A Sampler Pack

by Jill Cooper

May 14th, Monday Morning

  The Monroe Home: 15 Candy Cane Lane

  Susan Marie wasn’t ready to face the world. Dreams lingered in her head while she lay cocooned under her thick comforter. She was aware of Jeff’s warm body beside her as his calloused fingers found her supple hips and rocked her backwards.

  A playful smile curled her lips. Her head rolled onto his pillow and his lips kissed her neck. She murmured as she tilted back so their open mouths could greet. Jeff tasted as salty as last night’s dinner and her heart quickened as his lips massaged hers.

  Hungrily, her teeth pulled on his skin and she felt his desire heighten against her hip. His arms tightened around her small frame and his hands cupped her breasts beneath her nightgown. Susan’s skin tingled and a long breath expelled from her lungs. Jeff kissed the nape of her neck, softly laughing against her skin. “You’re awake now, I bet.” His hot breath tickled her earlobe until she could barely stand it.

  Susan moaned, turning to catch a small glimpse at her sexy husband. They were no longer newlyweds but he could still make her feel like it sometimes. “In a dreamlike state, but I’m managing so far.”

  Outside of their cozy bedroom came the sound of heavy footsteps. Susan knew what was coming next and wanted to pull the covers over their heads. It was the voice of their teenage daughter, Marie. “Mom! Jake is hogging the television remote again!”

  More footsteps charged after their room. “You know Happy Days is only on before school. I didn’t want to miss my favorite episode.” Jake was a year older than his sister, but they were often mistaken for twins.

  “The both of you are going to be late for the bus, so please hightail it downstairs and eat your breakfast, the both of you,” Jeff said sternly, waiting for the whine and clumping footsteps to follow. He laughed and smoothed his wife’s hair back. They shared another kiss. “Welcome to the real world.”

  “That’s for sure,” Susan sighed. “Why was it we wanted to have two?”

  “So Jake would have someone to be friends with.” Jeff reminded her and they both chuckled. For a moment Susan laid against him, her head on his shoulder. He rubbed her arm and kissed her forehead. With great reluctance she pulled herself out of bed and dressed for another busy day in New Haven 56.

  Susan had adjusted to life there pretty well over the last eighteen years. Besides, if it wasn’t for the New Haven project, she never would have met Jeff. And most likely she would have ended up dead.

  Susan was a striking woman with tight skin, long brown hair and almond shaped eyes. She dressed in a long blue pencil skirt and a white blouse, accenting her look with pearls and a pair of heels that matched her skirt. Her hair was spiraled into a French twist, and she put final coat of red lipstick against her pouty mouth. An expert time manager, her look was complete in less than twenty minutes.

  She arrived in the kitchen on schedule. It was spacious and just like most of the kitchens on the block, but Susan liked how it faced the morning sun. She made it her own, thanks to her handmade flower decorations. She bustled among the framed photos of special memories and Christmas holidays while Jeff dressed to open Dusty’s restaurant and pub.

  Susan made the kids’ lunches, stowed them in their steel lunchboxes, and lined them up on the counter. “Kids, your lunches are ready!” She poured herself a cup of coffee and placed the cereal bowls in the dishwasher.

  Jeff was huddled over the New Haven Chronicle, reading the editorial section. Susan rubbed his shoulder while she peered at the headline. “Local Glistening Stirs up Trouble with Protests.” As she read it, Susan’s stomach was gripped with nerves and her coffee was no longer appealing. She placed it down on the yellow laid-tile island. “He’s going to get us all in trouble.”

  Jeff folded the newspaper and threw a glance back. “Relax, babe. It’s no different than it was last week and the week before. We’ll keep our heads down and we’ll be fine.” He rubbed her arm and accepted the kiss she gave him. “Got any big plans for today?”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary. I might steam the rugs.”

  “They certainly could use it. Harvey keeps using them as his litter box.”

