TWISTED REALITY 5 BY MATT L.
Emerald Springs was the name of the trailer community just outside of Chicago.
A fancy name for a community made up of unpleasant looking mobile homes, the population full of never-do-wells and welfare precipitants.
Sheriff deputy Sandra Harmon pulled her cruiser unto the muddy driveway adjacent to an unkempt trailer home, lawn chairs spread around the small cheaply made deck, patches of grass that could have used a mowing.
Sandra was a spunky and determined law officer of two years, her gray uniform displaying her feminine curves, her face utterly appealing, and with a roving mane of beautiful red hair.
Sandra happened by the residence not by chance but for a purpose. She left her vehicle and slamming the door shut, walked over to the back door and lifted out a shopping bag full of groceries.
She then hightailed it to the flimsy screen door and shouted sweetly into the abode.
“Colleen! Colleen! It’s me, Sandra!”
“I brought you and the kids groceries!” She added rather enthusiastically.
A moment later the door was answered by Colleen Harmon, the owner of the decrepit trailer home.
Colleen’s auburn hair was uncombed, a pretty young lady although the wages of booze and a less than healthy lifestyle had diminished her appearance to certain a degree.
A cigarette dangling from her lips, still wearing her makeup from the night before, her pudgy figure clad only in a T-shirt and panties. Colleen’s body was redundantly flabby, sporting several tattoos and a cheap navel ring.
“Shit, you’re here a little early, ain’t you?” Colleen giggled as she let Sandra in.
Sandra crinkled her nose at the sight of the living room, essentially a dirty mess.
“Damn, girl. It’s not like you work for a living, think you can spend sometime cleaning up?”
Colleen ignored the question, promptly removing the shopping bag from Sandra’s hand, and quickly investigating what she brought.
There was a connection between the females despite being opposites in everything imaginable.
Sandra was a go-getter, intelligent and sensible.
Colleen was laid back, a slow thinker, and impulsive.
Though in fact they were related by blood, their status as second cousins albeit closer than some sisters.
Colleen removed the milk, various can goods and cereal from out of the bag, along with apples and tissue paper.
Sulkily expressing her disappointment about there being no cigarettes or vodka.
“Shit, Sandy, you make a nice buck. You couldn’t pick me up no smokes or booze?”
Sandra rested her hands over her slim waist, her eyes scoping out Colleen’s paunchy belly.
“You were just as fit as I was five years ago, you’ve really let yourself go”, Sandra condescendingly smirked. “I’m just advocating a better diet.”
“Hell, back to back babies will do this to a woman’s figure”, Colleen answered back, “I couldn’t help getting fat.”
Colleen’s potbelly positioned over the waistband of her panties, thoroughly doughy in consistency while her thighs were a few pound shy of being labeled the thunder variety.
Colleen opened up the milk and took a gulp straight from the carton, Sandra’s expression heavily soured, “Ew, gross. You going share that with your kids?”
Colleen wiped her lips and momentarily swerved her face toward the bedroom, “Let’s gab outside, Ed’s still asleep but I’d like to talk with ya in private.”
Sandra advanced toward Colleen, “Where’s Joey and Delia?”
“Well I knew I’d be out late so I shipped them off to Mrs. Thumbull for night.”
Sandra replied in shocked, “You’re kidding, she’s a few cards short of a full deck. How can you trust your kids with that woman?”
Colleen half-smiled, “Shit, yo just look’n down at her coz she’s poor and used to grow pot but I swear she has the best disposition and is safe.”
Colleen scratched her chubby derriere, walking by Sandra on route to the flimsy constructed deck outside.
“Aren’t you even going to put on some slacks?” Sandra questioned Colleen.
Colleen paused at the screen door, “Like people around here really give two shits if I’m in my skivvies.”
Once outside, Colleen confidently spoke to her cousin, “Ed’s alright, he’s cool in his own way but I met this new guy….”
Sandra calmly interrupted Colleen, “A new guy? You’re already shacking up with that loser, and he’s not even either of your children’s dads. Aren’t you being a little bit easy with your charms?”
