Natalia sat at the table with Joseph over a coffee. Big Lucy was telling them some stories over her younger years in Texas before she moved in with her uncle. Natalia was cracking his face while’s Joseph’s face rarely cracked a smile.
He didn’t find much of anything humorous. Natalia tilts her head. “Is that Tony?” she asked looking at Joseph. He nods to her with a faint smile. She knew that was his proud smile that she was honing her senses.
The door opens and Tony enters the café. Big Lucy gets up smiling at Tony. “Looks like I have to get back to work little one.” She told Natalia. “No, no. I’m just here to talk to Joseph, in private please.” Tony said. “Then you can come with me Nats.” Big Lucy said taking her hand. “Fluffy Bottoms says you’re seeing Drew Carson.” Natalia reports. Big Lucy places her hand over Natalia’s mouth and does a nervous chuckle.
Tony raises eyebrow and sits with Joseph. “So what do you want to talk about?” Joseph asks his friend. “No hello?” “Hello, Tony.” Joseph said in a mock British accent. “Hello Jas.” “You may continue now.” “Well I came to talk to you about Madison.” “Really? I’ve been meaning to talk to you myself about her.” “Well, you know, we’ve been serious for some time now, almost six months. A couple of more weeks and it will be. I just needed to know something from you.” Tony said.
“No.” Joseph said immediately. “I won’t do that for you and you won’t either. I can’t believe you’re doing this! I mean now! Out of all the times Tony, you picked the worst time for this!”
“Huh? But, I was going to ask if you thought it was alright.” Tony said. “No I don’t think so. You do her wrong and I’ll break your neck.” Joseph said with his fist tightening from under the table.
“What are you talking about Jas?” Tony said. “You and your style… I know you Tony. You’ve been the same since I’ve met you. I can’t believe you.” “What are you talking about?!” he asked once again. “What are you talking about?”
“I was going to ask for you permission to marry Madison. You’re the only person she has right now. Her father is out of the picture and there is no one else I can ask. I know that she would at least want you blessing! That’s what I came here for. But, you know, if your against it, I don’t care. I’m going to ask her anyhow!” Tony said.
Joseph’s fist unclenched. He looked a little shamed. He put on a smile quickly.
“Of course I’ll let you marry her. That’s great! You have my blessing to take her hand in marriage if she’ll have you.” Joseph said quickly. In the back of his head, he was thinking he was an idiot for thinking Tony was talking about a breakup.
“Why were you so defensive? Oh…you were having an episode. Oh man, I’m sorry. It must have taken a lot to keep it in.” Tony said with understanding. “Uh…yeah…it took…everything… …uh…um…I…HAD! Yeah, man, you totally have my permission.” Joseph said.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” Tony asked. “That…um…uh…what…What do you think of Madison’s dress, the black one that really shiny like obsidian? What do you think about it? I mean, it’s her favorite dress…yeah.” Joseph rattled off.
“That’s it? I love man. Why? Did she want to know?” Tony asked. “Sure?” Joseph said. “Tell her I said I love it. We can keep this between us.” “Yeah….” Joseph said forced putting a fake smile with it.
“Man, I’m so glad you’re on board with this. I’ll tell you when I plan to propose. I want you to be there man. You’re like her best friend in this world and she’ll want you to witness it first.” Tony said. “Thanks. The ring? You do have one right?” Joseph asked.
Tony nods to him taking out a beautifully cut diamond. It was white but when it shone it in the light had a light pinkish color in it. “She’ll love it.” Joseph told him. Tony nods with a smile. “I’ll see you later man…thanks again.” He said happiest Joseph had seen him. Joseph gives him that no problem look as Tony leaves.
Joseph turns to the booth that Natalia and Big Lucy were sitting in. “Hey, Big Lucy, you think you can watch princess for me. I’m going to go by Annabelle’s for a while.” Joseph said.
“No problem child. I sure need a little company ‘round here. Since that doofus uncle of my put himself in the hospital, been lonely around the café.” Big Lucy said. Joseph thanks Big Lucy going out the door.
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Annabelle was in her room drawing on her sketchpad. She had a few hundred just lying around with beautiful images that she had drawn in them. This was the one she was seen with lately however. No one knew what was in it except her.
She looked at the clock and as if on que, she knew that someone was coming up the stairs. There was a knock on the door. Annabelle didn’t get up. She didn’t even say come in. She just sat there in wait.
The door flies open revealing her step-mother. Her step-mother walks in with a stride in her step. She touches a few items in Annabelle’s room looking around. Annabelle watches her with cautious eyes as the woman scans her room.
“What’s in your hand little rat?” she asked Annabelle. “None of your business.” Annabelle said gripping the sketchpad closely. “I’m sure that it’s something that interests me.” She responded. She surprises Annabelle with a swift motion and snatches the sketchpad from her.
The step-mom flips through the pages. All of the pictures were drawings of Joseph. Some of him standing…others of only his face. Some had backgrounds with him sitting on top of some object looking out solemnly into the distance. Each one bared his stoic face or his solemn expression.
Her step-mother laughed and dropped the sketchpad on the floor. Annabelle continues to eye her cautiously. “Don’t do this today.” Annabelle said.
