Dennis had been arriving earlier and earlier each day, and their love-making had become more intense. At first Edna had been flattered, to be so needed, so wanted, that almost as soon as Tim had left to plow a field or take the pickup to town, Dennis would be at the back door.

However, she began to realize she was not enjoying it. It interfered with her chores. If she was sitting at the kitchen table clipping coupons from the paper or making out her grocery list, Dennis would interrupt that and it wouldn't get done. If she was sorting laundry, it would remain on the basement floor until after Tim got home. There would be piles of string beans on the kitchen counter or the vacuum would sit out all day. She was beginning to think of Dennis as just another chore, and one that took up too much time, too much effort. She felt worn out all the time.

It was on Friday when Tim had gone to the hardware store when she felt the stirrings that the relationship with Dennis was losing its charm. Dennis had arrived shortly after 11:30 and he'd been with her when the noon whistle had gone off... twelve blasts echoing throughout the town. It broke the concentration and seemed like a death knell to her. Tired, spent, she looked at the clock on the bureau. Twelve o'clock, it read, and she thought,

"_ _ _   _ _   _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _."

(3 letter word, 2 letter word, 4 letter word, 5 letter word)
 

 Copyright 1998 J.J. Schnebel
All rights reserved

Stumped?  Here's the Answer!

Want to go on to Chapter Nine?

Go back to  Welcome to ONCE UPON A PALINDROME