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A Greek Tragedy: A Short Story

He dragged the bulging sail bag into the front room of her flat and balanced it against a wall.  Then he shoved his hands into his pockets, carefully avoiding her eyes.

“That’s everything.  You even had stuff in the bulkhead…:”

“Yeah.  It took a while.”  She glared at the navy canvas bag.  “Every time I went over, I took something.”

a greek tragedy on chezgigi.com

He removed one hand from a pocket and scratched the side of his nose.

“Um – that’s my spinnaker bag.”

“You knew I was bringing a lot.  I mean – you saw me.  I was always bringing things for you, too.  Like the deck paint, for instance.  Which I bought.”  She transferred her glare to his woolly head.

Cautiously, he raised his eyes to hers.  “I need it.  I’d like to take it back today,” he said, shuffling his feet, tanned spatulas in yellow flip flops.

“Are you insinuating I was being sneaky or something?  That you didn’t know?”

He plucked at the silver chain on his chest.  “Do you think you could empty it now?  If you don’t mind.”

“And the whole thing was your idea anyway.  Remember?”  She watched him narrowly, worrying a blunt fingernail between her bottom front teeth.

He bent to loosen the knotted white nylon cord laced through metal eyes at the top of the bag.  “Maybe you should see if everything’s here.”

Her tongue played with a sliver of fingernail.  She picked it off with a thumb and forefinger and sniffed.  “You said it was stupid leaving everything here since I was going to be living on board anyway and I needed the clothes.  You wanted me to bring my cassettes so you could listen to them – and I brought the sewing gear so I could mend your bloody clothes.  And the books were your idea, too.  Remember?”

“Well – I just didn’t know there’d be so much.”  He hesitated a moment then slid out the cord.

“Yeah. Well.  It was six months, you know.  We’ve been together six months…”  Her voice pitched in appeal.

The loud staccato of a car horn shattered the moment.  He blinked and grinned.  “Saved by the bell.”

Her jaw tightened and she grabbed the bag, tipping it, yanking out the jumbled contents with jerking motions.  Her eyes threatened to fill.  She kept her head averted.

He turned to examine a heavy copper vase in the corner by the door.  They had chosen it together at the market last summer soon after they had met.  It reached above his knees.  Her roommate used it for an umbrella stand now.

“I should’ve left.  I should’ve gone back home.  I knew this would happen.  You really wrecked my life, you know.  I don’t even have money for a ticket…!”

He spoke, keeping his back to her.  “I can loan you enough for a ticket – if you can pay me back in a couple of months.”

“Thanks.”

A deep sigh issued from the corner.  “Look – if I – I just can’t.  I thought it might work out but…”

She held up a wrinkled, mouldy smelling spaghetti-strap cheesecloth gown in violent orange and shook it.

“Remember when I bought this?  We were looking for some contact paper for the galley in the Plaka and we got lost?  It was in that little shop by the taverna where we had lunch – by Filopappou Hill.  And you laughed because it looked like a nightgown and I said it couldn’t be a nightgown because I don’t wear anything usually…but remember that time I borrowed your pajamas because I was afraid someone might …”

“It’s no good, pedimou.”

“Don’t call me that!  You have no right anymore.”

“Sorry – ”

She tossed the dress onto the growing pile on the floor.  “And it’s not my fault.  I still love you.  Some reward.”

He moved to her side and knelt by the nearly flat bag.  “I love you, too.  It’s not that.”  He reached inside and retrieved a small clear plastic bag.  “Here.”  He laid it in her outstretched palm and glanced down at his wristwatch.

“What the hell’s this?”  She held out a dirty, pink rattail comb and waved it in his face.

“Your comb.”

“Waddaya mean?  You really think this filthy thing is mine?  My comb’s white.  And my hair’s always clean.  You really think this is mine?”  She stared at him.  “Do you?”

His eyes went round and wide.  He curled a beardlock round a little finger.  “I don’t know.”

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6 thoughts on “A Greek Tragedy: A Short Story

  • September 2, 2016 at 5:19 am
    Permalink

    Wow! A serious story! Very well written. I felt like I was standing there, watching and listening. Do more! Please.

    Reply
    • September 2, 2016 at 6:50 pm
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      This wasn’t mine, Will. It was written by my friend in Europe.

      She’s so good, and I think I might convince her to do more. She and I are thinking of compiling a book of short stories.

      If you have any to contribute, we’d be happy to include them. Funny, or serious.

      She wrote ‘Milan is Full of Italians’, too. It’s on here.

      Reply
  • September 2, 2016 at 6:54 pm
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    Ok. Maybe should have had her byline. She deserves credit.

    I would enjoy such a compilation.

    Reply
    • September 2, 2016 at 6:55 pm
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      I’ll have to ask her whether she wants her name out there. I had to beg her just to send me these, and then I had to promise never to reveal her secret identity.

      She uses her powers for good.

      Reply
      • September 2, 2016 at 7:03 pm
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        Ok. I understand. Maybe ask her to make-up a name to use in her writing. Like Sir Garwin or The Green Knight or Oscar Wilde or James Joyce or something.

        Reply
        • September 2, 2016 at 7:07 pm
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          Joyce James. Inspired.

          She’s already seen your comment, so she’ll see these and answer you. I know she likes the positive review.

          She sure knows how to write dialogue. Very subtle. She has another one she’ll be sending me soon.

          Reply

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