WHEN THE DEVIL CALLED

"Jerry, can I ask you a question?" The lady started softly. "Sure, go ahead…" "What do you think about marriage?" She asked. So finally she was beginning to see it? If there was something that had once scared Jerry to death, it was the idea of losing his angel and the only girl who made him see sense in this otherwise senseless world. "I think it is a good thing." He said not in jest, perhaps trying to show her that he was serious and meant every word he said. Ladies the world over needed serious men who would translate into good husbands in future. He knew at that very moment that if at all he needed an edge with his girl, he had to make her see how serious he was about marrying her. That was the very reason for four years, he had opted to wait for her return. "Okay. So, what are your plans? When do you want to settle down?" She asked him. Again it was a continuation of his sweet dream. Jerry cleared his throat at first and decided this time he was going to speak from his lungs. A deep voice would do better and he knew it. "Well, I want to settle down pretty soon. That is part of the reason I came back. When I am done building my house then I can start other plans." 'Pretty soon!' That word echoed in her mind, except that no visible expressions appeared on her face. He went ahead. "… Babe, our wedding will be the biggest in town. I am telling you, I will buy you the most expensive wedding gown and that is a fact, okay? I will import your wedding gown and shoes from Italy and it will be the talk of town…. And once we are done we start a family!" He went ahead to talk about their friends in California, and others living as far as in the African Continent. All of them had to attend and Jerry did not care whether the same was going to cost him an arm and a leg or just a dime. Anything for his girl, he thought. The lady just listened to him until he mentioned something she thought was stupid. "…One more thing, okay? This is a big one. You have to stop working! You have to…. Just stay home, take care of the kids, and get pampered, right? While I will be the man of the house." Instead of confronting him, the lady chuckled. "Let me get some snacks. You want some?" She asked. "Yeah." She stood to go and found herself wondering why she had still not asked the man to leave her house. Other men who had spoken less offensive words to her faced the music, and if there was something she was never afraid of, it was breaking up with men. Cassie had made it an art, of dating and then breaking up with men. She did not care if she was going to date a thousand men before she found the right one. Some had called them 'dogs', and Cassie wondered whether it was appropriate for her to also call them that name. Opening the door to her kitchen, she walked in and then sighed. All she needed were some fresh air. The words that the man spoke were choking her. Jerry was only lucky that he was handsome otherwise she would have asked him to leave and never to return. CASSIE'S POINT OF VIEW My name is Cassie Johnson. I know, right? I chose that name myself. With money, I can do anything I want. I am twenty-seven. Aww… I am very so sexy, pretty, smart, intelligent, rich… Mentioning all of them will take me the entire day. Oops, I am leaving out something. No, I don't want any man in my life. I am scared. Yes, I am scared of marriage. I don't want to get married. I want a baby. When I would carry my womb so I would experience real motherhood.