To The Moon And Back
It’s six months gone. Every day, I cloak myself in a fancy suit and swirl my bow tie. It’s my signature, the bow tie. I’m mighty proud of my upper-crust couture in this hick town. When I ride to work with the top down, I close my eyes for a handful of seconds – not long enough to endanger anyone – and I pretend the wind on my face is the breath of my dreams.
For a few stolen moments, I’m exactly where I want to be.
I wheel into my special place, marked with my name, and I assume my position. The one near the heavy glass doors. I make small work of those behemoth creatures, as I greet each looker with a genuine, car salesman smile. What’s funny is that most of them like me, the version of me I let them see. I know I’m charming. It always got me into trouble.
Before.
I’m a new man now.
But, I wasn’t prepared for what the wind blew in today. A raging drunk of a man, looking for a truck. Wheezed a distillery in my face when he said, “Don’t you rip me off now, y’hear?” He stumbled around the showroom for the better part of an hour, me being as gracious as I could.
At the end of it, the wind blew different somehow.
I turned back to the door, to catch the newcomer, when he screeched, “I told you to wait in the car!”
She only smiled, lit by sunlight from behind, all dark hair and pale skin. A masculine beauty in the circle of her face. While I fought for the right words, she stuck out her hand. “Don’t mind my father. We’ll take that vehicle, just there.”
“I’m Arthur.” I stammered and allowed my fingers to encircle her boyish hand.
“I’m Penelope. A pleasure.”
A fiction series. Long overdue. Because, you must be well-and-truly-sick of reading about my life by now. So, what happened to that door? A series of possibilities. I’ll explore one or several. If it was even a door I passed at an intersection on the way to an appointment. Read the first installment here, the second installment here, the third installment here and the fourth installment here.
Do you read Armistead Maupin?
I have not, Roger, but I looked him up and will check him out.
And a little child shall lead them… ’tis true.
Tis.
And the charade takes an interesting turn, muddled by sparks flying.
I always like the back stories of doomed relationships.
“We’re all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. . . ” ~ Woody Allen (Entire quote: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/268-we-re-all-faced-throughout-our-lives-with-agonizing-decisions-moral ) It is apparent that an agonizing choice was made, but is it possible that the proverbial “happy ending” may ensue?
This is some back story for my Penelope series, Karen, which does not end well. At least, not in its current incarnation.
Got that (after the fact
) but one can hope. I’m an unfailing Pollianna, I guess. 
Car guys!! We are the best.
Some of you are.
Hey, was that a shot??
Its Penelope again. I love her.
I am not a big fan of her, and you know why, but she does keep popping up.
I’m with Alice. A smile popped on my face when she entered. Penelope…
I really hope I can make something unique out of her someday, Lori, because she already has such a following. Right now, there’s nothing unique or magical about her story.
And yet, there is…truly. She is very engaging. I cannot explain it, but there is something unique and magical and I cannot put my finger on it, hence her being unique and magical.
Oh, I was figuring he was a husband, not a Dad. Should be interesting, if the raging drunk can manage to not get them both killed and whatever used to get him into trouble doesn’t crop up again.
Oh, wait! Penelope. Fuck. She’s screwed.
Yay! She is.
Aha! Now we’re talking!
I like Penelope…and the description with the references to some masculine traits. That’s an interesting addition. I think there’s an interesting turn in sight. 
We’ll see. I always cut these off just as people are starting to get interested.
Ha! Now that you mention it, yes you do!
It will be interesting where you take this next, Andra. You took me by surprise with the reprisal of Penelope.
Penelope? Not THE Penelope?