Positive Alex

Alex felt positive. Positive that he had forgotten to lock the door to his house.

This was of particular importance due to his acrimonious breakup with his partner Rick. The stuff that held together was what now pulled them apart. Who owned what, the ugly business of dismantling the accumulation of stuff. It felt like some maudlin encapsulation of the slow dissolution of 5 years.

At this point, he just wanted to be rid of it. Perversely he didn't want Rick to have a bit of it. Rick said that he would show up one day with a UHaul and cart what he thought was his away. Damn if he gets the big-ass TV. Damn if he gets the stainless steel refrigerator. Damn Damn Damn.

Alex's cubicle had been stripped of any reference to Rick, but the gaping holes where something once was whispered a reminder. He considered the empty cubicle 3 down, on the right. It was across from a window, a precious commodity. The reality was that his manager didn't wield enough influence to secure it for him. Hmmmm....he could just move his stuff in there. After all, it had been empty for one whole week when Tamara was escorted from the building, all of her stuff in a cardboard box. He looked under his desk, and there was a cardboard box with Rickstuff inside.

The Razr buzzed in his pants pocket. He glanced at the screen, it was Rick. Alex let it go to voice mail.

At lunch Alex went home. He tried the front door. It was locked. Whew.......

He unlocked the door, and everything was there.

He felt disappointed. It wasn't fair. The entire morning had been spent deciding the next move to get even, but there was no getting even, because Rick had not upped the ante. Alex checked his voicemail. It was Rick's easy voice, telling him that he was at the airport. He had applied for a transfer at work, and there was an opening in Portland. He was on his way there now.

Alex was pissed. He was cheated. He wanted closure and Rick got the last word.

The cell buzzed. It was Rick again. Alex ignored it.