Under the Mango Tree: 101 Tales (4)

BAD DAY

Challenge No.66 - Mega Replay.

Take a story you've written or your favourite classic story. Now tell a different version of that story, changing the genre or the main character's occupation. (AKA Alternate Reality)

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Some things are meant to be, others are not, Sabine Cameron had made her decision and was now a prisoner to it. She entered the bar with her husband Christian. To be accurate, she followed him in. They headed for the counter.

"Whiskey. Straight." He ordered.

"What about you miss?"

"Mrs! She's married! To me!"

"No one said she wasn't." The barkeep replied. "Quite a man you have there."

But Sabine didn't answer.

"I'm sitting right here you know!" Christian roared.

"Yeah. Everyone can see that. But if you come in with a gorgeous black sister and she's your wife as you say. You order - I ask what's she having?" The other man held his ground.

Christian realised they were being watched. "Go sit over there." He pointed at a booth.

"Okay." She squeaked and did as her husband ordered. "Could I have a local juice please?"

"SURE!" The bartender beamed.

Christian glowered. "I didn't agree. I'm not paying."

"On the house!"

"Bah!" Christian joined Sabine at the booth. "Why you have to be like that?"

"How? I haven't done anything " she sipped the juice.

"I can't take you anywhere. You walk in a room and the men start falling all over you."

"But I didn't do anything." She repeated.

"I should have known. Trash. That's what you are."

"Not enough that you have five children with me." She quipped.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing!" She hastened to backtrack.

Too late. The backhanded slap split her lip and the force threw her off the seat.

"Hey!" Someone shouted.

"Who invited you?" Christian snapped. Then followed Sabine who had run out the door.

She ran straight into a man passing by. "Woah! Woah!" He caught her. "You're bleeding!"

"It's nothing." She gurgled.

"Peanut? That you?"

She focused for the first time on the man. "English?"

"My God! What happened to you. Come to my office. Let's get you cleaned up."

"NO!" The fear gripped her.

"Yes." He insisted. Something was wrong. He didn't know what. But he was going to help his friend.

With a firm grip, he guided her to his office, unaware that Christian had followed them.

It was evening so they were alone in his office he got her cleaned up. "There, that's better."

She bowed her head and nodded.

"What you been up to?"

"My brothers joined the army. Sam died. I married Christian, and we have five kids." She summarised never raising her head.

"I'd say more than that is going on."

"I'm a stay-at-home wife, Christian has his own car repair shop."

"He did this. You have to leave him."

"I can't! My children!"

"I'll help you."

"Well, isn't this nice." Christian entered.

"It's nothing!" Sabine suddenly came to life and sprung up.

Christian had a knife and he used it. She dropped.

"You killed her!" English railed.

"You always wanted her. Well, now you can't." Christian jeered and ran.

After he'd called the police, English scooped up the limp woman. "Oh Peanut, why him and not me? Why him and not me?"

© A. L. Dawn French
5 May 2022

US Copyright Registration No. TXu 2-133-118