The bar wasn’t a trend setter, in fact it was standard, Utah. In Utah liquor stores were State Liquor Stores, ran like a pharmacy and the customers treated like recovering addicts on methadone. Utah bars were not far behind. But it was a bar, and there were people in it.
Frank found his way to this bar more often than not. He led an uneventful life with an uneventful SSI check to pay the rent, and the bar tab. The only excitement in his life was the little girl he and four friends picked up in a local park. She’d been coming around over the past few weeks. No idea of what was really going on there, but a saucy curiosity. Then one night she was convinced to smoke something she’d only heard about and woke up on a bed in the back of an RV with a line of new friends just outside the bedroom door to make her acquaintance. By the time she landed on her front lawn she was wiser.
When the police didn’t come around Frank thanked his lucky stars. He didn’t have remorse, but he did have fear. He was glad the girl didn’t die, not because he cared, but because that would have involved the police. It had become obvious that the girl had survived and chose to hide her shame. By the time it was his turn that night she was in shock. So much so that when her legs were poked with a knife she didn’t flinch. They didn’t even put her in the cab of the pickup, opting instead to lay her in the bed of the truck, and discarding her like a sack of grain on her mother’s yard. She lived. Frank had even seen her recently at the peach parade. She stared right through him, as if he wasn’t even there! Stupid, unblinking eyes. She should have been happy with that night. A girl like that would never find a man. Did she recognize him? Probably not. When he was on top of her, she didn’t even move.
Frank didn’t have a girlfriend. He was at a bar, which in any place else would give a chance of a meeting. Not here!
He wasn’t exactly a catch and Utah wasn’t exactly California. Another Saturday night and he ain’t got nobody. Ain’t got no money ‘cause he just got drunk. Time to call it a day.
His trailer which was nearby was cold and damp. Dirty dishes, dirty clothes, dirty life. When you run out of money in a bar, and there’s nothing to drink at home you feel like hell! A bath! Wash the pain away.
He drew hot water and slipped into the tub. It didn’t cure all but he did feel better. Leaning back in the tub he splashed water across his face. Better. Closing his eyes, he drifted off for a moment. The feeling of something in the room woke him.
Opening his eyes, he discovered a girl in a hoodie standing beside the bathtub.
“Wakey wakey?” she inquired.
Frank had been trying to to soak off the effects of the bar, but it had not restored his coordination yet, and the few drinks that were still in his stomach when he walked home from the bar were now working their way across his small intestines and having a good old time. His arms and legs would simply not let him sit up with any proficiency.
“How did you get in here?”
“Through the door,” she pointed. “This is a bad neighborhood. You should be more careful.”
She pulled a chair over from the vanity and sat in it beside the tub. Reaching over to the lavatory she retrieved a paper grocery bag and sat it on her lap.
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
Frank shook his head, “Should I?”
She pulled her hoodie from her head. Then pulling her jeans up, revealed a scar. “You’d think after you do something like this you would.”
Frank made a stronger effort to rise from the tub, but the girl effortlessly pushed him back into the water. Ah ah ah! We’re not done here yet.”
At that she pulled a small clock radio from the the bag, reached over to the vanity and plugged it in. All the hot water in the tub couldn’t sober Frank up any faster!
“W. .w. .wait! Look, I know you’re upset . . .”
“You bet I am.”
“Honey, you can’t just do this.”
“Sure I can . . . watch.” She now dangled the radio over the water, swinging it like a pendulum. Looking through the water at his groin she said, “Whoa! It actually got smaller. That’s ok. I’ll bet I can fire it up.”
A strange sense of peace came over him. “Please. I will turn myself in. I’ll confess and take my medicine. I’ll even turn in the guys I . . .”
She cut him off. “No worries. There’ll be only one left now. After tonight of course. Do you need a minute to pray?”
Frank was struck dumb. Karly slowly dipped the radio into the water. Frank began to spasm. She pulled the radio out. He sank beneath the water. Tilting her head she dipped it again. More jerking. She did this twice more until the breaker interrupted the ritual. Moonlight bathed the room as she removed the clock and made sure Frank was properly submerged.
“Safety first. Electrical items should never be so close to water in the bath. Dropping the clock into the water she said, “Water sure is dirty. Diarrhea?” And she walked out of Frank’s life forever.
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