https://steemit.com/writing/@medusaeffect/the-medusa-effect
https://steemit.com/writing/@medusaeffect/the-medusa-effect-chapter-two
https://steemit.com/writing/@medusaeffect/the-medusa-effect-part-two
https://steemit.com/writing/@medusaeffect/the-medusa-effect-chapter-three
https://steemit.com/writing/@medusaeffect/the-medusa-effect-chapter-four
CHAPTER FIVE
LAMENT
They agreed they were going to the funeral without ever having discussed the particulars of their encounter with the deceased. It was a burden they set aside in order to get through the next couple of days. As details emerged of her sudden demise, seeing her picture blasted locally, was creating chaos for the two of them. The police showed up at their house asking questions. The answers were short, uncomplicated.
“Yeah, we had a drink together. She gave me a ride home.”
“Yes, I met her once.” Ethan stared over at his wife sitting across the table from him.
He read nothing in her face. She seemed genuinely sad over the death of this woman, like she was really upset Sylvia was gone. Ethan surmised she didn’t really remember much, because of the empty champagne bottle he had seen.
Ethan kept scratching his head uncontrollably. When the officer asked him about it he told him he was going to switch shampoos. Then he noticed his wife scratching her head. She motioned something to him he was supposed to understand. He didn’t get it. The officer excused himself rather abruptly. It made Ethan nervous suddenly. On the ride home his wife sat stony faced, saying nothing.
When the door shut behind them Bobbie ran to her husband, “Oh my God, check my hair!”
“What, what are you talking about?”
“Look in my freaking hair!”
He grabbed a strand and held it up, “What am I looking for?”
“Do you seriously not get it? Bugs!”
“I don’t see a bug.”
Bobbie looked crazy. She ran to the sink and doused her head under the faucet. She poured dish washing liquid into her hair and began scrubbing furiously.
He could barely understand her when she yelled into the sink, “You have to go to the pharmacy…”
“What for?” Ethan shrugged helplessly.
“For lice shampoo, you idiot!”
“Lice, oh my God, you’re not serious?”
“Look in my damn hair, you moron!”
“How could this happen?”
“I’m a freakin kindergarten teacher!” She told him to get his boots on and leave. She told him to buy everything they had.
Standing at the counter he asked the clerk if she thought he had enough stuff, that there was two of them. He tried explaining that his wife taught elementary school, but the longer he stood there the more apparent it was that the young woman wasn’t hearing him, she just wanted him to leave.
He raced home and went sprawling from the porch into the living room dumping the entire contents of the bag into the middle of the living room floor. He heard the muffled sounds coming from the back. She was weeping lying in a puddle of soapy water.
“Look honey, I bought you some stuff. There’s an electrified pick and lotion, my God, there’s even a leave on conditioner.” He pulled her up, “It will be alright.”
He led her to the living room. He thought she would be pleased at the dozen or so items lying in the floor. She sat down again. He ripped off the cardboard, opened the plastic bottle and dumped the liquid onto her head. He massaged it everywhere for her, even on her eyebrows.
“How long do you suppose we leave this on?” She finally spoke.
“I think like an hour.”
“Good, let’s leave it on at least two.”
It was as close as agreement as they’d had since he came home a week ago. Ethan popped the top off of the spray can and handed it to her.
“You start in our room and I’ll start out here.”
Together they joined forces to fight the vermin. They were relentless. When Bobbie’s scalp felt like it was on fire they finally sat down and read the pamphlet. They were still glad they left it on over an hour. They weren’t taking any chances. Even if their hair fell out or they were poisoned, they were united against the plague. They would overcome this, together.
Over the next several days Bobbie kept an eye out for anyone who might have an infestation. She was surprised that not even one student was sent to the office all week. She told her husband she couldn’t understand it. Eventually, with the funeral and the head lice behind them, things returned to a sort of normal.
