Jennifer Hambrick
Film at 11
The regulars flock to Mac’s to drink cheap booze and hide in plain sight with the other odd ducks. The peroxide blonde with the wad of cash and two cigarettes in her cleavage. The guy in the thrift store overcoat and fingerless gloves who sloshes down Himalayas at the far end of the bar. The man in the Stetson who comes in every night, does a shot of tequila, throws one dart at the bullseye, pays with cash, and leaves without saying a word.
Disguised in a jet-black bobbed wig, flame-red lipstick, and oversized sunglasses, Sylvia fits right in. From the two-top in the back corner, she’s got a clean view of the front door and everyone in the joint.
black light a leopard in a spotted cage
One of her friends had tipped her off about their regular meetups at Mac’s. Sylvia orders a rusty nail and watches the door.
Bill arrives around 8:00, sits down at the bar, and orders a scotch and soda, what he always drinks at home. The brunette slinks in a minute later in a painted-on dress. She looks a good decade older than she does every night with her husband, Mick, on News in Action with Mick and Mindy. She puts a hand on Bill’s shoulder and hoists herself onto the bar stool next to him.
night stalker the shadow of a raptor
Sylvia picks up her phone, sets the camera to video, and catches it all: Mindy tossing her hair over her shoulders and smiling at Bill with a playful glint in her eye, Mindy leaning in close and twisting a lock of his hair around her finger, Bill—Sylvia’s husband of 32 years—wrapping a hand around Mindy’s knee.
hard rime the cold truth in the fox's eyes
It’s 9:30 when Mindy stands up to leave. “I’ll call you after the show,” she purrs. Her hand cups around the back of Bill’s neck, and the two linger in a kiss. He pats her backside as she turns to leave.
Sylvia turns off the camera and opens a fresh email, subject line: Breaking News. She attaches the video file, finds Mick’s email address online, and clicks Send. Mick will get the message right before Mindy shows up at the station for their 11 o’clock newscast.
Sylvia sends the same video file to Bill, subject line: Look Who’s Here! A moment later his phone buzzes, and he dives in. Sylvia removes her wig and sunglasses and is wiping off her lipstick when he turns around and sees her.
blood rose the stain on a cocktail napkin
About the Author
A multi–Pushcart Prize nominee, Jennifer Hambrick placed first in the 2018 Haiku Society of America Haibun Award Competition and authored the haibun collection Joyride (Red Moon Press). She also won the Stevens Prize of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies for In the High Weeds and was featured in American Life in Poetry. She lives in Columbus, Ohio. jenniferhambrick.com.