“You’re pathetic! You think that he cares about you? Please. There’s not a soul on this planet that cares about you. You’re nothing but a fly on the wall. You are something to be used and then stepped on, squashed like a bug!
He hates you! I hate you! This town hates you. You don’t belong in this world. You belong in circus as the next freak show in a cage. I can see it now…the Spectacle…the amazing freak…the most hideous creature since those stricken by leprosy! THE MUTANT WITCH CHILD! ANNABELLE! Come one, come all!
Can you see it? That’s you…eating the rotten food they throw at you. Never fed, never warm…just a rat from the sewers looking for acceptance. I’d hate to be you…pathetic.” She spits on Annabelle. Annabelle snaps.
“You’re nothing but venom spitting dragon! You know why my father doesn’t love you and loves a woman that’s been dead for years? Because your hideous and you don’t even see it! Get out of my room!” Annabelle shouts at her in venomous anger.
The step-mother slaps Annabelle in the face. Standing in the doorways was Joseph. His face cringed into anger. Just as he was about to grab the woman, an arm grabbed his with impressive strength and shoved him aside.
“I’ve seen and heard enough.” Scott said in finality. He looks at Annabelle. “You were out of line young lady. And you, me and you are through…I want a divorce.” “You can’t divorce me!” “Please, don’t act like I don’t know what’s going on. But this was enough here, the last straw. You have verbally abused my daughter for the longest time. Then you have the nerve to strike the most precious thing on this planet earth to me? You are a bigger fool than every thinks you are. Get out of my house.” “You can’t kick me out of my house.” “Your house? I don’t see your name on the deed. I see Scarlett Myers and Scott Lightman on the deed, not your name Jane Collins. Get out!”
She smiles slightly. She walks out of the door but Joseph grabs her arm. He looks at her with those frightening eyes. “What did you do?” he asked her. Scott looks at him with a raised eyebrow. “What are you doing son?” Scott asked. “She knows she hadn’t lost completely. No one would smile at the fact that they have nothing. What did you do?” Joseph asked more sternly.
She stops smiling as she looks into Joseph’s cold eyes. She couldn’t see any warmth in his soul…only something unreadable, dangerous. She was staring into the eyes of an unpredictable beast of nature.
… … …
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Scott gets out of his big truck with Annabelle and Joseph. Joseph takes off towards the edge of the cliff. Marilyn was at the edge of the cliff and she had pushed a paint can down the edge.
Joseph comes out of the sky landing right beside her. He grabs her and tosses her back. He looks at the other girls quickly grabbing their cans to pour it down the side of the cliff. Joseph pulls out a throwing knife and slings it through the paint cans. The paint falls on them and they scream.
Joseph lifts Marilyn up in anger. Annabelle finally catches up. Joseph’s eyes were going in-between yellow and brown. She grabs his arm.
“No Joseph. They’re not worth it. Calm down. It’s just one can on the painting. I can fix that easy.” She says to him. Joseph places Marilyn on the ground. She was in shock that Joseph’s nature turned from his usual calm that she had seen to burning anger. She backs away from him right into Scott.
“What possessed you to do this to my wife’s work?” Scott asked. “I…I…” she stumbled saying. “I asked you a question Marilyn. What possessed you to do this?” Scott asked once more.
Marilyn watched her two girls running away from the situation. She looks in defeat as her support leaves her all alone.
“Her…your daughter is why I did this. I…I don’t want her to be happy or have anything. That’s why I defaced her mom’s little painting.” Marilyn said. “I could sue you. You do realize her property…Annabelle’s property rather, stretches up to here and further? You were defacing private property. You’re standing on private property. Now, what are we going to do about this?”
“Let me go?” she asked. “Let’s have a talk with your father.” Scott said. Scott motions her to follow him to the truck. He looks back.
“I’ll stay her dad. I drive her car back.” Annabelle said. “Okay.” He continues on. Annabelle walks to the edge of the cliff. She taps her foot on the edge and steam rushes out. A platform extends out and starts to descend. Joseph hops on it as she controls it to stop where the yellow paint dripped to.
She reaches into a box installed to the side and pulls out some of her mother’s supplies and begins to fix the painting. Joseph looks out to the sea.
“You don’t deserve any of the things that happen to Annie. You deserve a mother who will care about you. You deserve to have people around you who treat you with respect. You deserve the best life has to offer.” Joseph said as she continued to paint. She didn’t respond to Annie this time.
“Thank you. I do have the best life offer. I have you and Madison as friends. I have a dad who loves me and my memories. I don’t need much else.” She said.
Joseph smiles still looking out into the sea. Her optimism was infectious no doubt. He looks back to her.
“What’s up with all the sketches of me by the way?” he asked. She looked back with wide eyes. She blushed slightly and returns to her painting. “Um, you’ve got a face for drawing. You also have that raw emotion that never bubbles to the surface that can be…intense. It’s something I want to reflect in my drawings, free yet stuck inside.” She said.
“I didn’t know I was poetic without having to say a word.” Joseph said. “Yes, you are. You’re a lot of things without a word being spoken.” Annabelle says without turning around.
“That’s nice to know.” Joseph says. Joseph remains with her until she finishes the work. It was not that much to fix but it was difficult to get the colors to blend back together. Once they were finished, they each went home.
ns 15.158.61.41da2
