sid and violet

flashing back and forth

2010-05-31T09:41:00.000-05:00

"You didn't?" Sid was going to have to count his pills now. "How many?"

Violet was being mum about her little vice, as of late.

Here they were set for a lovely evening, just the two of them ready to look for fireflies in the back yard and then this comes up.

"I can't recall." She was naturally her feisty self. He hadn't noticed a change.

"You! You of all people." Sid shot her a look as if she'd completely lost it. "I'm the sicko, not you."

"For all I know, you drugged me into this situation, already." She made a face and dried the last dish.

"Well, I am a drug." Sid was satisfied with that. "Aren't I enough?"

"Its impossible at work, you know. Lenny's been a real shit, lately. I feel if I could find him a love of some sort, it would all change."

"Well, taking my pills will not help the matter, now will it?" Sid snapped. He'd have hide those little fellows. But where? He'd keep them in his pocket for safe keeping at the moment.

"I feel a wreck." She closed her eyes so sweetly. He wanted to give in. Truth be told she was his drug, too.

"Please, be strong, for the both of us." He put his arm around her. They had the back yard to tend too. He grabbed the huge empty pickle jar. "Now, lets see how many we can capture." He wanted a lantern of fireflies.

"You are so devious." Violet protested as they proceeded on their little adventure out back.

"Not at all." He begged to differ. This was something he'd done since a child. "I'll let them loose in the end." It was a promise. Fill the jar up and then let them go. As he stared at the empty jar, it occurred to him. It was a bit like Violet becoming Scarlet. Not Violet's sister but his Scarlet. The one who liked to solve mysteries. The one he had the sinking feeling that he'd left at the bottom of the pond. Only, in his dreams... he couldn't quite decipher if it were a flashback or a flashforward.

do behave

2009-12-05T09:19:00.000-06:00

"I think you are making this crap up." Lenny looked at Violet.

They had work to do. She knew. But she chewed at her thumb-nail. Yes, she might have made an ass of herself with her sister Scarlet, accusing her of having her way with Sid. But her sister looked at her as if she were the crazy one in the family. Soon after, all Violet knew was to return to her new home.

"I'm glad you're back!" Lenny was all smiles shaking her shoulders as if they might have time to go Christmas shopping now.

"Why is that?" She looked up at him.

"Because I had to do all the stinking shit around here, that's why! Ever, cleaned dinosaur bones before?" He made a face.

"No."

"Well, you are now!" He was his playful self. Not getting any younger and still looking for love in all the wrong places, she supposed. "I have a date."

"Are you serious?" She winced.

"Yes!" He was a puppy in lust, she guessed.

"You've never even been on a date?" She watched him priss around with the files he was happy to shred.

"Well, I've just never found time." He was sincere about it.

"Well, spill it, will you?" Violet gave him a serious look. At least he wasn't taking apart her love life.

"I don't want to jinx it." He was slightly snide about it.

"Fine." She went to her desk then.

"I'm sorry about you and your sis. Obviously, this is Sid's fault. It always will be." He looked back at her as he did his thing on the computer.

Violet just nodded. Yes, she was in sinking sand, she supposed. A married woman, even. It was beginning to unnerve her. That other Sid might have all sorts of other lasses.. She was going to make herself sick if she thought too long about it. She took another one of Sid's pills to calm her down. Somehow she'd get through this like a grownup.

a wrath of its own

2009-11-28T09:49:00.000-06:00

Sid just couldn't quit smiling. It had been a laugh, bringing down Violet that way. Sure he loved her, but he hated it when she was always right. He had to take her down off that high horse from time to time. They were equals, now weren't they?

"Oh, Violet, cheer up, sure your mother is just going through the change. No need, to make her feel so inferior, you know, we don't see her as it is, anyway." They were on a tight schedule. If they wanted a job, they best get back to his little village, hadn't they?

Now he had her crying.

"I swear, you're all a fickle bunch! Your sister is a lesbian, thank you very much." Sid winked.

"What are you going on about?" Violet sucked up her little tangent of tears and looked over at him.

"See, I knew that could do it." He laughed.

Naturally, she swelled a frowned.

"Its possible. Not that I have any long range notion of finding out the truth. She is your sister, after all." He looked at her so innocently as if she'd have to believe him on this.

"Has she said anything?" Violet couldn't get off this new found subject about her sister.

"Dunno. I just said it, to shut you up, can you not have feelings about every situation under the sun." Sid tensed then. "Forget it."

"You know something." She looked at him as if he should fess up.

"I do not." He looked at her wide eyed, possibly a little maddening. "I want to go home. I want us to go home."

"But-" She bit her bottom lip.

"We don't belong here. Honestly, we don't." He snapped.

"She came on to you, didn't she?" Violet asked.

"Uh." He huffed.

"Didn't she!" Violet grabbed his collar, tugging ever so furiously, otherwise it would have been quite funny to Sid, but she was so serious.

"Possibly." He kind of winced.

She swelled a frown once more and stomped him in the foot.

"OW." He came back with. She meant business. She was going straight to Scarlet's room.

"What are you doing?" He squinted hard in pain. She was on her own wrath of some kind.

which one will it be

2009-11-05T08:41:00.001-06:00

Violet didn't want to tell her parents what an adventure she was on. Seriously, being with Sid was an adventure, everyday. Would he remember something out of the blue? Would he forget he loved pecan pancakes with loads of whipped cream on top?

"So you married there and now here?" Her mother thought that was a little much. "It only took one time for us." They were in the kitchen, drinking coffee and talking about bad winters they wished to forget.

"Yes." It might sound funny or complicated if she mentioned Sid's other personality. It was like being married to 2 people, sometimes. It was a good thing she got along with both of them. Honestly, he kept forgetting their safety word, and she just had to pick up on each one's tendencies.

One was rather quiet and rather mechanical when it came to fixing things. Which was a good thing since the Sid she really knew couldn't put a screw in, if his life depended on it. Of course, Violet knew she'd best to keep this to herself. But her mother seemed quite indifferent with Sid, no matter what.

"I thought you would have been happy, you know, to have us have a ceremony here." She shrugged. She'd seemed fine with it at the time. Maybe it had to do with Dad making over them so much, and the idea of getting Scarlet back at the house. As it was, she wasn't sure what was up with her dear sister. Naturally, her mother said it was Violet's fault that she hadn't kept in contact with her.

"You were off with this Sid." Her words got to Violet, but she knew her sister could take care of herself.

"You have empty nest syndrome." Violet decided. Just one little sentence to make her mother go running to her bedroom for a good cry.

"What have you done now?" Scarlet demanded as she came in the kitchen when their mother darted out.

"Just being myself, I'm afraid." Violet shrugged.

"Well, that's not the Violet I know." Sid got on this slippery slope with her as he came in from the livingroom, overhearing them, she supposed.

"What?" Violet looked at him, ready to get into with him. Just what was he getting at? Why had she ever came home?

"She isn't quite this dreadful, usually." Sid said as if he knew who she was exactly.

Violet gave him a serious look. Which Sid was this?

"Sometimes, I don't know this Violet at all." Sid smirked.

Violet hugged herself. What was he trying to say? There was more than one of her, too?

oh snap

2009-10-13T09:00:00.005-05:00

"Well?"

"Well, what?" Sid wanted to tell Violet she used the word well far too much in her vocabulary. Couldn't she think of another way to express herself. It left him wincing even more than he was already wincing.

"What's wrong?" She squinted just as hard back. They were on their way home, weren't they? It felt as if it were the same thing over and over. Day in and day out. God, he knew it now. He needed a change. A great change.

All right, he supposed the change hit him when he was with his boss. That he knew what he knew so well, but didn't really know for the longest time. The affair.

Seriously, he was making his case about how he should be much more than just a custodian. When he got back, he wanted a promotion. And then there were these bits falling into play in his head. What he'd seen. What he knew. Nina and his boss. Going at it right on the premises. Right where he was seated. It gave him a scowl. And when he looked at the past now that was growing by leaps and bounds, it was all in its place now. He was sure of it. There was a reason he'd been demoted. But why? Seriously, what had he done?

"I think we're going on our trip." He slowly said to Violet.

"Are we? Did the other Sid change things?" She questioned as the bus lurched on the bumpy ride home.

"Why do you say that?" He closed his eyes tight as if he wasn't remembering, but flashes of something.

"Um, dunno, possibly I'm a bit freaked out with your vagueness." She looked at him.

"I'm not vague." He begged to differ. That made her chuckle.

"Really, I don't mind. As long as we can get away." She looked out the window then. It was wet out and becoming cold and windy.

"What are we getting away from?" He didn't see it exactly that way as he held her hand then. She looked down at his fingers touching hers.

"Sid, you seriously have to snap out of it." She looked at him as if he should know what this was about.

"Snap out of it?"

"You said we'd spend our honeymoon in Canada." She reminded him.

"I did?" He didn't remember this.

"Yes, we have everything taken care at the registrar's office. You said best to save the money for the honeymoon. We're going to see my parents." She looked at him as if she wished he knew a few things going on. She sighed then and took out her cell. She had a picture of them. Signing papers. They were married.

