by Lewis Wuest

Created on: July 18, 2010

A Shocking Experience

Robert heard the doorbell ring just as he finished cleaning up the dishes from lunch. He made it a habit to clean up immediately after eating. This left his house always looking clean and sent the message that the owner had his act together. If someone just dropped by, something Robert hated and discouraged, the house would be presentable. He wouldn’t be embarrassed by dishes sitting in the sink or couch pillows out of place. He vacuumed his carpet every day so he could admire the lines left by the vacuum’s wheels and anyone stopping by would see how meticulous Robert was in caring for his things.

He stepped to the front door, glancing out the window as he approached. He came up short as he saw Sean standing there, his right thumb on the doorbell’s button. Sean was looking down at his finger as he pushed the button again. The bell sounded and Sean raised his head, looking through the front door’s side lights and into Robert’s eyes.  He gave Robert a grim smile.

At five foot ten inches and two hundred and thirty pounds Sean was fat, slovenly in Robert’s eyes.  He wasn’t big all over, just in his belly which hung so far over his belt buckle it was buried from view. As usual his food stained shirt was only half tucked in and his tie hung loose and askew. What little was left of his hair stuck out from the sides of his head like porcupine quills. The top of his head which lacked any hair reflected the sunlight. The term soup sandwich came to Robert’s mind when describing Sean.

His appearance offended Robert who stood six foot two and weighed in at 225 pounds of muscle. Robert maintained that muscle with his daily workouts. One day was an hour on his Bowflex machine, the next either two hours pounding the street at six minutes a mile or an hour on the Tread Climber. All expensive Bowflex equipment, Robert would own only the best. He combed the gray out of his hair at least once a month and had a nice healthy tan sprayed on every other week. Robert bought only quality clothes from Nordstrom’s and had them tailored by his personal tailor. His clothes fit him like a glove.

Sean’s sudden appearance at his house stunned Robert and he found himself unable to move. Despite their obvious differences in personalities they had been good friends at one time. But that had ended six months ago when Sean’s surprisingly beautiful and cultured wife left him.  Sean blamed Robert

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