  Didn’t Susan know it. “Kids!” She bellowed once more and this time was greeted with the rushing of feet. She inspected her children as they entered the kitchen. Both of them appeared to be well groomed. Marie had long brown hair tied back with a pink scarf that matched her long hemmed poodle skirt and shoes. Jake was a good-looking seventeen-year-old with rosy cheeks. Since he was captain of New Haven’s football team, he was rarely seen without his football jersey. “Well,” Susan said proudly, “don’t you two clean up nice?”

  “You’d rarely suspect them as ours.” Jeff agreed with a sip of Susan’s coffee.

  “Stop teasing us,” Marie said with a roll of her eyes. “We know Jake doesn’t clean up well at all.”

  Susan tried not to giggle while Jake’s cheeks flushed and his nose turned up like a pig’s. “You’re going to let her talk to me like that?”

  “It was a joke.” Marie folded her arms in front of her. “Tell him, Mom.”

  “It was a joke,” Susan brushed off Jake’s shoulders. “And you look handsome as ever.” Her smile glowed and inside a well of pride sprung a leak.

  Jake’s expression softened. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Now off to school.” Susan headed to the counter as Marie picked up her lunch, but Jake stepped forward. He fiddled with his jacket and his face turned down while he chewed on his lip. “Mom.” There was a tremor to his voice. “We’re out of eggs and milk. I was wondering when you were going to get new rations.”

  Jeff cast him a stern look. “If there aren’t eggs and milk, eat something else. You think it’s easy running a house with four mouths to feed?”

  Marie’s nose turned up. “You always eat more than your share. It’s not fair to the rest of us, you know.”

  “Stop it, kids. No fighting.” Susan sighed. “I’m heading to the market today to pick up a few more rations, but it’ll have to hold us until the end of the week. We’ve almost used up all of our monthly spending points.”

  “We could eat out.” Jake suggested.

  “That takes money and you know there isn’t enough to go around. You like this house heated and with cable TV? You like those stylish clothes on your back?” Jeff stood and shoved his bar stool into the kitchen island.

  The teenagers eyed it and the air in the room thickened. “He doesn’t mean it, Daddy. Do you?” Marie turned toward her brother, her ponytail lashing at the back of her neck.

  “No.” Jake said quietly. His cheeks reddened. “I’m happy to eat whatever Mom can cook up.”

  Susan patted his cheek. “Good, boy. Better get off to school. The bus will be outside any moment.” She kissed each of their cheeks and handed Jake his lunch. “No trading at the lunch table again, understand?” The front door latched and Susan pivoted, placing her hands on her hips.

  “What?” Jeff asked, placing her drained coffee mug in the dishwasher. “He’s insensitive and selfish.”

  “In other words,” Susan said, grinning, “a teenager.”

  “Well, I don’t have to like it.” Jeff huffed. His shoulders relaxed when Susan kissed his cheek.

  “He’ll be our boy again once he’s through this phase. He’s a good kid, you know that.”

  “I know, I know. I guess I just remember being him, before I moved here. What a dope I was to both my parents.” Jeff shook his head.

  Susan rarely heard him talk about his time before New Haven, and she tried to pretend such times never existed. Her fingers twisted together and spun her wedding ring while her shoulders inched up her ears. “Speaking of your parents, we’re going to meet them this Sunday for some bingo after church service. I’m making an upside down pineapple cake.”

  “Not more bingo.” He sighed. “Can’t we just serve the cake here?”

  “I love bingo and you love me, so therefore…” Something on the counter caught Susan�
��s attention; it was Marie’s metal thermos. Eyes wide, Susan snatched it and charged out the front door. She sprinted down the street and over the residential hill. At the corner stood a group of students. The girls were dressed in proper skirts and high heels, while the boys wore pressed shirts and khaki pants. “Marie!” Susan called as the bus squealed beside them in a rolling stop.

  Marie glanced up with surprise, clutching her lunchbox in one hand and her school books in another.

  Her mother offered her the thermos. “Sweetheart, you forgot your liquefied organ juice!”

  Marie grinned and kissed her mom’s cheek. “Thanks, Mom! I don’t know what I’d do without you!”