Natural Fool

“This is why you don’t marry someone just because they have a few strokes that make your toes curl,” Janel said as she sat across from Melody scooping vanilla ice cream into her mouth.

“For your information, I didn’t know how good his sex was until after we were married, but I know what you mean,” Melody replied. She starred at her ice cream, not eating it, just placing it on her spoon and then tilting her spoon to watch the dessert slide down the metal and clump back into the dish. “And honestly J, I’m not in the mood for I told you so’s. The annulment just became final today. This is supposed to be my annulment party!”

“This is a sad party. We’re at a college diner, eating ice cream.”

Melody shook her head. “How do you celebrate a desolvement of a marriage? Especially mine? I’m only doing it because a lady at work said I should. She said it’ll make me feel better.”

“Do you feel better?”

“Girl, no! I don’t. I’m pissed. I don’t understand how someone can be so conniving; so vindictive. You don’t play with someone’s heart like that!”

Janel shook her head but she remained quiet. She knew Melody needed this venting session, even though she’d already heard these words before.

“You know the fool tried to get half of everything I own?”

“After four in a half months of marriage?”

“Yes, and was dead pressed toward it.”

“I thought you had him sign a pre-nuptial thingy.”

“No,” Melody sighed. “He talked me out of it saying that I should trust him and that he loved me not my money.”

“He didn’t get anything did he?”

“Not much, thank God. The judge dismissed that request but then he tried to say that I should pay spousal support.”

“What!” Janel’s voice raised an entire octave.

“Yeah, I know. I picked a good one. Luckily, the judge dismissed that too. I’m glad she was a woman because a man probably would’ve granted these ridiculous requests.”

“Hmph,” Janel said unsure if she should make a comment.

“He did get me though.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have to pay for the annulment, his court and lawyer fees, and his moving expenses."

“What! You’re kidding.”

Melody shook her head. Emotionless. Eyes glued to her now soupy ice cream.

“The judge really said that?”

Melody nodded.

“But he's the one who requested the annulment, behind your back.” Janel objected

“I was nothing to him. I should’ve known too,” she chuckled and shook her head in disbelief. “First of all, it was Friday when I met him so he musta just got paid or something because he was flashy. Had on more jewelry than me. I was headed to the bank downtown and it’s crazy because I know when I pulled up to the parking meter the car behind me was already there. Do you know what this man did?”

“What?”

“He pretended as if he was paying the meter for that car. It was a black Mercedes. I’ll never forget it because I instantly thought that is a nice car.”

“How do you know he pretended?”

“Because when we were together I never once seen that car and after we were married he told me that he sold it, and then asked to borrow mine all the time. If that really was your car and the only car you had, why in the world would you sell it? Seriously though? And I almost bought him a car."

“Dang girl.”

“And, if you have such a great job how come you never go to it or you have the day off but I never really see any money from this wonderful job and you can’t give me a company name because of some lame excuse I know you made up.”

“So Girl, why did you marry him?”

Melody shrugged. “I was in love. I seriously looked past the lies and dumbness because he had the potential to be more.”

“You can’t fall in love with potential.”

“I know. I know,” Melody buried her face in her hands and let out an audible sigh. “I am sucha fool,” she said removing her hands from her face and going back to playing in her ice cream. The two sat quiet for a while. Janel starred at her empty bowl unsure of anything to say. She wanted to comfort Melody but she didn’t know how and she didn't want to upset her more.
“I was nothing but a meal ticket to him,” Melody finally said dropping her spoon and sitting back in her seat crossing her arms over her chest.

Her frustration had mounted to its peak. How could she let this happen? To her? She knew it happened to other women but never would it happen to her, at least it wasn’t supposed to. She was smarter than this. She’d actually been taken advantage of at this age. An age when peer pressure, dorm room dares, and midnight creeps were behind her. She was an adult.

Janel studied Melody. Lines were forged across her forehead and her eyebrows were down. Her eyes were blank and her complete body language was tired. Beaten down. She’d given up.

“What was he to you?” Janel said breaking the silence.

“What do you mean?”

“If you were just his meal ticket then what was he to you?”

Melody was taken aback. She’d never really thought about it. What was he to me? The question swirled around in her head as if it were being mixed in a blender. The more she thought about it she slowly began to smile.

When she was lonely he would provide company. When she wanted someone to talk to he would be there to listen. When she needed a shoulder he would offer. When she was exhausted he’d let her rest. When she needed a laugh he would tell a joke. When she needed something very minor he was always there. Her answer was simple and the very reason why she was so blind.

She perked up and looked Janel in her eyes. “He was my court jester,” Melody said erupting into laughter.

Janel laughed too. “Girl you are crazy!” she said through chuckles. “Straight crazy.”