“…I know we’ve had our differences...”
“Our differences? You went beyond us. Beyond me.”
“Yes. Well.”
“If Fred could see you now what would he think?”
“He would think how generous and kind your hospitality’s been tonight.”
Alice side glances at Phyllis, who opens the view mirror to examine herself. She rubs lipstick off her teeth before smiling.
“You owe Pamela an apology. She has looked up to you for so long. It’s only a matter of time when she realizes that you’re nothing but a pretty face with broken dreams and empty promises.”
“Mm, you really think she can make it through life without her marriage to Kevin?”
“Why not? She’s a smart girl if you got to know her and I never liked that loser from the start.”
Phyllis now plays the silent card sitting tall in the passenger seat. She stares ahead through the rubber wiper blades swishing droplets of rainwater off the dashboard glass. Alice turns up the radio to allow the late Janis Joplin screech through the sound speakers. The car ride consists long, slick roads of blacked out space and drizzle. Phyllis fiddles with her lapel eagle pin while Alice keeps both hands on the steering wheel.
“Did Gracie find a husband yet?”
“She’s been dating, but hasn’t found the one yet.”
“Don’t you worry. He’ll come around and be very lucky to have her.”
Alice grips tighter and has this fatal imagery of leaning over to open the side car door and push Phyllis out, but that fantasy quickly fades and leaves her alarmed by the wickedness of it all.
Phyllis dozes off in her seat belt by the time they reach the Schlafly residence. Alice had switched off the radio long ago and becomes mesmerized by the deep slumber of the anti-leader. In truth, Phyllis looked normal, like any regular simple housewife. There was a sadness about her Alice picked up on for years. However, whenever Phyllis opened her mouth, that sadness vanished and made her difficult to love.
“Why must you make so many enemies?” Alice whispers to the woman who she thought was her friend.
Phyllis remains asleep with her hands folded on her lap, head tilted slightly on the leather cushion.