On seeing the completely vacant space inside his house, with all the furniture gone, all the wallpaper torn off, and no signs of life, all he could do was grope blindly for the stair railing and help himself sit down. For the second time this day, and for the second time in his life, Neddy began to cry. He was full of sorrow, anguish, hopelessness, and worse he finally remembered. He remembered two weeks ago, the day that started and ended everything as clearly as he remembered the feeling of plunging into the cold water of his now empty pool.
"You're cheating on me!” Lucinda said angrily, as he paced back and forth by the poolside. It was Sunday afternoon, and instead of enjoying themselves together as was their custom, Neddy was standing isolated from his family. From the other side of the pool, Lucinda and his four girls shot glares at him and huddled together. Neddy was angry that Lucinda would accuse him of anything and he said so, but she interrupted him. “I'm divorcing you Neddy, and I'm taking the girls with me. You aren't responsible.” He fumed and swam a furious lap in the pool, ripping his body out of the water with his maddened armstrokes.
Now he sat in the court room, awaiting the judge's verdict, knowing that it would take everything away from him. He would lose Lucinda, he would lose his girls, he would lose his money, and the respect of all of his friends in the county. He had already lost his mistress during the fretful week since Lucinda had announced their divorce. He hadn't slept for days, and he didn't have the strength to be angry, all he could do was continue to whither away in despair. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the judge spoke. “The divorce is awarded and custody goes to Lucinda, the rest will be detailed later.” Neddy couldn't say anything, couldn't think anything, and he soon got lost in the mists of his pain.
Three days ago they boarded up his house. He was swimming through the pool, diving in and climbing up the curb, mindlessly and automatically. He tried to forget everything in the repetition of swimming and he must have succeeded. They pulled him out of the pool, drained it, locked up his house and sent him away. He had gone to the Westerhazy's house to sleep. He had asked everybody in the county for money and some had given him some, and others had been visibly angry at him, for reasons Neddy couldn't comprehend. He must have done that for all of three days, and now he was back at his house, empty and alone, sitting on his doorstep, without even the strength to pull himself up.
Now he sat in the court room, awaiting the judge's verdict, knowing that it would take everything away from him. He would lose Lucinda, he would lose his girls, he would lose his money, and the respect of all of his friends in the county. He had already lost his mistress during the fretful week since Lucinda had announced their divorce. He hadn't slept for days, and he didn't have the strength to be angry, all he could do was continue to whither away in despair. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the judge spoke. “The divorce is awarded and custody goes to Lucinda, the rest will be detailed later.” Neddy couldn't say anything, couldn't think anything, and he soon got lost in the mists of his pain.
Three days ago they boarded up his house. He was swimming through the pool, diving in and climbing up the curb, mindlessly and automatically. He tried to forget everything in the repetition of swimming and he must have succeeded. They pulled him out of the pool, drained it, locked up his house and sent him away. He had gone to the Westerhazy's house to sleep. He had asked everybody in the county for money and some had given him some, and others had been visibly angry at him, for reasons Neddy couldn't comprehend. He must have done that for all of three days, and now he was back at his house, empty and alone, sitting on his doorstep, without even the strength to pull himself up.
oooh--i really like the ending. it goes full circle which is AWESOME and only a few people can do it well. so, congratulations. :)
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