Thursday morning, Janie Engle opened her beauty shop, as usual, at seven thirty. There were no appointments until nine thirty. Thus, she made a cup of coffee, and sat in the small lounge, in the back of the shop. Thursday was a light day, anyway. Her two assistants were off, and things were quiet. Janie enjoyed the peace.
She had just started reading an article in Ladies Home Journal when she heard the front door open. She arose, and walked into the shop.
"Fifi!" Janie said to her friend. "What on earth are you doing here?"
Fifi seemed intoxicated, and her speech was slurred. "Ya gotta fix me up! Got 'nother man. He's gonna be waiting at the train depot!"
"What are you talking about?" a concerned Janie asked.
Fifi made herself comfortable in a chair. "Just fis me up--the works!"
"You don't even have an appointment, Fifi! I can't just start from scratch. I have to get everything ready!"
"Go ahead," Fifi laughed. "I'll be here!"
"I'll be right with you, Fifi," Janie said. She walked back to the lounge, and phoned Jim.
Jim was still asleep. He had no idea that Fifi, who slept beside him, was gone. He awoke, and answered, "Hello."
"Jim--Janie. I'm sorry to wake you, but do you have any idea where your wife is at the moment?"
"Of course!" Jim said. "She's right here." He reached for Fifi, but, of course, felt nothing. He turned around quickly. "What th--where the hell is my wife? What's going on?"
"Please be calm," Janie said. "Be patient. I don't know what the matter with Fifi is, but she's here in my shop, insisting I do her hair. She sounds drunk--can't get here words straight. She keeps telling me she left you--that she's gonna meet an army officer at the train depot. Jim, do you realize that the depot closed ten years ago? What on earth is Fifi saying?"
"She's probably taking pills again," Jim said. "I'll be right there!" He hung up, dressed, and headed for the beaity parlor.
Janie stalled. "Won't you join me for a cup of coffee, Fifi?"
"I--I want my hair fixed! I got a train waiting!"
"Where is the train you're getting on?"
"Right 'ere at 'a Cole depot!"
"Who is the army officer?"
"My secret love," Fifi hollered. "You wouldn't know 'im. We're gonna elope outta here."
Janie, by now, was certain there was something wrong with Fifi.
Suddenly, Jim stormed in. He ran up to Fifi and grabbed her. "What the hell are you doing here? Why did you leave the house?"
Fifi trembled, and looked toward Janie for help. "He's gonna kill, Janie! Save me!" she cried loudly.
"What is wrong with her?" Janie cried.
"Nothing--nothing!" Jim replied, avoiding Janie's eyes. "We just had another small argument last night. I think Fifi took some more pills. She has these terrible delusions when she does these things!"
"Don't you think you better see Taylor Baker?" Janie asked.
"Nothing is wrong," Jim said, "that cannot be corrected soon." He looked toward Fifi, and squeezed her arm. "Right?"
"Wrong!" Fifi yelled, and ran to Janie. "He's lying when he says nothing is wrong! Jim is a liar! For the past year, our life together has been pure hell--one fight after another. It's a good thing we don't have any children!"
"You're a liar!" Jim said.
"Please believe me, Janie," Fifi continued. "We might have looked good on the outside--dancing, drinking--but, in reality, we fight like cats and dogs." Fifi quickly pulled her skirt up, revealing a large bandage on her right leg. "See this! He go a knife to me!"
"My God!" Janie gasped. "When did that happen?"
Like a wild, dumb animal, Fifi growled and sneered at Jim. "You're a liar and a cheat! You hear me? A liar and a cheat!"
"Okay!" Jim, all patience lost, said. "Okay! I'm a liar and a cheat. Well, Fifi, I'm leaving you! I won't be around any more to protect you when you raid the drug cabinet! You say I'm always beating you--well, I'm leaving! I won't have any reason to beat any more--and you won't have any reason to take it!"
"Leaving me?" Fifi, shocked, replied.
"You couldn't have said it nicer!"
"Uh--oh--good!" Fifi, surprised, said. "Get gone. Get your belongings out of the house--I don't want you any more!"
Jim walked out.
Fifi sat down.
"Want me to go ahead and fix your hair?" Janie asked.
"Why?"
"What about the army officer?"
Fifi didn't know what Janie was talking about.
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