Yet again, Sid wasn't sure how to stay on top of things.

before a crisis errupts

2009-09-18T13:09:00.004-05:00

Violet wasn't sure how Nina would take it since she was the one who decided about leaves of absences at the museum. Of course, Violet was just an intern, anyway. Yes, they paid a little. Not a lot. Enough for sufficient room and board. And now that she had Sid, well, it did help on the paycheck. Some. Not that Sid was coughing up money. The two were as meager as they ever were.

"Sid and I want to take a trip." Violet informed her supervisor.

"For what reason?" Nina was of course her sour self.

"Just because. I suppose." Violet looked as wide eyed as a child. Just as innocent as the first day she stepped into the museum.

"That's not good enough." Nina stared at her as if she was ready to send her to some sort of torture. Preferably small children with 900 questions each who would pull at her every which way wanting her to show them different parts of the museum.

"Actually," Violet looked quite sad as she thought to make something up. "Its Sid's other Aunt. She's quite ill, and she's been begging for him and well, she wants to meet me. See if she can trust me and all."

"How long will this take?"

"Two weeks." Violet meekly held up two fingers on one hand. She couldn't push her luck on this. Really, she wanted to have a job when she got back. The museum was her other life when she wasn't with Sid.

"Very well." Nina handed her a form to fill out. "Bring it back and if its sufficient then I'll sign it."

"You know, I haven't really been a sick a day I've been here." Violet nodded. She couldn't think of missing a thing, but she was sure Nina would test her on this.

Nina just fumed. Violet smiled thinking of the new wrinkles Nina might have yet, if she kept this up. Yes, it was true, Nina was really growing into a sad old woman. It was inevitable.

so it goes

2009-09-02T15:28:00.005-05:00

Sid didn't want to tell Violet that he never ever wanted to work again at the museum. Just wishful thinking. He had to make a living, now didn't he? But a custodian was a bit low for him. Really? Wasn't there anything else he was good at?

"Well, we do want to make you a citizen of this country, now don't we?" It would take marriage to do it. "And I am the obvious choice? Right?"

"I haven't had a chance to confide in the other Sid. You know, the one who seems to know everything, unlike you." She looked over at him while they had morning tea in bed. At least that hadn't changed.

"Don't be daft," Sid winced.

"You're the one who's daft." She reminded him as she drank her tea.

"That attitude does not become you," Sid informed her.

"I'm only teasing," Violet smiled. "I love a mystery."

"What mystery?" Sid rolled your eyes. "Take the pills and become dull and boring, possibly even fat. Can I afford to do such a thing?"

"You've been reading up on the Internet, haven't you?"

"So."

"When are you coming back to the museum?" She sipped more of her tea then as she watched him cram two chocolate biscuits in his mouth.

He shrugged.

"But I like having you there," she said so sweetly.

"Of course, you do. Probably listening to that Lenny too much, going on about me," Sid pouted then after washing down the biscuits with the rest of his tea.

"I can't help it, that he talks." She looked at him as if she were honest.

"What we really need to do is a good road trip." He informed her.

"A road trip?" She looked at him as if he'd really lost it this time.

"Possibly a train-ride." He nodded getting up to get dressed.

"Why?"

"Its to see if we can stand each other through such an ordeal," he smiled. "And if we can, we'll get married. And then I'll go back to that stupid museum and be something other than a custodian."

Violet looked at him as if she possibly couldn't wait for the next chapter in their life.

a bitter moment

2009-08-26T22:13:00.003-05:00

"Oh, how could you!" Lenny pranced around the office in his plaid kilt as if he was thinking what to do to save Violet, of course. Or so Violet imagined who was at her computer terminal studying files that she hadn't a clue what to do with.

"Relax," Violet shrugged. He was making a major case about her engagement to Sid.

"Relax?" He looked as if he was on the verge of a heart attack. "You'll be with a man boy who doesn't know who he is, half the time."

"He's my man boy." She sighed. "It really not that bad." Violet flutter her silly striped tie then. It was really ridiculous how Nina was making the uniform required these days. Of course, she didn't see Lenny in one. He did wear that hideous bow-tie with the kilt. Really, being with Sid wasn't bad at all. Especially, when she had to wear contraptions, a black vest over a white shirt tucked in a silly pleated skirt that hung to her ankles, to work. They even insisted on the dark beret too. What was happening to this museum?

"Is his mum still here?" Lenny pressed his two index fingers under his nose and to his lips. Was he praying for her now. She studied his stance. It was quite ridiculous as his curls bounced around his forehead.

"She left." Violet nodded. "I think she has her work at some Lion orphanage in South Africa to tend to."

"I can't believe she'd leave you alone with him." Lenny glared at Violet.

"She thinks he's on his pills." Violet explained.

"He's not?" Lenny came closer as if he wanted her to stay away from him. "I want you to come home with me! Tonight!"

"I'm not coming home with you." Violet scowled. "I belong with Sid. And you belong with that bird of yours."

"Samson is a parrot." He crossed his arms and went back to his desk. Hopefully, to work.

"Whatever." Violet was set on marrying Sid. Nothing would stop her.

say it ain't so

2009-08-16T09:05:00.003-05:00

Sid thought the might melt into a thousand tiny pieces, taking those steps from Violet's room to where his mother was staying. It was like opening Pandora's box. It was a secret you couldn't wait to find out.

Sid hoped nothing stopped him.

What was he suppose to tell her? "Um, I've got a wee bit of a problem here. I'm like thing one and thing two in that children's book. Only you get the whole package. You might never know which one you're with." He couldn't say that. Now would he?

"Well, come on." Violet motioned him as she tapped on the door.

Sid took a deep breath and let it out. And waited. And wait. Shit, he said to himself. Something this damn simple and he hadn't the patience's for it. He wanted to run right in. "Look at me! Look at me!" When the whole time all he wanted to do was just have a look. A long look. Gawking, perhaps. He didn't know. He just wanted to see his Mum. What the fuck was so bad about that? Had he been cursed in another life. Perhaps this one. Jesus, his brain was in a tizzy now. But he stood his ground.

Damn you, I'm going to do it, he said under his breath and he went right up and turned the door knob to let himself in, "Mum."

There she was standing with her back turned to him.

"Mum, I think we need to talk." His eyes blazed.

And then, he saw her. How could he forget her so. She was who he expected, after all. Honestly, he looked a great deal like her. How could he have ever thought it different?

"About what, luv?"

"My problem, what else," he laughed.

"Darling, you haven't wet the bed in years." She just smiled.

"I wet the bed?" That was horrible. Shit, he had no idea.

"The last incident I remember, you were thirteen. You'd had a rough football game and you came home wanting a mustard and egg sandwich with jelly." She told him. "I thought you'd really lost it then. You drank it all down with the last of the ale and asked for another, but I said no. You'd wet the bed. Naturally, you said to go fuck yourself."

"I did?" That sounded horrible. Sid winced horribly at the thought. "Sorry. But no, this has nothing to do with me wetting the bed."

Thank God, Violet had gone to make tea during his mother's vile story about him.

"Then what is it? You said you were peachy about having the house." Her dark curls fluttered about as she tied her pale pink robe around her.

"Memories, I suppose. You see, I can't right recall if I should be in the hospital. You know, how's my sanity doing?" He asked.

She sat down on the bed then as she patted a place for him to sit, and he so hoped he could stay calm.

He sat down next to her.

"Remember, you said you'd take your pills." She looked at him.

"Did I?"

"Have you?"

"I'm not sure."

"If you want to stay with us, its a must. Other wise a part of you floats off somewhere to another time, dear boy." She explained.

"Really?" It was so frustrating to understand. That could only be an inkling of it. Not the real truth.

"I love you, Sid."

"I love you too, Mum. I've missed you." Sid sighed. "What if you have it all wrong, though?"

"But I can't. You need your pills to keep you put, that's all there really is to it." She looked him in the eye.

Sid just smiled. It was so convincing, wasn't it? But what was she really convinced of?

safety brick

2009-08-06T13:27:00.006-05:00

Violet dressed quickly to go and get his mother. She got into her under shirt and pink hoodie.

"I think its best you not think about her." Violet warned him.

"I wouldn't know what to think, now would I?" Sid looked at her so innocently as he was trying to get into his socks.

"We need a safe word." Violet nodded as she slipped on her flip-flops that matched her pink yoga pants.

"A safe word?" Sid winced. "What are you going on about? That's what people come up with when they have kinky sex. I just want to see my mother."

"I'm not talking about kinky sex," Violet squinted. "Face the fact there are two of you in that nogg'n of yours. Sid one and Sid two."

"Well, which one am I?" Sid climbed into his dark T then after he buttoned his jeans.

"Obviously, the one who forgets everything." Violet's eyes lit. "Its just the other Sid is rather convincing." She bit at the tip her fingernail then as if she needed to think.

"Probably can't even tell us apart when we're in bed." Sid nodded.

