, as I listened to a joke Mama was cracking.

I was already choking in laughter, to mama’s funny tale when we both heard the sound of the door to the parlor, open.

Tricia walked in with two big bags in both hands, and coming right in after her, was the little girl staying with Mama.

Priscilla (the little girl) ran towards me screaming, “Daddy Greg, good morning”.

I hurriedly secured the future of my delicious plate of food, positioned well for the “incoming hug” before Priscilla even made it to me.

Tricia quietly walked into the kitchen without a word.

(I couldn’t tell if she’d exchanged greetings with Mama while I was busy in that hug with Priscilla but I sure knew Tricia said not even a word to me).

I didn’t make so much out of what just played out at first. Not until after I was done clearing my second plate of food and Tricia was still not back out.

Moments later, I excused myself and headed into the bedroom in search of Tricia. I got into our bedroom, looked around, called out to her when she was nowhere in sight but I got no response.

On my way back into the seating room, I walked passed the kitchen (after hearing a chatter in there), to find Tricia slicing onions.

I went in, and held Tricia by her waist.

“Good morning baby. How was your night?” I asked.

No response.

“I woke up from bed and couldn’t find you anywhere, baby. I would have reported you missing if I hadn’t had company in mama”. I said, trying to somehow crack Tricia up to smile but little did I know that the more I spoke, the more I let out words that made my case worse.

“So this company was the reason you couldn’t have at least, dialed my number to be sure I was fine, yeah?” Tricia asked, in a tone devoid of EVERYTHING.

Then it hit me.

I actually didn’t make any effort to find Tricia after I woke up to find out that she was nowhere in sight.

I honestly didn’t think I needed to.

Now that I think of it, connecting Tricia’s demeanor when she walked in, her silence and refusal to respond to my greetings moments ago and then to this emotionless expression of thoughts, I didn’t know what to think or say anymore.

I knew that trying to defend my actions would only spite Tricia more, so I did the only reasonable thing I could think of at the time.

I apologized for not exhausting every means to find my wife (even when I didn’t think she was missing in the first place).

I smothered Tricia with kisses until I heard her brake into a giggle.

Tricia playful slapped and pushed me off of her. She then proceeded to trow a slice from the onions she’d chopped, at me. I dodged it and ran towards her in a playful aggressive manner. This got Tricia jittering, standing still then screaming “baby Nooo!” while at the same time attempting to duck for cover.

I held Tricia close, planted her a kiss, then followed it up with a whisper of “I’m sorry” into her ears.
.
“Baby you need to taste what Mama made for us, for breakfast. I’m sorry I couldn’t wait for us to eat togeth…”.

Mama walked in just before I could finish that thought, with plates in hand.

Tricia turned towards Mama, with a smile…

“Mama! Greg was just singing praises of the breakfast you made. Thank you ma, for fixing him something in my absence”. Tricia said, the nicest anyone could have.

“HE’S MY SON! YOU DON’T NEED TO THANK ME FOR COOKING HIM BREAKFAST, TRICIA”. Mama blurted.

“I’m sorry Mama, I didn’t mean it in that manner…”

“…I don’t know how you meant it, but I’m sure you understood perfectly how I meant mine”.

Mama dumped the plates she was holding in the sink and walked right out, afterwards.

To be continued… . . .