Short story

SOCKS

First date in four years....25 minutes to go need to hurry up. She says
she likes me. Not make any mistakes like the last time...invited a girl
back from a club but when we got back to my flat....she didn't like the
mess?she stormed out, shouting.

Now, I always keep my flat tidy..10 minutes to go...always
keep my flat tidy now? washing done every week socks in drawer. Paula,
she's divine...and she asked me to invite her round to my flat
tonight....I couldn't believe it....I asked

Left work at four thirty. Paula says she is away home to freshen up?
will be round at mine at five...she's bringing her dog, it's a Labrador
good sniffer dogs so I've heard...5 minutes to go.

There's one thing about Paula that everyone knows in the office, it's
the thread of her personality and it is she has to have everything
clean and can not in any kind of way stand any bad smells, or dirt, on
clothes.

Up late watching the television last night...a few beers, nuts, crisps,
a bit of cake and a few smokes so eh...two minutes before she's here.
Everything under the bed...dirty socks...shirts, air freshener sprayed,
every thing done, bingo...doorbell.

Hi Paula!

So we are sitting there on the shaggy rug, talking, drinking red wine
looking deeply in to each others eyes. Everything is going fine, we
relax. Whispering poetry. But, it's the damn dog it keeps catching my
attention, it's a about a foot wide and two feet tall, a right bloody
bear . It seems to be jealous or something...it might be that I am
spending so much time with its owner. It fidgets and walks around me
poking its nose in, sniffing.

Paula laughs at my unease on being around this thing, but, it is her
teddy bear, how can I not like it ??

'hi doggy take it easy'.

I push my hand to its nose in a show of friendship, it growls
deeply.

'Its okay it's okay really: Cookie is cute he just wants to have a
laugh'

says Paula gigling.

I think....sure doesn't look that happy to me.

The night draws in. The words softer...Cookie is sitting looking over
me like a lion protecting its cub. I put a slow romantic song on the
vinyl and that's it...with in moments we look deeply in to each others
eyes. I gently push my face to hers. We magnatise and our tongues get
nervous.

I see Cookie from the corner of my eye.

Cookie is sitting there growling. I smile at cookie and know it will
not harm me, not now I am getting the love of its owner. I selfishly
lounge with Paula. We are a family now Cookie. I laugh at the dogs
petty jealousy. I close my eyes..

Just a minute just a minute..what's that smell?

says Pauline breaking away from our kiss,

'What smell? I ask,

'What's that WHAT IS THAT?

she says looking towards Cookie who is sitting there innocently,
looking, drooling.

'Shit ! What is that?

Cookie is sitting with a gleaming glint in its eyes, a fire of revenge
and passion. It sits staring at me, panting, and it seems to be
laughing at my unease like it is glad it has put me in this situation.
In its mouth is a four week old sock one which i forgot to get washed,
it was under the bed, right under. I put it there so she wouldn't see?
the damn dog has it inside its mouth.

'Whats that, What the hell is that?'

says Paula again in an exasperated tone and screwing her nose up in
disgust.

'you know I hate things like this, you know I do'.

Cookie seems to be laughing more now. It pounds over and seperates us.
Paula moves back in disgust. Cookie looks between me and Paula and in
doing this fans the dirty sock between us creating an air of mustiness.
It drools saliva on my bare foot and laughs at me knowing what it has
done and glad some fool took up the challenge. Paula stands up grabs
her jacket and tells Cookie to come on?

'We are leaving, for good, don't talk to me again, EVER.

I buckle.

She walks out of the house-reminding Cookie how she will never find
anyone like him and patting his head. Cookie turns around and looks at
me...it pants and winks and wags its tail.

The Bastard.