A FORK IN THE ROAD

Written By Mark Koning

I was being verbally abused by my best friend! But in a way I guess I deserved it. I mean, even though she wasn’t my girlfriend, I felt as though I had cheated.

“You’re worse than sewage!” She was yelling from the kitchen window. After Allie had found out about my one nighter with Cindy, she threw me out. “You no good, sorry, double-crossing piece of thrash! "She was my girlfriend!”

“Allie, let me explain.” It was no good, she had disappeared from the window. Man, I thought, sleeping with your gay friend’s girlfriend was not too bright. As I stood there thinking about the mess of things I made, I noticed almost every one of our neighbors looking on. I turned my head to yell, “Maybe we should start charging admission!”

Allie was back, and I soon felt the coffee mug bounce off the back of my head. I turned just in time to duck the toaster coming at me, but the attached cord whipped across my face and drew blood.

“Good, now you can at least relate to my pain, Brandon. You may be bleeding on the outside, but what you did has me bleeding on the inside.” With those diminishing words, and teary eyes, she walked away.

I felt sick, and the scowling looks from all around didn’t help. I had to get out of there. The day was a perfect one for the occasion too, gloomy and gray. I walked across the street through the drizzling rain to the park where Allie and I usually took her dog. The park bench I sat on was wet, but I couldn’t be bothered to wipe it off, so I just sat on the end of my coat. The times Allie and I shared, how could I of done this to her? To me? To us?

Kindergarten: September 7th 1976

“Ok Brandon, you and Allie stick together. That way you’ll both make it through your first day with one another’s help.” My mom was always so concerned. I looked up over at Allie’s mom who just nodded her head. “Ok, off you go.” A gentle pat on the butt and push from behind told me that we where on our own.

Allie and I stuck together like two peanuts in one of those shells, and neither one of us realized it, but it was a life long bond taking form.

“Sit down class, and form a circle.” The teacher had her hands full with thirty seven kids.

Everyone was running around in a chaotic fashion, except for Allie and I, we sat quietly by the teachers chair.

“At least I know who my little listeners are?” We both smiled up at her without saying a word. When the teacher asked if I could let go of Allie’s hand, I shook my head. The teacher asked why with a curious and funny looking grin.

“Because.” My most favorite answer to any question. “We’re stuck together, and if I let her go I won’t make it through the day.” Allie followed my proclamation with a most serious, heartfelt look, and a wink of the eye.

I didn’t know what it was that I said, but our teacher almost started to cry. Allie got up to give her a hug.

“It’s ok teacher.” Even though Allie was a girl with a tough exterior, she had a soft and warm heart.

It was from that moment on that we held hands at everything we did. During recess, gym, working on our exercise booklets, at the paint easels, in the sandbox, everything. To tell you the truth, I kind of enjoyed holding her hand, and I think she liked holding mine, because every so often she would squeeze a little tighter.

Grade Six: October 10th 1984

I used to get teased by the guys in school for hanging out with the girls. Most of the boy population wanted nothing to do with girls, and the ones that where just starting to get into the dating scene wanted nothing to do with Allie. I think it had to do with the fact that she was more of a tomboy then a girly girl.

She wasn’t into wearing dresses and gossiping and giggling. Allie was more of a stand up, tough, speak your mind kind of girl. She may have chosen to wear jeans and a sweater over flowery dresses, but in my mind none of the other girls held a candle to her in the cuteness department.

“You’re the only boy I like, Brandon Malone.” She said that to me almost everyday, and when she did, I’d take hold of her hand as if we where back in the sandbox.

On this one occasion as her and I walked home, two boys came up behind us and started with the jokes.

“Brandon and Allie sitting in a tree....” We both decided not to look at them and keep walking. “What are you holding her hand for? She’s not even a girl!”

“Shut up!!” I turned around and yelled right in their faces, determined not to back down until they stopped making fun of Allie, even if it meant getting my butt kicked. So when the first guy clenched his fist I shut my eyes and prayed, but nothing came.

Allie had sucker punched the guy, she also kicked him in the personals.

She turned and smiled at me as I watched the two boys run off in the distance. “Like I said, you’re the only boy I like, Brandon.” This time she took hold of my hand, and I held it tighter.

She was my hero!

High School Prom: April 25th 1990

Dancing with Allie was like walking on the clouds, her touch sent shivers up and down my body that night. We both had something on our minds, and dancing in our high school gym wasn’t it.

“This is nice, Brandon. You look extremely good in that tux, but I’d much prefer to see you out of it right now!” She was very direct. “What do say we sneak out of here and continue this dance in that hotel room you rented for us?”

I was almost ready to laugh, but she had the most serious, heartfelt look on her face, followed by a wink of the eye, it was Allie’s trademark.

My response was also cut off with a huge, wet kiss.

“Your lips drive me wild!” I whispered to her as I rested my forehead on hers and glowed with the biggest grin.

“The wild will only get wilder, trust me.” I did, implicitly. And she felt the same, I could tell by the way she snuggled herself into my arms. “Let’s go and fall in love.” Her words echoed in my ears like the most wonderful proposition I ever heard. She smiled, pushed herself off of my chest, and walked toward the exit of the gym.

I could say nothing as I envisioned my tongue rolling out of my mouth and draping across the floor. It was time to get some nooky from the sexiest Angel who roamed the earth. She was a great person, and I was blessed enough to have her in my life.

As I walked out to follow her, I remembered taking baths together when we where three; I wondered if we’d be taking a bath tonight.

