It is Wednesday Storytime again. Last week, we were introduced to two new characters Alexis and Ben. We learned they are college kids and friends with a sexual past on hold. Alexis mentions some complexity that has forced sex into the background. We left them as they agreed to meet at Alexis’ house to study and watch a movie. Ben is just getting there now. Let’s join them.

“Hi, how are you doing?”

“Ya mean since sixty minutes ago?”

“Um, that did sound a little dumb right?”

“Not dumb Ben just automatic. You know how I hate rhetorical questions.”

“I know Alexis. I know. You gonna invite me in?”

“Come in. Did you get the chips and soda?”

“Sure did. Got some dip as well.”

“You da man Ben. Dip is the short way to my heart.”

“Who wants heart?”

“What?”

“Nothing. Just a snide comment.”

“You better get off that physical stuff, or you’ll study alone.”

“Yeah okay. Man, you are like a grumpasaurus.”

“And you are like a rutasaurus.”

“Truce.”

“Truce. Grumpasaurus was pretty good. Put that stuff on the counter.”

“Rutasaurus was pretty good too. You want a soda? I didn’t get root beer. Got a lot of flack at the store over root beer.”

“I’m not surprised. Let’s order a pizza. I’ll have a soda with it. After I order, we need to get to work.”

“Good. What work we gonna do?”

“Whatya mean. What work?”

“School work or the other?”

“We need to get the other squared away. So how about we spend tonight on it and then tomorrow on school.”

“I brought the blueprints.”

“Great let me order and then let’s see ’em.”

“I’ll unroll them on the table.”

“You okay with white sauce and veggie.”

“Yeah good. Hmm, this building has a lot of floors.”

“Okay, I ordered. The guy said thirty minutes. What are you saying about the floors?”

“I didn’t think the building had so many floors.”

“What does that mean?”

“When this sucker blows there is going to be a huge brick pile.”

“Fully destroyed though right?”

“You better believe it, Alexis. Fully.”

It’s Wednesday Story Day again. This week is a brand new story, and I have to take a moment to offer some condolences to those who didn’t have their seatbelt fastened for the conclusion of Bob and Charlotte’s little soap opera. I can only hope Y’all recover quickly. So this week we will join a couple of college kids who are sitting in the Student Union and trying to figure out what to do for the weekend.

“So I don’t care what we do Ben. I know I don’t want to party too hard. Next week is midterms, and I have to get some studying done.”

“I’m with you one hundred percent. If I don’t pull an A on my Psych exam, I’m going to get a C, and that will be the end of my scholarship.”

“Why don’t we just stay in and study?”

“You know it sounds like the right thing to do.”

“We could make it fun. You know we could order pizza delivery and maybe watch a movie.”

“Now you’re talking. I want to see an oldie. In fact, it’s for my writing class.”

“A movie for a writing class? That sounds odd.”

“I know right? The professor recommended this move as a study in the dialog.”

“Which one is it?”

“Chinatown with Jack Nicholson. It’s available on Netflix.”

“Well I never heard of it but I’m game. Why don’t we watch it and study at my place? We can stream the movie.”

“Cool, then we don’t even have to go out.  What about your roommate?”

“Oh, she’s going home this weekend. Some wedding or something.”

“Perfect. We will be alone.”

“What is that look?”

“What look?”

“Then we will be alone look.”

“I don’t have a look.”

“I know you Ben, and you have a look.”

“Well, maybe I was thinking we could get close again.”

“By close you mean intimate right?”

“Er, um.”

“We agreed we were going to keep sex out of our relationship. Remember?”

“Sure I remember. I still miss it, though.”

“Well maybe someday we can think about it but for now forget it.”

“Yes, sir. I mean yes Alexis.”

“Don’t give me that puppy dog look. We agreed we didn’t need the complexity right now.”

“I know. Let’s drop it okay.”

“Good idea. What kind of soda do you want?”

“How about root beer. Not that diet stuff either.”

“You want chips with that?”

“I love you.”

“I know.”

