She Only Speaks to Butterflies by Sandy Appleyard Read Free Book Online

tan one shade too dark for his naturally fair skin. And his hair was one shade too light, washing him out.
    “Oh my gosh! You’re Sherry?” He became instantly animated; wrists at his waist and head dancing from side to side. “You work with Leon, right?”
    “I do.”
    “Oh Lord! He’s told me so much about you! We went to school together! Oh, he’ll just be tickled that we finally met!”
    Jenny blushed. “Well, we should get a table. This place looks like it’s gettin’ packed.”
    Steven gave Sherry a toothy smile. “Nice meeting you.” His hand was bent in front of his mouth in a feminine gesture.
    “Likewise.”
    When they were out of earshot, Sherry faced Martha, who averted her glance. “I see you had trouble there.”
    “How ya mean?”
    “Gettin’ yer foot outta yer mouth.”
    “Shut up and drink yer beer.”
     
    …
     
    Sherry opened the door and poured herself into the house. Martha’s husband dropped her off and took Martha home after she publicly humiliated herself, arguing with the bartender over a ten she gave him for their last round, which she thought was a twenty.
    “Lord, look what the cat dragged in.” Sarah hobbled quickly to help Sherry. She draped Sherry’s arm over her shoulder.
    “Remind me never to do that again.”
    “You mean with Martha, or ever?” Leon asked, taking Sherry’s other arm.
    “Ask me when I’m sober…in a month.”
    “The fact that you can still pronounce ‘month’ gives ya promise,” Sarah stated. “When Mark’s had too much, he loses his consonants.”
    “How’s Denise?” Sherry asked as they sat her on the couch.
    “Sleeping like a little lamb,” Leon answered. “I read her like a hundred stories while Sarah painted her nails.”
    “You guys are the best. Thanks,” Sherry said, placing a hand on Leon’s chest. “Hey, I met your friend Steven there tonight.”
    Leon rose to get a glass of water for Sherry.
    “Oh, yeah? Who was he with?”
    “Jenny Martin.”
    “She’s the new girl workin’ over at the café right?”
    Sherry nodded as Leon handed her the water. “Aspirin, too, please.”
    “You want me to stay?” Sarah asked.
    “Na, that’s okay. I’ll stay.” Leon gave Sherry the tablets. “You’re too big for her small bed anyhow.”
    “I can bunk on the couch,” Sarah offered.
    Steven looked at her gently, like he was about to give her bad news. “I’ve got this, sweetie. Go home.”
    Later, as Sherry lay in bed next to Leon, she watched the shadows on the ceiling, feeling the warmth of another man’s body beside her. Sighing, she said.
    “God, Leon, it’s been so long.”
    She heard Leon’s head turn abruptly towards her. “So long for what?” he said frightfully.
    “Not that.” She pushed him playfully. “Well, that too, but that’s not what I meant.”
    Leon waited.
    “It’s been so long since I had another man next to me in bed.”
    He giggled.
    “What?” She giggled back, pushing him again.
    “You called me a man.”
    “Well, aren’t you?”
    “I guess. I have the equipment.” He said it like it was a bad taste in his mouth.
    “You don’t like your penis?” she blurted out, covering her mouth as she laughed.
    He jeered. “It’s not something to like . That’s like me askin’ ya if ya like yer ears.” She stopped laughing and sighed. “It’s the way we’re born but ain’t necessarily what’s inside us or how we feel. It’s like a label God gives, and we have to live with it, whether we like it or not. You’re lucky.”
    “Why am I lucky?”
    “Because you like what you are.”
    “That’s not true,” Sherry disagreed. “I mean, I like bein’ a woman, but I don’t like what I am.”
    “What do you mean?”
    She was silent for a moment. “I’m a widow. I don’t like bein’ a widow.”
    Leon let her comment sink in. Then he cleared his throat. “Well, at least that’s somethin’ you can change pretty easily.”
    “Really? Findin’ another man after you’ve vowed