"I'm beginning to think it was the other one who knocked me out and put the tattoo on my neck." Violet looked up at him. "Perhaps that's Sinister Sid."

"Sinister? Really? You think?" Sid scowled then.

"You are sweet." She nodded smoothing out his T-shirt.

"Sweet?" He smirked. "Sweets? That's it. Sweets."

"Sweets." She sighed. She hoped it worked. Hopefully, the other Sid wouldn't spoil this. "Well, come on. Lets see if she's up." Violet took his hand then. They had a plan. Perhaps.

changes

2009-07-24T22:35:00.003-05:00

Now all my days
Are filled with tears
Wish I could go back
And change these years

I'm going through changes
I'm going through changes
-black sabbath

Sid walked the floors of the house. Were they really all alone? Really?

"What are you doing?" Violet asked.

"Just be quiet. You need to be quiet." It was the last thing he remembered saying because then he was walking. Up the staircase around to all the rooms. Then another stair case to another level of rooms. It was on going. How long must it go on? His feet were tired. Each step heavy. The silence prevailed. He wasn't even sure if Violet was behind him because everything was spinning after awhile. Making him dizzy. Feeling all was lost. And could there be another empty room to see. Around and around.

Sid sucked in a breath feeling he might be in a vacuum of some kind. Had he remembered this happening before? Maybe he had. Maybe he would remember. But maybe he wouldn't. Possibly not. And then he felt as if he'd been sucked into something so dark and he was gone. Gone.

In the next moment he blinked his eyes open and the sun was coming in brightly through the curtains in Violet's room.

Sid jerked himself up. Was he even wearing anything?

"What happened!" He demanded.

Naturally, Violet was asleep. And she didn't wake easily.

He nudged her then. "WHAT HAPPENED!" He shook her awake.

"What?" She squinted hard. "Really Sid, don't tell me you forgot everything, again."

"No, there was nothing to forget." He squinted back with a scowl.

"Sid, stop it now. You are just fine. You were very brave. You remembered so much so suddenly for the police. How your father brought back that thing in her apartment from one of his hunts for the zoo, but he kept him for a pet until well, you know, he croaked."

"Who croaked?"

"The black panther."

"Anything else?" Sid blinked.

"Yes, yes, the house." Violet smiled as if that was the best part. "Its yours. Your great aunt left you the house. Its all yours, but you keep insisting its ours. She held up her hand then. There was a ring on her finger.

"Holy shit!" Sid almost jumped out of bed. "We got married?"

"Don't be daft, you gave me one of her old rings and said we would be married one day, but you know, I'm not holding my breath as if it'll be tomorrow or anything." She smirked.

"Do you like this other Sid better than me?" He wanted to know.

"I dunno." She laughed. "Let me think on it." She touched her lip with her index finger for a moment. "Well, first of all I didn't know there were two of you. But it makes sense. Actually." She winked at him then. "You were so brave at the funeral. Shaking every-one's hand. You knew everyone of your cousins who came. Like old times, you know. It was all so sad and melancholy. But then you remembered her favorite tune."

"What?" Sid gave her a disgusting look. "Old Danny Boy?"

"No, Black Sabbath's Changes." She told him. "And you sang it right there with no help from anyone."

"God, what is going on?" He hugged his pillow then.

"At least you remembered so much." She told him.

"That does not help me now. Did you see my mother?" He looked at her then waiting for the worst answer possible.

"Yes, she's lovely." Violet looked at him blankly.

"I took a picture of the two of you." She opened the night stand drawer and handed him the framed photo of the two of them.

He did look an awful lot like her. It pained him to see them together when he feared he'd missed so much. Not knowing her now. All this waiting just to go to sleep, again. He guessed. He stared at it for some time and tried not to cry. But he did in the end.

"Its all right. Really." Violet hugged him as if she knew exactly how he felt. "You want me to wake her? She's just down the hall."

ever so slightly

2009-07-19T14:05:00.004-05:00

They'd ended the meal drinking up the soup from the bowl. Sid smiled.

"I'm glad you remembered your Mum's recipe." He told Violet as he soaked up what was left with a piece of sour dough bread from the bend.

"I never made it. I've only watched her a couple of times." Violet shrugged.

"I guess that was enough." Sid shrugged back. "I'm full now."

"There are brownies," she reminded him as she took the dishes to wash them up.

"Maybe later." He waited for her to rinse the bowls and he dried. He looked about the place wondering if they'd keep it tidied up. He wasn't sure why it worried him.

"We should really investigate her apartment," Violet suggested.

"I know, but it bothers me." Sid nursed his bottom lip a bit.

"Why would you be bothered?" Violet squinted. "It might tell us everything about you."

"But do I want to know?" Sid put the dishes away.

"Be brave, will you?" Violet sighed as she dried her hands. She wasn't going wait, evidently. She was taking a look. She went straight down the hall to his great Aunt's apartment.

"I don't know if its a good idea?"

"Why not?" She opened the door and instantly it smelled of something old. Old things that were musky and quite dusty. She turned on a lamp, and there it was staring right at them. It was huge. And very still. As if it were guarding something with its life.

Violet took a step back falling into to Sid who caught her. They both stared at the annoying object. After all. It wasn't alive, yet so haunting, peering at them, open mouthed and such an angry beast.

"Who on earth would own such a thing?" Violet stared at the stuffed creature. It was once a black panther. "Where did it come from?"

"Maybe she stole it from the museum." Sid couldn't help but laugh. "I wonder what the coppers thought?"

"She had a strange sense of humor." Violet grimaced not wanting to go near it, but Sid pushed her right by it. There was a wall of old photos. Some were about the dresser. Sid had to look hard to find any photos of himself.

Finally he picked up a photo of a child holding up a little fish next to a tall man. It was a black and white photo. Sid turned it over and found his name along with someone nameed Everette Peacock.

"God, I was such a fat kid." Sid announced. "You think that's my father?" He handed her the photo.

"Dunno, what if he's your grandfather?" Violet was no help.

Suddenly, it hit Sid as he looked back at the black panther who was like an angry nuisance.

"These people are all dead, Violet." Sid was so distraught he could have spit with bitterness. "They are, they all are. I think I'm suppose to be dead, Violet."

comfort and grief

2009-07-15T13:25:00.003-05:00

Violet watched Malcolm do his catlike yoga in the window-seat in the eat in kitchen. Actually, she'd never been in this part of the house. It wasn't exposed to her. Her landlady didn't have an open dining hall or anything. At one time she'd fed her guests, but now that was gone and it was just her apartment kept hidden. Violet supposed.

She was making brownies. There was a mix. She'd taken left over Easter chocolate eggs and pushed them in the batter for a surprise. She could only think of comfort foods for the grieving. As of yet, no one had stopped by with any food.

"I don't want to grieve." Sid informed her.

"Well, you have too." Violet shrugged.

"Why? What is the point?" He scowled and for a moment Violet thought she must be talking to a robot. "I don't remember her."

"Then you should be sad just about that." Violet put the brownie batter in a pan and into the oven. "I'm sure Malcolm misses her terribly." They both watched the cat lick himself then. "Well, he will."

"I'll make mashed potatoes." Violet decided.

"Why?" Sid looked at her blankly.

"Because you have plenty of potato, and its comfort food." She got out the bag of the potatoes then and washed them.

He helped her peel potatoes. It was so quiet. They could hear the old clock tick in the sitting room.

"I want potato soup." Sid sighed.

"All right. Do you know how to make it?" She looked up at him.

"No, but I could think of something." He sighed.

"Don't you always." She sighed back.

"What will happen to us?" Sid wanted to know.

She looked to see Sid was teary eyed as he peeled at the big fat potatoes while she cut them up. "We'll be still together when we leave this place?"

"Of course." Violet couldn't think she could go anywhere without him.

"I sort of miss her." He shrugged.

"Good." She was pleased.

"But I don't know why." He winced.

"Maybe you'll know someday. Just not at the moment." She got things going on the stove. She found some chicken broth to cook the potatoes in. And grabbed an onion from the pantry.

"Let me cut that up." He grabbed it. "I need a good excuse to cry."

Violet almost smiled. Sometimes, he surprised her with the smallest of tasks.

not to ask

2009-07-12T01:40:00.003-05:00

Why did water keeping coming back to Sid's mind. He was standing there at the toilet watching water flush down the commode.

What did that mean? He thought of a tornado then. No, his aunt wasn't in one. Perhaps she was flushed into the river.

He blinked. Thinking where he was then at the museum.

Nothing was coming to him. He was waiting to see if someone from the family showed up at his Great Aunt's. None had yet.

He really needed to get back there and study the photos more intensely. Why hadn't he?

It was turning out to be a disconcerting day. Nothing felt right. And yet he moved on. Mopped the floor of the break room, the bathrooms. Honestly, they hardly let him on the floor at all. It was as if he had to be behind the scenes. But the museum wasn't a play. And why was he even thinking about plays.

If that weren't enough, he was still consumed with the Scarlett mishap. Calling Violet. Scarlett. Her sister's name was Scarlett. Was that who he meant?

