The Straw - The First One

When it came to memories there were some that were worth keeping and others that would be better erased, and those were the ones that came back clear and vivid while she chose vegetables at grocery store, in the midst of a pleasant dream or in the throes of a sappy movie.

It was a clear August day, which was something odd for August, because the air was usually cloudy with humidity. There was a festival downtown for some worthy cause. It didn't matter what--all that mattered was that they share the afternoon with other giddy people in the mood to celebrate.

"I can't believe we did it! We did it, Chuck! We're buying a house." She looked at the sparkle in his eye--somehow excited and gentle all at the same time--while he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. She gave him a watery smile and then looked out her window.

Everything was crisp and clear, now that the muddle of offers and counteroffers was over, inspections were done, the final okay was in, and all that was left was to move forward to closing. Move into their house. Plant a garden in the back and a peach tree. After the bank account was back to normal maybe even have a baby. But even before that there would be games of cards with their parents and their very own dining table, new holiday traditions, smells of lasagna to greet Chuck when he walked through the door after a long day. She reached out to hold his hand, while he watched the road for a parking space.

She didn't remember parking and she didn't remember walking toward the park in the center of town. She felt like she was drifting inches above the ground. Chuck was busy making his way to the bandstand, where the music thudded at a volume that drowned everything except the voice.

"Charles Pendgraft?" It was a deep voice. She had to crane her neck to look up for the source. It came from a barrel-chested man with a Hitler mustache and grey eyes, shadowed by a hat that looked as though it would be too hot. Behind him there was a smaller bald man who looked serious.

Of course Chuck nodded at him.

"Charles Pendgraft, you are under arrest for the murder of Catherine Parks, you have the right to remain silent--"

The rest of it faded away just as it would in a scene from Law and Order. There was a flurry of activity and confusion. She was sure she screamed his name once, because he looked her in the eye. There was no longer any trace of giddiness or laughter, only a cold, bullet stare that made her blood run cold. She stopped in her tracks and watch the two men escourt him over the hill and out of sight.

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Today's prompt from AWAD for March 21, 2006: casus belli (KAY-suhs BEL-i, rhymes with bell-eye, BEL-ee) noun plural casus belli An action or event that causes or is used to justify starting a war.