Peter Lingard, born a Briton, sold ice cream on railway stations, worked as a bank clerk, delivered milk, laboured in a large dairy and served in the Royal Marines.  He has also been a barman, an accountant and a farm worker.  He lived in the US for a while and owned a freight forwarding business in New York.  He came to Australia because the sun often shines here and Australians are a positive bunch who speak English.  Peter (plingaus@bigpond.com) is a member of the Phoenix House Writers.  He has 60+ short stories and poems published, as well as having a similar number read on the radio.  Professional actors have performed his poetry and he has aired on several literary chat shows to discuss his work.  He used to read his stories and poems monthly on 3WBC

CIRCLES

Jason absentmindedly stirs his Italian coffee in his French cup and watches the resultant whirlpool.  When he lifts the spoon clear of the liquid, the vortex fades and reforms, appearing almost anatomical.  He smiles.  If Daisy knew his thoughts, she’d say he was beginning to think like her.  He re-dips the spoon and alternates the direction of his stirring and enjoys the swirling eddies.  He thinks how the confused ripples resemble circles of his life.

Daisy enters the kitchen, a sheet wrapped around her body like a toga.  ‘I didn’t know I was supposed to come and get my drink.  For the time it’s taken you, the stuff must be cold.  I like my coffee hot, just like my men.’

Her sexual clichés are enough to make Jason gag.  ‘Very original,’ he sneers.

She picks up her cup, smiles, pokes out her tongue and says, ‘Screw you!’ and returns to the bedroom.

He lets it go.

‘Oh, this is far too bitter.  It looks like ink and it tastes like ink.  I need some milk,’ she calls.

‘You know where it is,’ he shouts back.

He has tried to let her go several times, but she always runs him to ground.  She knows which moments to pick and he is always so weak; like some animal caught by the brightness of her laughing, sexy eyes.  When she first put the make on him, he had been flattered and happy.  Flattered because Daisy is a drop-dead gorgeous brunette with plenty of disposable cash and happy because she is married to the source of her money.  He would hate to have to start living on a fixed income again.

There has been no pressure on him to make an emotional commitment; the woman just wanted fun.  Having a rich, generous and married casual girlfriend is one of the elements that make a perfect life.  Trouble is her husband owns the company Jason works for.

He reverses the spoon’s direction again, squeezing the centre of the circle that is Daisy, causing it to have ends like a fat sausage.  Jason’s end is the shallower one as Daisy’s allure has worn a little thin.  Once he got past her dazzling beauty, he didn’t find much substance.  At the other end, a tidal wave is gathering force.  As of last night, Daisy now wants him to be exclusively hers.  She has an eye on a permanent relationship.  She says, as she no longer sleeps with her husband, Jason should not sleep with other women.  Thankfully, she continues to play the dutiful partner to her husband and thereby gives Jason enough free time to follow other interests.  A week ago, she had not-so-offhandedly mentioned how nice it would be if he quit his job and, if necessary, find one with night-time hours.

Another, almost perfect circle forms.  It might represent Emma.  She is the alternate element for a perfect life.  Emma is the woman with whom Jason wants to settle.  She is his friend and lover, and they say they’ll marry one day.  They agree they need to amass an unquantified amount of money before they can devote themselves to each other.  Should that day dawn, he will happily give up Daisy.  Emma is the only one able to pry limpet Jason from Daisy and her money.

He stills the spoon and the circle collides with its shaft, becoming irregular, just like his job.  Frank, his employer, was indebted to him.  When Jason quit his job eight or nine months ago, Frank became very needy.  He swore he was sorry to have underpaid Jason for so long and offered him a fifty-per-cent increase to stay.  ‘You could say the boot’s on the other foot now,’ Frank said.  He tried to break the atmosphere with a forced laugh.  ‘If you ever feel underpaid again, check the job market and see what you could get elsewhere.  I’ll better any offer.  Any other perks you need, just let me know.’

The man chased, hovered, and offered obsequious tit-tats about Jason’s worth to him, all the while hoping his valuable employee would swear to stay with him until the end of time.                                                 

Daisy chases, hovers, and offers obsequious sweet-nothings she thinks flatter Jason’s ego.  Although she hasn’t directly declared it, she so obviously wants him around until death do them part, but she is married to the money … his employer.                                                                     

 

Jason’s cousin and top mate, Wendell, is the operations manager of Frank’s biggest customer, Capstan Corp.  Jason brought the account to Frank and is the only person to service it.  Wendell and Jason go to ball games, play golf and drink together at Frank’s expense.  Frank once tried to form ties with Wendell’s boss to end his dependence on Jason and Wendell but knew the woman had found him tiresome.  ‘I’d prefer Wendell continue to handle matters for us.  That’s what I hire him for.’