He crumbled to the floor in the bathroom. Honestly, he wanted to pull his hair out. He wanted to know what had really happened. With his memories. His great Aunt. Had he had anything to do with it?

He hoped not. He hoped not. The only comfort he could find was counting the black tiles nonstop.

could but couldn't

2009-07-10T06:27:00.000-05:00

"It does make you look more grownup," Lenny said as he fluttered the back of Violet's hair about, telling her how striking she looked and how everyone was so impressed with the new doo. "So whats this about Sid Peacock?" He laughed almost rolling in the floor of their office. "Violet Peacock! How funny could that be!"

"Shut it! Please." Violet closed her eyes. "We're in a crisis here, you know."

"Why didn't you take off today?"

"Because!" Violet hugged herself and went back to her desk. "Sid didn't want us too. He is trying his very best to have a very stable environment."

"And that means coming to work?" Lenny shrugged. "Its all rather uncanny, don't you think?"

"Don't you dare go there! Lenny!" Violet wanted to point fingers, but she couldn't. "Her funeral has already been arranged. It was natural causes."

"You mean she croaked before she hit the water?" Lenny mustered up a silly grin.

"Sid, had nothing to do with it." Violet swelled a frown.

"How do you know that for sure?" Lenny looked her straight in the eye.

"Because he was with me." Violet had to believe that. She had to make herself believe it. He was with her and no one else. So couldn't have done it. He couldn't have done his great Aunt in.

apparently

2009-07-08T02:04:00.002-05:00

I was following the pack
all swallowed in their coats
with scarves of red tied ’round their throats
to keep their little heads
from fallin’ in the snow
And I turned ’round and there you go
-fleet foxes

"Are you Sid Peacock?" The officer asked Sid as soon as he opened the door.

Sid shut his eyes tight. Yes, they'd guessed. He guess he was.

"What of it?" He was certain they'd have him in handcuffs in the next thirty seconds. Where in the hell had Violet gone? What if he lost it? Right here? A seizure of some sort.

"Your great Aunt was found dead floating the river." The officer sounded so certain it was his great Aunt. Sid didn't even know he had one.

"Really?" What was he suppose to know of it.

"We've come to check her apartment. Just standard procedure."

Sid stood back to let them through trying to put two and two together. Were they saying Mandy was he great Aunt? Well, it was news to him.

"What is going on?" Finally Violet made an appearance. She came up from behind him and put her arms around him as she stood on the third step of the stair case.

"Apparently, my great aunt has perished." Sid shrugged.

"You have a great aunt?" Violet didn't get it either.

"And she lived here?" He sighed trying to picture it in his head. Mandy really didn't talk all that much unless it was to the cat.

"Really? Which room?" Violet winced.

"Evidently, she owned the place." Sid shrugged.

"The old woman?" Violet said. "Are you sure?" She sounded in disbelief.

"Mandy, she had a name, remember?" Sid looked up at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Well, you certainly didn't." Violet reminded him. "Why didn't she introduce me to you? Hummm?" Violet whispered in his ear giving him a shiver. If it hadn't been for the coppers doing their investigation, he might of kissed her. "I think she was hiding you." He felt Violet's smile on his cheek just then, and he couldn't help but let a smile slip.

no second guess

2009-07-06T01:09:00.003-05:00

Violet was beginning to think the more she was with Sid that she might become him. His skin was so warm like a fine blanket of some sort, and it made her unwind as he let nothing go unnoticed about her.

Really, every-time was new and different and better. It wasn't like an exercise of some kind where you knew what happened next. No, she never knew with Sid. It was an adventure, and she was sure she couldn't express herself enough about it.

It was as if she could blank out all the stuff she didn't know. This was what she did know, she couldn't get enough of his affection, and she really believed it true. Just one look and well, it could happen. Sinking into an ocean of delight. There was this nurturing passion she very much believe in now and it was very intriguing and somewhat exhausting.

And yes, she really did believe he could take her to another world when he slept with her.

There was just no second guessing. She believed it when she awoke to the morning light, really they were becoming a part of each other.

"Are you ravished?" He then asked.

"Very ravished." She smiled wondering if she could even lift her head from her pillow. Naturally, he had tea with toast and jam.

"Did you sleep at all?" She wondered. She did. It was as if she'd floated away some how and fondly woke up here.

"Some."

He was dressed now. Her hair was gone that was on the floor.

Just then they heard the doorbell ring through the house. Neither would get it. Surely, the old woman would. But there was banging at the door. And then the loud roar, "POLICE! OPEN UP!"

Violet covered herself, bit her bottom lip.

"What the fuck?" Sid winced. "Well, get dressed."

She guessed he would have to let them in.

don't doubt it

2009-07-04T09:58:00.005-05:00

Sid had to believe he was quite under control. Even so with the scissors at hand, there were visions of stabbing and blood, and it was all a little ill to him, but he went on. That was some place else not here, not with Violet. Did she know her name reminded him of violence. Well, he wouldn't speak of it, now would he?He didn't want an accident to happen. And it very well could if he weren't careful.

He scooped up a thick layer of hair and pinned it at the top of her head while he cut very close to the nap of her neck.

"Are you sure, you know what you're doing?" She murmured so quietly.

"Very sure." He demanded. "Be still."

And she was.

Just then he noticed his towel was gone. Oops. Oh well, didn't really bother him. Did it bother her that he chose to be such a nudest? Honestly, it all felt rather natural to him. He concentrated on her hair. Such body that bounced. The length was weighing it down.

"I bet you've had headaches." He mentioned.

"Not really," Violet squinted. "Maybe."

"It is happening to you?"

"What is happening to me?" Violet wanted to know.

"Nothing." He shrugged. He looked at her heart-shaped face in the big mirror and dropped a wad of hair down to tend to with the scissors. "You'll think its a virus at first. But don't be alarmed."

"What are you going on about?" She swelled a frown.

"I'm just telling you how it is." He smirked.

"What is it?" She squinted hard this time as he was on his way to finishing up the bob that fell just below her ears now.

"Dunno exactly." He said so quietly. Finally it was done, and he was satisfied. The precious auburn hair looked neat at all angles. "Now isn't that lovely, you look sophisticated, you know. I'm sure the children won't treat you like a child anymore on those tours. at the museum. They have no respect for a girl with braids."

He smiled so happily then as he looked down to see what had risen to the occasion.

"Could we do something?" He then asked. Hopefully, she would guess...what.

tangled

2009-07-02T01:14:00.002-05:00

"Um, I didn't actually mean, me taking a shower with you?" Of course, Violet didn't mention this to Sid until she wrapped a towel around herself when the shower was over.

"You didn't seem to mind." He reminded her.

"Well, we save on water that way..for ..for you know, the old lady who runs the place." Violet shrugged.

"You mean Mandy?" Sid squinted.

"You know her first name?" This was news to Violet. "When did you start this? First name basis?"

"I dunno. She seems to know me." Sid told her.

"Really?" That was a relief to Violet. Maybe they wouldn't have to move. She was in no hurry to get dressed, and neither was he, evidently, who shook his wet head about with his towel around his waist in their room. "When did you see her last?"

"She wanted me to draw a picture of her cat." He said as he watched her comb her thick auburn hair out. He took over when she hit a snag.

"Her cat?" Violet was puzzled. "When do you find time for such exercises?" She gritted as she pulled the comb through her tangles. "I thought you spent all your time with me."

"Some times, I can't sleep."

"I thought you slept well."

"You could sleep through anything, Violet." He mentioned.

"Obviously." She squinted hard as he edged the comb through.

"You have too much hair." He then informed her.

"So. What about yours?"

"You should let me cut it." He was matter of fact, and she was certain they should be discussing more pressing matters. Like the Dr. Bentley and his medication.

"No, you might make me a pixie." She winced.

"I would not."

"My mum would hate it."

"She's not here." He did have a point. Violet sighed. He'd already tattooed her.

He jerked a long pair of shears out of her dresser drawer then. Where did those come from?They looked quite deadly to Violet as her eyes lit. Then his towel came undone. And she had a good laugh suddenly, thinking he was the naked hairdresser.

about that

2009-06-30T01:36:00.003-05:00

Sid felt he'd played football all day from the drenching sweat he was in. Was he just sick or what?

Violet smiled when she found him sitting on the steps of the museum next to the white statue of the lion. Sids thick dark bangs were standing on ends. He looked as if he could have been a side show of an idiot performance artist on the street.

"You look a tad vile," She told him as she put her fingers through this hair to comb it back.

"What?" He wasn't used to all her touching. Obviously, but he did his best not to fight her.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." She picked herself up then and waited for him to follow. The bus was coming. He got up and she looped her arm around his.

"Do you think you might do it again?" She looked over at him.

"Do what?"

"This? You're job at the museum." She sighed.

"I need a job, now don't I?" He winced.

"Yeah, if you can manage."

"I can manage." He promised as they found themselves waiting in line to get on the bus. Finally they found a seat.

