CHAPTER 12: HUNGRY FOR SOMETHING ELSE

'Is this the life you want for us? For our son?' Uziel's wife, Cora scolded loudly as she patted the baby crying on her shoulders. She was obviously very angry. The veins on her neck looked like they were going to pop out of her red skin.

'It's what Lord wants. I work for him,' Uziel said calmly as he ate gracefully. The soup was hot and the steam from it caused him to sweat.

'You SERVE him!' Cora continued to yell.

'If my wife calls me a servant then I probably am,' he said still in a calm tone.

'The whole market's called you a servant. A cheap, hardworking, heartless servant!' she continued. Uziel stiffened but didn't say a word in response.

'Everyone knows how you go around doing Master Forneius' dirty work, harassing people, finding mistresses…' she said putting the baby down on a chair.

Uziel had choked when he heard his wife say the word 'mistresses'. He reached for some water.

'My husband, my son's father is Forneius' prostitute supplier!' She said with disgust. Tears of anger, sadness and disappointment rolled down her eyes.

'Cora you know I'm not like Forneius, you know why I work for Forneius.' Uziel finally said, standing up to console his wife. The tears made his heart bleed and he immediately lost his appetite.

'I know a man is defined by his character and actions. Providing mistresses, scheming, are those good actions Uziel? Are they?!' She cried.

'I know Cora,' Uziel hugged her tightly while whispering into her ear.

She resisted her husband's attempt to calm her down and pushed him away, beating him and even biting.

'Ssss,' Uziel hissed.

'Are you going to bite me in front of my son,' Uziel smiled.

'Is he crying?' Cora asked looking over Uziel's shoulder. It was then she remembered she had left her son on the chair.

'No. He's sleeping. He sleeps just like his mother, like a log,' Uziel said grinning.

'A log?' Cora pouted her lips and punched his shoulder with her fist, but hurt herself instead. She cursed inwardly.

'You're soup's getting cold, you should go eat it!' She sniffed, crossing her arms.

'I'm hungry for something else,' Uziel whispered still grinning into his wife's ear before lifting her up bridal style.

'Put me down.' She pouted, burying her face in his broad chest and hanging her arms on his neck.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Meghan had somehow talked Mike into auditioning for the play. She seemed really excited about it and he didn't have stage fright, so why not?

'Meghan for the millionth time, put your phone away!' Joanne yelled into a speaker when Meghan's phone rang yet again.

'Sorry, it's Ash. I should text her,'

'Alright everyone, take five,' Joanne yelled again before retiring to a chair.

'She thinks so highly of herself. She feels irreplaceable! She's so annoying.' Joanne said to the girls beside her.

'Too bad she can act so well,' another girl said.

'Y'all don't even know what she's going through,' Mike thought to himself, or at least he thought he did.

'Yeah right, what she be possibly going through?" She said rolling her eyes.

'Yeah what?' another girl smiled at Mike with her eyes beaming, eager for Mike's response.

'Nothing that should interest you,' Mike said vaguely, tying his shoe lace.

'What do you have against her anyway?' Mike asked her.

'Are you kidding me?' Joanne said closing the script.

'She's obnoxious, barely tolerable and perfect!' Joanne said cynically, rolling her eyes in a bizarre way.

'Yeah, the only reason you don't see it is because you're so in love with her,' a girl said before asking Joanne for her water can. Mike stiffened. It felt like someone had lightly pinched his chest.

'I think they're dating,' she added and the girls smiled.

'I think, instead of judging people, you should get to know them,' Mike said with a heavy sigh. Every sentence these girls said offended him.

'You're clueless,' Joanne scoffed as she continued reading the script, this time using it to block her face.

'There's no winning with these girls,' Mike concluded inwardly before deciding to use the restroom.

'Okay, I'm back everyone!' Meghan announced, rushing in.

'How fortunate…. Places everyone!' Joanne bellowed[AI1] , motioning for the actors in the next scene to head behind the curtains.

'Where's Mike?' Meghan asked panting lightly.

'You're here so he'll be back,' Joanne answered walking towards the stage.