Their girlfriends work for the same bank and had invited their two men to their company’s Christmas dinner-dance last week. 

There he learned two things.  Emma had gained a big promotion and wanted to cool things with Jason as she was aiming for the top and her time was going to be dedicated to that goal.   Wendell told Jason, ‘Capstan Corp’s being taken over by ANF.  I’ll be out of work come February.  They’re gonna give me a nice package and all that, but I’ll still be looking for a job.  Make sure you cover your arse, mate.’

 

Frank’s Christmas function had been an ‘employees only’ affair held in their offices after work on the last Friday before the holiday.  There had been plenty of booze and not much food.  People frequently phoned pizza parlours to have pies delivered.  Frank told everyone he would reimburse them out of petty cash as long as they kept receipts.  He had given everyone an envelope containing his or her annual bonus.  He had asked Jason not to open his until they had a chat later in the evening.

His boss took a swallow of his umpteenth Scotch to occupy himself for a few seconds and Jason worried what might be afoot.  He had looked in his envelope, despite Frank’s words, and had been shocked to find a cheque merely equivalent to two weeks’ pay.  ‘There’s going to be a few changes in the New Year,’ Frank said quickly, the words tumbling out of his mouth as if they had just been unshackled.  ‘For reasons that don’t concern you, the ownership of the company and my two homes are held solely by my wife, although she is not aware of that fact.’  He laughed ruefully and hiccupped.  ‘She’s always signed documents without bothering to learn what they were about.  She finds business boring.’  He shook his head as if to clear it while Jason wondered if the man knew of his affair with his wife. ‘Don’t know why I told you that,’ he mumbled.  ‘More information than you needed, really.’  He looked in his glass and swayed a little.  ‘Too much of this stuff is bad for the tongue.  Still, now you know that, you’ll have a partial understanding of why I’m starting a new venture with ANF.  You know them; they’re a customer of ours.’  Jason still said nothing and Frank lifted his head to look into his employee’s eyes.  ‘I recently acquired the controlling interest in them and initiated a merger with Capstan Corp, I won’t have to worry about keeping the Capstan account anymore.  Your job will now be to go out and find us new customers.  I need to double production to justify my investment.’  He laughed vindictively and Jason’s stomach shrank.  ‘Once my wife finds out about this, she’ll probably take steps to get her grubby hands on as much money as she can and she’ll be successful to a degree.  However, future earnings will come from the new company, and she has no control over that.’ At that point Jason was convinced Franck knew of the affair.  ‘Well, that’s it.  Just wanted you to know where we’re headed.  I trust you realise that you’ll have to rein in your expenses, but you can make up for that by earning more in commissions.  You’ll find your bonus has dropped dramatically, too.  That’s the new way of things; your new reality.  It’s going to be an exciting time for everyone.’  Frank extended his hand.  ‘Well, that’s it.  Merry Christmas.  Now, let’s go and re-join the party.’  He stumbled slightly as he walked out of the room.

 

The ripples near the lip of his cup still mesmerise.  The shape of Emma’s circle has almost diminished, probably due to her marked disappointment at his pending drop in earnings.  He remembers Wendell’s words about covering his arse and wonders if all life is a misshapen circle. 

Daisy, having donned a jumper, returns to the room, looking in cupboards for a biscuit to have with her drink.  ‘You need organising,’ she says with a laugh in her voice.  ‘Nothing’s ever in the same place.’

He sees her words as an opening.  ‘Yeah, you’re probably right, but you’re married to someone else.’

His words stop her in mid-stride.  ‘Did I hear you right?  Are you saying you want to marry me?  I thought you liked the current arrangement.  If you marry me, I won’t be able to bring as much of the money we so like to spend.’

‘Yeah, well, I’ve been thinking about that, too.  I love you a lot more than I do your money.  And, in any case, you’re bound to come away from your marriage with a sum large enough for you to invest it in something that’ll provide a steady income.  I’ve got some information that’ll help you there.  I’ll find better employment when the annual job shuffle starts in the next few days.  And, seeing as how it’s the New Year, I’ve made a resolution to treat you better.  I want to turn over a new leaf and become a man my grandmother would approve of.  I just thought it’d be nice if we could be together permanently.  You know, take vacations together, shop for Christmas gifts together, be seen out together – stuff like that.’

Daisy runs across the kitchen.  ‘Oh, Jase, you really mean it?’

‘Of course I do,’ he replies with a smile as he makes a mental note to take Emma’s photograph out of his wallet.  ‘Would I say it if I felt otherwise?’   

‘What a way to start a New Year!’  She flings her arms around his neck.  The force of her kiss does not dislodge the large lump of shame and regret he feels in his throat.  She breaks away from their embrace, happiness in her eyes.  ‘First thing I’ll do is tell Frank I want a divorce.’

Jason looks at his cup on the counter.  The surface is flat.