"Perhaps we need a bigger place." She nodded.

"What brought this on?" He squinted then.

"I dunno. It would be a place we could call our own. Something official." She acted quite calm about it.

"We are just fine. We have all we need at your place. I don't really have much."

"Quite true." She smiled weakly.

"What is it, Violet?"

"You called me, Scarlett?" She changed the subject then. "Is she an old lover of yours?"

"Maybe." He closed her eyes trying to see her more clearly. He knew she'd fallen in to the water. She was no longer around. "But she looked just like you. She did."

"Yes, of course." She hugged herself and the bus lunged on.

"You don't believe me!" He found himself yelling then and everyone eyeing him as if he might tell everyone he might have a bomb on the bus.

"I said I did, didn't I?" She snapped. "Look, we have to find a new place. We must. Nina is on to us and she'll tell the old woman at the boarding house and we'll be out on arses in no time."

"Nina? Who in the hell is she?" Sid shook his head.

"Someone I work with. The birthday party I mentioned, remember? It was hers." She informed him.

"What am I suppose to do with this information?" He sighed. God, he needed a drink. Finally, the bus was pulling into the village. "How about a little lift at the pub?" He suggested.

"I'd like you better in the shower." She told him.

"Why, Violet, I had no idea." He grinned. He liked this side of her.

around the bend

2009-06-26T01:45:00.004-05:00

Violet couldn't be sure how to exactly go about seeing Dr. Bentley. There would be so many ways he'd be suspicious of her. But it was so simple. They needed to figure out Sid's problem. Maybe they'd given him shock treatments. She'd heard how ghastly they'd been in the past. Perhaps now days was much more gradual and helpful. Unless this Bentley was the Nazi from hell.

"What are you pondering about?" Lenny wanted to know who had been generous enough to bring her tea, mid-afternoon.

"Pills." She shook the brown bottle in her hand. Lenny snatched them to give them a look over.

"What are you doing with this?" He snarled. "These are for Schizophrenia."

"Really?" She should have knows. "Bugger." She whispered then, crossing her arms.

"These are your psycho lover's." Lenny rolled his eyes. "I don't know if its wise to be with him, you know that don't you?"

"Then we're both crazy." Violet scrunched a frown.

"So he knows nothing about them?" Lenny studied Violet's distress.

"Of course."

"What if this bloke escaped a loony ward. Worst yet, what if he's a criminal?"

"Lenny! Stop it!" Violet scolded. "Have we heard anything about an escape from anywhere? Really?" She was still giving him a hard glare.

"I fear the worst." Lenny put his hand on Violet's shoulder. "What if one afternoon you never come back? I could never forgive myself-"

"Shut it! Now." Her tea was getting cold and she didn't care. Nothing was going to stop her from being with Sid.

more goodies

2009-06-24T02:39:00.005-05:00

So there were the pills. What were they for?

Sid jerked them out of the leather messenger bag squashed in the locker. They meant nothing to him. What if this is what kept him from remembering? Should he take them? Maybe he should. He should. He would. Don't. No, don't take them. And inner voice stressed that it was wrong. Very wrong to take them. But there was his name.

"JESUS CHRIST STOP IT!" He jerked about thinking he was an idiot. Just an idiot to listen to that voice inside his head. He jerked the messanger bag over his head. He should leave. Just leave. Get out of here and...

He looked up and there was Scarlett no... Violet coming out of the bathroom.

"What a lovely man purse," she said. "Is that yours?"

"Don't call it that." He winced.

"Did you find anything?"

"Possibly." He frowned a bit about it.

"Well?"

He jerked the bottle of pills out and showed her. She took them, noticing the doctor's name. "What are they far?"

"How in the fuck should I know?" He was in a fit of emotion about it.

"I should call the doctor." She nodded.

"Why?"

"Why not?" She looked him over and grabbed the messenger bag. "Just let me have that before you decide to choke yourself." She'd give a good thorough look. "Its in your best interest."

"Promise?"

"Yes." She stared at him for a moment as she held on to the messenger bag. "And while you're here, don't suppose you know a thing about this?" She flicked her hair back.

"Yes," He smirked. "I did it with my teeth."

"What!"

"I don't know how it happened or why it happened." He squinted hard. Just then he looked up and saw Ray tapping his watch and staring at him. "Look, I've got to get busy. "

"All right." She nodded. "We'll talk on the way home. I'll see what I can do."

"Good." At least he had that to look forward too. He hurried on then to catch up with Ray. He supposed the man would tell him what needed to be done. Really, he was a novice at this sort of thing. Probably not much good at cleaning the loo as it was.

in the loo

2009-06-22T01:35:00.007-05:00

Violet stretched her neck, just so up to the mirror. Her teeth gnashing. "What the devil is it?" A "D" of some sort. Ancient she supposed. Maybe it was the mark of the devil.

Violet stared at herself in the mirror then. What had happened to her? Really? Was it safe being with Sid? Maybe he was a monster. But a beautiful one at that. And so lovely when he kissed her and...Violet caught herself dreaming of him. In his arms. His touch. Was that real?

Oh, she remembered. She did. It had happened. And this time it was so.....She closed her eyes and sighed. It was magical. Truly, he was the one. She didn't need another. That addictive smile. Those were eyes who knew the real her. And knew exactly what she wanted.

"Well, that's what happens when you let a boy kiss you far too long." The echo of Nina's words echoed through the loo.

"Oh." She hadn't meant to doze off just then.

"I saw you with him." Nina winced. "Think you can keep him, do you? Hide him in your closet. Is that what you're doing? What would Mrs. Winchell think if she knew you had a boy in your room?"

"You wouldn't!" But the evil witch would. Nina ran the show around here. Always in everyone's business. She was far too skinny for her own good. Violet was sure she wanted to be twenty-nine forever, but for all Violet knew she might be beating on the door of fifty-nine.

"But I would." She cleverly smiled. "It would be for you're own good."

Violet pushed her hair over the tattoo then. She didn't need Nina in her business. What was her job title around here? Making people miserable? Violet scurried back to Lenny and her desk.

fixing the fix

2009-06-20T01:00:00.005-05:00

Sid was about to lose it when he almost broke into his locker, Ray showed up again.

"I don't think they gave you the combination yet," he said. "You better got to the office."

"Office." Sid nodded. Well, where in the hell was the office?

Ray motioned for him to follow. It was nowhere where Sid thought it might be. It was in the basement. Of course, he had to wait forever before the secretary showed up, and she was much more interested in her biscuits and tea than with him. Sid had a good mind to see if he could dig up his application. What had he put on it? Would it give him any clues or was it just another fabricated tale he'd conjured up.

"May I help you?" She said in a shrill voice which made Sid's ears hurt. He flinched slightly, but thought it best to be on his best behavior.

"Yes, please." He told her about his misfortune of not being able to work the day before and that he'd somehow miss-placed his combination to his locker. That said and her remembering his face very well, she scratched out the combination on a slip of paper and handed it to him.

"Thank you, so much." He grinned, hoping this would give him answers, but he doubted it. It was probably an empty locker.

Sid raced back upstairs to the locker room, clicked the combination into place and as luck would have. It wasn't empty, after all.

say what?

2009-06-18T03:48:00.005-05:00

"You're serious?" Lenny looked at Violet as if there must be a mistake or he would know.

"Quite sure, the director told us so. He works here." Violet sighed as if this was beginning to baffle her.

"A custodian?" Lenny smiled. "Unbelievable. So that's why he lied to you. Said he was a footballer. Didn't want you know what a low-life he is."

"He's not a low-life." Violet didn't believe it.

"There has to be something crooked about the bloke." Lenny prissed off to his desk in yet another plaid kilt. His shirt with the puffy sleeves came off rather Greek as is he might do an ethnic dance of some kind at a moment's notice.

"You don't even know him, Lenny." She swelled a frown and stomped off to her desk.

"And neither do you," he reminded her.

"I might not know everything, but he's a very genuine-" She didn't know how to explain it.

"So?" Lenny got right to it. "Did you do it?"

"I'd rather not say." She fluttered her lashes and got right to her e-mail to find out what was going on with everyone. Yet another was on vacation.

"It happened. You probably drove him mad with that silly smile of yours." He smirked.

"Can I not hide anything from you?" She wished he'd get busy and go to work, but he kept looking her over as if he were imagining it step by step about last night with Sid.

"Violet!" Lenny jumped up and stormed over to her desk.

"What?" She was trying to find the right file of the files to edit in the database.

"Be still." He glared intently.

He then flicked her auburn hair behind her shoulder.

"What do we have here?" Lenny found the tattoo, put his finger on the place that was a bit tender to Violet.

"Ow!" She swatted his hand away. "Its nothing."

"Definitely, looks like something to me." He pursed his lips. "Mind, explaining it to me?"

Violet squirmed away. "Its none of your business." She backed away. What was the big deal? It was just a hickey, wasn't it? She'd have to find the loo to check it out.

better yet

2009-06-16T02:34:00.006-05:00

Someone actually knew his name?

