SENSOR GLITCH(Charles E.J. Moulton) SENSOR GLITCH

Short Story by Charles E.J. Moulton

“Linda! Linda! Don’t! I didn’t mean it that way!”
“You say that one more time and I swear we are through. I frigging swear it.”
“I dunno. Okay, you know how I get really nervous when you look at me that way.”
“What way, George?”
“You challenge me!”
“I challenge you?”
´”Yes, and I didn’t mean that you are the problem, Linda! I meant we have a problem.”
“That’s not what you said!”
“I meant that we have a problem. We don’t communicate. We just ... We ... We’re different, Linda ...”
“So you went to that crumpet at work.”
“Come on. That was a long time ago, babe.”
“Don’t you ‘babe’ me, George. Don’t you ever ‘babe’ me.”
“You can’t deny that you are overly sensitive about certain things.”
“You cheated on me twice and I am still married to you, so get off my back.”
“Do you wanna know why I cheated on you? Huh?”
“Vanessa and Georgina were too good to pass up?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“No. I take it back. Forget it.”
“Come on, Georgie. I wanna know why you cheated on me. I am a dragon. Is that it? I am a dragon, right?”
“Uhhhm, you are ... you are a control freak.”
“A what?”
“You leave me very little breathing space. I sometimes feel that you will never want to take me for what I am. You always want me to change somehow. I am your putty, your play-dough. Did I ever have any chance to decorate this house?”
“Wait, wait, wait. Is this about the house?”
“No, Linda. I am just afraid you don’t want me.”
“I married you. We have a child. We went to the Caribbean on our honeymoon, we promised each other eternal love, carved our names in the magic tree, made love under the stars. Now you tell me that the last seven years were a fluke? What are you?”
“Why do you think I was cheating on you? I had no reason to cheat on you, a woman like you. I felt like I was in the army, for God’s sake. I come home here after work, completely knackered, and you start ordering me to take out the trash, carry up the cartons from the cellar, get you stuff from the fridge, pay the bills, get the mail. Then, none of what I did mattered. It only matters when you did it. What the hell do you think I am? A working machine? Then I am supposed to grin and bear it, right?”
“So, what does Vanessa do?”
“Linda.”
“I clean up, I make the food, I take our daughter to kindergarten, I organize our home, I vacuum, I make the beds, I plant the flowers. Then you complain when I ask you to help me.”
“After twelve hours on the film set?”
“I also work twelve hours.”
“But on on the film set, where millions of people will see my work.”
“Who gives a shit if anyone sees my work, right? What am I? Just a stupid woman.”
“I never said that.”
“I even defend you when friends complain that you have turned arrogant ...”
“Friends complain that I am arrogant?”
“Yes, they do.”
“Who?”
“Pamela wanted to speak to you about hiring you for a new job, because they found you definately were the best actor around. But you snubbed her off so badly that she just changed her mind. I said you were under a lot of strain.”
“I work a lot, I audition a lot. What does she have to do with me?”
“That's exactly it, George. Because you are so successful and we are so rich, you think you can treat anyone any way you want. The press is going to retalliate, George. They already have. Look at the headlines. Is fame getting to his head?”
“Who said that?”
“The Sun.”
“Oh, them.”
“You molested a photographer two weeks ago.”
“He was stalking me.”
“You have a bad reputation. People think you hit me. God knows what you do on the film set. I am afraid to take Kimberly to see you at work. I am just afraid I will find you in the arms of some filly.”
“I have not cheated on you for over two years, I swear it.”
“We are married, George. When are you going to realize that? I know your work takes up a lot of time, but leave some space for us. Kimberly asked me yesterday why daddy never comes home. She misses you.”
“She said that?”
“She said that.”
“I am in the middle of a career.”
“Well, you have to realize you also need to be well grounded and diplomatic. God knows that you are well trained, but you have got to let go.”
“Kimberly thinks her dad never is home.”
“I see you slipping away. When you have to kiss some girl on set, I really start worrying. I see myself as just another famous divorced, rich bitch.”
“I would never divorce you. I feel nothing for those women. I just play the good looking parts, I get to kiss the leading ladies. That doesn’t mean that I feel something for these girls. Heather is happily married, Michelle is happily married, Jennifer is happily married, I am happily married. We are just in that kind of a profession.”
“Please tell me that we are not going to become Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. We are okay, aren’t we?”
“I think so.”
“You think so.”
“I don’t want to be Richard Burton and you probably don’t want to be Liz.”
“I could do worse. No, I mean, I want to be me. Please leave a bit of your life for us. We hardly see you anymore. Will you?”
“I will. I will call the filmset and cancel tomorrow. That is okay, they can shoot the scenes that I am not in. I have to make priorities.”
“Really? Will you? Then we can have a late breakfast and play some board games. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“God, you are dialling the number. You will really cancel tomorrow’s filming?”
“Hold on. There’s a tone. Yes? Hi, it’s me. Listen, Bob, you were saying that maybe Jennifer and Michelle were up for tomorrow’s schedule. I mean, you would have to do nothing but call them tonight and tell them to prepare the scenes for their meeting in the flat. I have to set some priorities here. I really have to take care of some stuff at home. Is that okay? Trouble? Why? Listen, just tell them that I said they have to. They were willing, they told me so. Okay? Good. I will see you the day after tomorrow. Bye. Yes, yes, I will be there the day after tomorrow.”
“Oh, thank you. You set aside your profession for us. Kimberley? Come here. Kimberley dear, your dad will stay home tomorrow. We can have a late breakfast, maybe go for a walk. That’s cool, isn’t it?”
“That is so cool. Thanks, Dad. How come?”
“Well, your mom said Dad is just away to much. Tomorrow will be a family day.”
“You’re the best. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”

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