College Finals: March 11th 1997

Even though Allie and I weren’t involved with each other, nor had been since that night in high school, we where the best of friends. I was also glad that we had become room mates, because she could now help me study for finals.

“You’re so much smarter then me, Allie.”

“No, I’m not. You don’t give yourself enough credit.” It was nice of her to say so but we both knew the truth. “Listen, can we take a break? Because I need to talk to you about something.”

She had a knack of making me to agree to just about anything, her charm was too much to resist.

“Sure. What’s up?” She looked serious.. “ Tell me, Allie, what’s wrong?”

“Well, it’s nothing wrong. In fact, I think it’s pretty wonderful!” A certain glow had formed on her face. “I’ve met someone.”

“That’s good news!” I was happy for her. “Tell me, what he’s like?

“Well...... it’s not a he.” My face went blank, I was kind of thrown for a loop. “You know my friend Cindy? Well, now she’s more then a friend.”

I just sat there listening.

“After the movies last night her and I ended up back in her apartment. One thing led to a kiss, and now we’re together, for better or worse. Better, I hope.” From the look of wanting on her face, I could tell my approval of this meant the world to her.

“For better, of course.” I followed it up with a wink and smile as I put my hand on her shoulder.

My response was an honest one too. I loved Allie, and I wanted her happiness. Nothing else mattered to me. Nothing.

The Move: April 10th 2000

“So you and Cindy are still pretty hot and heavy, huh?” I was walking down the ramp carrying a loaded box. The day was beautiful for a move.

“Are you really interested in my love life here, Brandon? Or is it the sex between two women that you want to here about?” Allie, I guess, had decided to take a break. Because she was now sitting, instead of moving.

I laughed aloud as I put the box down. “You ask me that every time I inquire about you and Cindy.” But I knew she was only joking, so I’d joke back. “You think I’m some sort of pervert who dreams of nothing but the two lesbian lovers?” I could never keep a straight face while joking.

Allie though, was a born comic. She could keep her face so straight that sometimes you’d have a hard time telling if she meant to be funny or not.

“And I suppose it’s my deviant sexual nature that made you choose to move into an apartment with me?” I was laughing so hard now, I couldn’t help it.

“You better run!” At least she was kind enough to warn me. She grabbed a tennis racket from a box and came after me, laughing all the way.

Cindy and Allie had been together for a little over a year when we moved in. I on the other hand, had been involved in two relationships which each lasted approximately four months. The last one ending because the girl I was seeing thought Cindy was my lover on the side.

I’m still not really sure why that was. And it not only broke up my relationship, but rather ticked off Allie. That’s why I asked if they where still good. But that day after Allie had chased me down, she told me that all was good.

November 17th 2001

I was starting to regret having opened the door, and thank God Allie had been out at her folks place, because it was clear Cindy was looking for trouble.

“Why are you doing this? You’re Allie’s girlfriend, not mine.” My voice was trembling. I was a nervous wreck!

“I just came here to see you for a friendly visit.” She was good at playing the innocent act. “You brought up the sex. Besides that, Allie’s great but it’s time I had a man!”

I had backed myself up into a corner. Cindy took it to her advantage and struck me with a kiss. I didn’t even push her away. But when I had my hands half way up her blouse, I decided enough was enough.

“You’re gay!” It was all I could think of.

“People change.” She talked while she continued the seduction. “Allie told me that she used to date guys.”

“But now she’s with you.” I gave her a stone cold look. I couldn’t believe this girl, how did she ever manage to get Allie? “You don’t even deserve her!”

“Maybe not. Maybe I don’t even deserve you.” She was at least admitting to her callousness. “But I want you all the same!”

Again she had me in the corner where her kisses melted me down, and before I could speak any further, she had my trousers undone.

“Sit back and let me do all the work, I’ll be the strong one.” I couldn’t resist any longer.

Present Day: November 23rd 2001

I couldn’t keep my eyes dry anymore, the tears just kept coming. What had I done to my life with Allie? All of those moments we shared where coming to a close because of my stupid male weakness, for sex! I would never forgive myself for this.

“Didn’t your mom tell you never to sit on a wet bench?”

My heart skipped a few beats when I saw Allie’s face.

“Don’t talk, Brandon. You might say something stupid and make me have to kill you.” Her face was flushed red, she had obviously been crying quite a bit. “Do you have any idea how you hurt me? By tearing out my heart! I was actually more hurt by you, not you and Cindy. I don’t really care one way or another about her anymore! But you’re the one person I trusted.”

“Allie, I’m going to be sorry for the rest of my life.”

“What you did................. it really sucked. And I don’t know what’s worse, your betrayal,” tears interfered with the words. “or my forgiveness.”

“What?” I slowly stood up to meet Allie’s gaze.

“You once said that we where stuck together, and that if you ever let me go you wouldn’t make it through the day. I don’t want you to not make it through the day.” She took my hand in hers and squeezed tight.

As both our heads leaned gently onto one another’s, I sniffed back the tears to speak.

“You have every right to kick my butt, you know? And as long as it keeps you in my life, you can do it on a regular basis.” I thought some humor was needed.

“I love you too much to make that part of my regular routine.” She smiled. “But every once in a blue moon is ok.”

I chuckled as I dried up her tears with my hand. She did the same as well as kissing my forehead.

“Cindy was just a fork in the road for us, a dirt ridden, sluttish fork; but a fork nonetheless. I think we can over come it.” I could see that her girlish charm was still intact. “I still haven’t completely forgiven you though. It’s going to take a lot of begging, heartfelt apologies, breakfasts in bed, flowers, and all sorts of stuff.

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