Sid winced, trying to act casual. Trying to act as if he knew who this person was who knew him.

"Sid, where have you been? I was about to call the coppers on you," The thin man looked him over as if this would not do. "You start a job here and then you don't show up for work."

"He works here?" Violet was puzzled.

"Yes, don't suppose you've met our new custodian, have you, Violet?"

"Well, how do you do," Violet acted as if they just met. He got a little handshake. "Welcome aboard."

Sid gave her a sore look. A custodian, that blows, he thought. Couldn't he be anything else but the bottom of the barrel around here?

"Well, come along Sid, I'll take you to the locker room, just in case you forgot your way," Violet shrugged and Sid supposed he had to follow. His luck they'd put him in a strange jumpsuit with his name on it.

It was really a big room too. It felt like a boys dressing room of some sort without the benches, he supposed.

"Everyone comes in here," she told him. "Any chance you could find your locker without thinking really hard about it."

"What?" He wasn't sure he liked her attitude.

"I'm just saying it you don't think about it, it might come to you easier. You know, like numbers for bank accounts and passwords on computers. That sort of thing." She suggested.

Sid took a deep breath. He supposed he'd have to try.

"This is unbelievable," he wasn't exactly embracing the situation. "And you, you never saw me here, ever?"

"No," she looked at him blankly. "He said you just started."

"OK, if I find this wonderful locker of mine, how do I get into it?"

"Were you even listening to me?"

He didn't always. Not like he should, he knew.

"All right." With that, she left. He wished she hadn't. He looked about the room at all the gray lockers. Which one would it be, he thought as he went over and touched each one. Just about then an old man came in with a dark jumpsuit on with the name, Ray, on it.

"Excuse me, I just started and I can't remember where my locker is," he shrugged.

"Right here, lad," Ray told him, pointing to 114.

"Thanks." Now if he knew the combination that would have been even better.

what is it

2009-06-14T03:20:00.004-05:00

"Why did you let me sleep so late!" Violet was in a tailspin when she did awake a bit dizzy and silly. He practically had to dress her to get her out the door and then he'd loaded up a canteen of tea and biscuits and cheese for the bus ride. They ate on the way. She didn't even look about the tattoo.

"Just wear your hair down, you're much more mature that way," Sid pleasantly assured her as he carried all the essentials as if he were her assistant. They were crunching on apples by the time they got there.

"Better now?" He was all caring and kissing her as if he'd see her tonight, but then he was going to the museum with her.

So they raced up the steps with a few minutes to spare, and he stopped suddenly as he saw it in the main entrance.

"Oh, that's Bess," Violet smiled. Everyone had to have a good look at her bones. "She's a beauty, isn't she?' Maybe that was a little much, she was one big dinosaur. Even a bit disgusting, but children loved her. "She was dug up in the glen not so far from here." Actually, if it hadn't been for her, there would have never been a museum."

Sid followed her into Bess' display.

"But that's not a dinosaur," Sid looked at Violet then.

"Yes, it is," Violet had read plenty up on the creature, how her bones were found and her resurrection.

"No, its not." Sid shook his head. "Its a creature from the sea. Like the Loch Ness monster. Its one of those."

"Of course, Sid." She didn't want to argue.

"Sid!" Someone said his name.

Violet full of shock, perhaps even sad. Someone knew Sid at the museum. She looked up to see the director, calling his name.

first sight

2009-06-12T02:59:00.005-05:00

Sid noticed it first the next morning.

Again? He couldn't say what he'd done, but he saw the little tattoo on Violet's neck. It looked sort of like a V with a line on top. Well, from this angle, anyway. Actually it formed an ancient D. What had he done?

He remembered the last part this time. Sex. At least. Before sleep, anyway. He caught himself smiling, but didn't want too. But the tattoo. Where did that come from?

Sid winced taking a closer look. It was a runic symbol. Thurisaz. The word came to him. Why? He didn't know.

He wrapped himself up in a blanket and went to Violet's laptop and googled for an answer.

Thurisaz : (TH: Thorn or a Giant.) Reactive force, directed force of destruction and defense, conflict. Instinctual will, vital eroticism, regenerative catalyst. A tendency toward change. Catharsis, purging, cleansing fire. Male sexuality, fertilization. (Thorr, the Thunder god, was of Giant stock.)Thurisaz Reversed or Merkstave: Danger, defenselessness, compulsion, betrayal, dullness. Evil, malice, hatred, torment, spite, lies. A bad man or woman. Rape?

"What the fuck is that suppose to mean?" He barely said under his breath as he studied the meaning. "Giant?" He mouthed. He held on to something that was hard, but that was because it was morning, and he didn't think it was giant, exactly. Not that it was dwarf size, either, but OK, he guessed. Not that he was bragging, but what if Violet thought that's what it was about? Well, too late to change it. Possibly she could just cover it up with makeup. Maybe she wouldn't even notice this morning.

He'd let her sleep. She probably needed it. One of them had to keep their head on straight.

so

2009-06-10T02:00:00.006-05:00

"Can't say I've seen him in these parts." The waitress told them as she took their order for the special of the night, hamburger steak and mashed potatoes.

Violet smiled as if this was nothing new. Everything seemed to be a dead end.

"Perhaps we should have taken the bus up to the college and had a look around, maybe that would have been the ticket." Violet looked at Sid who was shredding the wrapper of his straw in bits. It was as if he needed to attack something. Of course, she didn't think much of it.

"I don't want to go." Sid decided.

"But it might be the only way."

"Maybe I don't want to know." He gritted. "Everything is lovely, right?"

"I wouldn't say lovely." Limbo came to Violet's mind.

"I want to leave it alone."

"Why all the sudden?" Violet scowled.

"You're just afraid the shagging won't commence." He smirked.

"Why did you bring that up?" Violet kept wishing she wouldn't say Why, but really why?

He pushed his fingers through his heavy dark hair.

"Sorry," Sid said with a wince. "But I get the impression I'm your first, and you wonder if its better the second time."

Violet stuck her tongue out at him and made a face then.

He only smiled as if he knew the truth about her. It was as if that was the only thing honestly keeping them together.

The food came. They cleaned their plates well as if they were both famished and returned home in record time. Possibly, it was because the old lady who ran the place thought they were lovers and gave them a free bottle of red wine.

Of course, Violet had teased that it was magical, and the old woman hinted they would just have to find out on their own good time.

So they drank the wine in tiny jelly glasses that Violet's mother had sent from home. They'd once been filled with homemade strawberry jam. Now they held the sweet red wine.

"Um, its good." Violet drank up and was ready for more.

"You really drink far too much." Sid told her.

"Maybe you don't drink enough," Violet smirked right back.

"You'll get sick." He promised.

"Very well." She didn't have another. He really could sour the mood, but then Sid let down her braids and brushed her hair.

With each stroke, she came a little bit more undone as she sat on the bed between his legs. She felt his warm breath near her ear. Her lashes fluttered gently, thinking she should wait. She would really wait this time because she knew she hadn't before. Before when she undressed in front of him, and he'd teased her she was a tigress of some sort. It was all a bit randy and possibly pathetic and laughable. But now he kissed her neck so softly, it made her smile.

He kissed her shoulder too as her blouse loosened. She smiled so.

And then like pin pricks steadily surged on the side of her neck came as a shock to her, but she didn't move. She felt paralyzed. Violet could barely keep her eyes open. No way could she fight it. For it was infectious. Only it didn't feel like a disease at all but the start of something amazing.

really now

2009-06-08T01:42:00.004-05:00

How could she? He thought, talk about him like that. Intimate details, too.

"What did you say?" He wanted to know. "And the truth. You must."

"What? You don't trust me?"

He chewed at the inside of his cheek then. Sid thought he might come undone for good. Perhaps blow his brain right out of his head. He winced hard then. A sharp pain raised through him. This was it, he assumed. He thought he might go dizzy.

"You know, you are all I have in this world, don't you?" He told her.

"Really?" Now she winced. "Well, if you put it that way. I didn't really mean to hurt your feelings. Honestly, I didn't tell him much. He made his own assumptions."

"I don't want you to talk to him about me," Sid's head wobbled a bit as his temper settled slightly.

"I won't. I swear."

He wanted to say something vile that he'd cut her if she didn't do as he asked. It came out of no where in his head, and his eyes shot open as he did his best to catch his breath.

"What is it?" She looked at him a little funny then.

"Nothing." He felt a bit shaky.

"You, all right?"

"Yes, of course." But he didn't feel all right. He felt a bit twitchy. "Why don't you tell me your life story like you'd promised."

"Well, I'm from a little place close to Ottawa-" Violet started and that's all he got because he thought he went to sleep after that. A fog of some sort came over him.

"You were listening, weren't you?" She looked at him intently.

He looked up at her wondering what had happened. Had he been asleep with his eyes open?Maybe he was narcoleptic, but a very good one. No one could notice.

"Well, that was refreshing," he told her. "Maybe we should take a walk and find that diner again, get a bite to eat and you know-" he shrugged.

"Oh."

