Free Cherry Bomb by JW Phillips Page A

me a stack of papers. “New assignment. Too
bad it is not a redo of Master.”
    I rolled my eyes. I have
him on speed dial, I can always set up an appointment for you. I
wiggled in my chair at the thought of Amy ever getting her hands on
Master.
    “ It’s a simple one.
Photograph the homes and talk to the owners in Memphis’s annual
Tour of Homes.”
    It was more my usual
thing. I almost fell out of my chair at her request to interview
Master anyway. Ours was more of a magazine for uppity working
women, we covered the latest galas, home tours, the haves and the
haves not of the community. Even if our targeted demographic
frequented a sex club, it would be their dirty little secret. “By
the way, when are you publishing the article on Sir?” Calling him
Master would always be my dirty little secret.
    “ Oh, the owner decided the
article was too risqué to run. So just think of Sir as a gift from
me.”
    As she turned to leave, I
smiled. He was a gift I would have a hard time
forgetting.
     
     

Cherry Webb
     
     
    After driving halfway
home, I realized I had been jamming out to my son’s Wiggle CD. I
really needed to get out, and somewhere other than the fast food
joints I found was supplying my dinner every night that
week.
    I flung a French fry in
the Burger King bag as my cellphone buzzed in my purse. I fished
around finding it under my wallet and a half-eaten candy bar. The
screen glowed with an unwelcomed text.
     
    James: You can keep YOUR
daughter
    home next time. She has
turned into
    a bitch like her
mother.
     
    Me: You can bring them ALL
home.
     
    I tossed the cell back
into my purse, and cringed at the idea my children had to spend
more than five seconds with him. How I spent sixteen-years loving
him was beyond reason.
    I pulled onto my drive,
and noticed my porch lights were on. I was positive I didn’t leave
them on.
    Stop scaring yourself, the
kids probably just came by to pick up something.
    Running my hands down my
face, I let out an audible breath. Lately, I’d been wound up, and
needed to get out and release some of my nerves. I reached across
the seat to pick up my meal.
    I know a place where all
your problems melted away, my subconscious reminded me.
    As I locked my car door, I
felt someone watching me.
    My scalp tingled, the
hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, hives broke out over my
entire body.
    It’s just your
imagination. Who in their right mind wants to watch
this?
    I could tell myself that,
but my heart still wouldn’t stop rushing in my chest.
    I scanned the premises,
telling myself I was crazy. Until I saw him. A man in a dark
colored hoodie, standing in my neighbor’s yard.
    He stood next to her
mailbox, watching me from under the hood of his sweatshirt. I waved
in his direction. But he never acknowledged me. The only evidence
he even saw me was when he slipped his hands in his pockets, taking
on a defiant pose.
    I should’ve called the
police but he was making no move to bother me. He was just
there.
    In fact, seeing him
stirred something deep in me. Instead of worsening my overacted
nerves, seeing him calmed them.
    I heard Pat calling me
from her front porch, causing my attention to shift from him to
Pat.
    I waved in her direction,
but before walking over to her, my eyes glanced back to him. He was
gone, and suddenly I felt lost.
    “ Did you see that guy?” I
asked, pointing over my shoulder to where he was
standing.
    “ See who, sweetie?” she
asked, before hanging a fern back up on the hook swinging from the
porch ceiling.
    I shook my head, and
looked one more time to see if I saw him again.
    “ Never mine.” I winked to
avoid any awkward questions. “The kids are gone for the night; I
guess I’m a little spooked.”
    “ Pat, darling,” I heard
Norman holler from the front door.
    I took that as my cue to
leave. With a wave of my hand, I twisted around, and said a prayer
I would see my man-in-black again.

Cherry Webb
     
     
    “Enjoying my money,” James, my