1st Slice

&&&Maxine takes a bit of pie. It’s perfect, exactly how Bruce likes it. Now, everything might be okay. Now, he won’t be so temperamental. He won’t be angry with her. Pie was his favorite, after all. Pumpkin. She’d never forget. Bruce was a particular man, liking things his way or no way at all. Lucky for her, she knew just how that was. Maybe he could forgive the messy kitchen. Forgive her for not having time. He hated a messy kitchen – he hated most things, really – but, he didn’t hate pie. This time, he would see the attention and care she’d put in. Sometimes, Bruce just forgot.

No, she thought, you’re the fool. You’re the one who forgets to fold the laundry, or doesn’t see the piece of cheese behind the refrigerator.

The split of her lip tingled, and she pressed a delicate finger to it.

You need to learn to listen. Bruce is right.

Her father had always said to find a good man, but his words always spewed out with smoke, his lips hidden behind a bottle. Bruce never smoked, and he had a good job. He just had his standards, and she’d failed to meet them.

She didn’t know much, but she knew about pie. Bruce would be so happy.

She couldn’t wait.

2nd Slice

&&&Bruce steps over his wife’s body and takes a bit of pie. As usual, she had been in the way and he shoved her and she fell. Stupid woman never did have any coordination. She didn’t even work out.

Not my fault she’s standing in my way.

She wouldn’t shut up about the pie. He could see how excited she was, how pathetic she looked. She was always pathetic. Trying to make good out of things that never were. Saying she was proud of him for going to his worthless job or that he looked good when he hadn’t showered.

Sometimes, she’d even tried to sleep with him as though that would make him happy, but she looked like that and it wouldn’t. It would only remind him he hadn’t married Beryl Greenman when he had the chance. Beryl was strong and independent and like to laugh at his jokes. Maxine never had a strong bone in her body. He was a fool to miss it. A fool to live a life like this.

What you get, standing in my way.

He looked down at her. Saw those same hopeful eyes. Why did she have such hope? Couldn’t she see what the world really was? He was sick of it. Sick of all the stupid excuses. Sick of hearing her whimper on the goddamn floor.

Can’t blame me for doing it. He said to ears that couldn’t hear.

She was a worthless woman, who didn’t even have the decency to wait for him before she had a piece of pie.

In her defense, he thought, it was damn good.

3rd Slice

&&&At midnight, a raccoon crawled onto the window sill and ate until the pan was empty. It never thanked Maxine.