“You think you’re better than me”, Colleen replied then rambled through her usual excuses, “Hell, Delia’s dad is still in prison and Joey was a product of an one night stand. Between you and me though, I’d like another but not with Ed.”
“Welfare be mo plentiful and I’d get mo food stamps with another child!” Colleen peeped as if her idea was a sound investment.
“You have to start thinking straight, honey”, Sandra benevolently smiled, “Go back to school or at least get a job, improve your life. You shouldn’t be so needy; being self sufficient will do wonders for your self-esteem. You might even meet a guy worth a lick.”
Colleen folded her arms over her blubbery looking breasts, “Coming from the only member of our family that went to school, shit, you really do think yo better than me.”
Sandra sighed before responding, “I made something of my life, Colleen, so yes, I’m better than you, I won’t hide my true feelings. Thing is, you can do better for yourself too.”
“I’m correctly satisfied with my life, maybe you think I’m lazy and shit but I eat off the state, so do my kids, have plenty of male companions and ain’t bothered by schedules or time clocks. You’d think differently if you didn’t go to school and become a po-lice officer, you might like it!”
“I hardly think so”, Sandra retorted.
“Be right back”, Colleen grinned, “Forgot my smokes, then we can jaw flap.”
Colleen returned in a moment with her cigarettes and a beer for both of them.
Sandra declined, “It’s too early for me to drink.”
“So, alright”, Colleen grinned, lighting up her smoke, she offered her cousin a cigarette.
“You know I don’t smoke”, Sandra refused the cigarette, causing Colleen to giggle; “You’re really as pure as the freshly driven snow.”
“About this guy?” Sandra questioned Colleen, prompting her cousin to come clean with the request.
“His name is junior, or maybe that’s a nickname, beats the shit out of me. I met him last weekend at the Sitting Bull Bar and Grill and we hit it off very nice. So he asked me to go with him to Central City for the night, there’s this biker reunion or fair or some shit. But Mrs. Thumbull is unavailable because that’s her poker night. So I was wondering if maybe you’d mind Joey and Delia for me. Please?”
Sandra was indeed very fond of her cousin Colleen and despite having misgivings over her lifestyle, agreed.
“I’m off duty the entire weekend so I’ll do it just out of family loyalty but please start taking stock of yourself before you’re a blimp.”
“Shit, I won’t get that fat”, Colleen giggled.
Sandra continued, “See some kind of family counselor, maybe they can help you find work or get financial aid for school. I think they have programs for single moms that provide free child care.”
Colleen enjoyed a swig of beer, courteously smiling at Sandra’s advice.
“I’ll clear out the spare bedroom, you kin have it as yo room, k?” Colleen perkily addressed Sandra, “Fer the weekend I’m away…”
“One night, I’m watching the kids one night”, Sandra firmly told Colleen; “It’s about time you become responsible.”
Colleen greedily gulped another mouthful of beer, burping before taking her cousin to task, “And it’s about time you get laid. I mean like, the reason you’re so much a fuddy-duddy is coz you ain’t had your ashes overhauled in a coon’s age.”
Sandra reeled back her head, “Excuse me?”
Colleen expounded her thoughts, “Since you broke off your engagement to Denis, when was the last time yo were out with a fella? Damn, gal, you’re turning into a bitter shrew.”
It was true. Sandra had a wonderful courtship with an accountable young man but everything soured once she was hired in law enforcement. Seems Denis, who was a salesmen, felt intimidated by his girlfriend carrying a badge, and he broke off the engagement. Sandra rarely dated since; most of the guys she went out with were out of her league in wits and such a high-ranking professional career.
“Junior has lots of friends, maybe I can set yo up with somebody”, Colleen affably uttered, “Even if it’s to do the big nasty and let off some steam.”
Sandra’s expression curdled, “You make everything sound so….”
Colleen interrupted with a mischievous giggle, “Seedy? Shit, damn, honey. When ya gonna learn. What’s seedy to sum folks is just the natural way of doing things. Get off your high horse, momma, join us regular slobs fer least one night.”
