Chapter 2
Marshall stripped off his clothes once the tub was filled and saw that his head wasn’t the only part of him that had gotten too much sun. His strong arms were also bright red. He would not have been surprised to hear steam rising off of them as he sank into the delicious cool water in the claw-foot tub. He inhaled sharply at his back’s initial contact with the cool cast iron, but he soon relaxed into sweet relief. He took a washcloth from the edge of the tub, soaked it in the water, and laid it over his tired eyes. Just as he let out a satisfied sigh, he heard someone rap on his front door before jiggling the knob and coming inside.
“Marsh? You home?” Footsteps approached the bathroom door before its knob was also turned and his next door neighbor and best friend Jillian came barging in. “Shit Marshall, this place is stifling.”
Marshall sat up and plunged his hands under water in an attempt to cover himself. “Jillian! What the fuck!”
“Oh, shit Marshall. If I see something I haven’t seen before I’ll throw a stick at it. I gotta pee. You mind?”
Jillian pulled down her black scrub pants and panties and plopped onto Marshall’s toilet. She drew in a deep breath and released it with obvious relief. “Man, what a day. Work was nuts. Freakin’ Bridget called in today, of course. It’s a full-moon so everyone’s hog wild. This heat wave has everyone pissed off. To top it all off, my gas light is on when I start heading home and I had to pee so bad I didn’t want to stop. You know my thing about public restrooms. Ick. Anyway, I said a silent prayer that my car wouldn’t die on my way home and I wouldn’t have to run and pee in the woods like an animal.”
“Uh, Jill? I’m naked here. And you’re peeing. Like, one foot away from me.”
“You’re such a prude, Marshall.” Jillian pulled up her pants as she stood up before lowering the toilet lid and sitting on it to continue talking.
“You’re the second person to say that to me in like literally an hour. I’m not a prude, damn it.”
“Oh? Then stand up.”
“You’re such a jerk, Jill. I’m not standing up and showing you all my bits and pieces.”
“Yep. Confirmed prude.”
“I don’t know,” said Marshall. “Maybe I am. I think I’m just old fashioned. I would have fit in better back in the day. You know, like before random people barged into houses and peed in front of people who were minding their own business just moments before?”
“I resent that remark. Okay, Ward Cleaver. Maybe you’ll run into June out there somewhere in this great big world. Until then, you’re stuck with your crass neighbor lady who sometimes relieves herself in front of you.”
“I think I’m cool with that. Hey, what are you doing tonight?” asked Marshall.
“No clue. Changing out of these gross ass scrubs for starters. I have puke and snot and…”
“That’s enough. I don’t need a forensics report on the fluids you have on your person. What are you doing after you change your clothes?”
“I have to go out to my mom’s. She’s got some stuff she needs me to do. Which reminds me! That’s why I came here. Can I borrow your hedge trimmers?”
“You want to go with me to Trixy’s first?”
“Tempting, but no. I really have to get over there so I can get done and relax.”
“Boo. Okay. The trimmers are way old, so be careful with them. I keep my good ones in the work truck and Kip drives that.”
Jillian nodded and saluted Marshall.
“If you change your mind, let me know,” he said. “I’m heading out approximately thirteen minutes after I finally convince you to get up and go the hell home.”
“Why don’t you get up and make me?” Jillian said with a wink. She squawked and ducked to the left as Marshall threw a bar of soap at her. “Hey! Watch it. You almost hit my boob.”
“I guess I need to work on my aim. I was trying for your face.”
Jillian smiled and messed up Marshall’s hair before heading out of the bathroom. “I’ll leave you to whack your weasel in peace. Call me tomorrow!”
* * * *
A short time later, Marshall pulled into the packed parking lot of Trixy’s Diner. It was like something out of a movie—the outside was all shiny metal and rounded edges and inside was decorated in classic 50s decor, at least what could be seen of it around the massive crowd of people. Trixy’s was always busy, but this was the busiest he had ever seen it.