Proverbs 28:5 (an excerpt)

This is an excerpt from Proverbs 28:5, my latest (complete) short story.

If my inspiration allows it, I will be expanding this plot into a bigger project. As of right now, it stands alone as a short story.

By April French

          With one of her black leather boots, with a severely pointed stiletto heal, she shoved him onto the tiny love sofa. The sofa was situated to the right in the entry area of the hotel room. Across from the sofa was a coat closet with mirror doors. Wesley fell on the couch and the loose end of the cuffs clanked loudly on the wooden end table, leaving a sizable dent in the shiny finish.
          Opening the door to the closet, she carefully took her trench coat off, revealing the outfit she chose from her extensive wardrobe. She was proud of this one, and had toiled over how to get the strappy rubbery material to fit correctly and be bearably comfortable. One black strap travelled across and over her bust, and around the back. There were straps that jut off down each underarm which led to a studded, thigh length, pencil-frame skirt. There was a slit up the right the side of the skirt that went all the way up to her hip. The glossy boots, ended at the knee, had stiletto heels. Around her waist hung a utility style belt with many tools and torture devices attached.
          Wesley looked somewhat concerned, as he took a moment to take in the details of her attire. He couldn’t help but feel exceptionally vulnerable at that moment. Vulnerability was foreign to him, which made the emotion that much more appealing. He was breathing heavily, unsure what he was expected to do at that moment.
          He appeared to grow more concerned when, at that moment, she reached in her oversized bag and pulled out a whip with numerous leather straps dangling from a wooden handle. She stroked the well-used leather and stared at him. She wanted Wesley, more than any of her other clients, to be a return customer. She was going to follow his lead, satisfy him as much as a person in her profession can. Wesley was going to be a repeat customer.

Irving Longshed

Irving had a hangover, was wandering around, and analyzing his life.

Exerpt from character sketch.

By April French

                One more block remained between him and his destination, the Burger Emporium. He always thought it was an odd title for the incredibly small burger establishment that offered two options: cheese or no cheese. He always thought that “emporium” implied “an exorbitant amount of options.” He shrugged at the irony. He entered the door, taking note of the ominous bars which encased the front windows. Behind the bars perched a poorly painted sign that held the great proclamation of your arrival at the “BURGER EMPORIUM.”

                He walked up to the counter where a three-by-five card read “order here.” He noticed that this was the only feasible place people could place their order. He wondered why someone bothered to take a moment out of their day to make a sign announcing that customers must place their order at the only counter available. He ordered his free cheeseburger and handed the woman behind the counter his cash for a soda.

                Sitting at one of the two tables available and fiddling with his straw, he thought, “All I really want is something fun and exciting to happen.” He was lying to himself, of course. In reality, he didn’t know what he wanted. He didn’t want to be alone, but he didn’t want to be committed to someone either. Maybe he just wished that he had someone other than his childhood pal, Ben, to care whether he made his way home safely. Ben was unhappily married with two grade school children, so they didn’t get to spend much time together nowadays. Things were never the same after Ben decided to marry (and breed with) the Queen of Evil.

                He was always fond of his own witty ability to down play others to make himself feel better about his misfortunes. He knew it was morally wrong, but what, in this modern world, isn’t morally objectionable? God himself would laugh at him at this moment, waiting on his free cheeseburger, hung over, and analyzing what is morally objectionable. “Jesus Christ,” he said with exasperation. He always chose words which downplayed God, just like he attempted to down play humanity for selfish reasons. He wanted to let the world know that even God can’t stop him. This pious outlook was only a projection to hide his insecurities. He did privately wonder whether there is a deeper meaning behind the veil of the universe.