Sandra slowly swung her face from side to side, “I don’t mean to put you down but I don’t cotton to your type of men. The guys you hang out with don’t work and are shiftless oafs. And that’s putting it politely.”
“Get that starch out of your corset, lady!” Colleen proudly chimed, “You lower your standards might be the best thing you kin do.”
Sandra was a bit self-conscious about her figure, the corset comment irked her, “My figure is perfect, I wear no corset or body shaper.”
Colleen nodded in agreement but couldn’t resist teasing her cousin, “Sure it’s fit, nice figure you got, you should show it off.”
“However…” Colleen added between sips of beer, pointing directly at Sandra’s hips and belly, “Remember yo were getting a bit thick while in yo teens, shit, and with those child baring hips, I’d say if you weren’t so active, yo be a portly gal.”
That was another fact which Sandra couldn’t deny. Back when most people called her Sandy, she had an unparalleled appetite which naturally added some padding to her figure.
A frivolous remark made by a friend about her starting to look fat set her on the course to remain physically fit. It wasn’t easy at first, Sandra relished her fried baloney sandwiches topped off with extra mayo but she managed through self-discipline to keep the weight off.
Sandra wasn’t thrilled with Colleen’s theory but laughed along, “Well, cousin, if the time comes and I have thick thighs and a belly that rivals your own, I might be inclined to move in with you for good! Spend my nights in front of the TV eating fried chicken by the pound and bathe only when I have a gentleman caller!”
“Don’t make any pledges you don’t aim to keep!” Colleen chuckled.
“Yeah, well”, Sandra eased back on the humor of the moment, “I have to take the squad car back to base and then I’m going to the gym.”
“Work out all you want, miss beauty queen”, Colleen playfully bounced her hips against Sandra’s body, “You ain’t gonna lose those child baring hips no way, no how!”
Sandra was somewhat wide at her hips, but she boosted in pride, “My hips accentuate my curves, no crime about that.”
As Sandra energetically strutted off the deck, Colleen comically stated, “I ain’t known another woman so in denial of her breeders body!”
Sandra turned around and laughed, “Whatever! I’ll drop by tomorrow, we’ll set everything up for my babysitting hitch, okay.”
Colleen nodded, then sloppily guzzled what remained of her beer.
__________________
Friday evening came around, Sandra demurely clothed in a T-shirt and sweats pants, even then she looked remarkably stunning. Colleen wasn’t shy about showing off her unconditioned form in a halter top and daisy duke shorts.
“I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon, k?” Colleen told Sandra.
Sandra nodded, “Sure, you better. And use protection, please. You can’t afford getting knocked up!”
Colleen, armed with her duffle bag laughed as she made a beeline out the door, “Who can’t afford getting knocked up. Having babies is a gold mine in these parts!”
“I’m not kidding!” Sandra blurted angrily and in a sisterly manner.
Colleen booked out of the premises impetuously giggling.
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Later that evening after Sandra had put the children to bed, she made an attempt to clean up Colleen’s trailer before lounging over the sofa to watch an episode of ‘Law and Order’ while indulging her appetite on crackers and cheese.
A rapid knock upon the side of the trailer and a loud voice through the screen door roused Sandra’s attention away from the TV screen.
A male voice nonetheless and Sandra bolted to the door with energy and fortitude.
There on the veranda stood an agreeable looking young man holding a brown paper bag.
Moderately tall, his facial appearance was strikingly handsome, five o’clock shadow, his short hair a gleaming blond hue.
“You’re Sandy, right? I’m Rayne, Colleen asked me to check up on you.”
Rayne was slender but not too skinny, garbed in a nice button down short and black shorts.
Sandra couldn’t deny he did look attractive but her rational sense put caution on the front.
“I’m a law officer, Colleen told you that right!” Sandra sternly told Rayne, “I won’t tolerate any uncivilized behavior.”
Rayne nodded, “Yes, Sandy. Colleen told me all about you. Said you worked at the Sheriff’s department.”
“I’m a sworn deputy of the law”, Sandra all but sneered her reply.
“Where do you know Colleen from?”
