pretty girl crying in the drive-up ATM line at the bank

pretty girl crying in the drive-up ATM line at the bank

fiction
edward w pritchard

A very pretty girl is crying in the drive-up ATM line at the Bank. Two beautiful children under five calmly wait in the back seat properly placed and seat belted. The car is new. She cries softly as she gets her deposit ready for the machine. A handful of large looking bills. Money looks plentiful to the observer.

Her hair is short and looks recently cut. Too short maybe, in protest, such a pretty face. One tear is visible from my car ten feet away as I watch politely but voyeuristically. What has he done to make her cry.

Probably not much really. It's mid-day Friday before a holiday Monday. He's got to be at work. While she watches the children. She might just be realizing how long she will be doing this for. Her with the children while he is away at work. Him changing or maybe she knows he will never change. What has he done to make her cry.

Him at work. Maybe he will stop and buy flowers. Maybe he will offer to go to her Mother's house for the holiday. Maybe someone will rescue her. Maybe not. She finishes her business at the bank and angles her way across and over the back roads towards no where.