Did she know? If she knew, he hoped she told him, and he'd actually be awake and not in a fog when she did so.

don't suppose

2009-06-06T02:01:00.005-05:00

Violet brought home some crisps to share with Sid. Hopefully, it would cheer him up. Perhaps there was nothing that could really cheer him up. What if he was one of those who saw only the glass half empty instead of half full. Something like that.

Of course, she kept thinking of what Lenny had said about her whole ordeal. Could he have had a seizure when he had an orgasm? It was all so perverted. She wouldn't know how to bring it up. See, he needed to see a doctor. How was she ever going to convince him that he needed to see the authorities?

Until then she'd have to face the fact as Lenny said, "Your boyfriend is mental." Of course, she didn't know if she could call Sid such a thing. Especially, boyfriend.

Naturally, her door was locked. She hoped he was in. She knocked quietly. Something was stirring, she noticed. Finally, he came to the door. And when she saw her little place, she noticed he'd tidied up.

"Oh, you shouldn't have," she shook her head but all her dirty clothes were in the laundry. Tea cups in their place. Even the hot plate looked splendid.

"I've decided I can't sleep."

"Never again?" Violet winced.

"I have these-these-" He was trying to say it and act it at the same time. "These God awful visions. And-and-"

"And what?" She was beginning to think he was the worst actor in the world or a drama queen.

"That-" He shook his head as if he knew she wouldn't believe him. "I think I killed you in another life."

"That's just mad." She laughed as if she enjoyed that part of the show. "Crisps?" She handed the open bag toward him.

"Don't you understand, this is serious." He grabbed her shoulders and stared at her intently.

"Of course, it is." She wouldn't let it get to her. He'd find any excuse wouldn't he? To not be with her. "I'll call the coppers right now if you wish?"

"I'm really not a violent person." He informed her.

"No, but you thought I was." She ate a crisp then.

"Violet, you know, I don't want to hurt you. I'd never want to hurt you." He turned away then and went to make tea. "Don't eat all those now. We need something to go with our brew."

She smiled thinking wasn't he just talking about- Violet shook her head, and put the crisps on the little table where she ate meals and did work at night, sometimes.

"How was your day?"

Violet didn't know what had come over him. He was suddenly an angel. Make that personal servant. Now he wanted to know about her day.

"Horrible." She couldn't think of another way to describe it. "Little children chirping like idiot birds for one thing, but they love me and that really helps."

"I must come with you tomorrow." He insisted as he brought sweetened tea with milk. It was true, he did know how to make a good strong brew.

"If you must, it'll be boring." She took a load off and sipped her tea.

"Nonsense."

"You'll see, its not posh." She scowled a bit just thinking of it.

"So what shall we do?" He looked to her for bright ideas she supposed.

"Not sure, shagging would be out of the question? I suppose." She shrugged.

"Suppose," he said, but she wasn't sure if he was sold on the idea, completely.

"I have a scenario to run by you, but I have no evidence of it, and it could be doubtful of its existence. But do you suppose you could have had a seizure of some sort last night during intercourse that made you an idiot?" Violet wished she'd left the idiot part out. He wasn't exactly stupid.

"You're being an idiot just saying crap, such as that." He glared at her then.

"Its not my fault, someone suggested it to me at work."

"You told someone about me?" He looked angry now.

"Just Lenny." She shrugged.

"Thanks, a lot V." Sid rolled his eyes and grabbed a crisp then.

apparently

2009-06-04T02:24:00.005-05:00

Sid awoke in a pool of sweat. He thought as if a dragon had perhaps spit him out. He hadn't been worth his while.

He shivered so then. Blinking. Focusing. That face. It was murky to him. But he knew. He knew exactly who it was. His body shook more as he hugged the covers. Why had he taken his clothes off? Had he been here all this time?

He rose from a sea of sleep. Turbulent at that. Tossing and turning, almost rising out of it, but in the end it had drown him somehow, and he'd been so close to her then. So close. And she looked a hell of lot like Violet. Except it wasn't Violet. He didn't think so.

Even so, she'd been very real to him. But it was fading fast. His eyes washed with tears. Something, horrible had happened. Just horrible. He knew it, but how did he know?

Sid couldn't stop shaking. He couldn't get warm enough. He couldn't stop thinking about her, either. Really, it was all so clear, and yet it wasn't.

He wanted to sleep without nightmares. He wanted to wake up and know who he was and what had happened. How would he ever be sure of anything ever again?

As he sat up, he was certain he'd done something wrong. Very wrong. But what if it wasn't something recently? What if it were from another time? Who ever she was who looked a great deal like Violet, didn't look as if she were from here. Or now. It was so confusing. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Really, all he wanted was to sleep off the bad sleep. But sleep seemed to make it worse. He had to keep alert. Except a headache was setting in. That could not be good. None of this could be good.

He winced so. Perhaps he was sick. Or just sick in the head.

what was it exactly

2009-06-01T01:43:00.007-05:00

By the time Violet got to the old museum, the rowdy children were gathering. She scowled at Lenny then, knowing she wouldn't be archiving today. Since she was the lowest of the food chain, guess what she would be doing? The usual. No one else had to do it. Babysitting the next four hours.

"Don't look so sad, dearie," Lenny with his joker smile smirked to humor her. "You know, you're a gem at these sort of things. "

"Really?" She hated it. "I've too much on my mind today, as it is, and then a bunch a kiddies to herd. Can't someone else do it?" She put her satchel away as if she might be important one day, but as if was, she was the help on the floor.

"Do tell?" Lenny looked as if he was about to pop if she didn't. He squirmed his way over to her little desk with the fattest computer that buzzed most times of the day. After all, she was their Canadian friend aka the foreign exchange girl that even those on their gap year thought little of her or her job.

"No." She remained even lipped as if he'd have to do something for her.

"Is it juicy?" As it was he was strutting about in a kilt, but she knew what it really was.

"The juiciest." She wiggled her shoulders just as much as he could, but she knew in the end, nobody wanted the sight of him to harm a child's eyes. He wasn't the best cross dresser. He really did need to shave those hairy legs of his.

"Come on," Lenny looked as if he might cry, but he rubbed his thumb on his black nail polish. "Please!" He then begged.

"How long must I be with the kiddies?" Violet put her hands behind her back.

"Two hours tops." He was dying to know. She knew.

"How about one?"

"Sorry. You're all we got, except for Nina and you know she's such a Queen, it would have disaster written all over it." He shook his head as his dark blond curls fluttered about.

"I think we need a disaster." Violet sighed putting on her name tag that said, Juliet.

"Only a wee little one would do." Lenny was certain of it as he went back to his desk. "Then do, tell. Two hours tops. Really."

She didn't actually believe him as she stomped away to her duty. She flicked her auburn braid behind her shoulder and went to put on a show for the kiddies. Really, she had no idea what she was talking about. It was rather auto pilot when it came to exploring this ancient place.

Naturally, after her first breath, there was the sheer echo of little voices chirping, everywhere. It was mind blowing, but she went on waving her hand in one direction to follow. They would start with the beginning of time, Bessy the apatosaurus stood erected waiting for an audience.

Three hours later, she was exhausted. Barely, conscious of any of it. Some little girl had scraped her knee, and Violet had to put a band-aid on it. Luckily, she found her way back to her desk, and she noticed a pink cupcake as some sort of peace offering.

"Sorry," Lenny shrugged. "I hope this'll make up for the last hour."

Violet gave him a dead stare.

He set down an iced juice as well.

"You know, you're a saint here, you really are," he said it as if he wanted her to stay for good. As if, he was a tart, now wasn't he? She remembered. "So spill it. I've been waiting." He smiled as if he could relive the moment if she'd only speak of it.

"Remember the footballer from last night?"

"The fit footballer?" His eyes lit.

She nodded.

"Nice." Lenny added with a sigh. "How was he? Exhilarating, aye! Fast and furious shag, right?" Naturally, he had to put in his own little sex moves that were a lot to be desired. One would have thought he mated with bunnies.

"No." She didn't want him to get anymore creepy. She bit her bottom lip then, thinking of Sid. "It was quite sweet. He kisses lovely."

"But the shagging did commence, right?" He impishly snarled.

"Right." She looked up at him. "Its just.... he doesn't remember."

"Really?" Lenny stood so shocked. "What? He was drunk. A drunk footballer had a go at you, is that what you mean?" He scowled.

"No." Violet shook her head, scraping a bit of the sweet pink icing on her finger to taste. "He was fine, but this morning, he doesn't remember. Doesn't remember a thing. Doesn't even remember his name."

"Doesn't remember?" Lenny hugged himself, scowling as it must have been the worst night ever, and then he smiled as if he knew exactly what had happened. "Did he...." Lenny took his time, she hoped he wouldn't be nasty, but usually he was. " Did he moan?"

Violet winced. "What if he did?"

"Jesus!" Lenny just chuckled. "Poor bloke, probably had a seizure when he came."

