Fred and Janet and Sally and Robert by Doc

                            by Doc Nolan
                           
Fred stood in the corner, facing the wall.  Sally lay in bed – with Janet.  “How long do you plan to have him stand there?” said Janet.  “Dunno….” She replied.  “Until I’m good and ready to let him rejoin the human race.”  A silence ensued.  “I’m tired of him fucking up.”  Another silence lay on the threesome.  He didn't say a word.

“You are really pissed off,” commented Janet.  Sally just nodded.

The women began making love.  Fred could hear them but had been told not to turn around, so he didn't.  He could hear the clock on the wall, among other things.

Finally, ‘those noises’ stopped.  In a few seconds Janet said, “I’d better get home.  Robert will get upset if I’m here too long.”  Fred then heard the rustling of clothing.  She was getting dressed to go.  A few minutes later he heard both women leave and then (dimly) the final ‘goodbyes’ at the front door.

Sally did not return to the bedroom.  He heard her in the kitchen, most likely making coffee.  He dared not move.  He had no idea of what he’d done to deserve to be treated so badly.  None.  Still, Sally had made it clear that was irrelevant.  She had simply said, “I’m very disappointed in you.  You will stand in the corner until I’m good and ready to let you leave it.  Understood?”  He had nodded and gone to the corner.

He thought of the hundreds of times he had been sent to ‘time out’ over the endless years of his childhood.  This was nothing new.  In fact it was very very old.  He was tired of it.  “Go to the corner until you start acting like an adult!” he’d been told time and time again.

Now he *was* an adult – but it didn't matter.  Still…. ‘into the corner… and I mean now, mister!’  As always he didn't complain.  Fred didn't complain much about anything.  Not the weather.  Not the fact he had never been promoted at his firm.  Not that he did most of the housework.  Not that his wife preferred women to her husband.  What was the point of objecting, he mused.  Tomorrow is another day.

Indeed every day was ‘another day’.  Like links on a chain.

When Sally came back into the room, she shouted over to him:  “Still there?  Sucks to be you, doesn't it?”  He nodded.  It was.

“Did you ever take my car to be washed yesterday?”  He nodded, hoping that would earn him some points.  It was hard to tell, facing the wall.  She didn't say anything.  “And what about the vacuuming?”  Again he nodded.  More silence.

He heard her pick up the phone.   “Having fun, Janet?”  He couldn't make out the reply.  “That’s really hot!” was Sally’s next comment.  More mumbling.  And then Sally said, “Your husband has been quiet and hasn't caused me any problems.  You’re going to tell me more about how you married him --- after you finish with Robert.”

Sally then laughed at something Fred’s wife said on the phone.  She turned to him.  “I think you wife will be home in half an hour.  Maybe.  She seems to be very ‘engaged’ right now – with Robert!  Have fun, loser!”

Fred didn't say a word.  He knew better than to upset any of his wife’s girlfriends.  Especially the cruel ones.  Sally left the room.  He had no idea when she’d go to her home – and when his wife would return.  His job was to stand in the corner until told he could leave.