Wednesday story time again. Last week we left Charlotte talking to Bob, who still seems to think she is his mother. They got into a discussion about the word that Robert (for you late comers Robert is another personality of Bob’s) called him. Bob didn’t want to say the word but described it as a modern word for what Oedipus did back in Homers time. We need to get back there before Charlotte implodes.

“So why do you think Robert called you that word.”

“I think he knows deep down that some of my problems stem from an Oedipus complex.”

“Did you sleep with your mother?”

“No. Not that I remember anyway. I think it’s a more latent desire.”

“Ew. Bob. You are conscious of this desire?”

“I don’t think so, but something gives me a hint now and then.”

“What do you mean something?”

“I can’t explain it. It is a feeling kinda like a dream feeling.”

“Let me talk to Robert.”

“Hello, Charlotte. It’s me, Robert.”

“Okay, Robert what the hell are you doing?”

“Doing? Whatever do you mean?”

“You are planting some evil thought in Bob’s mind, and you know it.”

“Oh, you mean the sleeping with mommy stuff?”

“Exactly. That stuff.”

“I’m just playing with him. He’s such a wimp. He believes anything I tell him.”

“I’m going to ask you a question, and I want the truth. Agreed?”

“Sure. I mean agreed.”

“Did you sleep with Bob’s mother?”

“Er. Depends on what you mean  by sleep?”

“Oh my gosh.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t get all twisted. Yes, I slept with her but that is what we did went to sleep.”

“Tell me more.”

“She came home one night. I think Bob and I were about nineteen or so. She was drunk out of her mind. We were in bed and she just pushed into the bed.”

“What did she do?”

“Aw, nothing. She told us she loved us and wanted a kiss. I immediately took cover. Bob gave her a kiss.”

“What kind of kiss?”

“A little peck on the cheek. My god, you have a dirty mind.”

“I didn’t say anything. I just asked what kind of kiss?”

“Well, Bob gave her this little peck. He is such a wimp. I jumped in and planted a real kiss on her drunken ass. Well, I mean on her lips.”

“Then what happened?”

“Ah, she kinda made a grab for me but passed out.”

“So you wanted to do more?”

“What the hell is it to you? You come around here making trouble. You’ve got Bob upset and now accuse me of something terrible with my mother. You need to take it back.”

“Robert you are hurting my arm. Please let go.”

“Sure mommy. I’ll let go. After you give me what you owe me.”

“Bob please help me.”

“Charlotte I feel so weak. Robert won’t let me out.”

“Oh, my gosh.”

Wednesday Story Day again. Last week we had another confusing session with Robert, Bob and Charlotte. Bob finally came back, and he and Charlotte were discussing his delusion. Charlotte asked him if he knew her, and he said he did but called her mother. I almost don’t want to go back there but since it is Wednesday, I guess I’m forced. You go ahead of me okay?

“Yes, Charlotte you know you are my mother.”

“Bob for heaven sakes what will it take to convince you I’m not your mother?”

“Charlotte you can talk all you want and you can make me out to be crazy, but I know you are my mom.”

“How do you know that?”

“You and my mother have never been in the same place at the same time.”

“Bob, please. There are hundreds of people who I’ve never been in the same place with them.”

“None who have an interest in seeing me fail.”

“Why do you think I want you to fail? I’m your mentor. Your mother hired me to help you publish your book.”

“The same book that will show you to be a fraud? Mother.”

“Bob. You quit that. I’m not your mother.”

“Sure Mother.”

“I’m warning you, Bob.”

“Oh yeah and what are you going to do?”

“Robert. Come back.”

“Yes, Charlotte I’m here.”

“Is there a way for you to reason with Bob?”

“I could hurt him.”

“How would you do that?”

“I can call him names.”

“Thanks, Robert. Let me see Bob again.”

“Yes, mother.”

“I’m not your mother.”

“Robert called me a name.”

“And let me guess. It hurt?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“He told me. What was the word?”

“I can’t say. It’s a bad word.”

“Can you spell it?”

