Fetal Mode (Socks CDLXXVI)

He stood like this for a few seconds, then his face went slack. He sat down on the floor, and sobbed.
She put her arm around him, "I don't know what got into you. You've never hit me before."
The man kept sobbing, apologizing. Soon he lay in the doorway on the tile floor. His knees were in his chest. His arms circled his knees. He lay staring at the ring that had landed behind the toilet.
After a few minutes the woman said, "I'm going to call in."
"No, I want to be alone."
The woman dressed and left.

Aftermath (Socks CDLXXV)

The toothbrush clunked into the wastebasket. The woman's eyes were red and swollen. She sniffled, and blew her nose.
The man stood in the bathroom doorway, his mouth open, his eyes blank, "I'm sorry, I don't know why I did that."
"You said that you'd never lay a hand on me."
"I know, I'm sorry. How can I make it up?"
She said nothing.
He held out the ring, "Here you can keep it."
She swatted it out of his hand, "I don't want it now."
The man's face turned red, his fists clenched at his sides. She backed away.

Crack Binge (Socks CDLXXIV)

A red welt appeared on the woman's leg.
"Crack."
A welt on the other leg.
"Stop it."
"Crack."
"Go pick up that toothbrush."
"Get it yourself. You messed it up."
"Crack."
"Did you forget who you're talking to?"
"Crack."
"Stop."
"Go get the toothbrush."
"Crack."
The woman tried to move across the bedroom.
"Crack."
Red marks were on her legs, back, and buttocks. She got the toothbrush.
"I got it, now stop hitting me."
"Crack."
"You gotta learn to watch your mouth. Now, throw that toothbrush away before I make you use it."
"Ok, ok. Just stop hitting me."
"Crack."

Crack (Socks CDLXXIII)

The woman opened a door, reached in and took something out. Then she picked up the forgotten toothbrush and threw it at the man still on the bed.
"You gonna pick up your towel?"
"Maybe."
"Don't let it get mildew smellin"
From the bathroom, "If your so worried, you pick it up."
He did, and as he walked into the bathroom he held the towel in both hands and twirled it into a ropelike form.
The woman covered her bare buttocks and giggled, "Don't even think about it."
He flipped one end of the towel, "Crack."
"Ow," She wasn't giggling.

Quick Performance (Socks CDLXXII)

The naked, hairy man sat atop the naked woman. She tried to slap him several times, "Get offa me," he blocked each shot.
Soon they stopped arguing.
Soon they were kissing.
Soon they were rolling around.
Soon they were breathing quickly.
Soon they were making strange noises.
Soon it was over.
The man lay next to the woman, his arm across her middle. He started to snore.
When she tried to get up, he grabbed her hand, and removed the ring.
"Hey."
"I told you. You can't keep it."
"My mother said you were a prick."
"Your mother was right."

Merchandise Only (Socks CDLXXI)

The man went into the bathroom, water ran loudly. The toilet flushed.
"Where's the ring?"
"I'm wearing it."
"No your not."
"I am too, look."
"Don't get used to it. I gotta sell it."
"Aw come on, it's pretty."
"And it will bring at least two hundred."
"You owe it to me for messing up my toothbrush."
"Are we back to that again?"
"Yes we are. What did you do to my toothbrush?"
"Get off it, get a new one."
"I'm keepin' the ring."
The man pushed the woman to the bed, the towel covering her fell to the floor.

Naked and Hairy (Socks CDLXX)

The woman stood next to the bed with the toothbrush in her hand while the long lump snored. She took another look at the brush then brought her fist down in the middle of the lump. The man sprang out of the bed, naked and hairy.
"What did you do to my toothbrush?"
The man's head came about to the woman's nose.
"What are you talking about?"
"I heard you doing something when you got home."
"You're nuts."
"Nuts huh? What's this?"
"How would I know. Just get a new one out of the closet, ya baby."
"You're a jerk."