literature

An evening in the life of Genine Thompson

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Published: Jul 14, 2013

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Literature Text

Genine pulled her shirt off and tossed it onto the bed. She sighed, rolling her neck to rid herself of every kink and strain gathered from the day. She stretched her arms over her head and trudged over to the dresser where she rummaged around for a loose tank top to wear to bed.
“Hon?” A voice called from the staircase.
“In here!” Genine replied. She shimmied into the tank top that draped over her fit frame. Her husband came into the room. “Hey babe.” Genine smiled and went to kiss him on the cheek. “How long have you been home?”
“Actually I’ve been here the whole time,” Elijah joked. “I was just watching you change.”
Genine laughed. “Creep,” she said, tossing her discarded shirt at him.
Elijah caught the shirt and tossed it into the laundry hamper in a single fluid motion. “Catch any bad guys today?”
“Just your usual scumbag.” Genine shrugged, pulling back the covers. “Four gang members, a drug dealer, a con artist and two muggers.”
“They should pay us for every baddie we bring in,” Elijah said. “Extra for the super powered ones. They can really give us a good kick in the ass.”
“Yeah,” Genine grinned. “Like that one that tricked you into the sewers—”
“Hey, I told you, I wasn’t tricked, I went in there willingly!” Elijah cried. He muttered as an afterthought; “If I had of known I’d end up face-down in city filth, though, I wouldn’t’ve gone.”
Genine chuckled, fluffing up her pillow. She slipped into bed, leaning her back against the wall.
Elijah flopped down onto his side of the bed with a heavy sigh. “This is nice,” he said in deep contentment. “I like this thing they call ‘sleep’.”
“Yeah, it’s nice,” Genine agreed. “We don’t get enough of it.” She tossed back the covers. “C’mere,” she said. “Come lie with me.”
Elijah rolled and twisted around on the bed until he was parallel to his wife. Genine leaned her head on his shoulder, listening to his sturdy breathing. A comfortable evening silence hung in the room.
“What’re you thinking about?” Genine asked softly.
“Paint,” Elijah replied.
Genine laughed and whacked him with a small pillow. “Oh you’re such a beatnik!” She teased.
“Agreed. But I’m just thinking that with all the stuff that we do, art therapy would really be helpful.”
“Yeah, for you, maybe.”
“It’d be a nice thing for us to do together,” Elijah suggested.
“Hon, you know how well I paint.” Genine made a face. “My trees look like vomit and my people look like aliens.”
Elijah smiled and drew in close. “You just need more practise,” he breathed onto her cheek. He gave her a little kiss and sat back.
Genine took his arm. “As long as you teach me,” she said.
“Deal.”
“Are you going to be here all night?” Genine asked, wriggling down under the covers.
“That’s the plan,” Elijah said, turning onto his side and propping his head up with his hand. His elbow created a dent in his pillow. “But you never know when the psychos will strike again.”
Genine sighed. “Gotta love our job.” She muttered.
“Just forget about all of that for tonight,” Elijah said, sweeping back her hair with his free hand. “Okay? Just relax, breathe deeply, and feel all that stress melt away.”
Genine closed her eyes, breathing in and out as Elijah instructed.
“Remember when we went to Cancun?” Elijah murmured.
Genine smiled with her eyes closed. “That was a nice time,” she mumbled.
“I like to think of that beach we found. Some time I’m going to do a pastel of that place.”
“That was the only time I’ve ever gone skinny-dipping.” Genine grimaced with embarrassment.
“A good day in all,” Elijah agreed with a thoughtful nod. He was quiet for a moment. “We should travel again sometime.”
“Right,” Genine said. “When all the crazies take a break. I’m thinking Christmas.”
Elijah chuckled. “Whatever you want,” he said, stroking her arm. He turned and shut off the bedside lamp then heaved a heavy sigh and let his head fall onto his pillow.
Genine listened to her husband’s breathing as it gradually slowed to a soft, rhythmic sound. It would only be a matter of time before he started snoring, but nevertheless, she felt herself drift closer to sleep, watching the waves roll in to shore in the bright world of her memory.