“I’m really a friend of Ed’s but she called me, said that her cousin was going to look after her kids, she thought you might like some adult company after spending your whole day with the them.”
Sandra scratched her neck, studying Rayne’s appearance; he didn’t look the white trash type that Colleen usually socialized with.
“I don’t need Colleen being a matchmaker for me”, Sandra staunchly told Rayne, “I can’t believe she’s that dense trying to fix me up.”
Rayne stood within the light of the moon, his stance casual, his smile quite friendly, “Colleen did say you’re well thought-out, you don’t cotton to rednecks and the like. She just felt you might want to have a beer or two with a nice guy and you know, no promises for a date or nothing like that.”
Sandra sensed Rayne wasn’t all the bright, but he did look safe and quite alluring in her view.
Sandra stepped outside, “I’m not looking for a boyfriend, remember that. If you seem threatening in anyway, the visit is over.”
Rayne set the bag down onto the deck, from there he grabbed the lawn chairs that were nestled against the trailer and set them up.
“Sure, Sandy, I didn’t think Colleen was setting us up on a blind date, honest. She just thought you might want some male companionship, that’s all!”
Sandra cleared her throat, “Please, I prefer being called Sandra.”
Rayne rummaged through the bag and promptly opened a can of beer which he handed to her, then one for himself.
“How do you earn a living?” Sandra inquired as she sat sipping her beer.
Rayne made himself comfortable on the rickety lawn chair, enjoying beer while gnawing on some Slim Jims. “I’m in construction, mostly that is but I do some community work here and there.”
Sandra was modestly impressed, most of the guys Colleen knew were unemployed by choice, at least this guy had a job. However, his eyes held a peculiar dullness which made her question his level of intelligence and his voice did reek of a definite hillbilly twang.
“Might I ask why you have a hankering not being called Sandy?” Rayne asked politely enough.
Sandra watched as Rayne uncouthly nibbled on the slim Jims, despite being good looking, she recognized his behavior as stereotypical oafish, ignorant to suitable social standards.
“Please don’t think I’m being snobby or too high-tone but being completely honest, I suppose Sandy sounds much too lackadaisical, like a girl, a simple rural girl who’s never taken seriously. You understand?”
Rayne sipped his beer, giving it a moment of thought before replying, “I rightly presume you mean like, you cotton to your career and being called Sandy makes you sound too easy going, totally useless in showing your authority. Right?”
“A girl like a Sandy sits behind a desk if she’s lucky, answering the phones and brewing coffee while the men in the office swoon over her because she’s cute. Most times she’s barefoot and pregnant, working part time at the high school cafeteria.”
Rayne laughed.
In a strange paradox of the moment, Sandy found his laughter appealing and she giggled slightly.
“No, I’m not kidding!” Sandra’s big smile and cheerful tone eradicating the seriousness of her point, “I’m trying hard to make something of myself. Distance myself from the have not’s and have a beneficial career and life along with it.”
“Well you’re the darn prettiest peace officer I ever saw”, Rayne grinned between sips of beer, “Best of luck with yer goals, Sandra!”
Sandra wasn’t big on compliments, usually she thought they were hollow, just flattery to win another persons approval. However, Sandra smiled at being called pretty. She wasn’t sure why but it made her feel good.
Rayne aimed the package of Slim Jims toward Sandra, offering her one.
Sandra politely refused, “No, thanks, Rayne, I’m not a fan of Slim Jims or anything that’s not healthy.”
“You’re on a diet, huh?” Rayne asked, engaging in another swig of beer before continuing.
“Heck, hope you don’t mind me saying but you’re in tip top shape, I can’t imagine you worrying about your figure.”
Sandra tilted her head, humbly she smiled, “Thanks for the compliment. Thing is, in my line of work it’s important to be physically fit. Besides, I really don’t think I’d look my best chunky.”
Rayne ambiguously grinned, “I reckon I see your point but lots of chunky gals are cute. If you ever pile on the pounds you still wouldn’t look half bad but I respect yer preference being skinny.”
Sandra finished her beer, Rayne handing her another as Sandra candidly opened up her feelings.