“No, it is too bad for that.”

“Give me a hint then.”

“It’s a modern word describing what Oedipus did.”

“Oh, my gosh.”

Wednesday story day is here, so it’s time to go visit Bob and Charlotte. I don’t know about you, but I’m almost afraid to go and see what is going on now. (Yeah I know I’m the one writing this stuff)  Last week Bob finally got a hold of himself and released Charlotte’s neck. Bob couldn’t believe he had hurt her, and Charlotte went to get him a cold cloth since she is the consummate caregiver. She comes back to give Bob the cloth and lo and behold (I love that phrase and hoped I could work it in somewhere) Bob sees his mother. She throws the towel at him and calls him a sissy. I’ve stalled long enough we need to see what is up.

“Mother? Why am I seeing you instead of Charlotte?”

“Well, that is a question you should ask that shrink of yours. That is if you had the guts to ask anything other than ‘do you have the time.’”

“I ask him a lot of things. Why are you like this?”

“Like what Bobby?”

“Mean. You know I don’t like to be called Bobby. That is an example of mean.”

“Oh, so I’m mean. The one who gives you clothes and makes sure you have a roof─. Okay, forget that one. The one who gives you money and who hired this worthless editor.”

“She’s not worthless. You take that back.”

“What’s the matter, Bob? You gotta a crush on the wimpy girl?”

“Mother. You are the most annoying person on the planet.”

“Because I point out the truth to you? Bob, you need to grow up and do something with your life.”

“Well, the psychologist says my problems are mostly because of you.”

“Is that right? Did he tell you what your problems were?”

“Well, he did say that because of your abuse I have a dual personality.”

“Oh really? Who am I talking to now? Huh?”

“I am Robert. You know that.”

“Since when are you Robert?”

“Since I needed a friend to guard against you.”

“Ha. That’s a laugh. You’re a coward no matter what you call yourself.”

“You know what else?”

“What else Bob?”

“That’s Robert mother. Robert is the one that can see and talk to you when he wants. Robert is not afraid of you. Robert hates you and would like to see you dead.”

“Well, well, well, looks like Bob has found some balls.”

“The name’s Robert mother. See this hand? I’m going to wrap it around your throat and squeeze until your tongue turns black.”

“You don’t have the guts.”

Wednesday story time again. Last week Charlotte had asked Bob to leave so she could rest. Charlotte (and the rest of us) learned that Bob was homeless and living under a freeway. Bob’s mother threw him out of the house two months ago, and all he has with him is a computer. We need to get back to see how Charlotte is going to handle this latest twist.

“So Bob how have you been getting food and keeping yourself clean?”

“Well, Charlotte I usually go to the YMCA for a swim and shower. I have a locker there. I plug my computer in at the library to get it charged.”

“Do you have a tent or what?”

“No, I have a sleeping bag that I stash in my locker.”

“You’re kidding. You sleep on the ground?”

“Yup. You would be surprised how comfortable it is.”

“I hope never to find out. When do you write?”

“As I said I charge my computer in at the library. I work there most of the time. Which reminds me do you mind if I plug-in here?”

“No, not at all. The plug is over there. How do you eat?”

“Oh, I have money. My mom keeps my checking account full. I can use my debit card for food. She doesn’t want me to be around, but she still cares for me though.”

“I’m surprised to hear you say that. How do you know she cares?”

“I just told you she keeps me in money. She also sends me texts and tells me she cares.”

“But why doesn’t she want you in the house?”

“I think I make her nervous.”

“Nervous how?”

“Oh, you know. She has boyfriends, and when I’m around, there are too many questions about how old I am and what she told the guy about her age.”

“How does that make you feel?”

“You sound like the psychologist.”

“You have a psychologist?”

“Yeah. I see him twice a week.”

“How do you get there?”

“I take the bus like I do for everything else.”

“What does he say about your situation?”

“What situation?”

“You know. Not being welcome at home.”

“I never told him.”

“Oh, my gosh.”

“What? You think I should have?”