Violet's nose scrunched in a scowl. She looked above as if some answer might fall on her. She remained even lipped then, thinking, what if they did it again? What if it all came back to him?

something true

2009-05-29T01:26:00.007-05:00

Sid didn't like the looks of the fellow at the bar. He was sure he'd start barking orders any second as a pirate. His nose was large, crooked too. There was just something not right about the establishment.

"I thought you said we met at a party?" It looked like a well haggard place for old timers who'd drank most their life away.

"It was here." Violet assured him.

"You go for a drink after work, everyday? Is that it?" Slowly he was figuring out perhaps he wasn't with Miss Innocents, after all. Perhaps she was keeping secrets from him.

"No." She looked hurt that he'd ask. "It was a birthday party for someone at the museum. I don't know her, precisely, but I came because there was free food. You can only eat so much oatmeal in a day."

"All right." He looked away and about the place. Nothing was that exciting at the moment. Just a dart game going and a smokey room.

"Excuse me," Violet got to it right away with the bartender. "Do you know this fit lad by chance?"

"Fit?" Sid motioned the word. He scowled. What was she up too?

"Fit is he?" The old bartender flashed a smile of his crooked teeth.

"I mean, fine." She nodded. "I'm sure he's fine to come into your fine establishment." She grinned then. Sid wanted her to stop, and he pulled her away from the bar. The way the grizzly creature looked at her, Sid was sure the old fart could have her for a snack.

"Well, he was with the footballers, wasn't he? Last night?"

"Yes." Violet beamed as if she was on to something now. "Yes, he was, do you remember where perhaps they're staying?"

"Down at the college there is a retreat. Don't know which one." He shrugged going back to drying mugs.

"You weren't listening last night?"

"Darling, I let it all go in one ear and out the other." He flashed her another disgusting smile. Sid grimaced.

"Come on, V." Sid pulled her off the stool before she could get comfortable. "Lets go."

"But-" He grabbed her arm and looped it in his, and they walked out together.

"A lot of good that did," Sid huffed. "How could you go to some place so unsavery?"

"Unsavery? Well, you were there?" She wasn't quite yelling but she might as well have been.

"I don't like it."

"It was hopping last night. Music. Strobe lights, nothing like now. It was like night and day." She told him.

"All right, whatever." He couldn't help but be a bit sullen.

"We should just go to the police. The hospital? Yeah?" She stared at him.

"Not yet." He shook his head. He had to figure this out on his own. What if they told him the wrong information? What if they wanted him to be someone else? "I'll wait for you back at the room."

"OK." She looked at him blankly, but with her smile he was sure that was the best answer she'd heard all day. "You're sure you can find your way?"

"I remember."

"But what if you forget before you get there?" She said rather innocently.

"That's not going to happen." They walked toward the boarding house then.

"I should walk with you."

"You don't have to."

"But I want too." She souned as if were her duty as if he'd get lost in a cow pasture at this rate.

"Fine." He rolled his eyes at that.

"I'm beginning to feel you're afraid you're stuck with me now," Violet said a while later as they crossed the street to where they began the day.

"How could you think so?" He winced. "I hardly know you."

"Yeah, about that," Violet looked a bit dismal then. "Maybe you don't want to know."

"You can tell me your whole life story tonight." He stared at her then, almost smiling. "Is it long?"

"Depends." She looked at him, almost fretting.

Suddenly, the urge came over him to kiss her. So he did. It was something so automatic. So personal. So in tune. It had really been the only thing right. And he hadn't thought about it all.

dining

2009-05-24T01:32:00.006-05:00

Violet checked through his things one last time even after he'd had a look. Nothing of significances.

"As if I'd over look it?" He glared at her with the bluest of eyes. Really, they were stunning, and it made her green eyes stare back at him that much more. She was sure he had to be of some importance, so pale and tender hands. Possibly an academic scholar, she supposed, or was that wishful thinking?

"Sorry."

They made there way by foot out of the boarding house where she was staying to around the corner to the diner for an egg sandwich.

"What is it that you do?" He seemed quite interested as the coffee was brought, and she remembered they'd been here late last night.

"Nothing special," she shrugged. "Research. Archiving, actually, at a museum." She pulled the waitress to the side then wondering when last night's help would be in. Of course, the waitress she remembered wouldn't be in until tonight.

"Do you remember anything here?" Violet looked to see how much cream he put in his coffee. He'd drank it black last night.

"Here?" He pulled a face as if that was the wrong question.

"Well, we were here, but we'd had a bit much to drink." She told him.

"I recall nothing." He sighed and yet looked at her surprised.

"It may take a while." She nodded. "Even if we find someone who does know you, will it be enough?" She winced a frown then.

"Dunno." Sid shrugged.

She was sure she confused him more so she was quiet then, waiting for her food. Actually, she had quite an appetite. She ate the sandwich and all the home fries while he watched.

"Don't tell me you only eat one meal a day?"

"Depends," Violet said. "Look, I'll have to leave you on your own a bit, I need to get to work. Can I trust you with my key? You don't think you'd lose whats left of your nogg'n, now do you?"

Sid shook his head as she handed it over.

"Lets go by the pub, at least. We might find a lead," Violet suggested as she paid for the meal.

"You sound as if we might find something tragic," Sid informed on the way out.

"Why must you be so foreboding?" She shrugged. Really, could it be that hard to find out someone from the village?

huh

2009-05-20T04:04:00.005-05:00

Well, she was no help.

Bugger.

What was going on? How come he couldn't remember the simplest of things? He might as well be a goner, Sid was starting to think.

Violet seemed pleasant enough. Maybe. But he'd seen the bruises when he showered, on his abdomen, his inner thigh. Even his wrist. What the fuck was she?

"Violet?" He looked her over, so angelic and purely pure, wasn't she? "Were you violent with me?"

Her eyes lit and she spewed the tea on him.

"No." She wailed the answer.

"Then what is this?" He showed her the place on his side then his wrist.

"Don't know how that got there." She shook her head.

"Maybe you like it rough," he shrugged.

"Well, you weren't complaining-No, there was nothing, nothing like that." She was quite serious about the matter. "When do you think you lost your memory?"

"Dunno." He shrugged looking at her as if she held the key, and she wasn't breaking, evidently.

"You seemed your self at the party. But I don't remember you talking to anyone but me, really. You were a bit shallow." She nodded with her hands clasping the cup as if she needed something very real to hold on too.

"A bit shallow?" Sid didn't like the sound of that. "You saying I was a prat of some sort?"

"No. Vague, perhaps. You mentioned something about footballers."

"A footballer?" That made him wince. He didn't like the sound of that, but perhaps that's where the bruises were from.

He'd have to think about this. He supposed he should dress, retrace his steps, in fact. It felt like the day was already slipping away.

"Look, I'll help you. We'll figure this out, Sid. Somebody has to know you." She smiled as if there had to be a clear explanation to all of this. "Lets get some breakfast."

Sid nodded then, wondering how scary that might be, finding out exactly who he was.

first

2009-05-17T15:27:00.003-05:00

Quite possible, this was a first for Violet on so many accounts.

1. she brought someone home.
2. he was sexy.
3. & it lasted longer than the first 15 minutes. (she now did not count Kenneth as her first, after all it had been clumsy and fickle and no penetration)
4. she wasn't the first to rise as the sun shine beamed through her bay window.

She yawned full of morning breath. The room was still half dark, and he wasn't here. Shit. She really wanted to get a picture of this. She just might have something to write home about. How she met a fellow at a party, they'd hit it off, he was in some semi football league..yadayadayada...she'd make the rest up and, she could see her sister Scarlett grinning from ear to ear, already. My sister met someone, or so she could here Scarlett tell her other sister then perhaps Mum, Dad too.

But she reached out on his side of the bed hoping it would still be warm. It wasn't. Shit.

It was as if she'd made the whole thing up now. Just like her. Evidently. A frown swelled on her face as she hugged the sheet around her more. Sadness was seeping in. Really, she was quite hopeless with love affairs, and it really sucked to be another country with nothing romantic about it in the least.

And then out of the darkness from the other side of the room he appeared with tea.

"Oh, there you are," Violet sat up gingerly almost uncovering herself. He was bringing her tea in bed with just a towel around his waist. How lovely was that? Remarkable, in fact but she wasn't going to tell him that. She only smiled and took the clear cup of tea already sweetened with milk.

"Pardon me," he sat on the edge of the bed, "But how was it-"

"How was it?" What? Must she give him a number on a scale of some kind? She had to rate him?

"No," he shook his head as if she were interrupting. "No, how was it I got here in the first place?"

"You don't remember?" She blinked out of her wince. Well, she could tell him anything, couldn't she?

"Sorry." He shrugged. "Do you know me?"

"Know you?" Violet pressed her lips together. Quite well, she thought thinking of all of him, undressing her, kissing her, touching her and then....."Not really." She finally said with a sigh.

He looked away then.

"I do know your name is Sid," Violet smiled quaintly then.

"Sid." Evidently, that meant nothing to him. He nursed his bottom lip then.

Violet nodded sipping her tea as if this what all lovers did the morning after.