“It’s more than a preference, Rayne. It’s about being healthy, more than that really…”
Sandra took an extended sip of beer, the smile on her face borderline giddy.
“It’s like what I said about gals called Sandy not being taken seriously. Heavy girls don’t have the same perks that slim gals have, there’s a prejudice toward chubby females, they’re seen as lazy, weak, and uninteresting. My ambition is too intense to be included in their ranks.”
Rayne giggled, “You certainly have a strong opinion, and you’re smart too. I’m clearly out of my league; Colleen should have warned me you are so special.”
Rayne tossed the empty can aside and pulled another beer from out of the bag, “I never met a woman like you before, never.”
Sandra slowly sipped her beer, Rayne’s comments although sounding generic softened her stance toward him. Rayne seemed much more charming than she originally gave him credit.
Not since high school had a guy made Sandra feel weak in the knees, and she ignored the urge to question it.
“You needn’t nibble on Slim Jims if you’re hungry”, Sandra sweetly hummed, “I can make you a grilled cheese sandwich and there’s potato chips.”
“I’d like that, thanks”, Rayne replied, his tone sounding rather self-assured.
Sandra stood up, guzzling away what remained in that particular can as if she was a bar broad.
Helping herself to another brew, she courteously informed Rayne, “I’ll be right back, k?”
Rayne nodded, “Sure, Sandra.”
Sandra prepared the grilled cheese sandwiches, two for each of them, potato chips on the side.
There they sat on the deck throughout the night talking about anything and everything.
At one point upon discovering they had run out of beer, Rayne commented, “Damn, if I knew things would happen so good ‘tween us, I’d have brought more brew.”
Sandra removed her shapely hindquarters off the lawn chair, which had strategically moved closer to Rayne during the course of the visit, “Oh Colleen stocks up on booze; I’ll see what she got.”
Sandra reeled in Rayne’s favorable features and stud body, crinkling her nose as her lips curved into a saucy smile. Sandra abandoning Rayne for the moment, over-stressing her feminine form with a snappy strut as she momentarily disappeared into Colleen’s trailer.
Sandra sensed a bit of a bad boy facade about Rayne, the guys she knew and dated up until her breakup were the safe kind. Perchance it was a little daring sharing company with a guy like Rayne but Sandra could handle herself if he made an unwanted move.
However, Sandra’s intuition was influenced by some inane logic that socializing with Rayne might be a nice change of pace. Akin to experiencing the other side of the fence.
Sandra was proud of her body, and once inside the trailer she impulsively lifted up her T-shirt and tied the ends in a knot to show off her undeniably taut tummy, and she then hurried into the bathroom where she ran a comb through her beautiful mane of red.
Rayne was smoking a cigarette upon Sandra hopping back onto the deck, cradling a couple of beers and a bottle of the cheapest brand of tequila available.
Sandra dropped the booze off into Rayne’s arms, catching him checking out her tummy made her feel especially attractive.
Sandra moved her lawn chair even closer to Rayne, “There’s not much in the way of beer but the tequila should hold us over.”
Sandra flipped back her roving hair, leaning toward Rayne who handed her a beer, she perkily shared, “I’m not big on hard liquor, lots of empty calories but beggars can’t be choosers.”
Rayne looked strangely hard at Sandra although his voice was moderately pleasant, “You worry too much about yer weight.”
“Maybe…” Sandra replied, pausing to take an excessive swig of beer, “…I just had a similar conversation with Colleen last week.”
They sipped their beers in unison, Sandra feeling very frivolous deliberately puffed up her cheeks, subsequently giggling, “You like me better now!”
“You still look undernourished!” Rayne laughed.
As Rayne opened the bottle of tequila, Sandra kept up with the humorous tone of the moment.
“Yeah boy, I told Colleen if my figure ever swells to a double digit dress size I’ll move into her spare bedroom and gladly! From there on in, I’d lay around all day watching TV, bathe when only necessary and eat like a slob!”
Rayne teasingly chuckled, “I admire a woman who knows what she wants!”
“Well heck! If I’m gonna fatten up I got to obey the stereotype, right?” Sandra impishly giggled.
Sandra’s vocabulary sunk to Rayne’s level, maybe to make him feel more comfortable around such a brainy woman or was she involuntarily slipping into his wanton mindset?
Rayne imparted the first drink of tequila to Sandra, she grimace slightly at the swig, wiping her lips; she returned the bottle to his mitts.
Rayne took a nip as Sandra sipped her beer, then from out of the blue; he pulled out a Slim Jim.
“Lookie here, the last one, want it baby?”
“You’re a wise guy”, Sandra said with a goofy expression, “Funny, very funny. I just had me a couple grilled cheeses and half bag of chips, any hell, Slim Jims ain’t my style.”
Sandra finished her remark with another giggle.
Rayne dangled the snack in front of Sandra’s face, “Aw, you want it, don’t play stupid, babe. You have a fancy for Slim Jims; you’re just playing it coy!”
Rayne laughed. Sandra practically inhaling another swig of beer.
Smiling a playful smirk, Sandra playfully acted as if she was an air-head, “Oh Rayne, you know cheap food ain’t good fer my figure, I’d get fat you no come around here no more.”
Rayne took Sandra gently by the hand, swinging the Slim Jim toward his face, he took a modest bite.
“Yummy”, he teasingly uttered, “there’s still more left for you, babe. One…a half a
Slim Jim won’t spoil your figure and make you fat.”
Sandra loudly chuckled, “Will it make you happy if I have a bite?”
“Crazy ecstatic!” Rayne humorous blurted.
Sandra inched her face forward, Rayne let the Slim Jim loose as Sandra snatched it with her teeth, swiftly slurping it between her lips.
It didn’t taste as awful as Sandra believed it would, and she unthinkingly remarked, “Not so bad, I probably could eat a whole package of ‘em.”
Rayne nodded, engaging in another swig of tequila before lightheartedly joking, “Hanging out with me might jeopardize your waistline, Sandy. I eat all kinds of junk food, you might pick up my bad habits.”
This time around being called Sandy didn’t faze her. She simply gushed a friendly smile, “I’ll take my chances.”
And with that Rayne handed Sandra off the tequila bottle and she took an impressive swig.
________________
“It’s almost sun-up, and I got to get up with the kids”, the intoxicated Sandra uttered with a seemingly redneck twang, “Nice making your acquaintance, Rayne. I really owe Colleen an apology; she really does know a cool guy….”
A cool guy? Sandra did question her choice in words. Why did she call him that? All the booze she digested must have been the cause.
“Well, honey, thanks for being so sweet to me”, Rayne replied, “I was thinking you were a little smug when I first got here but I wuz wrong. You’re a regular girl.”
Sandra tethered from side to side as she stood up from the lawn chair, “Make no mistake, maybe I have a badge and have loads of authority but I’m really as regular as they get.”
Rayne stood up, delicately sweeping his fingers across her face, “No how you need to convince me, I believe you.”
Sandra stood with her hands over her hips, she fluttered her eyes, “Thanks fer a peachy evening.”
“It was my honest pleasure”, Rayne smiled back, “And like, I know you’re not looking for a boyfriend but I’d be proud to see ya again.”
“Not a date then?” Sandra questioned.
“Not unless you want it to be”, Rayne replied, “But next Friday night I’ll be at the Sitting Bull, it’s a bar located at 5th and Carson.
The vicinity of the bar was about as foul of a neighborhood as possible. The bar itself as located between two vacant factories.
“Yeah”, Sandra admitted, “I know the bar, the neighborhood has a bad reputation. Maybe I’ll be stopping by then, just to see how the other half lives, you kin buy me a beer or two to make my visit worthwhile.”
Rayne chuckled, “Just leave the badge at home and don’t act like yer high-minded. Then you’ll be safe.”
Sandra edged her body against Rayne, and she emotionally and softly stated, “Ohhh, your concern is so sweet.”
Sandra felt the urge to kiss Rayne but her better judgment persevered and she took a step away from Rayne. She didn’t want him to think she was all that easy.
“Then Friday it is…” Sandra demurely affirmed.
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